Learn A New Language

Studying Language Can Grow the Brain (Scientific American)

One setback that many travellers can encounter is a language barrier. Most situations can be easily dealt with, even with no knowledge of the local dialect. However, even just learning a few basic words, such as "hello" and "thank you" can greatly improve the quality of your trip. Besides making the social interactions during your trip more enjoyable, learning a new language can also encourage growth in certain areas of the brain, improving memory, multitasking, intelligence and overall cognitive function (Click here to read a brief article by Scientific American). There are many resources on the Internet to help you learn nearly any language. Remember: even though children have an easier time learning languages, you are never too old to reap the benefits of a multi-lingual mind. These sites may help to get you started:

Memrise - Use mnemonics to learn
FSI Language Courses - Free courses from the US Foreign Service Institute
Duolingo - Translate webpages while you learn
Anki - Online flashcards for all types of learning