On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:33:38 +0000, Invisible wrote:

>>> I never did understand how travel is supposed to teach you anything.
>>> (Other than how to feel lost and afraid - which I already know how to
>>> do.)
>> 
>> Going places and interacting with people teaches you about how people
>> behave.
> 
> Interesting. IME, "travel" involves sitting in a moving vehicle for
> hours feeling bored and uncomfortable. And let's put it this way: I
> can't interact with people who speak my own language. How am I supposed
> to get anywhere with people who don't even know what I'm saying?

English is understood in many parts of the world.  I was in Barcelona a 
few years back, and thought I'd demonstrate my skills by speaking 
Spanish.  You know what?  They don't speak Spanish in Barcelona - they 
speak Catalan, which is a hybrid variant of Spanish and French.

I still managed to communicate effectively enough to find what I was 
looking for.

Similarly, when I was in Russia, I managed to get by just fine, even in 
situations where the person I was talking to spoke no English at all - 
and I don't speak Russian.  If anything, in many foreign countries, 
people are more forgiving if you (a) make an effort to try to say 
something in their language, and (b) often times will take advantage of 
the opportunity to practice their English skills, which very frequently 
are very good.

I evaluate prospective instructors in English; I've evaluated instructors 
from Pakistan, most of Europe, Latin America, South America, and I've got 
one next month from China.  I've been very impressed at how well most of 
them speak English, given it's a second language for them.

> (I was about to add "and probably don't like me", but then I remembered
> that that's normal anyway...)

I call bullshit, Andy.  You may not realize it, but there are plenty of 
people who like you.  I've told you before, I don't interact with people 
I don't like, and I'm interacting with you.  That offer to go out for a 
Dr. Pepper when we're next over in the UK is still on, BTW. 

Unfortunately, it's still going to be a little bit before I actually get 
there, what with the US economy being tanked at the moment (and the 
exchange rates being great for those from Europe coming over here but not 
so good for those from the US going to visit in Europe).

Don't assume that people who have never met you don't like you.  Remember 
what "assume" means.

Jim

Post a reply to this message