Ok, first of all, I'm really glad you don't butcher the actual people of other countries
Thanks for clarifying!
I agree with stitchawl- I believe it is my responsibility to learn the basic "polite" and necessary words (including the word for restroom
) before I go. Of course, I haven't been visiting a non-English speaking country since high school, unfortunately
In hs, one of the places I visited was Germany and I remember getting really frustrated as I was in a store, speaking German (I thought, fairly well, considering my limited years in instruction) and the lady kept talking to me in English. She thought it a great opportunity to practice English, and I thought it the perfect place to try out my German!
Now, for all of you planning to visit Hawai'i... I know you don't think of Hawai'i as a Hawaiian speaking "country" (state), and that's true, it's not (yet! Although it is a state language and the language is making a comeback). *However* there are a lot of Hawaiian words used in everyday vocabulary. When I worked nighttimes at a grocery story, nothing irked me more than dumb old tourists coming in, making fun of all the Hawaiian words "Look, honey, it's a makalakaukapuka! har har har!" That is just rude. To me, trying to pronounce a Hawaiian word and failing miserably is respectable (well, at least not rude!); to intentionally make a mockery of a beautiful and powerful language is just a travesty.