Travel & Living Abroad Archives - Smart Language Learner

What NOT to Talk About When You’re in Another Country – 9 Lessons I Learned by Traveling and Living Abroad

So you’ve made it…

You can now speak your new language well enough to…

1) Talk about more than just the weather. 2) Say more things than just “your country is nice” (Benny, is that you?).

You’re ready to travel to the country where they speak your new language.

When you’re there, you just go out and talk, right?

Well, you may want to think again.

The average Western tourist (or expat) acts way too nice when abroad.

A fake happy, innocent, and weak attitude takes possession of him as soon as he sets foot on foreign soil.

His eagerness to be accepted by the natives is written all over his face.

Now you might think … so what? Someone who wants to be liked. Big deal!

But in underdeveloped countries, there are still some unwritten social laws.

And such open attitudes can get you in trouble.