Foreign Language skills

[PlatypusMan]

As divers, we travel to some pretty far-flung places in search of interesting dive sites and experiences.

Do any of you make the effort to learn/speak the local dominant language (or perhaps just some basic phrases) when going to that next destination?

If you have, did you feel that it enhanced your enjoyment of the trip?

PPM

[neugierig]

i do try to learn basic stuff like, hi, thanks, good morning. but i dont notice any big difference on the way the staff treats me. however, i do enjoy learning some foreign phrases, so in my case, its an enjoyable exercise.

[Lulubelle]

Absolutely I try to learn a bit of the language when I travel. Especially the basics like hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and of course, where is the bathroom. It was really hard in China, because I couldn't READ their language to help learn it. I had some very interesting pantomimes while I was there trying to communicate.

People across cultures always appreciate the attempt as opposed to you expecting them to speak YOUR language. My efforts have led to some incredible hospitality being extended to me in many places, and no, not just by boys. The comment has been made to me that most Americans do not even attempt to speak any word of the language of the country they are in, they just expect everyone to speak English. Some cultures consider this rude.

At least learn hello, goodbye, please, and thank you any place you go. Also probably "I don't speak...mandarin or whatever language." It isn't too hard to do.

I am trying to reach fluency in Italian as we speak, but that 70 hour a week job of mine gets in the way. Won't be terribly practical anyway.

[tndiverdude]

We were looking into the rosetta stone programs for some of the basics. IT prevents the mixups and makes signs recognizable. So if you cant read a language through visual recognition you could make out what some say.

jimmy

[ektess1]

If you are going to leave your resort and mingle with regular people, learn as much of the language and culture as possible. You will find the trip much more enjoyable. You might get to see things that tourist don't ever see. The people are generally nicer when you make an effort.

[rox@ucf11]

I have learned some spanish enough to be able to communicate in most instances, it helps a ton!

[tndiverdude]

Thankfully we don't leave the US or TN/NC for that matter.
BUt my hope is one day diving at Macchu Picchu and my wife wants to snorkel the Agean and I am not sure where daughter wants to go. But we will hopefully by then know a little of the language.

jimmy