Resolution #3: I will communicate better with people who don't speak my language.
Notice the wording of this resolution does not require you to attain fluency in another language. That's a great thing to do, but many budget travelers have neither the time nor the resources for making it happen.
Still, if you're going to Germany, learn how to say Guten Morgen (good morning), Wieviel kostet es? (What does it cost?) and Sprechen sie (English)? A few basic phrases such as this open the door for common courtesy.
Native speakers will recognize my accent (or lack thereof) and spot me as an American, but the point here is not to fool anyone. These phrases from the first few weeks of my college German 101 class will show I've taken the time to learn a little about the destination and I'm courteous enough to speak German in Germany, no matter how poorly I do so. The same applies in any destination.
It's amazing how courtesy can transcend barriers of culture, politics or language. Courteous people often find they get better treatment.
Sometimes, the menu in your native language will have higher prices in it. Other times, the person on the opposite side of the counter will do you a favor that saves time or money because you made a good first impression.
Let's say you're going to a place where the alphabet is completely different from what you use at home. Will you starve?
Editor Cheryn Flanagan sees a growing number of travelers visiting China, where the language can be quite challenging. She's started a series of phrase books called Me No Speak. On the pages of her book, there are illustrations of commonly used objects such as camera batteries alongside the Chinese characters for that word. The book sells for $10 USD, fits in the palm of your hand and weighs two ounces.
It could save you hours of confusion. Getting lost or delayed by an uncommunicated need steals both time and money from your travel budget. Finding a phrase book such as Flanagan's will help safeguard these precious resources.
Click "next" and find out how I could actually recommend visiting an expensive destination with a clear conscience.
