The problem with abroad is all the foreigners

I don't understand the point of traveling abroad if you don't want to learn the culture and everything they have to offer. Yes, definitely, I would want to learn the language along with native customs. If I wanted to live in my own, I would have stayed put right where I'm at.

I would definitely learn the language and the inner workings of the culture. You can go to another country and expect it to be like the one you just came from.This is the huge problem we are having in America today. We have many immigrants and the problem is that they aren't learning how to communicate. America is catering to them instead. Everything is in Spanish and 6 other languages so this makes things easier for the people who don't know English. We don't make them learn it and they don't.

I guess that would be the first thing we have to consider if we will decide to work and live in a place which has a different language as what we used to have...It will be very hard to find a good job if we can't communicate and hard to express what you feel,think and also will be very impossible to find friend..

The problem with Trinidad is no foreigners. The administration here is always talking about tourism and they have done so little to encourage overseas visitors that now they almost just don't come here at all. In the Caribbean foreigners are so important and it has made little islands everywhere rich and delightfull to have visitors all year round bring in an income and enliven the place. The politicians in Trinidad just don't see it that way. Try to get a work permit or residence and you see a kind of rude, insolent hell. I do empathise with all those who have been put off Trinidad. I know how it is.

Unlike most people, I think I can speak from personal experience of this one! Learning another language is not as easy as it may appear. I live 'abroad', but my language skills are not what I'd hoped they would be by now. Several reasons: * Where I live, the locals speak a 'country' dialect. What plays on my language CDs and what comes out of my neighbour's mouths might as well be two different languages! * I live in a very isolated location, and rarely get the opportunity to 'chat', which is how your language skills improve * I have a partner who speaks the language perfectly, so when there is something important to be done, it makes sense for him to do it right than for me to flounder around and get it wrong. If he's not around, my son also speaks pretty fluently so people tend to speak to him rather than me. * My immediate neighbours have no patience with me and walk off if we don't understand each other first time. This drives me bonkers, but I can't force people to listen! * I haven't the money or fuel to be attending lessons as the closest are about 30 minutes drive away. It's very frustrating, and you may look at the above reasons and consider them 'excuses'. I genuinely feel rather powerless though! However, I am slowly improving. I can understand the gist of a conversation now and can have fabulous conversations in my head! And I can manage if people are willing to give me the benefit of the doubt and listen. This is where the problem lies! Often, people don't want to take the time to let me try, or they immediately speak English themselves. That's very kind of them of course, but does nothing to help me improve. As a family, we are pretty integrated into the local community & you certainly couldn't consider my choice of location a ghetto (unless you included the chickens!). We take part in local activities, help our neighbours, my son attends the local school, we eat in local restaurants and use the local markets, my partner works with the local guys etc etc I do know the type of people you are talking about. There are people here who speak nothing but English and make no effort. One of our closest towns has a fairly large ex-pat community and I must admit that I find it rather annoying that they have actually printed some menus out in English in one of the local restaurants because they have so many customers who can't cope otherwise, and these are not tourists we're talking about. My language skills may not be what I'd wish, but I can at least order myself a meal! Sorry, I've found myself rabbiting on somewhat. This has stirred up some fairly fierce emotions for me and I'm feeling a bit defensive and sorry for myself now! Must go practice my grammar, must go practice my grammar, must go practice my grammar .... Ate logo!

For about 40 years now, I have been living in countries that do not speak my mothertongue (German). At this very moment I live in Colombia and am Spanish speaker, but before it had to be English, of course, Italian and French... And now I'm learning Swahili, because I'm preparing to leave for Kenya. Every time, learning to speak a new language opened the door to a new world of literature (how could I miss reading García Márquez in his brillant, brillant Castellan), of people and their traditions, in short, it is an enrichening experience. Those who will not bother to do this, frequently are not lazy or arrogant, but insecure of their ability to learn another language. Just look at the kids, they don't take care whether they make mistakes or not, they just speak!

I think I would try to learn the language, but I have a language learning problem. I love different places, and different foods so I might live in the "ghetto" because I wouldn't want to always have to speak the new language, but I don't think I'd isolate myself there.

I would definitely want to learn the language and embrace as much of the local culture as possible! You know that my brother lives in Spain and his wife is doing well with learning spanish but he just claims he is no good with languages and doesn't bother and that really irks me! I remember when I visited him he met a woman he used to work with who speaks no English and there was He that spoke no Spanish. They both chatted away in their respective language for about 15 minutes and the whole thing was quite surreal although they had no communication problems until he tried to tell her I was his sister - she thought I was his daughter which I found very funny - serves him right for not learning the language! lol xxx

I enjoy learning languages and meeting people of different backgrounds! SO I would not want to live only with people who are the same as me! In that case, they would decide that I was the one who is different! I know, it was like that until I moved out of my parents home. Most people were very similar, and they still choose who they would single out and call "weird"! How many other countries will pay millions of dollars for those Britons to learn the native languages of the countries they relocated into?

Hi P1kef1sh, My mother and her husband live in Spain and they are one of the few couples I know that have moved into the Spanish community rather than the ex-pats one. They love it out there and my step father speaks fluent Spanish, my mother struggles but she is almost deaf and this may be the reason it causes her problems but she mixes and socialises really well. They do know English speaking people out there too but not as many as if they lived in an ex-pat community. When I go over I love it because I can really experience the Spanish wat of life rather than ours abroad. I don't really speak other languages but have always attempted to learn a smidging for whatever country I have visited, I think it is polite too. The British are especially lazy when it comes to this as most people do speak English aswell as their native tongue. I personally love England and won't be moving abroad anyway. Ellie :D

pikefish oh yes indeed I would learn the language of whatever country I was in even if there were american ex pat community close by. I would want to be understood by the locals and not' make stupid or insulting errors even as I kept up my own american language. I would love to sample the native food and drink and get along with the native people as well. what would be the use of going to a foreign country if you did taste their food and learn bout their customs.WE should keep on learning as long as we live, I think most senility in people my age comes with not living life anymore. do crossword puzzle, and learn new languages, and take some classes at a junior college, use your mind. open each day as a special gift to be enjoyed.

It's like been born again, one must learn everything all over again. One must deal with different situations that will require certain knowledge. But like everything, it requires time and lots of patience.

I would learn the language and the custome of the country that I chose to live in.. We do have a huge problem with the Mexicans in Knoxville, as they do not want to learn the language, nor assimilate themselves into our culture, but expect us to change our ways for them.. If I did go to another country, it would be so much fun to learn of their cultures and ways..

language is only a tool,you can learn it whenever you want or whenever you need it.for a long time i have been thinking about why poeple want to move abroad to live.is there anything you can not stand in your original country? i do not want to move to a brand new place to start a so-called new life.

I would learn the language first or else I'd feel like a fish out of water. I even try to learn a bit of the language of whatever country I'm visiting for a holiday, just so as they don't think I'm ignorant. I learnt French at school so was fine on holiday in Normandy. I didn't learn any Spanish anywhere but I got a Spanish dictionary and learnt some key words from it. The trouble with Spain though is that I've got a typical English complexion, Mum calls it 'English Rose', so the Spanish people automatically spoke to me in English! In France though they waited for me to speak first, they seemed quite impressed that I'd made the effort to try and speak to them in their own language, some of them spoke back in French, some spoke back in English. I do think it's rather rude to even visit a country without knowing at least a little of the language, even if it is just asking for a cup of tea! I used to work in a shop and their were a couple of people who came in, they didn't speak any English at all but they lived in England, if they wanted something they used to point and talk to me in their own language, I'm afraid I did get rather cross with them and tried to avoid them most of the time. On the other hand, we did have some holiday makers come into the shop, they didn't speak much English but because they'd made the effort I was far more friendly and helpful towards them.

If I decided to move abroad I wouldn't want to be part of an ex-pats community. I would do my best to learn the language of the country, I'm not sure about sampling the food though. As I am constantly complaining about the amount of immigrants here who can't be bothered to speak English it would be hypocritical of me not to learn the language of any country I moved to.

I would certainly learn the language. I was just visiting and learned enough to get around. I think out of respect and common sense you should. What would make a person think that a whole country should learn your language to communicate?

I would have too. When I worked as an area manager in Baltimore it seemed that 90% of my employees spoke Swaheilli (sp) (yeah I can't spell it, imagine me trying to speak it) Every day when I would arrive they would start conversing among each other in their native tongue and it drove me batty wondering what on earth they were saying about me. So if I were going to move abroad I would have to learn the language or commit myself in a mental institution shortly after my arrival.

Flip side of the coin..but i wonder what the natives think of all the ex pats!!...I bet although naturally they generate income..they are regarded as a pain in the a**

We have lived in France for 12 years,the whole family. My daughter has a french partner and we have 2 grandsons from their relationship,their 2yrs old speaks french and english. Our grandaughter was 3 when we arrived and started school,tomorrow she takes her final exames before moving to the next level,she wishes to be an english teacher,she is top of the class in French. I hate hate hate, all the local brits who go to their once monthly sunday roast at the village hall,pathetic. Hardly any of them can say much in french,nor do they care. My french is not good but a week in hospital soon helped it along lol One other thing the brits do here and I have to hide with shame and pray no one french asks me to explain,,,they celebrate Firework Night November 5th,,how sad. But I think the worst example of living here and putting nothing in is they all think they have the right to medical care,Carte Vital,,,,they have never worked here ,paid into the system but as they are all in the EU they should get full care...