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Being an expat in a country with an obscure language is easier than you might think

Nha Trang Beach SignThere’s an interesting paradox about languages and travel that surprised me when I learned it and I’m sure I’m not alone. It actually makes perfect sense when you think about it even for a bit, but I don’t imagine many people think about it until they have to. The short version is that the more obscure a language is beyond a country’s borders, the easier it tends to communicate with those people, and vice-versa.

In other words, since Spanish is the official (or at least main) language in about 20 countries, those living in those countries have little motivation to speak English as well. There is actually a lot of tourism between those 20 countries, so even hotel and tourist restaurant employees can often get by in Spanish only. On top of that, Spanish speakers can often communicate with French, Italian, and Portuguese speakers, so they have a huge audience without knowing English.

On the other hand, a country like Iceland has only about 300,000 residents, and its language is virtually unknown off the island itself. For this reason, the citizens of Iceland have an enormous incentive to learn and speak English, and so almost all of them do so fluently. If you are reading this, you could move to Iceland tomorrow, and be able to communicate in depth with almost everyone there.

Russian, French, and Spanish speaking countries are the tricky ones

Many Americans and even Brits first experience foreign travel in Spanish speaking countries, and when you discover what a struggle this can be, it’s easy to assume that small countries with uncommon languages are going to be even tougher. Of course it’s usually much easier, at least for those of us who get over the fear of going there.

I’ve spent time in Morocco and Tahiti, surprised a bit at first that French is actually the main second language in each, but of course it makes sense historically. Fortunately, those tourist-friendly countries also tend to do well with English, but from what I’ve experienced and heard, it’s Russia and the former USSR countries that are perhaps the trickiest in the world. Russia is widely understood in all of them, so it’s the main second language, and English is very spotty. English is now being aggressively taught in schools in most places in the region, but they still have a long way to go.

Looking like a foreigner is easier than looking like a local too

Another interesting paradox about languages I’ve discovered is that if you obviously look like a foreigner, it can be far easier than if you look like a local. I’m a tall white guy with dark blond hair, so when I’m in any European country that doesn’t border the Mediterranean, I could pass as a local to one degree or another. So in restaurants and shops, people tend to ignore me and then speak to me in the local language when I interact with them. I always have to reply back as quickly as possible with “I only speak English,” and they have to give up, or start again in English if they know enough of it.

Of course, as a tall white guy I go anywhere else in the world (except US, Canada, Oz etc) and everyone can see from across the street that I’m a foreigner. People often approach me because I look out of place, and sometimes they aren’t even trying to sell me anything. When I go into a restaurant or shop, they speak to me in English the best they are able. They don’t know if I’m Dutch or Irish or Canadian or what, but they know I must speak English far better than I speak their local language. Weirdly, it makes everything easier and less stressful.

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