Agde is a little-known town one hour's drive west from Montpelier. Traditionally beautiful with boulangeries around every corner, each likely having served there fair share of TV commercial scouts through the years.

1) THERE ARE OVER 1 MILLION OF THEM

In a new series of interviews about the experience of language learning, I asked Katy a few questions about her experience with Norwegian.

In 2007 I had finally earned that BA in Literature Writing and told my good friend Neil that I was considering a solo trip to Venice to celebrate. I’m not sure I’d have actually gone, but telling him took care of me waffling or backing down. The man is relentless.

You awake with the sun around 5am. In the single bed you most often must share you push aside some token family member, clamber over their sweaty frame, and make your way to the adjoining living area of your family home. The concrete floor and walls and the low corrugated iron roof have never seen a lick of paint that would expand its drab color spectrum beyond that of ‘Institution Grey’. The only window at least has glass which you’re grateful for despite it being heavily tinted, as became tradition from the days of rebellion against the Indonesians. There’s little enlivening this central space except a scatter of plastic furnishings, a much prized television and curtains across internal doorways.

My vocabulary has changed over the seven years I’ve lived in the US. I sound more or less the same — at least to my own ears — but, one word or phrase at a time, I also sound less and less like my old self.

Capoeira is a very unique cultural aspect of Brazil and one that while it has its origins elsewhere has become very Brazilian in its customs, history, and usage. With different elements of dance mixed in with parts of martial arts, Capoeira is unlike any other form of movement in the Western Hemisphere. Not only is Capoeira based on dance and martial arts, it is also formed from a foundation of acrobatics and music to accompany the many movements. The amount of exercise involved in becoming a true Capoeira artist means that you will definitely break a sweat while getting physically fit if you intend to practice this unique art form on a daily basis.

In 2010 just after my 31st birthday I boarded an Emirates airplane to Heathrow airport London after more than three years of planning this trip. But just before I boarded I said goodbye to my mum dad brother and sister. My whole family came to see me off because it was my first time. My first time to travel far away from home. My first time to travel on a plane to another country by my self.

It is popularly wondered by many US ladies why Parisian women are so skinny due to all the high calorie food they serve in France. Completely different lifestyles are lived between the American and French cultures so let me explain some things they do differently from us here in the US.

Once a foreigner, always a foreigner. I learned that the hard way. Traveling is transformative, in the sense that it puts you squarely in the fire of transformation. That fire burns away everything that you are not, and within the ash remains only what and who you truly are. I’ve had the incredible experience of getting to travel the seven seas, seeking all manner of things-temples, languages, food and much more, but the only thing I ended up truly finding was myself. For me, deciding to leave home and move to the People’s Republic of China was me a no brainer, however returning home a six years later was not just a difficult decision to make but it was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life.

Following Vanlifers on social media is fun. I know because I used to follow loads of them. Some of the shots are mind blowing. Beautiful beaches, mountains and forests. They really make you feel like van life is the only way to go. No worries, no responsibilities, no work, sounds perfect right? The trouble is there are worries, loads of them. If you’re travelling with animals or kids, then there are responsibilities. And as for no work, if you’re not working then you’re not moving. Fuel costs money, and if you want money, you have to work.

How's it going guys? I'm Tom. I turned 18 a few months ago and being an adult means you have more of a say both politically and socially. So, here is where my head's at in this point of time.