It is a pity to see your reaction with others Mark, but maybe not surprising. As a former surveyor, I have worked and lived in 8 different countries so far [nothing like checkmate from caddepot]. Always made the effort to learn even a few words of the local language, spanish, bahasa, magyar... even for the shortest contract of 6 months! One thing that I noticed at the time [and appears to be still valid in this day and age, according to your concerted reaction], is the english-speaking workers I met in various places, are the ones who made the least effort to "adapt", and felt inadequate for that. We all laugh at the joke of the guy who's raising their voice when they were obviously not understood the first time by NE person, but is it far from the truth? In fact, the only time that I noticed an American make an effort to master another language was when they were interested in a local girl! Of course, it is not good to generalise, to paint all anglos with the same brush, but you are giving me a good case here! Control, that's what appears to be happening here: "Oh my gawd! They are saying something that I do not understand! What if they talk about me, what if they are mocking me?"... As for personal messages sent to person, they only help one. But maybe 5 french readers or 10 japanese and 6 italians were helped if everything is above board! Other forums are not so closed, I do not have to appear here. Ciao!