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If you are young, embrace the opportunity to learn a second language. Take a course before you leave, study your new language thoroughly, and bask in the joy of
by GnarfGnarf 12y ago
If you are young, embrace the opportunity to learn a second language. Take a course before you leave, study your new language thoroughly, and bask in the joy of being accepted in a rich new culture. The culmination is when you can understand their jokes. The motivation is to bargain successfully in the marketplace (eg. Latin America) and not get taken advantage of.
I lived in Peru/Bolivia in 1968-69, taught high school physics in Spanish. One of the most enriching experiences of my life.
- gregd 12y agoNot "young" I'm afraid...in my 40s. But I feel young! Except every other day when I roll out of bed, aching in places I didn't know existed.
- personlurking 12y ago"and not get taken advantage of" The trick, IMHO, is to have some local knowledge of what's what and then to be firm in everything (and not afraid to say 'no'). If the phrase "you can't bullshit a bullshiter" is taken into consideration, the appearance of having adopted such a stance makes one pretty much immune from being taken advantage of. For anyone considering LatAm, just let people know they can't pull the wool over your eyes (no pun about llamas intended).