Are you expecting to spend just an hour for lunch? What about an extra 20 minutes just to pay the bill? What happens if the people at the next table, who came in after you, get their food before you have even ordered? While this is not always the case, do not be surprised if local services require you to wait longer than you are normally accustomed to. Be patient, and go early if you wish to avoid rushing.


Resorting to body language when the new lingua is not flowing.


In most places around the world, you will be able to find someone who speaks English - right? WRONG! Language is culture and you will not penetrate beneath the tourist level of a country until you do your best to learn to speak the language. While you are learning the language, you will almost certainly have an opportunity to play charades with the person at the front desk to tell them about the hot water not working, or with the doctor to tell her were it hurts.


Liberalism. In general, North America is heavily


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regulated - other countries are not. This is one of their big advantages in many cases, but there are some downsides. If second hand smoke, scantily clad girls loitering on your corner, or other differences (such as customers entering restaurants with their pets) bother you, then you may have some problems adapting. In some countries, behaviour or dress that we think nothing of may be frowned upon or even illegal. Learning to follow these new customs will take some adjustment on your part.


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One last word of advice: learn to trust yourself and your own judgement. Just last week, we stopped a half-dozen times to ask directions to our hotel in Spain. We were given, with confidence, six entirely different answers and pointed to every corner of the city. We finally found a map...and made our way to the hotel ourselves. When things get tricky, often you are the only person that you can rely on.


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