My daughter's experience in France is blowing my mind! :-)

[Capt Lightning]

I think also the fact everyone has a translator in their phone helps a lot with taking the fear out of travelling to foreign speaking countries nowadays

As an old 'Luddite', my phone doesn't have a translator - not sure what Mr's L's has, but it's too slow to do anything useful.

 

[OldOld]

Good for you daughter. Emergency care... $80??? How does France do that?

I bet the daughter is eligible for French public healthcare system or free/low premium student health insurance, with low copay.

 

[OldOld]

I don't know why you need to learn foreign languages in order to travel to those countries. Unless you plan to attend school or work there, you will have very limited opportunities to interact with the locals if you are just a tourist. Most people in the tourist industry can communicate in some English. Some restaurants have English menus too, but unless you are extremely picky and insist on the exotic experience with the locals in foreig countries, you don't need to speak local languages. I visit Europe a lot, I speak English on all airlines, hotels, restaurants, concerts, parties and I have no problems.

 

[OldOld]

You really don't need to love a foreign country just to visit there either.
You can go to a place just because you like ONE thing/activity there. You don't need to love the whole country.

 

[WheatenLover]

I think also the fact everyone has a translator in their phone helps a lot with taking the fear out of travelling to foreign speaking countries nowadays

Really? There's a translator in there? I'm going to look for it. That never dawned on me. Thanks, Holly!