Lost in Translation: Adventures in Not Knowing What Anyone Is Saying (But Still Having the Best Time)

If there’s one thing I’ve learned while traveling, it’s this: you do not need to speak the language fluently to have an unforgettable experience. But you do need a sense of humor, a little creativity, and the willingness to pantomime like your life depends on it.

Let’s rewind to high school.
We were on a school trip to Mexico — a few stops, including Mexico City and the dreamy Isla Mujeres. So far, so good. But during one of the transfers, our taxi driver happily took off… in the wrong direction. As in, toward the aeropuerto instead of the barca (ferry). Which would’ve been great if we were flying out — but spoiler alert: we weren’t.

So there we are, crammed in the back of a cab, armed with minimal Spanish and a vague understanding of geography, trying to explain that we needed to go to the ships, not the skies. Pretty sure we were just pointing wildly at the water and saying “NO AEROPUERTO” like deranged parrots.

Miraculously, we made it.
No Google Translate. No adult-level language comprehension. Just pure teenage panic and hand gestures.
That’s the moment I knew:
I’m cut out for this. I can travel. I can figure things out.

Fast forward to just recently — my husband and I were on a catamaran in the Caribbean, surrounded by 9 French-speaking passengers and a very enthusiastic French-speaking captain. Did we know what was going on? Not really. Were we worried? Not at all. Everyone was laughing, sipping wine, and diving off the back of the boat. It turns out, joy is universal — and apparently so is sunscreen, because someone always offers you some.

Another time, I was on a snorkeling trip in Hawaii. The entire boat was filled with Japanese tourists. The guide gave a quick little explanation in English: “You know, don’t touch coral, stay close, have fun.”
Then he launched into the Japanese version — which lasted three times as long and sounded way more exciting. I’m not entirely sure what adventures they were about to embark on, but I definitely felt like I was missing out.

Here’s the thing:
You’re not always going to understand what’s being said.
But you can always find a way to connect.

A smile, a thumbs up, a badly pronounced phrase — it all counts. People appreciate the effort. They meet you where you are. And sometimes, the best stories come from the moments you were completely confused, but went for it anyway.

So yes, learn the basics.
Practice “thank you” and “where’s the bathroom?”
But don’t let fear of a language barrier keep you from seeing the world.

Because some of my best memories were made when I had no idea what was going on — and it was amazing.

—

GRL On the Go
Fluent in adventure, mildly fluent in Spanish, and always willing to try.