A few years ago I was in Vietnam. Ended up being in a van for eight days with a French couple whose English sucked. I had to dip a spoon into my high school French (I was 62 at the time) and I was shocked at how much came back. Clumsy, but I made myself understood.

I think we really underestimate ourselves. Truly. For my part, I am pushing, because language is where I have my greatest facility. It’s totally worth it.