EVERYONE NEEDS TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS ONCE IN A WHILE

Are you planning your next trip? How to get directions in 10 languages!

Image: Janis Oppliger

Having a general knowledge of the geography and local language is sound advice for anyone visiting a foreign land. Knowing your way around and being able to communicate with the locals will always ensure a smoother experience. However, this may not always be the case. Perhaps you are visiting for the first time, find yourself in unfamiliar territory, or you are not sure about how to properly ask for directions. If that is the case, it is always a good idea to know, at the very least, how to ask for help in the local language. Scroll on to learn about the proper way to ask for directions in 10 widely used languages, from the familiar to the obscure.

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Let’s start with one of the best-known languages for all English speakers aside from their own: Spanish. This incredibly rich language has countless words for everything, which allows us to be very specific when describing something.

But if we are pressed for time, in a Spanish-speaking environment and need to get somewhere, we can simply say "¿Dónde está?" ( Don Deh Is Tah) followed by the name of whichever place we need to reach. That little phrase means, literally, "where is?"

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Another beautiful and ancient language with Latin origins, Italian, might sound slightly similar to Spanish but it’s a whole different thing. Italian is a very musical language, usually accompanied by generous body language.

If you ever find yourself in an Italian-speaking part of the world and need to ask for directions, you should say "Dov'è…?" (Dove eh), once again followed by the name of the place you need to get to. Any Italian worth their salt will quickly understand and point you in the right direction.

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Between Italy and Spain, we find another beautiful Mediterranean language: French. This sophisticated language makes us feel like we are in a movie and can be challenging to anyone who doesn’t speak it, as its correct pronunciation involves some sounds quite different from those commonly used in English.

The French are very proud of their language, as they should be, and appreciate when someone makes an honest effort to communicate with them in French. If you ever need to ask for directions in French, simply say "Où est…?" (Ooh Eh) followed by the name of the place you need to go, which means "Where is…?"

Image: Vita Marija Murenaite

Another soft-spoken language that reflects the beautiful landscapes and atmosphere of its nation is Portuguese. This serene language is a close relative to its neighbor, Spanish, and similarities can be found frequently between the two.

If you ever find yourself in the charming streets of Portugal, or perhaps in Brazil, and need to ask for directions, you can say "Onde está…?" (On The Stah) to a local, followed by the name of your destination. Those magical words translate again into "Where is…?"

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Moving on from the Latin-based languages, we encounter a language with some common roots with English: German. The German language might sound harsh to some people (especially those coming from Portuguese-speaking regions), but it is extremely poetic, with words that express very deep and specific emotions often hard to find elsewhere in the world.

When asking for directions in Germany or any other German-speaking region, you should say "Wo ist…? (Voo Est) followed by the name of the place you need to go and directions should be provided.

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Asian languages are very different from European ones, both in terms of sound and structure. Hindi is an extremely ancient language, a direct descendant of Sanskrit, one of the oldest known languages, and learning to communicate in it can be quite challenging for Europeans.

A significant percentage of the Indian population speaks English but that is not a guarantee and it would be smart to learn how to ask for directions in Hindi, just in case. The magical words are "Kahaan hai…?" (Kah Haan Hi) followed by the place you need to get to.

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Japanese people are renowned for their politeness, so you shouldn’t have any trouble asking for directions in a Japanese-speaking area. However, even though many Japanese people do speak English, there is a chance that some may only be able to assist you in their native tongue.

If that is the case, one would be well advised to learn how to say "Where is…?" in Japanese. The correct way of saying so is: "Doko ni arimasu ka…?" ( Doh Koh Nee Aree Mah Soo Kah) followed by the destination’s name.

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Africa is not an ideal place for a foreign tourist to get lost, as its natural wonders can present many hazards and perils. But if that is the case, and the lost tourist happens to run into someone who speaks Swahili, knowing how to ask for directions in that language can be extremely helpful.

To ask how to get to a certain place in Swahili, you must say "Iko wapi…?" (E Koh Wah Pee) followed by the name of your desired destination.

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A gorgeous country, full of historic places to visit, beautiful landscapes, and friendly people, Poland is also home to the Polish language, which can be challenging to learn or understand for the untrained ear.

If you ever were to find yourself in the streets of Poland looking for a specific location, know that the correct way to ask for assistance is to say "Gdzie jest…?" (Tzee Eh Yest) followed by the name of the intended destination.

Image: Patrick

One of the biggest tourist magnets in the world is, without a doubt, Greece. Its incredible history and monuments, its beautiful beaches and coastal towns, and its delicious food and wine make for an unforgettable experience.

But even in a country so used to foreign visitors, with its fair share of English-speaking locals, you might encounter people who will only speak in Greek. If you ever find yourself in the situation of having to ask for directions in Greek, know that the right way to do so is by saying: "Pou eínai…?" (Poe A Ni) followed by the name of the place you want to visit.

EXPLORING LITERARY PRODIGIES

Reading Challenge: 10 Great Female Poets You Can’t Miss

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Literature written by women has often been ignored or minimized throughout history. However, together we can change that. If you are looking to immerse yourself in verses that might help you reflect on life, you may want to read female poets who invite you to explore an infinite range of emotions****and experiences through their words.

In this article, we will discover the talent and creativity of 10 female authors who deserve a privileged place on your to-read list. From ancient Greek and Victorian poets like Sappho and ​​Elizabeth Barrett Browning to more contemporary voices like Anne Carson and Maya Angelou, we guarantee a literary journey that will not leave you indifferent.

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Sappho was a Greek poet born around 630 B.C. in Mytilene, the capital of the island of Lesbos. Sappho was the daughter of a merchant and belonged to a noble family. She was the only woman that the Greeks of classical times included in the Olympus of Poets consisting of fourteen authors they considered worthy of study.

Plato considered Sappho the best poetess in Greek history and called her "the tenth muse". But despite the importance given to her by the Greeks, very few of her writings are preserved and most of her work is known to us by references from third parties. The only poem that has come down to us almost completely is a hymn in honor of Aphrodite.

She ran a school for the children of nobility in which dance, gymnastics, and music were taught. Love was the main theme of Sappho's work: the poet covered a wide range of feelings linked to it, such as nostalgia, jealousy, or longing for a loved one.

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Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born on March 6, 1806, in Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England, and was a well-known poet during the Victorian era. Like the vast majority of girls of her time, Elizabeth, the eldest of twelve children, was educated at home. Her brother and a neighbor introduced her to the world of Greek authors, as well as Shakespeare and Dante. At the age of twenty, Elizabeth had already anonymously published her first work, Essay on the Mind and Other Poems.

Elizabeth Barrett reflected her feminist leanings and political expressions throughout her works. She is best known for the sonnet "How Do I Love Thee?" and for Aurora Leigh, a nine-book epic poem centered on a strong and independent heroine. Browning was very popular in the United Kingdom and the United States during her lifetime and her poetry had great influence on prominent writers of the time, such as the American poets Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson.

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Author of almost 1,800 poems, Emily Dickinson is considered one of the pillars of modern American literature and one of the best poets in the world. She was born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts, into a wealthy and cultured family. Emily studied literature, history, religion, geography, mathematics, biology, music, Greek and Latin. In addition, she learned floriculture, horticulture, and gardening, all themes present in her work.

During her lifetime she was known as an eccentric introvert and few knew of her immense talent. She composed all her poems in pencil on small pieces of paper that her sister Lavinia found and published after her death. Initially, her poetry generated controversy, with some praising her "rare individuality and originality", while others disapproved of her unusual non-traditional style. Today, she is best known for her unusual use of form and syntax, and for being "the poet of paradox".

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Born on October 8, 1892, the daughter of a pianist and a professor and founder of the Moscow Museum of Fine Arts, Marina Tsvetaeva had an intimate relationship with literature from an early age. In addition to Russian, she spoke German and French: three languages in which she expressed her first verses. Tsvetaeva studied in Moscow and at the Sorbonne, and from the age of 18, she began to edit and publish her work.

Through her poems, Marina Tsvetaeva developed a style of writing in which musicality and form are above content. Each of the verses is expressed with a clear invitation to the reader: an invitation to explore, taste, and discover the paths that the poet has walked, suffered, or loved. Marina Tsvetaeva's work is considered one of the greatest of the 20th century.

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Poet, novelist, playwright, and translator Marguerite Yourcenar was born on June 8, 1903 in Brussels, Belgium. After being educated in France and England, she traveled through several European countries, and in 1947 she became an American citizen, although all her works were written in French. In her first volume of poems, The Garden of Chimeras (1921), she reinterprets Greek myths in order to adapt them to the modern world, revealing her refinement as a writer.

Her literature is defined by her knowledge of ancient civilizations and history, and her eagerness to understand human motivations. In 1980 Yourcenar became the first woman to be admitted to the Académie Française de la Langue, and in 1986 she was awarded the French Legion of Honor.

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A dedicated rural teacher, educator, and poet, Gabriela Mistral was born in Vicuña, Chile, on April 7, 1889. She published her first book in New York in 1922. The publication of Desolación (Desolation) gave Mistral international recognition and prestige, and she came to be considered one of the most promising writers of Latin American literature. It also marked the beginning of a series of publications in foreign lands: in Mexico, she published Lecturas para Mujeres (Readings for Women) and the first version of her book Ternura: Canciones de niños (Tenderness: Songs for Children) in Spain in 1924.

Gabriela Mistral is considered one of the most important references of Chilean and Latin American literature of the 20th century. For her work, she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1945, which was the first recognition of Latin American literature by the Swedish Academy.

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Many consider Sylvia Path a rebellious figure and a tormented soul who committed suicide at the age of 30. However, girls and women struggling with depression, isolation, and loneliness consider her a true icon. Her first collection of poems, The Colossus and Other Poems addresses complex themes, from death and duty to the suffering of women who do not conform to traditional ideas of femininity.

Despite her early death and the loss of part of her work, Sylvia Plath's work is considered one of the most extraordinary pieces of poetry of the 20th century. Her approach to pain, mental illness, and suffering made her one of the greatest exponents of the confessional genre, brilliantly captured in her raw, brutal verses.

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Mary Oliver was born in Maple Heights, Ohio, in 1935, into a dysfunctional family. From a young age, writing, reading, and escapades to the nearby woods became early escape tools. At the age of twenty-eight she published her first collection of poems, No Voyage, and Other Poems, and from then on her work was always inspired more by nature than by the human world.

Mary Oliver won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize and was one of the most influential American poets. She is the author of more than thirty books, mostly collections of poetry and a few essays, including American Primitive, Winter Hours, and Why I Wake Early.

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Anne Carson was born in Toronto, Canada, on June 21, 1950. She is a professor of Classical and Comparative Literature at the University of Michigan and a renowned poet, essayist, and translator. A bilingual edition of Sappho's poems she found in a bookstore changed her life forever. "If I knew what poetry was, I wouldn't have to write. It's something I seek to tempt in the dark", she once stated.

Throughout her career, she has created an exquisite world, a collage of poetry, essays, and drama. Since her first book, Eros (1986), Carson meditates on the nature of romantic love and erotic desire using fragments of prose intertwined with verse. A scholar of classical culture and languages, Carson is, in the opinion of critics, one of the most exquisite and erudite writers of contemporary literature, as well as the author of a hypnotic work, in which she fuses styles, references, and formats.

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Marguerite Annie Johnson, better known as Maya Angelou, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928, and spent most of her childhood with her grandmother in rural Arkansas. From a very young age, Angelou was an avid reader. She enjoyed the works of authors such as Jessie Fauset, Edgar Allan Poe, and Charles Dickens.

Although she is best known for her autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", Maya Angelou was also an outstanding poet, playwright, essayist, and screenwriter. She began her career as a singer and dancer, worked as a civil rights activist, wrote seven acclaimed autobiographies, taught at Wake Forest University, and received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010. In her poems, she explored numerous themes such as feminism, love, loss, music, struggle, discrimination, and racism. She is best known as the "poet of the people".