Hand Gestures

When living at home in the United States, two things are much easier: communicating and purchasing anything you want (and knowing what you're actually buying). At home, we have the convenience of having everything we need to buy in one store because of stores like Target and Walmart. In Europe, there is no such thing as department stores; if you need a specific item, you have to go to a specific store. But what if you can't find that item? At home, I would simply ask someone that works at the store, but it's not quite that easy when you don't speak the same language.

This might be a TMI story(again), but I had been living in a different country for a couple of months when I was having some "lady troubles." I knew what I needed to fix this problem, but didn't have access to any medication. I had to go to the pharmacy for that. So, here I am, standing in line, surrounded by people speaking a different language, watching them all easily pick up their medications or ask what they should get for their sick child. It's finally my turn and I ask the woman working behind the counter if she speaks English. Just my luck, she does not. I find myself standing there trying to explain what I need, saying things like "problem and vagina" while she looked at me in confusion and then pointing down towards my crotch. Winner! The pointing really helped her out. She disappeared for a minute and returned with exactly what I needed and then some.

I eventually got what I needed, but definitely learned to appreciate the convenience of shopping at home a little more.