this post was submitted on 07 Nov 2024
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If I could only learn one additional language, and I wanted to travel the world, what language would serve me best other than English or Spanish?

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[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Learning the local word for sorry is really handy! I feel you, my partner and I struggle with the same sometimes. Most people everywhere are patient and polite, and want you to love their country!

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

in latin america they were nice to the white passing americans like me that i was traveling with at the time and not so much to me because my words said that i was was sorry, but things like my facial expression; or body language; or intonation said otherwise and i can't imagine how similar situations would work out if i didn't even have the words.

also that and other related experiences over the decades teaches me that the benefit of the doubt comes rare once i've committed that faux pas and the local version of "sorry" by itself doesn't work well if they're angry about the perceived transgression.