May it be traveling or just plain accidental, staying or dropping by in an unfamiliar place can sometimes be a bit awkward and the feeling of uneasiness is definitely inevitable. For example, staying or traveling in Japan will create a misconception that communication will be a big problem (in which it actually is), though it shouldn’t hamper a backpacker to not go into an adventure on that very nice country. Take for example in Tokyo, it is the country’s main business district, won’t give you much problems if you are articulate in using the universal language. On the other hand, Osaka, though a little more in tune with the traditional Japanese feel won’t give you problems either. There would be inevitable problems to encounter if you feel like trying out the outskirts and deeper areas such as Gifu, but hey, that shouldn’t prevent you from trying out that place don’t you? 🙂
What’s even more challenging is that there are places that can generally understand English but couldn’t quite converse straight in English. It’s a bit challenging but definitely worth trying. Take for example the islands of the Philippines, the small island of Coron could give you challenges but the sights there couldn’t stop you from trying. And in Manila or in Cebu, unlike the other places in that country, one can truly feel at home with its rich global communication skills.
The world has a large mix of languages and dialects. Mankind has agreed to use one language in order for everyone to at least understand each other. If it isn’t there are other ways to communicate, and it should not be your excuse to explore the world!