The only language I can fluently speak is English. I took Spanish in high school for four years, and can understand probably 80% of Filipino. I know some things in French and am picking up words here and there in German.
I've been in Europe for a little over a month now, and I have been surviving quite well with my English and whatever little knowledge I have of any other language(s). (By the way, my English speaking abilities have been declining slightly.) I've become very good at pointing at things on a menu, finding ways to explain things in a different way (i.e. using hand motions or drawing pictures), and learning to just go with the flow. "English?" is also a frequently used question in my vocabulary...not "Do you speak English?"--just "English?".
Throughout the many language barriers/obstacles that I have come across so far in Europe, (and there have been A LOT!) one thing has stayed constant--my ability to say thank you.
I know how to say thank you in English (obviously), German, Spanish, French, Italian, Filipino, and Chinese. And I'm thankful (pun intended!) that I can be polite to others--after getting my food at a restaurant, asking someone to take my picture for me in front of the Eiffel Tower, or after someone gives me directions to the metro.
Travel tip (I'm working on a post that will have more travel tips!): Know a couple common phrases in a second language (or multiple languages)--they can be really helpful!...Better yet, learn another language entirely!
Peace. Love. Happiness.
--TR
Amen.
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