communications

Sunday marked the final day for the world famous bull run in Pamplona, Spain, during the Fiesta de San Fermin, a festival renown for its dare-devil participants and thrill-seeking spectators.

If you are one of the brave few studying abroad in Spain during this time and one of the clinically insane for actually running with the bulls, then I salute you. Make us proud. My only hope is you have already mastered the art of communication and have learned the one vital phrase every study abroad student should know in his or her country, "Help!"

The "Help!" phrase would be necessary in such circumstances.

As we have already discussed, studying abroad is one complicated equation. It can also be, however, the solution to one of the gravest problems in our technology filled modern world, the problem of miscommunication.

While most of you probably know, some of you may not, so I am going to tell you anyway...English is not the only language in the world. This fact can be shocking to our Central American mindsets, but it is the cold truth. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate beforehand, the primary language of your abroad home.

If you are like me, however, and did not take the semester long college course or purchase the clearly not for college student priced Rosetta Stone, then here is your crash course. Pay attention.

The main few phrases you must, I repeat MUST, know in your host country's language are as follows:

• "Hello" and "Goodbye"- These are the classic greetings of both the ancient and modern world and everything in between. Even if you cannot say anything else, at least you can grace your company's presence with a pleasant greeting. Who knows, you may even have them believing you are a local for the first ten seconds. That is, of course, until you open your mouth again.
• "My name is ______." - Just so everyone will know you're American. Unless you have a name like Lesley or Brad. Then, you are a wildcard. 
• "Do you speak English?" - If not, you might as well pass them by. You will most likely never be friends.
• "Where is the nearest bathroom?" - This is one of the few universal aspects of humanity across cultures, so it will benefit you greatly in dire circumstances and limited resources. 
• "Dream on." - If you are a lady and feel like you are being stalked by every male figure you pass as they stare you up and down, cock an irritatingly smug smile or even holler a pitiful catch phrase like "I love you" or "Ciao Bella" as you walk down the street, then you know what I mean. 
• "I'm lost." - If there is one fact about studying abroad, it is this...you will get lost. At one point or another, you will all of a sudden find yourself wandering through a narrow cobblestone street and realize the one landmark you trained yourself to know is nowhere in sight. It is alright. Do not panic. Learn this phrase, and it will be fine.
• "I need to find ______." I realized shortly after the previous bullet point that it would not be actually useful without this phrase to follow it. Therefore, I take it back. Learn THIS phrase, and it will be fine.
• "Help!" - Finally, if all else fails. This phrase will surely bring an English speaking angel to save you from yourself.

You may have previously believed communication entailed the art of masterful writing, elegant speech and engaging hand gestures. However, the truth you will learn while studying abroad is there are only a handful of necessary tools spanning across cultures, religions, and intellectual capacities. They are the linking piece of humanity and your saving grace while traveling the globe. While dramatic, it is true. They are some of the fundamental phrases you learn in the first year or two of life, but while studying abroad, you simply learn what every English teacher never wanted to tell you. The rest is fluff. 

Class dismissed.