| John McCain wasn't sure whether Spain was our | | | | same origin. This makes Spanish extremely easy |
| ally or our foe, when asked about US relations | | | | to learn. |
| with Prime Minister Zapatero. The Bush | | | | When traveling to a Spanish-speaking country, |
| Administration has straitened relationships with | | | | you will need to know how to get very basic, but |
| President Vicente Fox of Mexico. | | | | very important information, such as: |
| So if you're planning a trip to a Spanish-speaking | | | | - how to ask for directions |
| country, then you may want to do your country | | | | - how to arrange for transportation |
| a favor and take up a quick crash course on | | | | - where to find or how to order food |
| Spanish for tourists! At least represent your | | | | - where to find certain stores |
| fellow country men on their behalf by | | | | - how to count in the currency of the foreign |
| demonstrating that you have some knowledge of | | | | country |
| the language of the locals! | | | | - how to find the bathroom |
| The fastest growing language in the United States | | | | - how to ask for emergency help |
| is Spanish. For tourists to Mexico, it is a really | | | | You don't need to be perfect, nor do you need to |
| good idea to learn the language. | | | | be grammatically correct most of the time. The |
| Fortunately, Spanish is relatively easy to learn, | | | | locals should be able to interpret what you are |
| compared to other languages, due to the similar | | | | saying, even if you get some of your verb |
| use of the alphabet and the similar origins of | | | | tenses wrong. You just need to have enough |
| many words. Both English and Spanish are | | | | knowledge of Spanish for tourists to be able to |
| derivatives of Latin, so a lot of words share the | | | | survive a trip. |