For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for March 01, 2025

Lynn Johnston’s artwork got better and better…

That’s John all over—go on vacation to a foreign country and wait until you get there to bother to learn a single word of its language.

“Por favor, donde esta el bano?” comes in quite handy as well.

When you vacation in Mexico and have to ask if it’s too early to start drinking, then you are an amateur and we can’t be friends!

They just got there, and Elly is sulking already!

A beer is just a beer. The company you share it with is what’s important…

“Dos cerveza por favor”

No sprechen die Deutsche.

From Lynn’s Comments: At the time I wrote this, I was taking Spanish lessons. I got pretty good at it. On vacation one day, I wanted some pepper for the table and happily asked for “pepino.” The waiter asked if I was sure. I was showing off to friends and said, “Absolutely!” Smiling, he brought me a beautifully cut up cucumber, which I ate. The word for pepper is “pimiento.”

DOS EQUIS

Esta meno in la cabeza!

Was tending bar for a large party of deaf people. Learned the signing for beer. They knew how to party.

Who’s the fat bald guy with no neck sitting with Elly in the third panel?

depends

They might as well be in Miami, Florida. Spanish is the first language there.

Since this is Mexico, their names are “Juan” and “El E”. :P

Practice by reading Peanuts comic every morning – first in English and then en Espanol. Then move onto other comics that Go Comics offers both in English & Spanish.

The first thing I learned while living in Sao Paulo was how to order a beer. :)

Must have been before the U. S. geoengineered hurricanes blew the crap out of the Mexico’s coast.

Dos cervezas, por favor!

Beer and Bathroom, the two most important words to learn in any country.

Frio if you want it cold

I know it’s a small thing, I know it’s a comic, and I know it’s a different time….but I HATE when people summon a restaurant’s serving staff by yelling “WAITER!”

The cartels run all the vacation spots in Mexico. You could not pay me to visit there at this time.

Mohito is my favorite Spanish word

With any language, learn the “good” words first.

I found a way to ask for “the facilities” in any language: Stand up, cross your legs, put a silly grin on your face, and sort of jump up and down. After the native people quit laughing, they’ll show you where the restrooms are.

Looks like Elly learned that ‘vino’ is Spanish for wine!

Just ask your lawn-man or lettuce picker…canada has slaves too

And so much safer/tastier than agua ♥

Quero una cervesa fria, port favor.

i always thought cervesa was a brand of mexican beer. silly me!

When someone comes up to me and starts speaking in Spanish, my answer is: No hablo español.

I find one good way to endear yourself to locals is to ask for help learning to speak the language (assuming you are asking someone who actually has time to help, and you ask earnestly and politely!), because it shows you want to meet them on their level, and you know you’re not there yet. I studied French, so for those traveling to francophone countries, I offer this useful phrase: “Comment ça veux dire ?” It means “How do I say ?” After they tell you, politely say “merci beaucoup” because they have just done you a favor. ;-)

Mind you, this definitely only works if they speak your language as well. As English speakers, we are fortunate in that our language is a popular second language. God knows why; it’s hell to learn, with phonetics honored principally in the breach, and so many synonyms that it had to invent an entire type of book, the thesaurus, that isn’t even necessary in most languages. I’ve heard it described as the British Museum of languages.

Good place to start John! ;-)

What’s Spanish for “Look out for the runaway bull!”