Never Make This Travel Mistake! - English Listening Practice
Improve Your English Listening with Real-Life Stories
Travel Mistakes and Stress Management
Welcome to another episode of the Peach Teach English Podcast! In this episode, I share a personal story about the time I almost got stuck in Colombia due to a visa mistake. It's a story about navigating stress, solving problems, and finding solutions while traveling—and it’s perfect for improving your English listening skills!
Peach Teach English Podcast - Episode Transcript
Welcome to the Peach Teach English podcast. I'm your host Frankie Mesmer, and today I want to share a personal story about a time I experienced overwhelming stress while living in Colombia. This story not only reflects the ups and downs of life but also offers some valuable insights into stress management.
As you listen, pay attention to the vocabulary I use and how I express my emotions. It was 2017 when I moved to Colombia to work as a volunteer co-teacher in public schools, helping middle and high school students learn English. I loved my time there, but as the government changed, so did my situation.
The volunteer program I was a part of was cut, and suddenly my visa was about to expire. I had a plan. Leave Colombia for a short vacation to Margarita Island, Venezuela, and then return with a tourist visa. It seemed like the perfect getaway, a chance to relax on the beach with my wife. I booked an all-inclusive trip through an agency and even asked if I needed any special visa for this trip.
The agent assured me there was nothing to worry about. No visa required. But as I arrived at the airport ready for this exciting adventure, everything began to unravel. Picture this, I'm standing in line, my excitement building. When I finally reached the check counter, the flight agent looked up at me and asked, can you show me your visa, please?
Visa? I replied, my heart racing. She explained that Americans need a visa to travel to Venezuela. At that moment, panic set in. I felt this heavy weight in my chest as the reality hit me. My vacation was slipping away and I had no backup plan to leave Colombia. In that state of urgency, I called the travel agency. The agent on the line informed me that she mistakenly thought I was French.
Maybe because my name is Frances. I couldn't believe it. I got 60% of my money back due to her mistake, but it wasn't enough to calm my rising stress levels in that moment. Desperate to find a solution, I declined their offer for a new package to Panama. Instead, I headed to the immigration office at the airport hoping they could help.
They suggested taking a bus to Turbo, Colombia, and then a boat to Capurgana, which is right on the border with Panama. With time running out and anxiety bubbling up inside me, I took a bus back to Medellin and then traveled for about seven hours to Turbo. We found a cheap hotel nearby, but sleep was elusive.
I tossed and turned, my mind racing with worries about missing my deadline to leave Colombia without penalties. The next morning, we set off on a motorboat, crammed with people. The ocean was wild, waves crashing against us, and I remember thinking, this is it. What if we go overboard? The boat bounced and jumped, and for a moment it felt like we were flying through the air, but finally, we reached the shores of Capurgana.
But the stress didn't end there. When I arrived at the embassy, I learned that the internet was down and they couldn't process my documents. My heart raced as I began to sweat, fearing I would be stuck in this situation, but then they assured me it was their fault and stamped my passport, marking my departure from Colombia, though I would actually leave a day late. I finally felt a slight relief wash over me, but I still had to find transportation to the Panamanian border.
Fortunately, I ran into three colleagues from my volunteer program who were in the same predicament: a Czech woman, an Austrian woman, and a fellow American. Together, we searched for our captain. The next day, I woke up early, ready for the final leg of our journey.
My wife stayed behind, and we climbed into a tiny boat with more people than expected. The Austrian girl panicked, worried about the boat tipping over. I could see the stress in her eyes, and it reminded me of how overwhelmed I’d felt just days before. When we reached the Panamanian side, it was eerily quiet, a ghost town with just a handful of inhabitants.
After getting our passport stamps, we learned we had to wait 24 hours before returning to Colombia. The Austrian girl’s frustration grew as she complained about having nothing to do in this desolate place. But after hours of her complaints, the official finally relented and let us return to Colombia.
Despite the chaos, I managed to leave Colombia without penalties and re-enter as a tourist. Finally, stress-free. I got to enjoy the beautiful beaches of Capurgana and explore the stunning landscape on the Panamanian side of La Miel.
Looking back, it was a scary and eventful experience, but it taught me valuable lessons about stress management and adaptability. Sometimes things don't go according to plan, and that's okay. And it's normal to feel stressed. What matters is how we respond to these challenges. Remember, when you're feeling stressed, take a moment to breathe, regroup, and think through your options. You might just find a new path forward.
Thank you for joining me on this journey today. I hope my story resonated with you. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. Until next time, keep practicing your English and managing your stress.
Key Vocabulary from the Episode
Here are some of the key words and phrases from today’s episode, along with examples to help you understand how to use them. These words might be new to you, but don’t worry! Practice using them in conversation or writing, and they’ll soon feel like part of your everyday English.
Overwhelming
Definition: Something that is too much to handle or difficult to manage.
Example: The amount of work I had to do last week was overwhelming, and I didn’t know where to start.
Engagement Question: What’s something that has been overwhelming for you recently? How did you deal with it?
Stress management
Definition: The process of handling stress in healthy ways.
Example: Yoga and meditation are great tools for stress management when you're feeling anxious.
Engagement Question: What is your favorite way to manage stress? How does it help you?
Co-teacher
Definition: A teacher who works alongside another teacher to help in the classroom.
Example: My co-teacher and I work together to help students improve their English skills in the classroom.
Engagement Question: Have you ever worked with a co-teacher or in a team? How was the experience?
Volunteer program
Definition: A program where people work for free to help others or a cause.
Example: She joined a volunteer program to help children in underprivileged areas learn to read.
Engagement Question: Have you ever participated in a volunteer program? What did you do?
Cut
Definition: To stop or terminate something, often due to a lack of resources or a change in plans.
Example: Due to budget cuts, the school had to stop offering extra after-school activities.
Engagement Question: Can you think of a time when something was cut or cancelled in your life? How did it affect you?
Visa
Definition: A document that allows a person to enter, leave, or stay in a country.
Example: You need a visa to travel to many countries, and it can take weeks to get one.
Engagement Question: Have you ever needed a visa to travel? What was the process like for you?
Getaway
Definition: A short trip or vacation, often to relax and escape daily life.
Example: We’re planning a weekend getaway to the beach to relax and escape from work.
Engagement Question: Where would be your dream getaway? What would you do there?
All-inclusive
Definition: A type of vacation package where everything (meals, drinks, and sometimes activities) is included in the price.
Example: The resort offers an all-inclusive package, which means your meals and activities are included in the price.
Engagement Question: Would you prefer an all-inclusive vacation? Why or why not?
Unravel
Definition: To come undone or fall apart, especially unexpectedly.
Example: Everything seemed perfect until my plan began to unravel when I lost my passport.
Engagement Question: Have you ever had a plan unravel unexpectedly? What did you do to fix it?
Check counter
Definition: The place in an airport where passengers check in for their flight.
Example: When we arrived at the airport, we headed straight to the check counter to check in for our flight.
Engagement Question: When was the last time you checked in at an airport? What was the process like?
Panic
Definition: Sudden fear or anxiety, often without clear reasoning.
Example: When I couldn’t find my phone, I started to panic, thinking it had been stolen.
Engagement Question: What makes you panic, and how do you calm down in those moments?
Weight (as in "heavy weight in my chest")
Definition: A physical feeling of pressure or burden.
Example: After hearing the bad news, I felt a heavy weight in my chest and couldn't breathe properly.
Engagement Question: Can you think of a time when you felt a heavy weight in your chest? How did you handle it?
Slipping away
Definition: Gradually being lost or disappearing.
Example: As the deadline approached, I felt like my chance to complete the project was slipping away.
Engagement Question: Have you ever felt like something important was slipping away? How did you act?
Backup plan
Definition: An alternative plan or solution in case the original one doesn’t work out.
Example: I always keep a backup plan in case my first idea doesn’t work out.
Engagement Question: Do you always have a backup plan? Give an example of when you’ve used one.
Urgency
Definition: The need for quick action or attention.
Example: There was a sense of urgency in the office as we rushed to finish the report before the meeting.
Engagement Question: Have you ever felt a sense of urgency at work or school? What did you do?
Mistakenly
Definition: By mistake or incorrectly.
Example: She mistakenly thought the meeting was at 2:00 PM, but it was actually scheduled for 3:00 PM.
Engagement Question: Can you think of a time when you mistakenly did something? How did you fix it?
Reluctantly
Definition: Unwillingly or hesitantly.
Example: He reluctantly agreed to help me move, even though he was very busy.
Engagement Question: Have you ever done something reluctantly? What was it?
Elusive
Definition: Difficult to find, catch, or understand.
Example: The solution to the problem was elusive, and no one could figure it out for weeks.
Engagement Question: What’s something elusive in your life? How do you try to find it?
Toss and turn
Definition: To move restlessly in bed, often because of worry.
Example: I couldn’t sleep last night; I kept tossing and turning because I was worried about the presentation.
Engagement Question: What makes you toss and turn in bed at night? How do you cope?
Crammed
Definition: Packed or crowded with people or things.
Example: The subway was so crammed that I could hardly move, and I was worried about missing my stop.
Engagement Question: Have you ever been in a crammed space? How did you feel?
Overboard
Definition: Falling into the water from a boat.
Example: The ship hit a big wave, and I was terrified that someone might fall overboard.
Engagement Question: Have you ever been on a boat? Did you feel safe or nervous?
Bounced
Definition: Moved or jumped up and down, often suddenly.
Example: The ball bounced off the wall and hit me in the face during the game.
Engagement Question: What’s the highest you’ve ever bounced something? What happened?
Eerily
Definition: In a strange or frightening way.
Example: The abandoned house looked eerily quiet, with no signs of life anywhere.
Engagement Question: Have you ever been in a place that felt eerie? How did it make you feel?
Ghost town
Definition: A deserted or abandoned place, with very few people.
Example: The small village felt like a ghost town, with almost no people around and many empty buildings.
Engagement Question: Have you ever visited a ghost town or abandoned place? What was it like?
Frustration
Definition: The feeling of being upset or annoyed because of inability to change or achieve something.
Example: Her frustration grew as she couldn’t find her keys, even though she had looked everywhere.
Engagement Question: What frustrates you the most? How do you deal with it?
Relented
Definition: Gave in or stopped resisting.
Example: After hours of discussion, he finally relented and agreed to join us for dinner.
Engagement Question: Have you ever relented after resisting something? What made you change your mind?
Penalties
Definition: Punishments or negative consequences for not following the rules.
Example: There are serious penalties for breaking the rules at the airport, such as fines or being banned from flying.
Engagement Question: What penalties are there in your country for breaking important rules?
Resonated
Definition: Had a strong emotional effect.
Example: Her story about overcoming challenges really resonated with me because I had gone through something similar.
Engagement Question: What’s a story that has resonated with you? Why?
Regroup
Definition: To take a moment to collect yourself and organize your thoughts or actions.
Example: After the setback, we decided to regroup and plan our next move carefully.
Engagement Question: When things go wrong, how do you regroup and stay focused?
Path forward
Definition: The next step or plan in a process.
Example: After losing his job, he spent a lot of time thinking about his path forward and what he wanted to do next.
Engagement Question: How do you plan your path forward when facing a big decision?
Engagement Question for Practice
Now that you’ve learned some new vocabulary from the episode, it’s time to practice! I’d love to hear your thoughts:
What’s the most stressful travel experience you’ve had, and how did you handle it?
You can share your answer in the comments below or try speaking about it in English with a language partner or in the Conversation Club. Practice makes perfect, so use these new words and phrases to describe your experiences!
Want to Improve Your English?
If you enjoyed this episode and want to practice your English further, book a free consultation with me to join my Conversation Club or get 1-on-1 coaching. Together, we can improve your English skills and tackle any challenges you're facing!
Book your free consultation here: http://peachteachenglish.com/free-consultation
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Thank you for joining me on this journey today. Keep practicing your English and managing your stress!
