Communication Differences

November 6, 2023

Reflecting upon our entire three-month tour of Europe, I was delighted and surprised by people’s directness. I’d just spent 10 years “trained” to “be curious,” because many people were put-off when I was direct (yet men are not questioned when they are direct? Hmmm… Another topic, another day!). Anyway, much of this directness could easily be attributed to the language barrier.

It’s difficult to inquire as to someone’s day or where they might be visiting from if you can’t understand their response. Overall, we found it was better to use fewer words when attempting to communicate our needs. For example, “I’m curious if you have time to bring me tap water with lemon and ice?” is probably better asked as “Tap water with lemon and ice please?”

Another great example was trying to understand hotel policies as it related to a bed bug infestation in Paris and our decision to visit or not. I wanted to ask, “I understand Paris currently has a bed bug infestation. What is your hotel doing to prevent it? I understand you check rooms daily, but if you’re waiting until you find them, it’s too late. What are your policies to proactively prevent an infestation?” In the end, we decided to visit even though I could not confirm prevention practices!

Oh the little nuances you pick up when traveling. Thoughts and ideas I might not have had if I'd never left my home country. What other learnings have you picked up through your adventures? How do you find travel forces your mind to expand? Do you appreciate it? Do you share your findings with others?