In my university days, I took Latin. Ended up doing a lot of work and picked up a smattering of languages - but across EMEA, there was a core familiarity.

When work had me go to Japan, that lack of any foundational familiarity was shocking. The people were kind and put up with someone slaughtering their language (and practicing their English) It added a level of exoticness that is hard to explain.

Best part was work had finally implemented a 'you must bring back receipts' for expenses. 10 pages of something was dropped off to the poor sod in accounting. Their face was priceless.

I miss both Paris and Tokyo...