subject: Navigating Around A Foreign County [print this page] Many people find traveling outside their native country for the first time to be a frightening and nerve wracking experience. Mostly this is because of the language barriers that exist between borders of foreign countries. Before traveling to a new country, take a few hours to study the language and learn a few key phrases and will help you navigate your way around.
If you're planning a short trip to a new country you won't need to worry about spending years becoming fluent in the native language. Learning how to get around takes maybe a few hours of study. Buy a good pocket dictionary and carry it around with you wherever you go.
Also, it may be a good idea to invest in some good translator software. You can use this to translate important travel documents into the language of the country you're going to be visiting. You can also use the program as a quick reference when studying the language ahead of time.
The most important things to learn may not be conversational phrases. Knowing how to say "it's a lovely day outside" may sound like a useful phrase but won't help you get around. Know how to say things that will help you like asking for directions, ordering food, and finding out a street name or train stop.
Remember though-when you ask a person for directions in their native tongue they will most likely reply in their native tongue. Learn how to pick out key words in a sentence and piece them together from your dictionary.
Don't be afraid to ask a person to repeat what he or she said slower. Most people are happy to help out a lost traveler and have no problem accommodating their language comprehension level. Navigating around a new and foreign city doesn't have to be scary undertaking. Most large cities in non-English speaking countries have directions in English at most major stations and intersections. If you get lost, remember not to panic and to keep your wits about you.
Try to remember landmarks as you walk so that if you do get lost it will be easier to retrace your steps. Never forget that there's always a way back to where you started and that very few tourists get themselves lost to the point of no return. Knowing a few key phrases in the language of the country you're visiting can help you navigate back to where you need to be.
