OT Languages You Can Speak / Countries You’ve Been To

[Tyrant of Ants]

.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

You sound like an interesting person to have a beer with.

When this pandemic is over I'll buy.

 

[crandc]

Visited a lot of states. Not much international travel, just Canada. Not likely to change since I can't fly. Or travel by plane.

I speak cat.

 

[Lanny]

English, German and a bit of Korean which I can read and speak like a polite child.
I've been to just five foreign countries Make that six if you count Guam as a country.

 

[Lanny]

Percentage Of Americans Who Never Traveled Beyond The State Where They Were Born? A Surprise

"When you hear some of the comments Americans make about geography or about other countries do you ever wonder how many of them have ever traveled? Research of 2,000 Americans across the country (a good statistical sample) in a new study conducted by market researchers OnePoll, and commissioned by travel luggage provider Victorinox, explored the nation’s travel experiences and the things that seem to stop people from exploring more. The results are pretty amazing, and perhaps explain the gaps of knowledge many Americans seem to have of the world:

-- Eleven percent of survey respondents have never traveled outside of the state where they were born.
-- Over half of those surveyed (54 percent) say they’ve visited 10 states or fewer.
-- As many as 13 percent say they have never flown in an airplane.
-- Forty percent of those questioned said they’ve never left the country.
-- Over half of respondents have never owned a passport. (For years U.S. citizens did not need one to travel to Mexico, Canada and on many cruises, which may clarify the previous stat.)

Perhaps the most interesting fact of all to come out of this travel survey can be interpreted in several ways, depending on how you look at it:
One in 10 Americans surveyed say they have no interest in going anywhere!"

States? I've been to most of the states. I think I've been to 40 states.

 

[e_blazer]

How do you speak cat? Surely must be more difficult to learn than Sly’s gobbledewoofwoof?

Not in these days of smartphones and apps:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.akvelon.meowtalk&hl=en_US&gl=US

 

[Chris Craig]

English, Spanish, tiny tiny bit of French

Ecuador

 

[Lanny]

English, German and a bit of Korean which I can read and speak like a polite child.
I've been to just five foreign countries Make that six if you count Guam as a country.

One of the countries I spent some time in was Vietnam. I'm sure it was way before you were born and maybe before your parents were born.
1968

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

I SPEAK ENGLISH. THIS IS AMURICA.
Also understand some Tagalog. Speak a little. Doesn't matter, everyone in the Philippines speaks English anyway.

Countries: Canada, Mexico, Phillippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, UK, France, Vatican City.

Want to go back to Japan when this is all over. Want to explore more of Hong Kong before it becomes totally Chinese and locked down. Probably visit some spots in Europe again too. Probably Spain is next again (been twice, I've been trying to see the Sagrada Familia every 5 years but COVID put a damper on that). Also wanna hit up Croatia.

 

[Lanny]

Before I was born. My dad served from 67-69, probably as much of an old geezer as you.

Were you in Da Nang?

Yes and the Chinese suburb of Saigon and Cam Rhan Bay and Monkey Mountain. Once went swimming at the China Beach, aka My Khe beach. While in Da Nang near the airbase we got hit by four to five rocket attacks every week. '68 was the year of the Tet offensive. I wanted to volunteer at an orphanage but my duties lasted 6 to seven days a week.

 

[Lanny]

They built a nice resort there now. Have you been back since?

No, I had Vietnamese friends that offered to accompany back there but my job kept me too busy. Now, there's no way since I require skilled dialysis and getting it anywhere else is a major hassle through the VA. I can't even get it at an American VA hospital except for the one I'm using unless I transfer permanently.
Let me add this Vietnamese women are among the most beautiful in the world. Anyhow, I'm partial to Asian women for a number of reasons including their impeccable good manners and devotion to family all of which I was denied in my youth.

 

[Chris Craig]

I SPEAK ENGLISH. THIS IS AMURICA.
Also understand some Tagalog. Speak a little. Doesn't matter, everyone in the Philippines speaks English anyway.

Countries: Canada, Mexico, Phillippines, Japan, Hong Kong, Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany, Czech Republic, UK, France, Vatican City.

Want to go back to Japan when this is all over. Want to explore more of Hong Kong before it becomes totally Chinese and locked down. Probably visit some spots in Europe again too. Probably Spain is next again (been twice, I've been trying to see the Sagrada Familia every 5 years but COVID put a damper on that). Also wanna hit up Croatia.

I SPEAK AMERICAN!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

That's true. Also, must be something in the water in the Philippines or something but they all can sing! Watched Arnel Pineda performed at a local club before he blew up and joined Journey.

If you watch the Anthony Bourdain episode of Parts Unknown, he goes over that and their obsession with Christmas, as well as overseas workers.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Yes and the Chinese suburb of Saigon and Cam Rhan Bay and Monkey Mountain. Once went swimming at the China Beach, aka My Khe beach. While in Da Nang near the airbase we got hit by four to five rocket attacks every week. '68 was the year of the Tet offensive. I wanted to volunteer at an orphanage but my duties lasted 6 to seven days a week.

There's a monkey mountain in Japan. Don't look at them in the eyes!

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Gonna have to look that up. Obsession with overseas workers?

How they all go overseas to send money back to the families.

 

[Lanny]

I SPEAK AMERICAN!

You missed spelling "Merican, you damn Yankee".

 

[Lanny]

You sound like an interesting person to have a beer with.

When this pandemic is over I'll buy.

You buy, I'll fly.

 

[Lanny]

That's true. Also, must be something in the water in the Philippines or something but they all can sing! Watched Arnel Pineda performed at a local club before he blew up and joined Journey.

When I was in Vietnam we had several Philippine bands with male vocals and they were damn good. I remember one guy who could sing with one of the deepest voices I've ever heard.
I went to a Bob Hope show one time while there but was stuck so far back that I couldn't see any of the round eyes girls that accompanied Bob.

 

[crandc]

Vietnam was not before I was born. I was suspended from high school for protesting.

 

[crandc]

Aunt Claire, is that you?! Kidding, but I do have an aunt named Claire that protested the Vietnam War.

My French teacher in high school gave the class French first names, I was Claire. Not my given name.

 

[riverman]

As long as you're on a leash.

you're new here...always ask for a muzzle as well

 

[riverman]

I speak Mandarin, some Taiwanese and understand some German from taking 2 years of it in high school ...been all over asia...was sent to Vietnam in 71 and traveled all over the west Pac on the USS Blue Ridge...took trips to Nepal, Thailand, India, Bali....traveled through China twice...been to Phillipines many, many times.as well as Hong Kong..lived and worked in Taiwan for a couple decades...saw Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos, Burma across the river...didn't get to cross.....lived in Hawaii 3 times and speak passable pidgin english. Been to Canada, Mexico and Central America...my wife is Taiwanese but now an American citizen for the last 12 years. We've been together 31 years and change...we speak english and Mandarin in our home

 

[Road Ratt]

I have only been to Canada. I don't speak Canadian.

Besides Oregon. I have been to Washington and California.

I know a few German cuss words my dad learned while stationed in Germany in the 60's. Beyond that, I speak English.

 

[UncleCliffy'sDaddy]

I did the same all expenses paid junket to the Far East as @riverman, including being aboard the very same ship (Riv was apparently going down the gangplank in Okinawa as I was going up it). So I’ve been to the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong etc (and Vietnam from a heathy distance). Also been to Mexico and Canada numerous times. I’m reasonably conversant in English and extremely proficient in profanity (my native language). I also know a few words of Pirate in case I need to talk to @barfo......

 

[Hoopguru]

When I was in Vietnam we had several Philippine bands with male vocals and they were damn good. I remember one guy who could sing with one of the deepest voices I've ever heard.
I went to a Bob Hope show one time while there but was stuck so far back that I couldn't see any of the round eyes girls that accompanied Bob.

I have a good friend who's father was one of the highest ranking south Vietnamese generals, his name was Ly Tong Ba. After taking his family including my friend to the embassy to evacuate to the Philippines as refugess, he was captured and a prisoner of war for 15 plus years. He was able to move here and had a huge following and wrote several books.
I have a Vietnamese daughter in law, she and her father just became a US citizen's. I have a Korean daughter in too and three Amerasian grandkids.

 

[riverman]

Ever had someone shit talked you because they didn't think you'd understand the language? My nephews are mostly caucasian (my dad's half Filipino half redneck cracka) and can speak and understand some bad words in Vietnamese (yeah, I'm that type of uncle). It's hilarious having them going to the Vietnamese grocery stores with me and them busting out some choice words.

I have been sitting at a bar in Taiwan many times while people at the bar are talking about me in Mandarin...then I call for the bartender in Mandarin and have a long conversation with him/her and embarrass the hell out of the locals who assume I can't understand them....language is power...and speaking the local language is the best way to experience being an expat

 

[Propagandist]

This is an interesting thread....I speak English, and enough Spanish to survive, maybe, kind of... I wish I had one of those brains that didn't suffer from paralysis through analysis...

Countries: Canada, Mexica, Guatemala, Scotland, England, Wales, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, and Morocco... I also was born in the South, which is essentially a different country.

 

[riverman]

I have only been to Canada. I don't speak Canadian.

Besides Oregon. I have been to Washington and California.

I know a few German cuss words my dad learned while stationed in Germany in the 60's. Beyond that, I speak English.

I'll teach you Canadian...."eh".....end all your sentences with that and you'll start to understand eh?

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

Born and raised in inner SE Portland. I've been to Canada a bunch of times, BC, Alberta, Ottowa, Quebec. Mexico twice for just a couple days.
England, Scotland, Wales for three weeks total, France for about a month total, Spain
(Barcalona, Pamplona, San Sebastian) for about a week, Italy (Rome) for a few days, Switzerland (Lausanne) for a few days, Germany (Munich) for 1 day, Hungry (Budapest) for a few days, passed through Austria on the train. Australia (Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin, Sydney) for three months. Been around the states a bit, mostly on the West Coast and visiting friends in the Midwest (mostly Cleveland, and Chicago).
I speak enough french to always be nominated by whomever I'm with to buy the train tickets and talk to cab drivers. I understand basic Spanish (I usually get placed in intermediate classes). And am taking a Russian class at PCC right now. I'm about to head to RUS 202 for Winter term.

EDIT: And I know a couple of swear words in Vietnamese and Cambodian. I can count to 20 in Cambodian and to 3 in Vietnamese. I used to know how to say Go home! In Cambodian because my friend's little brother used to follow us around when we were playing baseball, and football.

 

[ehizzy3]

Fluent in Spanish

spent a decent amount of time in Colombia. A month in Peru, and Mexico a couple times.

edit: took a bus once to Canada too. Ate some edibles otw and was too high at the border. Almost didn’t get in and everyone on the bus had to wait like 30 min for me