Do you speak English?

Don’t let the title of this post fool you – this isn’t a complaint on language barriers – just some observations and thoughts I have had over the last five months.

Language barriers are something I am actually quite used to, and I like going way outside of my comfort zone when it comes to them. From Italian, to Hindi, to Swahili, and even being around my boyfriend’s family when they are speaking Kutchi (a language I didn’t even know existed before meeting him!), I have never minded being an outsider, in fact, I really enjoy being immersed in a situation where I watch people interact in their own languages and trying to imagine what they are talking about. What I find interesting is that, in each situation, I was treated differently for my own ability (or should I say inability) to speak the common language at the time.

In Italy, people were very enthusiastic about teaching me Italian. Everywhere I went, everything I ate, everything I touched or held was translated to me in Italian and I had to repeat it, sometimes for dozens of people at a time. And every subsequent time I went there, ate that one thing , touched it or held it, I had to repeat it. And no one ever laughed at me, they genuinely wanted me to learn.

Contrast this with Tanzania. People were very enthusiastic about teaching me Swahili, but not for my enrichment, rather for their comedic enjoyment. Every single word you say in Swahili is an invitation for an entire group of people to laugh at you (including finger pointing). Talk about nerve wracking right? Wrong. It was actually so much fun to speak Swahili knowing how much fun Tanzanians were having with you, and as much as it seemed like they were laughing AT me, it really was a situation in which they were laughing with me. And without experiencing it, it is impossible to describe a Tanzanian sense of humour, it is in a realm all on it’s own, but worth exploring yourself, and also something often worth pondering.

France. I know people have heard, without me telling you, that Parisians hate when tourists can’t speak French. What I am not going to do is say that this is false, because it isn’t. It is just very oversimplified. Aman and I have encountered the Parisian we all hear about:

Us: Parlez-vous anglais?
Parisian: No
Us: Uhhh avez-vous…DISH..rack? *cue sign language*
Parisian: ??
Us: Merci
Parisian: Have a good day!

I will admit that at times it is frustrating, but imagine being the top tourist destination in the world (France receives the most tourists visits per year out of any country in the world), with most tourists strolling in like they are doing France a favour by being there, and assuming everyone here speaks English because of it. I guess brushing up on the French basics is a necessity. And I don’t blame them, I think showing you have tried to learn the language is a huge sign of respect.

More than anything, all of these situations, and in particular the last five months, have put things into perspective for me. Do you know how many people immigrate to Canada and don’t know a lick of English? Let me tell you, tonnes. Something I would have said a few years ago is,  “of course, it is frustrating for them, not speaking English, but this is an English speaking country so they should learn.” Well, now being thrown into very similar situations, I know that it is not so easy. One thing I have learned while traveling is that, showing you know a little bit of the language, are aware of how locals interact (taboos, courtesies, etc.), and respecting the local culture – through dress or the like – is an amazing way to experience the country you are in. It leads to an extremely different adventure than what you were planning!

Cooking dinner in Tanzania