Fodor's German for Travelers, 2nd edition (Cassette Package) : More than 3,800 Essential Words and Useful Phrases

by Fodor's

Release Date: 04 June, 2002

Edition: Audio Cassette

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Useful phrasebook

I plan on going to Europe soon, and hopefully, this guide will make it a smoother trip than the one I made to the eastern bloc some years ago.

This is a true story. During this trip I drove all the way from Germany to Bulgaria and Romania on the Black Sea back in 1981, which was interesting, because I got to see all the eastern bloc countries before the wall came down 10 years later.

I was in Sophia trying to ask a Bulgarian policemen where I could buy a map, which in Russian sounds like "Gedzye ya pokupaiyu carteeriye? and instead I pointed to the phrase in the Russian phrasebook which said, "Where can I find a mild laxative?" He gave me a look that indicated I hadn't quite communicated my real intent, and then I noticed where I was pointing in the phrasebook, and I guess the expression on my face did the rest, because at that point he basically realized I didn't know what the hell I was doing.

Anyway, hopefully my next trip will go smoother in the cross-cultural communication department.

Perfect for travelers

My native German friend was my personal translator but since I knew I'd be on my own half the time, I wanted to have a grasp of essential German words and expressions. I asked around for a good German program for travelers and a coworker recommended this program which didn't disappoint! The audio was great for helping me with pronunciation. What I learned in the "finding your way" section came in very handy when I was lost and needed to ask for directions back to my friend's place. The phrasebook also came in very handy especially when it came to dining out by myself. I knew I didn't want "hasenpfeffer" (spicy rabbit stew) or "eisbein" (pickled pig's knuckle)!