The language trumpcard

After living in the Gulf for years together, how does it feel when your folks back home ask you or rather assume that you know Arabic when in reality all you've known about Arabic is when you've heard your Arab friends speak. Yes, the language is amazing and the culture, even better. However if you do not even make an attempt to study or understand it , what is the point?Recently I attended a session at theLandmark Forum WorldWide where you get a chance to meet people from different walks of life, having various issues and this lady asked me,"Hey you're from Bahrain", and began conversing instantly in Arabic.The guilt I experienced when I told her that I don't know a word was beyond belief. That is exactly when the realisation dawned upon me that knowing a language is an extremely powerful tool. Be it any language, the kind of learning and exposure you achieve by knowing a new language is unmatchable. Not only is the language but you learn so much more about a whole new place. Also you can connect moreand understand the people on a holistic level. I strongly feel that each one of us who get the opportunity must by default learn the local language if not for anything else but the fun of it.
I took up German classes due to fact that German was getting popular in India as against Sanskrit at that point and the kind of possibilities I saw emerging was unbelievable. The thirst of each one to learn a language, to merge possibilities and see a bright future together was very powerful. Also I believe that If you have lived in a Foreign Country and not learnt its language, then what have you done? With the advent of digital media and social media the world has definitely shrunk. There are so many avenues open. Courses are available at every nook and corner. With the introduction of MassivelyOpen Online Courses(MOOC's) and Coursera, anyone can learn anything anywhere then what is a Language? Also career choices like Translator,Interpretor,Teaching in a foreign language is one of the most rewarding even if part time. A man with the knowledge of a Foreign Language is really learned. Also when you progress to the further levels of the language, you are required to go to the respective country to get a wider perspective of the culture and people living there.
German classesgave me the confidence and exposure to handle people and understand issues on a global scale. Not only this, I can enjoy reading great works of authors like Friedrich Nietzsche,Heinrich Boll,Franz Kafka and the likes. It gives you so much power suddenly that often you fail to realise what you were thinking previously. Infact I think it is of prime importance that each of one us know one foreign language through and through, doesn't matter which one.
Finally if you are an NRI, it should be the first thing on you To do list. What are you waiting for? If you havent done it till now, go ahead and begin.