Playful Rooted

When Ben and I came back from Barcelona, someone asked me how you can get around in a country where you don’t speak the language. This is a really good question. I think many people, especially Americans, think that because they speak only English, they can’t visit foreign countries. And nothing could be further from the truth!

Spain is the first country I’ve visited where I don’t speak the language at all (I think I knew about 15 words in Spanish before we arrived). Despite my lack of Spanish skills, we had a totally painless experience, and I wanted to share some things that helped me as a traveler in a truly foreign land.

• Learn basic survival phrases. Any good guidebook or Google search will provide you a list of survival phrases (hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me, how much, help, etc.). You only need a few of these to get by, and they’re easy to learn. Say them with a big smile, and even if you butcher the pronunciation, the effort goes a long way.
• Use what you already know. For the most common languages, you probably already know more than you think you do. Take the word jalapeño. You already know that the j makes an h sound. The a makes an ah sound. The ñ is rolled. Think about the sounds the letters make in other words – tortilla, queso, burrito. You can build a lot of knowledge just analyzing the sounds of words you already know. Using this knowledge, you can sound out items you see on a menu or read in a phrasebook.
• Don’t be afraid to look silly. Hand gestures work. Drawing a picture of what you need works. Pointing on a map with a bemused expression works. I know, because I’ve seen all three in action. In the beginning, it might seem embarrassing, but as you travel more and see stuff like this happening all the time, you realize it’s no big deal at all. Whatever you need to do, do it!
• Understand your advantage. As the world becomes smaller, English becomes more and more widely spoken. So many people struggle to learn English as a second language, and you don’t even have to think about it. In every single big city, there are tours, restaurants, museums, and other experiences catered directly to English speakers. Even non-touristy restaurants sometimes offer menus in English. And on that note…
• Expect people to respond in English. When we first got to Europe, I would get pretty offended when I spoke a foreign language and people responded in English. But after talking to friends and hearing about other people’s experiences, I’ve learned it’s just a thing. If people hear a foreign accent here (no matter what kind it is), they usually respond in English. It happens to everyone, so don’t be offended, and do take advantage of the help!

I hope this inspires you to expand your travel horizons and go visit the parts of the world you want to see without fear. It’s a big, strange, beautiful world out there, and by speaking English you already have an incredible travel advantage. Don’t let it go to waste!