As I bemoaned my lack of German language skills to friends and family in the days proceeding my very recent trip, one after another they all sought to reassure me with, "but everyone speaks English these days."
I'm back from my trip to tell you, no they don't!
Especially in the smaller towns; especially the older folks; and especially the signage! Now, I'm not judging them at all. After all, I'm the visitor; why should I expect them to accommodate me because I came unprepared? And how pretentious are we Americans to believe "everyone speaks English"?
It really was my own fault for being so ill prepared. I have an aptitude for languages; I had 3 months to learn some rudimentary German. And I can sit here all day and make excuses about how busy I've been. But it would all be baloney. The truth is, I chose to believe "they all speak English" like any good American believes.
In Germany, faced with the reality that not everyone does, in fact, speak my language, I fell back on plan B. Be polite. Be unerringly humble in my communication attempts. Be correctly embarrassed. I kicked my own butt for being lazy and apathetic. I asked meekly, "Sprechen sie Englisch?" When I was answered, "Nein!" I gingerly attempted to communicate my need with some of my very basic words. If I was unsuccessful, I tried again. It was, indeed, an exercise in humility for me. As a writer, I pride myself on my ability to communicate. When faced with the inability to read a menu, decipher drug store lingo, or discern whether I needed to push or pull to open a door, I was truly humbled. I had become, in fact, illiterate.
And I had done it to myself.
No, the world does not revolve around me. "They" don't all speak English. But they were unfailingly polite to this English-speaker who mangled their native tongue.
Next time, I'll be better prepared. I promise!
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