I was asked recently whether being able to speak the local language means that travelling is a different experience. Travel is a wonderful thing per se of course – but speaking the lingo does indeed add a whole extra layer of interest, understanding and joy. During my latest trip to Germany, the lovely Münster area this time, it was in the middle of its famous asparagus season. To many visitors, asparagus may seem like just another vegetable. But Spargelzeit is something much more significant. Restaurants create special menus, markets proudly display local produce and conversations naturally turn to the quality of this year’s harvest. A good debate is to be had over a local beer – another serious subject of course – about the virtues of white asparagus grown by piling up soil to knee-high banks on German farms, or green asparagus as we have in the UK.
Asparagus farm near the village of Westbevern
I have had the privilege of using German language in my work for many years. But aside from the professional interest, one of my great pleasures of travelling somewhere new in Germany is simply chatting with local people. Whether it is a conversation in a café, a discussion with a shopkeeper or a chance encounter when out hiking, these informal exchanges help keep my language skills alive and provide insights that no guidebook can offer. I now know at first hand how much pain potholes and roadworks are causing in both cultures, and the deep cultural and historical roots of shooting clubs in small communities such as that of Westbevern near Münster.
Asparagus on the menu in the delightful little town of Telgte
So the asparagus season, potholes and shooting clubs are great answers to the question about travel and language. You can enjoy asparagus without understanding its wider significance, just as you can visit a country without speaking its language. However, when you understand the language, you gain access to the traditions, humour, history and cultural references that make a place unique.
Thank you to my ever-tolerant wife Jo for putting up with these linguistic wanderings. At Alexika Ltd, we see every day how language helps people and organisations build stronger international relationships. Please contact us to discuss your language needs.
And here we are in Münster, highly recommended for a short city break!