Tips for traveling to Mexico when you don't speak the language
Wed. Feb/28th/2018.
Afraid to travel to Mexico because you don't speak Spanish?
Fear no more!
In most parts of Mexico, you dont have to worry about running into a situation you cant solve because of an inability to speak the language, as English is widely spoken in most tourist destinations around the country.
Check out these tips on communicating with locals, navigating public transportation & body language awareness tips for safety & respect of the culture:
Using Signs & Directories
Most airports, hotels or street signs have the wording written in Spanish with English beneath it.
If you run into situations where there are no English directories, you can use gestures and references to help communicate what you need.
One of the biggest learning curves you may have as a traveling American is adjusting to the metric system, so keep conversion apps handy, and be sure to download apps that can be accessible offline.
Body Language & Gestures
Sometimes understanding the accents is challenging, but body language and directional ques seems to be consistent throughout Mexico.
Simple hand gestures like the Shaka in Hawaii and the thumbs up in the U.S. are great ways to positively communicate with someone in those areas. But a thumbs up in the Middle East is like saying I plan to take this thumb and shove it up your
You get the idea.
Avoid using too many hand signals from your culture - the consequences can result in an offensive gesture, even if the offense was unintended.
In Mexico, however, you dont need to worry too much, as most gestures are consistent with those we use in the United States and Canada, and the locals are used to tourists from those areas.
Public Transportation, Taxis & Ubers
Good communication while traveling is imperative because the cost of getting lost when on the road can be rather expensive.
Mexico is set up for travelers and tourists to move around easily, providing safe and easy public transportation with a genuine care for the travelers safety and destination.
BUS TRAVELING TIPS
Communicating with Locals
Mexican people are very open and friendly, and no one seems to take offense to someone genuinely interested and willing to learn about their culture.
Smile and be pleasant, tone and delivery is important and dont be shy; the locals here will say Hola or common phrases such as Buenos Dias (Good Morning) or Buenas Noches (Good Night) to almost everyone who they pass. Acknowledge them with a kind response; you are in their country after all.
Make eye contact but not overly aggressively, and be aware of your body language. In most Latin American cultures, extended eye contact with the opposite sex can be viewed as sexual interest, so women should be especially sure to keep expressions friendly and short to not attract the wrong kind of attention.
Be observant of the gestures and social ques locals use to communicate to those within their culture.
Thanks for reading!
Written by: Dez of My Deztination.
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