Manners the Universal Language
 

I am Spanish and have been a professor of Spanish Literature in Spain, the United States, Chile and Costa Rica and I have lived in South America more than ten years.

It is my opinion that the fact that you have asked the question you have asked indicated to me you will do fine in Ecuador with whatever Spanish you have available. Ecuador is fast becoming the go to community for ex pats from the EEUU.

Ed, formerly xfiltrate on the HUBB, and a former Peace Corps volunteer.... and I spent weeks in a former Peace Corps hotel in Ecuador and found the the people of Ecuador really like North Americans. Of course that includes Canadians... Most locals had forgotten the role the CIA might have played in the death of their 33rd President, Jaime Roldós Aguilera. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaime_Roldós_Aguilera

I believe the key is to speak English with those who approach you and want to practice their English. Too many North Americans/euro asians etc refuse to speak English with the locals that that offends them greatly - if they have approached you in their albeit broken English.

By trying to help an Ecuadorian learn English, you will make a friend and have someone who will help you with your Spanish.

Enough said, those who post here might not understand that the language school of the street is a two way street.

rosa del desierto

The other approach is to stop worrying and just go and deal with things as they arise. I don't speak Turkish, German, Icelandic, Portuguese, Bulgarian or in fact any language other than English, yet we have motorhomed through over 30 countries over 11 years without any significant problems. Plain facts are that there are English speakers almost everywhere and even when there aren't there are are other ways to communicate.

As a preparer of Peruvian motorcycles for long distance travel in South America every rider asks me what tools are best to have to fix the bike along the way. My answer always is:

(1) The Spanish language. It will endear you to those who would help you and get you out of bad fixes. Know as much as you can and try to communicate even if you are not good at it or pronounce correctly.

(2) Good cheer. This is VERY MUCH a Karma thing. Pass out good cheer liberally and you will almost always be met with the same!

(3) Moto tie-down straps to put the motorcycle up in the back of a pickup or truck. There will invariably be times when you just can't fix the issue there on the road. Sometimes it is due to weather, sometimes lack of knowledge. Especially if you are riding alone and don't do your own tire repair, you MUST have these straps to get you to the next town! Rope will only leave you crying at the damage done to your bike as it bangs around in the back of the pickup!

:mchappy::mchappy::mchappy:

Here are the key sentences I use the most.(in my bad Spanish but gerting better each day)

Getting gas:

Puedo pagar con tarjeta de credito?
Can I pay with credit card?

Solo effectivo?
Cash only?

Adonde es la estation de servicio la mas cerca de aqui?
Where is the closest gas station?

Adonde (a cuanto kilometro) es la proxima estacion de servicio al Sur(Norte) de aqui?
Where is(how many kilometers untill) the next gas station South(North) of here?

When entering hostel lobby:

Hola! Tienes habitation para dos personas(matrimonial/dos camas) con parquadero para un moto?

Hello! Do you have a room for two with a (double bed/two sperate beds). Is there parking for a motorcycle here?

Cuanto cuesta?
How much?

Hay wifi aqui?
Is there wifi here?

La clave por favor?
The password please?

Hay agua caliente?
Is there hot water?

Con bano privado?
With private bathroom?

Cheap restaurants:

Puedo ver el menu?
Can I see the menu?

Cuanto cuesta el Almuerzo?
How much is the lunch special?

Start with learning these and use a dictionary app tp find theword you dont know.

Then in a few months time youll find yourself siting at a gas station in Argentina (that has run out of gas) complaining in agreement with the other stranded locals about the high cost of things, the conditions of the roads, the high cost of fuel, the high taxes etc... then somone will say that "tu cashhhhteshano es bueno" and then youll realize you have come a long way ;)

That's a good start!

One simple one I teach to friends is "Hay" and "No hay" pronouned Eye, not Hay, as what Horses eat. Brits especially seem to resist the silent H in Spanish and get the A wrong too ... like Taco. Brits say "Tacko" Wrong! It's Taaaco. Long A.

You can get a long way using the Hay or No Hay.
Hay gasolina?
Hay Habitacion? (or cuartos)
Hay comida?

Another good one: Estoy peridido ... (I'm lost)
And most of all don't forget "Disculpame" (excuse me, sorry) I always apologize for my bad Spanish ... then they cut you some slack.

Couple more good ones:
?me intiendes? (do you understand me?)
No me intiendo. (I don't understand.
Intendido. (Understood)

Also learn and use "Cual" (which) "Cual direction?" (Which direction?)
Also learn "Quizas" (perhaps)
bier

Second this. They're great tapes and you can learn in the car/bus/whatever. For digital resources, I much prefer Memrise over duolingo.

Try to find YouTube videos to help with the pronunciation.

When you're in the country I actually found having a physical phrasebook helped a lot. They don't pack big and when you're trying to communicate at a hotel or wherever you can flip to that section and work it out with the other person you're trying to talk to.

While not knowing the language shouldn't ever stop someone from traveling, your experience and reception will be so much better if it's obvious that you put in even some basic effort. While it's not practical to try to learn every language you pass through (sorry Bulgarian!) doing it for the places you'll be spending a lot of time is totally worth it. I just learned Indonesian for this trip and it's made such a difference for me.