For anyone who has travelled or lived abroad. Language barrier or bad experiences?

Question

I'm an American student studying in France for 2 semesters. For anyone who has travelled or lived abroad,I would like to know your bad, annoying, or language barrier experiences. I had a really bad experience with a phone company here sending me a bill for €1600! My university doesn't have internet in the rooms so I decided to go out and get my own. Apparently I didn't understand the plan like I thought I did. Of course, I'm not going to pay €1600 for a week's worth of internet usage. Also, I don't like the university or banking system here. I've had 2 bank accounts since I've arrived and neither has ended well. I will not do anymore business in French. Annoying experiences: Ordering food and them giving me the wrong item. Once at McDonalds, I wanted the other type of fries but they gave me the regular one. Another time at a bar, I pointed to the beer on the menu that I wanted and they still gave me the wrong one. So share your bad, annoying, or even funny experiences.

Answer 1

I am an American student in Germany right now for 2 semesters!  You're right there are a lot of annoying problems because of language.  Id say one of the hardest things besides school is that with friends, they dont have much of a sense of humor to start with but then if they're talking fast and they make a joke everybody laughs and you just sit there because you didnt understand.  Thats what I miss the most is American humor.  Its also annoying when people think since you're foreign that you dont understand them and they sit there and talk about you and you understand every word they say!

Answer 2

I have always have difficult communicating with people of country i visited simply of because i don't speak their language, the worse experience i had was when i got sick and there was no one who could understand me in hospital and have to call someone who is a diplomat to get me along.