This is an All Ears English podcast episode 1975.
Which city is Lindsay heading to soon?
Find out and meet up.
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With your American hosts Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl.
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When you travel for business or leisure, the richest possible experience you can have is meeting with a local friend.
Today, get eight ways to say you'll be in someone's city and invite them to meet you.
Plus, get a special announcement on Lindsay's travel plans.
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Hello, Michelle.
How's everything going with you today?
Good.
Lindsay, how are you?
Awesome.
I'm so excited to be here to talk a little bit about traveling and big trips.
Are you ready for this?
Yes, I am excited because you and I we both love to travel.
And it's I think like we're the same in that way.
Like we feel I don't know to me.
It's so weird.
I feel like when I get off the plane in a new place, I feel like I can breathe better.
Is that is that a weird thing to say?
Oh, no, that makes total sense to me, Michelle.
I mean, you can think more clearly.
You can breathe better.
It's like you just it's almost like you've it's a complete refreshment, isn't it?
It's totally that.
Exactly.
So when when was the last time you went on a big trip, Lindsay?
I know you had a big one kind of recently.
My last big trip, and this was a big one, was my trip to Argentina in November.
And that was a huge trip.
We did the wineries in Mendoza.
We did Patagonia in the south, which I had never been to.
And then we did Buenos Aires, of course.
It was great.
What about you, Michelle?
Ooh, not since, uh, real, I mean, I, I went to Vegas.
Um, that was like the, yeah.
Uh, but I and then we've been taking little trips because we had I had a baby, we had the health crisis.
So I haven't been anywhere since uh, like I haven't been out of the country um, since before all of that started.
But I am hoping to go somewhere soon.
Amazing.
Do you when you go on a trip?
Do you ever like to meet up with people who maybe live in that place?
Yeah, i love it.
I love it.
I think honestly for me.
I mean, everyone has different values when it comes to traveling, but if i were to, if i only had 24 hours in a city, I would not run around trying to see the sites and check them off my list.
Although it would be hard.
If you're in a famous place like Paris, you of course have to see the Eiffel Tower, but I would see it on my way to someone's house.
Yeah.
And then I would feel satisfied I could leave.
Right.
So that to me is traveling.
Right.
You know, it reminds me of the time I went to Paris and I was actually able to meet with one of our amazing listeners, Layla.
And, you know, Layla Michelle met with her and had dinner at her house.
Right.
Oh, wow.
That's fantastic.
Yes.
In Paris is great.
Yes.
I love those experiences because it I like to pretend I.
Always, when I travel somewhere, I think what would it be like to live in this place?
That's how I travel.
That's what makes me feel excited.
Not necessarily seeing 100 tourist attractions.
So I'm I think I'm similar in that way.
When we went to India for our honeymoon, you know, we went for a wedding and.
And the the couple, you know, they had their family lived there.
Yeah.
And so we got to go to their place for dinner.
And, like to me, those are the just the best experiences to get to really kind of immerse yourself for a little while, pretend what is it like.
You know, that's what I love.
Yeah, that really is how you learn the nuances of a culture.
You know, tours are great, museums are great, but you don't really learn what the culture really is right.
The way people really live.
And to me, I mean, of course, All Ears English, we are all about connection, not perfection.
So it makes sense that we want to connect with human beings when we travel.
That's right.
That's right.
So, I mean, here's a question.
How you know for our listeners if they are traveling and you want to tell someone oh, that you're traveling somewhere, maybe you would like to meet up.
You know, that's what we're going to talk about today.
When you have this opportunity, how can you share it with someone?
And guys, we also have a very special and exciting announcement later in the episode about something else with Lindsay and traveling.
She's coming to you.
One of your cities.
One of your cities.
I will be in.
I know.
I'm so excited.
I'll be traveling a little bit this spring.
And some of our listeners live in this mystery city.
And so I'm excited to make this announcement.
A little bit later in the episode, once we build our skill and we learn how to actually ask this.
But Michelle, I just realized this is also a great skill for business English, because many times we're sent on a business trip.
And what better way to spend our time than, after our work is done or our conference is done, to call our friend or let our friend know that we'll be in their city.
Would you like to have dinner?
Just getting away from the business piece of the trip, right?
Right, right.
Exactly.
That's a good point.
That's a good point.
So this is huge for business, for leisure travel, whatever it is.
Guys, we want to direct you.
We did a episode.
Episode 1900 of All Ears English was how to tell someone you'll be visiting their neighborhood in English.
Yes.
And this episode talked about a similar topic, but it was also kind of telling someone you're nearby, or asking someone where they live or what to do where they live.
So that's a little bit different.
We teach some different skills there.
So go on and listen to that one as well.
Yeah, I love that these two episodes can come together as a pair.
Right.
How to tell someone you'll be in their exact neighborhood.
That's very close to home, literally close to home.
Right.
That's right in your neighborhood.
That's about coffee shops.
That's about specific things.
This is about cities.
Right.
World cities, U.S., any any cities that we're moving between.
Yeah, this is about traveling, being in an area also where you definitely want to see someone that one.
We were also talking about.
Maybe you went to someone's neighborhood and you're Oh, you live there, right?
Right?
Like that kind of thing.
So this is like really good also for a lot of big travel.
So Lindsay, what's what's the first thing you could say?
Okay, so guys, here's your first phrase.
Write this one down next time you take a trip.
I'll be heading to X in X. So I'll be heading to New York in the spring.
Okay.
Really?
No.
I would, of course, let you know.
I haven't been to New York in a while, since before the health crisis, but I'm definitely itching for another trip.
Yes, yes.
Okay, good.
Well, that would be great.
So I'll be heading to blank in blank, right?
I'll be heading to California in June, whatever it is, fill in the blanks.
Michelle, this is a nice bonus for today, heading, right?
Or maybe it's one of our key words, right?
Maybe heading somewhere.
How is that different in feeling and tone from going to?
I think...
Just off the bat, I think like there's like some like momentum in it.
Yeah, I don't know.
Like, because I'm thinking of like the head going forward.
Oh, that's not what it is.
Um, I think it's a I think it's just a little bit different.
Um, more.
What do you think?
Yeah, I always spring these questions on you here.
And I don't know the answer, right?
When I asked them, I'm just thinking of, you know, but I think it's a little more casual, right?
A little more casual, a little more conversational, more like less pressure on the person.
Like I'm going to your city in this month.
That's a little direct in a way, right?
When we use the textbook words, we become very direct.
Right, true.
I'm going to, this is a more, you're right.
It does kind of have a, a kind of a cooler vibe.
Yeah, more friendly, more connection.
Although of course you can say I'm going to New York, you know, or I'm going to be in New York, but let's keep going and see what else we have here in our phrases.
Let's do it.
So this one is I decided to do a little bit of a fun one.
I'm planning on taking a trip to your backyard.
Yeah, I love it.
So backyard.
This is, you know, sometimes we use to say someone's backyard. like just their general area.
Like it's, it's kind of a different way to say I'll be in your city.
You know like, especially if you're coming from a far away place, you could say like I'll be in your backyard.
Right.
Even though you're not actually in their backyard, because that would be pretty weird.
That would be weird.
It gives the feeling that the person is going to think oh, you're going to be very close to them physically.
This reminds me for some reason, of when we talked about Al Roker in Your Neck of the Woods and why it's bringing up.
Right.
Well, that's what that was the other episode.
Yeah, right.
Exactly.
In your neck of the woods.
And we talked about it, I think sounding like a little stalkery and like, but but if you're saying it in a way, you know, guys, we don't hopefully most people don't mean in your backyard.
No, not literally.
Right.
Does this work for big cities to like huge world capitals?
Does that work?
Would you say if someone's in Tokyo, would I say that to them?
What do you think?
Oh, if it's like super big, that might be it might be better for like a slightly smaller place.
What do you think?
I think it definitely kind of conveys a sense of countryside a little bit, something more familiar.
So maybe not the best for big cosmopolitan cities, but for towns.
Sure.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then the next one, we're going to use this word vicinity.
Lindsay, what is if I'll say I'll be in your vicinity?
A very fancy word today, Michelle.
Fancy.
I'll be in your general vicinity soon.
So area, this means area.
And we see this a lot on signs, instructions, stay within the vicinity.
You know, that is a more technical term, I think.
Right.
Right, right.
But I could hear like, oh, I'll be in your vicinity, like, you know, in kind of a cute way.
Or you could be super casual and say, I'll be close by.
I love it.
I'll be close by.
Also great.
I'll be close by.
Yes.
Okay.
So that's the first part, Michelle, right?
Letting them know that you'll be in their city.
Now, what's the next piece?
Well, now, if you just say, I'll be close by.
Weird.
And then you're done.
Okay, I'm just going to be standing there.
And do I want to see you?
No.
So you want to throw out your feelers about if somebody would like to actually meet up with you.
So what's something you could say?
Okay, I'd love to make some plans if you are available.
Okay. nice or I really want to see you when are you free Yes.
OK.
And that really would be reserved for one on one.
Right.
Not not talking to a group necessarily.
And someone you're close to like a best friend, maybe your college roommate.
You know that you're still close with
Right.
Michelle, that conveys I really want to see you like real emotion.
Yeah.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right. or you could say i'm going to be x on x can you meet me so for example you could say i'm going to be taking a tour of the eiffel tower of the eiffel tower okay my thing got messed up i'm going to be taking a tour of the empire state building on the 31st at 3. can you meet me so that's very specific like i have this plan You know, would you would you like to join or could you meet me at the spot?
Maybe we'll get a coffee afterwards.
And everyone loves someone that just kind of takes charge in that way.
I just say what you're doing.
Do you want to come along?
Right.
And then that tells you a lot about you know how much the person likes you, because if they can't, if they're working or something, and then they don't suggest another time.
Maybe that's not a relationship that's really all that important to the person.
So we can learn a lot by nailing down a date, I think, and time.
Yes.
Right.
You want to give us one more, Lindsay?
All right.
Let's plan to meet up at X, right?
Or at some famous restaurant.
Let's plan to meet up near the theater.
Okay.
Yeah.
So picking a meeting point, right, Michelle?
Right.
Okay, Michelle.
All right.
What's next?
What do we need to let our listeners know about here?
What are we doing?
Well, we have an exciting announcement.
Lindsay is going to be in someone's backyard, but not their actual backyard.
Unless you invite them to your, she's invited to your backyard for dinner.
No.
All right.
So what i want to make, a special announcement today is guys, this spring, in the month of may, i'll be visiting cairo, egypt.
I am so excited to go to egypt and i'm looking forward to seeing the city, going down south um, seeing the pyramids, and hopefully going to the red sea as well.
So i want to take this opportunity, you know, to let you guys know again, i'll using the phrases we said today i'll be heading to egypt in may, to cairo in may, and i would love to meet some listeners for an allers english dinner.
Right, that's what i would like to do.
So, oh my gosh, and you know, i've been been lucky enough, like i said, to meet leila for dinner in paris um, and we've been able to meet some of our listeners in new york city, boston and tokyo, but i would like to meet more listeners, michelle.
So I envision a few of us at a restaurant together.
You guys can hear my awful Arabic that I'm learning very slowly.
Oh, wow.
Very poorly.
So guys, drop me an email if you live in Cairo.
I already have one person that I have been messaging with.
My email is lindsay at allearsenglish.com.
That's L-I-N-D-S-A-Y.
AY at AllEarsEnglish.com and I will let you know the exact dates that I'll be in Cairo.
So good.
Amazing.
Oh, that'll be so great.
That's so exciting, Lindsay.
Guys, definitely go meet Lindsay in Cairo.
Amazing.
So excited.
All right, Michelle, should we dive into a role play for our listeners?
Let's do it.
Here we go.
Hey, Michelle, guess what?
What?
Well, I'm planning a trip.
I'm taking a trip to your backyard soon.
I'll be there the 13th through the 17th.
Wow, really?
Yeah, I really want to see you.
When are you free?
Well, I'm free on the 14th.
Amazing.
I'm going to be seeing a show on the 14th.
Can you meet me?
Yes, let's do dinner before.
I can't wait.
And that works out perfectly, right?
If they already have plans, you can kind of sneak a meeting in before or after a key plan that they have, because maybe they don't have extra tickets or something for the show.
But you could always have dinner before.
So smart.
It can be a little stressful to make these plans sometimes.
So I think, having some direction, like yeah, do you ever sometimes like I've been to cities where I know multiple people and it's like so exciting.
And sometimes though, it gets a little bit like yeah, I'm going to make all of this work.
It's true.
I think you have to really nail down plans ahead of time.
If you kind of say, oh yeah, we'll connect when i'm there, we'll figure it out, then the weekend could go by and then you haven't seen the person.
You just have to say okay, this restaurant this time.
You know that kind of thing.
So Right right, right.
Exactly.
I think that's a good point.
So let's go through this.
What did you say?
I'm planning on taking a trip to your backyard soon.
Right.
So again, I don't use that too much.
Do you use that your backyard, Michelle?
I mean, is this common?
I hear it a lot.
I hear it a lot.
But I mean, not too much.
But I hear I do hear it.
So I thought that it was a good one to teach, because people just so you know that people don't hopefully mean in your actual backyard
Yes.
Again, keep in mind, I'm not going to be in your backyard physically.
What's the next one that I said, Michelle?
OK, and then you said, I really want to see you.
When are you free?
And it seems like we're probably pretty close.
Right.
We know each other well.
And then I said, amazing.
I'm going to be seeing a show on the 14th.
Can you meet me?
Can you meet me?
Right.
Nice.
Yeah, I like it.
I like it.
Yeah.
So we're going to be able to make plans and it'll be great.
So yeah, you were able to connect with me.
You told me that you were going to be there.
I was excited.
We made our plans.
We're good.
So good.
Good stuff.
Well, what's our takeaway for today?
I mean, first of all, email me if you live in Cairo and you want to have dinner.
I'm like I said, out at a restaurant is perfect.
We don't need to go to anyone's home necessarily.
Right.
That's not what I'm asking for.
What I'm asking for is let's get together and have dinner together.
Right.
Let's enjoy.
And what's another takeaway from today's episode?
OK well, you know, use these when you are traveling and you're making plans, because this is really good connection skill.
You know it would be.
You know obviously, if you don't really want to see the person, don't tell them.
Yeah, of course.
Of course, of course.
But I think it's a good connection skill to be able to say in a fun way.
We taught you some kind of fun, cool ways to say this.
So try them out and we wish you loads of good traveling.
Yeah, I mean, keep in mind what travel's about when you travel.
Again, you know, it's about people, I think.
I guess people can have different opinions on this.
But at the end of the day, what are you going to remember?
Are you going to remember that 10th museum?
Or are you going to remember the dinner with your local friend?
Right?
For me, it's a no-brainer.
I'm with you, Lindsay.
It's a no-brainer.
Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, same here.
I totally agree.
So yeah, we'll have a great trip.
And I can't wait to hear who you meet up with.
I know.
I'm so excited.
Good stuff.
All right, Michelle, thanks for coming on the mic with me today.
I'll talk to you soon.
All right.
Bye, guys.
Bye.
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