Special to the I-O by Cindy Habets Peterson
I often have people tell me that they are hesitant to travel to foreign countries because of the language barrier.  Indeed, wandering into a country where people are speaking a foreign tongue can be intimidating.  But it doesn’t have to be.  Here are some tried and true tips for traveling in countries where English is not the first language, or can be used if your Kymer/Japanese/Urdu is a little on the rusty side.

A smile is worth a thousand words

You will be amazed at how much you can convey without speaking.  The average person will go out of their way to help someone that smiles and asks politely for help, even if they can’t understand a word you are saying.  Much like at home, being angry or demanding won’t get you very far.  Even if you are frustrated, hot, and about to miss your train because you don’t know where you are or where you are supposed to be going, don’t lose your cool.  Take a deep breath, smile, and I guarantee that taxi driver will go out of his way to help you find the train station in record time.