How many times have parents and teachers heard their darling children complain, "Why do I have to learn (history, math, English, etc.)? I'm never going to use it!"

From the limited perspective of youth, we never imagine how the seemingly idiotic things we learn in high school, and even college, will become useful many, many years later.

I had some excellent language teachers when I was in high school. I don't actually remember their names, but I can conjugate Latin verbs and have entire conversations with myself in Spanish to this day.

While I maintain that the best way to learn English is to learn Latin, I must admit that verb conjugations have been useful in a much more intangible way than many other things I managed to absorb decades ago.

Spanish, for instance, has proved quite useful.

As an adult, I have developed a passion for the Caribbean, where Spanish is the basis for language in any number of countries. The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is a particularly favorite destination.

The thing I like about Mexico is that the country is big enough in its own right that the people can be nice and friendly without sacrificing their own identity as Mexicans. In some Caribbean countries, it can get hard to remember that you're actually in another country. Everyone speaks English -- sometimes better than most Americans -- and you are seldom challenged to step outside your American comfort zone.

In Mexico, however, while they are as accommodating of tourists as other countries, you are much less likely to find complete capitulation. Many people you meet will know at least some English -- along with several other languages -- but ultimately the burden is on the visitor to communicate.

During my most recent visit to Mexico -- to the town of Puerto Morelos -- I found myself in desperate need of an eyebrow wax. A young man was filling in at the reception desk at the spa, and was not completely fluent in the translation of services that most probably would have confused him even if I had known their Spanish names, which I didn't. What I was surprised to find that I did still know, however, was the Spanish alphabet. The young man was quite grateful that I could spell out the English words. I was glad that I was not an arrogant American who expected everyone else in the world to know my language, but never bothered to learn to speak to others in their own native tongues -- especially when I'm in their country.

So, the moral of this story is that young people would do well to learn everything they possibly can, whether it seems useful at the moment or not. You never know when you might find yourself needing your eyebrows waxed in a foreign country. And the world's opinion of Americans can always use a little boost.