German Conversation About Vacation – Listening Practice for Learners

I'm sitting here with Lilly and Sam and we are now talking about vacation. Tell me, what is the question that is asked the most in small talk conversations? I think the question is, are you going on vacation this year? And where are you going on vacation? I hear that a lot. Are you going away? Yes, so outside of Germany. We are going to Italy. You are going on vacation to Italy. And where in Italy are you going? Probably to Naples, so in the south and then to an island in front of Naples. How nice! Two weeks. Two weeks. And how are you going there? I think by plane, but ... Exactly, we fly and then we take a ship to the island. Okay, so you fly to Naples by plane and then from Naples you take a ship, a ferry maybe? Exactly, a ferry. And then with the ferry you go where? To Procida, which is a small island in front of Naples. How nice! Yes. And have you been there before? I haven't and I don't think I've really been to Italy yet. Just a little north, on the border with Switzerland. I've been to Italy a lot, but I've never been there. I've never been to Naples and I've never been to Procida. Do you already have plans for your vacation or are you more like spontaneous vacationers? No, I think we definitely want to see Pompeii. And what else? I want to lie on the beach and read. That's my plan. I just want to lie on the beach and read. And see the city. Swimming in the Mediterranean Sea would be cool. Yes. So a mix of relaxing vacation and a little city trip. Exactly. A little culture, a little sightseeing. Eating pizza. Pasta. Yes. Looking at things. Exactly, that would be the mix. A nice mix. Yes. And do you also speak a little Italian or how is that? A word in Italian. Oh, which one? No. Okay. I try to learn Italian a little bit and I once took an Italian course. But I only speak very, very, very, very, very basic Italian. Okay. Yes, but you will probably get along with English. Yes, I think so too. Tell me, where do you spend the night there? Do you have a hotel, hostel, a holiday apartment? I think hostel. But if it's cheap or if it's worth it, then maybe a hotel would be better. Exactly. And then maybe an Airbnb or a holiday apartment on the island. I have to say, we haven't booked anything yet. We are still planning. Yes. Oh, I think a good mix of planning and spontaneity is always nice on vacation, right? Yes, that's right. I think so too. And were you already on vacation somewhere this year or ...? We were in the USA for two weeks. We visited my family. Yes, I was there. Almost. I wasn't back in the USA for a year and a half. So it was nice to see my family. My brother got married in Rochester, New York. And then we were in Niagara Falls, Chicago, Compton East Lansing. Yes, in Michigan. A bit everywhere. In Michigan, Chicago and in Rochester, New York. That was really nice. You made a real trip. You saw a lot of places in the USA. It was very full. So we did or traveled almost every day. We had two or three chilly days, but ... We drove around a lot by car and also by train. Yes, once by train. From Jackson, Michigan to Chicago. How is that actually in the USA? Is it common to travel by train like in Europe or not? The train doesn't travel often. Maybe only three times a day a train travels from Detroit, Michigan, a big city, to Chicago, another big city. But the quality of the train was similar to an AC or IC. So it wasn't bad, but it's not really popular. The majority of people either travel by car or fly. Okay, so not like here. Many people travel by train here on vacation. But in Chicago there are buses and there is also a subway. Yes, exactly. And tell me, Sam, you said you were back in the USA for the first time in a year and a half. That must have been exciting for you to be back after such a long time. Yes. The country has changed a bit in the last year or so. But it was very relaxing. I haven't seen my family for a long time. We spent most of the time with my family. And also a few days with a good friend of mine. She just visited us. And Lilly, for you, was it the first time in the USA? No, it was the second time. Before that, I was in New York City. But before that, it was really just tourism. I only did things related to tourism. And now it was the first time I was really in America with American people. I haven't been to New York City yet. And really saw the American life. That was something different. Okay, exciting. And how is that for you? Because in France, for example, a lot of people also go on vacation in France in the summer. So they go on vacation in their own country. How do you see that in Germany? Or how is that for you in Germany? Do you also go on vacation in Germany? Sometimes I go on small vacations in Germany. It's nice when I visit friends in other cities. Or, for example, at Lake Constance. Sometimes I go on small vacations for four or five days. But mostly, for me, a real vacation is going to another country. Also for me, I would say, because I'm here in Europe, I use the opportunity to really go abroad. Yes, first of all to Italy. Then I've also been to the Netherlands, Belgium, France. So what's typical in the USA is that it's so big. Either when you go abroad, then you go to Canada or sometimes to Mexico. But normally you travel within the USA. One more quiz question at the end. Can you explain the difference between holidays and vacations? So holidays, I would say, is just the time you have off. In school, for example, you have summer holidays. That's six weeks here in the summer. And you have them off. And vacation is when you really go away. So you can also have holidays at home, I think. But for me, vacation is really when you go somewhere else and do something there. I've always interpreted it as holidays. Yes, it's just the free time, maybe for a holiday or holidays. And then vacation is when you really go on a trip or do something special. Usually during the holidays. But as an adult, you can also have vacation and not go away. That's true. And still have vacation, but not be on vacation, right? Yes, that's true. I think holidays always have something to do with school or university. In school you have holidays. And when you work as an adult, you usually have work and vacation. That's true. We call it, when you go on vacation, but don't go abroad or don't go on a trip, we call it in English staycation. That's true. I don't like a good staycation. Thank you very much for telling us about your vacation plans and stories. I wish you a great time in Italy. Thank you. Have a nice vacation. Click pictures. Yes, definitely. See you soon. Bye. Wait, wait, wait. I would like to know from you how it is with you. Are you still on vacation this year? Or have you already been on vacation this year? Or do you stay at home and do a staycation? Feel free to write that in the comments. I am very excited and look forward to the exchange with you. See you soon. Bye.