How many languages do you speak?
How many languages do you speak? Do you think if you could speak more languages, you would have a better travel experience? This is a great question. Many people have asked me this over the years. However, unless you have a talent for picking up languages, the idea that you'll travel the world and learn many of them is often just that—a thought. I was a bit concerned about this before my travels in Africa, but I had already made it through South America without any issues that stand out in my memory. I would be hard-pressed to tell you a story where I couldn't communicate and suffered any real consequences because of it. The closest I have is what turned into a funny story. I was in a town in Ecuador looking for some cash, so I asked a lady, in Spanish, "¿Dónde está el banco?"—simply, "Where is the bank?" She shook her head, indicating she didn't know where one was. I then stopped, looked around, and started laughing to myself. Why was I laughing? Because on three of the four street corners there was a bank! It wasn't that I spoke so poorly that she didn't understand me. Instead, she simply didn't want to answer my question. I believe that, at the man-on-the-street level, the language of money is king. When you want to buy something and the seller wants to make the sale, the two of you will almost always find a way to communicate and get the transaction done. Of course, we've all heard about the instant translators you can wear in your ear. They may be very good. I have no experience with them, and I have no interest in using them because I've always believed that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. https://web.facebook.com/Terrylister.username/