BREAKTHROUGH!! Speak Instantly in ANY Language

Once in a while, well actually every other day or so, I find a travel gadget so simple and so commonsensicle, I wonder why my grandmother didn’t think of it. Actually, she may have.

Ever been in a foreign country and not able to ask for what you need? The solution. Just Point. That’s right, just point at a picture of what you need. From where you ask does this picture come? The International Traveler’s Picture Book Collection of course. Why have I never heard of these?

Yes, this is a real thing. I didn’t think so until I stumbled upon this book collection originally for people with laryngitis.

Problem is, even an “A” in high school French doesn’t help much in Brazil. But now there are pocket guides that use pictures that work in any language and in any country. The traveler just finds the page, points to the image, and the language barrier drops away like magic.

The illustrations include necessities such as Band-Aid, baby bottle, and gas station-and non-emergency needs, like suntan lotion, cocktail, nightclub, and museum. Divided into clearly marked sections such as food and drink, medical, out on the town, accommodation, travel, getting to know you, and money (including numbers), it’s the key to instant communication anywhere. And each word is also translated into a variety of languages. Genius.

Available here.