There’s an old joke — If someone who speaks two languages is bilingual and someone who speaks three languages is trilingual, what do you call someone who speaks only one language? American. I’m in Turkey as I write this and this trip brings that joke home more than ever.
Personally, I speak mediocre French, and a handful of words in other languages, just enough for the basics, as in “Hello”, “Goodbye” , “Please”, “Thank you”, and “Where is the bathroom?” But traveling in Turkey, a country where even the simplest phrases are difficult, I am reminded, again, how easy Americans have it overseas.
First, even many small shops in Istanbul take U.S. dollars, and cheerfully give you change in Turkish lira, at a fair exchange rate. The shopkeepers keep a little calculator by the register, and act like it’s no problem at all.
Even in countries where change is more of an issue, I have been amazed over the years at how many merchants say “Dollars okay,” even in relatively small towns.
Language is the other way in which U.S. tourists find it easy. Even many locals who say “Only a little” when asked if they speak English, then proceed to put Americans with a few years of language lessons to shame.
When the situation is reversed, suffice it to say U.S. visitors have a much more difficult time. Our airports may have symbols but few signs in foreign languages, with the exceptions of places like Miami, where many locals speak Spanish.
Anyone trying to pay in foreign currency outside of an American airport would be out of luck, with the possible exception of towns near the border (Seattle, for example, has a number of establishments that will take Canadian dollars), and a few places in cities like New York. But even there, it is difficult.
Major tourist attractions, Disney World comes to mind, do have guidebooks in a number of languages, as do the street vendors in places like Washington, D.C., though most of those vendors don’t speak any of those languages.
On top of it all, locals seem to like us. I have no doubt that many in Istanbul have heard about the mosque issue in the U.S., but whether it’s out of politeness, or the fact that they figure Americans who travel are more tolerant, I haven’t heard a single negative comment.
Nor did I see a single protester outside the McDonald’s restaurant in the shadow of Turkey’s very sacred Blue Mosque.
Granted, since the U.S. has been one of the richest countries in the world for a long time, there are economic reasons why other countries have made it so easy for us. But it’s still a nice thing, and I am grateful.
Obama may have lost his mojo back home, but here, several stores and restaurants have pictures of American presidents visiting, and a few merchants have posted “Obama” buttons, presumably to attract business.
Janice Hough is a California-based travel agent a travel blogger and a part-time comedy writer. A frequent flier herself, she’s been doing battle with airlines, hotels, and other travel companies for over three decades. Besides writing for Travelers United, Janice has a humor blog at Leftcoastsportsbabe.com (Warning, the political and sports humor therein does not represent the views of anyone but herself.)
