Open the Door

On this episode, I chat with a friend about opening the door to new opportunities.

English Level: B2 🇺🇸🇨🇦

Show Notes:

Introduction (0:21)
What does it mean to open the door? (1:26)
A story about serendipity (02:45)
Small changes and little things as a way to open the door (05:18)
Meghan’s story of how she opened a door at Oktoberfest in Munich (09:10)
Jorge’s and Meghan’s experiences in university (12:20)
Cultural challenges (14:20)
The necessity of opening and closing doors (17:00)
The story of how Meghan met her husband (21:08)
Conclusion of what opening the door is all about (27:33)
Audience question (29:49)

Vocabulary Words:

Heaviness (noun)- Schweregefühl
Serendipity(noun) – glücklicher Zufall, Fügung
Intern / internship (noun) – Praktikant / Praktikum
Risk averse (adj) – risikoscheu
Spouse (noun) – Ehepartner
Nuance (noun) – Nuance, Abstufung
Racks (noun) – Regale
scaffolding (noun) – Baugerüste, Gerüst
solidarity (noun) – Solidarität, Verbundenheit
inside joke [noun) – ein Scherz zwischen zwei oder mehreren Personen, den Außenstehende nicht verstehen (Deutsch umgangssprachlich: Insider Witz)

Phrases to Remember:

release tension – to relax
to open up to someone – If someone opens up, they start to say exactly what they think or feel.
to fit the mold – to fit into the picture of something
test the waters – If you test the water or test the waters, you try to find out what reaction an action or idea will get before you do it or tell it to people.
to check things off – When you check things off, you check or count them while referring to a list of them, to make sure you have considered all of them.
To slow down – If someone slows down or if something slows them down, they become less active.
To break the ice – to relieve shyness or reserve, esp between strangers