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By
Victor Tinnish
Harlaxton College Web Design Student
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Traveling to countries with an unfamiliar primary language can be somewhat intimidating, but “it’s amazing how far you can go with a smile and a handshake,” Bronwyn Rout says.
Rout, the associate dean of students, has traveled extensively to countries of different language and dialect. Being subject to different languages and cultures can be a burden, but sometimes you’re just a smile away from help.
“I’ve studied for three months in Indonesia and stayed with a family there” she says. “In France, I worked as a teacher’s assistant.”
Aside from Indonesia and France, Rout has an impressive array of travel history ranging from Belgium, Ireland, and even the emirate of Dubai.
Having an open mind and being prepared for locals that don’t speak any English would be in your best interest. From experience Rout said that, “It’s important to go with an open mind and not to expect people to speak English just because you do.”
It has become increasingly popular to travel in today’s world, especially to countries that have a different primary language than English. Study abroad is appealing to many and extended travel is very easily attained, but there are always some things that take some getting used to.
But what if your smile and patience aren’t accepted or don’t work? It may be helpful to familiarize yourself with the culture before you go to avoid unwanted situations.
“You can’t rely totally on stopping to ask directions,” said Benjamin McElwee, 21, a junior from North Manchester, Ind. During his travels in Germany, McElwee found that even though you stop to ask for directions and you’re polite, you may not be able to communicate well enough.
“We stopped at three different places to find someone who spoke English and knew where the place was,” he says.
Directions to and from the airport and to your hostel are crucial when trying to navigate a city that is completely foreign to you. A good tip to follow is to get familiar with the local language.
This doesn’t mean go out and try to learn German or French in a few days, but if you were to know a few common terms, they may be very useful. "Please" and "thank you" go a long way when you’re the new guy and you need help.
Another stumbling block of traveling to various destinations is learning the currency. “Negotiating on price is hard when you don’t speak the same language” McElwee says. It’s best that you know what the current conversion rates are and how much you will get for what you give. Currency, in addition to language, may be different in every country, but it makes the world go around no matter where you go.
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“It’s amazing how far you can go with a smile and a handshake,” Bronwyn Rout says of traveling in a country where you don't speak the language.
McElwee gives advice from his time in Germany.