When In Rome
My first excursion abroad was to London. For an American, it's a good, safe country to go to because, hey - they speak English! But what if you're going to Paris, Madrid or some other non-English speaking country? Granted, most European countries speak English, but you can't guarantee that every person you come across will speak your language.
In my own experience, I have learned that in Europe, if you make an effort to speak the native language of the country where you are visiting, they'll be more willing to help you.
Case in point, my trip to Paris. I really don't speak French. In fact, I slaughter it.
A few years back, I took a train from Irun, Spain to Paris just before Christmas. The weather in Paris was cold and wet. Not surprisingly, I got sick - like, really sick. I had to force myself to go to the pharmacy down the street from my hotel. Before heading out, I skimmed through my phrasebook and wrote down a couple of phrases to help the pharmacist get me some medicine.
I entered the pharmacy and waited for the pharmacist to acknowledge me. Upon his acknowledgement, I pointed at my throat and said "Médecine, s'il vous plaît" I'm sure he surmised from my horrible accent that I was not a local. In fact, he asked me in English, if I spoke English. I nearly teared up. That man loaded me up on about five different medications to help me feel better. Even better, he did it with a smile.