You know that look other people give when you accidentally, yet very publicly, let a noxious emission slip from between two tightly clenched butt cheeks?
Look familiar?
Of course you do (don’t lie ladies… it happens at least once to everyone).
Well get ready… because this is the exact same look you will get when trying to stumble through a new language while in another country.
You: “Pardoname… Donde es bus.” (Trying to ask for directions to the bus)
Them: …
You: “Puedo comprar dos boletas por el train.” (Trying to buy two tickets for the train)
Them: …
You: Accidentally letting a fart slip in public… Whoops!
Them: …
Well that last one is universal. Let it go, people! Sometimes it just can’t be helped!
But my point is that no matter where you go, when you don’t know the language you will be greeted with the same face.
Don’t be intimated!
Don’t be shy!
The key to enjoying your foreign travels is to become comfortable with these faces and to relish in the learning opportunities. Travelers that not only survive, but thrive, on their RTW journey’s attack their language difficulties aggressively and with a good sense of humor… ego be damned.
Realize that:
- 95% of most people on planet earth are kind, patient, and willing to help a polite and eager foreigner stumbling through a new language.
- That awkward face being made in your direction is 99 parts confusion at your terrible pronunciation and vocab, while only 1 part is mild judgment at your lameness.
- Nothing bad happens when people laugh at you… especially when you cannot understand what they are saying!
So get over any embarrassment you might have and get humiliated early and often by trying the new language whenever you can. Believe it or not, it is much harder to be embarrassed when you don’t understand the language.
Don’t believe me? Try letting one rip next time you are in a foreign land and see how little you care what others think.
Or just start speaking the new language… whatever you prefer.
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