MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - To speak or not to speak the local language when visiting other countries?

dreams · 06-19-2009, 08:50 PM

I also tend to feel more helpful to those who try to speak my language when visiting. For that reason, I try to learn basic words when I travel to other countries.

This results in some unusual situations. In an Italian cafe one time, no one spoke English so I tried to ask for a Café mocha (addicted to Starbucks at the time).

I tried to clarify by speaking Spanish (he told me he understood Spanish) and thought we understood each other. The result was a large cup/bowl of warm espresso chocolate pudding! Of course, I had to drink/eat it as they were all so happy to have made it for me... (well, either that or they were all smiling because they put one over on an "American" for a good chunk of money

06-19-2009, 08:50 PM	#11
dreams It's about the umbrella Posts: 25,110 Karma: 56250158 Join Date: Jan 2009 Device: Sony 505\| K Fire \| KK 3G+Wi-Fi \| iPhone 3Gs \|Vista 32-bit Hm Prem w/FF	I also tend to feel more helpful to those who try to speak my language when visiting. For that reason, I try to learn basic words when I travel to other countries. This results in some unusual situations. In an Italian cafe one time, no one spoke English so I tried to ask for a Café mocha (addicted to Starbucks at the time). I tried to clarify by speaking Spanish (he told me he understood Spanish) and thought we understood each other. The result was a large cup/bowl of warm espresso chocolate pudding! Of course, I had to drink/eat it as they were all so happy to have made it for me... (well, either that or they were all smiling because they put one over on an "American" for a good chunk of money