Language (Mis)Adventures while Traveling

">Written by Marcus CederstromWelcome to my blog, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Before traveling to Wroclaw, Poland I was warned about the language barrier.  Younger people would be able to speak English along with their native Polish, but the older generation would speak Polish and Russian, although they would deny being able to speak Russian unless absolutely necessary.  I was told it was a cultural thing stretching back to Soviet rule.  Mostly though, I was told not to worry about it.  So I didn’t. When doing my travel planning, I didn’t think to bring a phrase book.

Wroclaw riverside

But then I suddenly found myself in a train station, late, without a ticket, and no idea where to go.  And I started to worry.  I do not speak Polish. And I do not speak Russian.  And this was causing a huge problem in my ability to communicate.  I had intended to head out to a town called Rogoźnica to visit an old concentration camp called Gross-Rosen (an amazingly somber and impressive experience by the way and one that I can not say enough about).

I had identified the time I needed to be at the train station and taken care to write everything down so I wouldn’t forget. And away I went to the train station.  What I had not taken care to do was figure out how long it would take me to walk to the train station. I made it though with a bit of time to spare and was pleased to see plenty of ticket windows open and available. I chose the window with the youngest looking employee in hopes of getting someone who spoke English. I did not.

Wroclaw railway station

I began pointing at my piece of paper, attempting to explain the time and place that I wanted to go.  To no avail.  Tens of minutes passed in hopes of finding a ticket to where I needed to be.  Finally, with the help of a second woman, I managed to purchase a ticket.  They had written down for me the platform I was to leave from and the time.  Away I went, harried, but relatively pleased to have a ticket in hand.

As I sprinted to the platform, I noticed something strange.  The time at the platform didn’t match the time on my ticket.  The time on the next platform over did.  I took my chances and went to my original platform.  I found a conductor.  He did not speak English.  I pointed to my ticket, to the train and did the classic shoulder shrug as if to say, is this right? His response? Nyet. I don’t speak Russian or Polish, but I knew what that meant.  So I turned and sprinted for the other train only to watch it pull away.

This time I managed to find a customer service desk.  And the employee there spoke flawless English.  As I kicked myself for not trying the customer service desk first, I was told that the next train didn’t leave for several hours.  My only option was a taxi.

And so, a very long taxi-drive later, and I finally arrived at my destination.  An unused train ticket in hand, and a newfound respect for the language barrier.

When thinking of European destinations, do you consider the language barrier? And have you had any horror stories with your lack of language skills?

Share and Enjoy:This entry was postedon Wednesday, January 26th, 2011 at 7:23 pmand is filed under Poland.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Related posts:British Airways your customer service at Heathrow Terminal 5 sucksDo you find the French rude?Jet2 tops UK customer service pollRail travel in Europe: On the right tracksThe (Not So) Old Town of Wroclaw, Poland Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

Popular Destinations & TopicsairportsAmsterdamBarcelonabeachesBelfastBerlinBerwick upon TweedbookscafescastlescathedralsChristmascyclingDublinEdinburghfestivalsgardensGlasgowhotel reviewsislandsIstanbulIstriakidsLondonManchestermuseumsParisparksphotosPragueRomeRyanairshort breakssportsStockholmstreet arttravel blog carnivalTuscanyvideosViennaviewswalkingwildlifewineZagreb
Country/Category IndexSelect CategoryAccommodationAir TravelAlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBosniaBudget OptionsBulgariaCar HireChannel IslandsConsumer IssuesCroatiaCultureCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDestination GuidesEnglandEstoniaEuropean Travel TipsEventsFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHollandHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyKosovoLatviaLithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaMonte CarloMontenegroNorthern IrelandNorwayPodcastsPolandPortugalRail TravelRestaurantsRomaniaRussiaScotlandSlovakiaSloveniaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTechnologyTurkeyUncategorizedUnited KingdomWales
Latest Articles10 of the Best Cities to Visit in EuropeFive of the Best Things to Do in TuscanySix Tips on Making Time for TravelPodcast 27 January 2011: Istanbul’s Ice Museum, Vienna’s Cafe Culture, Language (Mis)Advertures & New Paris Holocaust MemorialMagic Ice – Istanbul’s Ice Museum


Listen on audioboo.fm!
More about Europe a la Carte AdvertiseComments PolicyContactDisclosure PolicyEditor’s Upcoming TripsEurope a la Carte PodcastsMedia MentionsMeet the Current WritersArchives Select Month January 2011  (40) December 2010  (57) November 2010  (55) October 2010  (48) September 2010  (57) August 2010  (65) July 2010  (59) June 2010  (59) May 2010  (66) April 2010  (57) March 2010  (45) February 2010  (47) January 2010  (42) December 2009  (68) November 2009  (34) October 2009  (49) September 2009  (33) August 2009  (73) July 2009  (37) June 2009  (51) May 2009  (38) April 2009  (45) March 2009  (36) February 2009  (25) January 2009  (23) December 2008  (32) November 2008  (36) October 2008  (42) September 2008  (32) August 2008  (47) July 2008  (59) June 2008  (35) May 2008  (16) April 2008  (28) March 2008  (28) February 2008  (31) January 2008  (22) December 2007  (46) November 2007  (29) October 2007  (34) September 2007  (29) August 2007  (38) July 2007  (34) June 2007  (35) May 2007  (47) April 2007  (47) March 2007  (63) February 2007  (51) January 2007  (51) December 2006  (48) November 2006  (18) October 2006  (7)

Travel InformationTrail of Ants Travel BlogSpendthrift ShoestringA View from A BroadTravelocity CouponsWhitby CottagesEuroCheapo BlogOn the RoadHappy Time BlogCool Travel GuideTravel Tips for Cheap FlightsHollandYorkshire Holiday CottagesBerlin ApartmentsJourneyetcEurope Travel DirectoryTravel & Places of InterestCruise DealsTravel Rants BlogThomson Discount CodesEurope Word BlogEasytobook.com HotelsA Luxury Travel BlogCar Hire SpainGo Budget TravelSouth Pacific Travel BlogSharing Travel ExperiencesMarbella HolidaysBudget HolidaysParis ApartmentsTop Travel Content EuropeBarcelona ApartmentsBest beaches in the WorldTravel MoneyAirport ParkingFlights


Apartments in Amsterdam Apartments in Berlin Apartment Barcelona Apartments Rome
FOR PROPER HOLIDAYS

Barcelona Apartments Paris apartments Berlin apartments ALL DESTINATIONS


Worldwide Travel Insurance

 EU Short BreaksGolf BreaksHotel ResortsCountry BreaksUK HotelsShort BreaksSights, culture, entertainment or activities, if you’re thinking short breaks, Europe has it all and Marriott has it covered, with 107 hotels in 22 countries.

Golf BreaksIf you’re looking for a golf break, take a look at these amazing Marriott golf packages available throughout the UK, Ireland, Egypt, Spain and Portugal.

Hotel ResortsMarriott hotel resorts offer sensational sojourns in some of the world’s most enticing locations. Aruba, Bali, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica – where will you go?

Country BreaksA country break in a Marriott Hotel & Country Club will get you back to nature in some style. Time to treat yourself…

UK HotelsMarriott hotels in the UK offer comfort, style and a warm welcome. Business, leisure, short-break or celebration – take a look at the options.

Find Hotels Online

 Copyright © Europe a la Carte Blog - find the best places to visit in EuropeCreated by Dosh Dosh