I don't speak or know how to read a single word of German.Help me out on this one...

I really want to go to Wacken for the 2009 Open Air Festival,but the only 2 problems will be that I can't speak a word of German,and I may as well be looking at hieroglyphics when it comes to trying to read any foreign language!!
How does an english only speaking person cope when visiting your lovely country?I'll try my best at learning some basic stuff,although if I could I'd prefer to be fluent like the locals,but do most German people understand english as well as their own language?I just don't want to look like a dickhead,standing there going"Yeah,ok,uh huh,yeah,right,yeah I know what your saying..."when really they might be trying to sell me a vacuum cleaner,giving some poor german salesperson false hope that they might be getting a sale(for a dramatic example) instead of giving directions to Wacken,which is what I wanted in the first place....or something like that.
Do you think I'll be reasonably ok only knowing english?For example,I've looked at some of the threads on here,and I haven't a clue what you're on about...so long as it's about metal,or metal related subjects,that's all that matters to me..Anyway,get back to me on this one(if you know what the hell I've been talking about),I'd be interested to see what you have to say on this...Thankyou,and I look forward to visiting Germany! Horns up!\m/

 

I'd say you can cope with only English just fine.

And if you don't understand someone, don't pretend you do, just politely, in English, tell them you can't understand them.

Make sure to bring a map or a GPS that shows you the way to Wacken, then you won't need directions.

When in Wacken, English only is seldom a problem.

 

You still have a long time till then, could learn some of the basics, and perhaps get a phrase book, "Wo ist die Toilette?" etc.

 

I think the most important senteces are
"Wo gibt es Bier?" -> "Where is the beer?"
"Ich brauche mehr Bier!" oder "Gib mir mehr Bier!" -> "I need more beer!" or "Give me more beer!"
"Das war zu viel Bier, wo gibts die Toilette?" -> "That was too much beer where's the toilette?"


Just think about some basics you need we will translate them

 

Pronunciation is important too though. The way some of my friends butcher german sentences...*shudder*

So how is he gonna learn how to do that?

 

Hense the nice

Pass auf, Ich muss kotzen!

Or however you spelled it again

 

Like that gnoff!

 

After two or three days at the open air i start often to talk in english, instead of german. And i think, i'm not the only one.

When you got there, you can coupe there very well even only with english.

Most germans have english as their main not-german language at school.

 

yeah, and there are always lots of non german people too..

 

You also can try Dutch. Most Germans won't understand either

 

Would be good to learn that *lol*

 

if you are known for puking... like me

 

then even more i'm also not very secure for that

 

*notestohimself: stay away from you whilst drunk*

 

we can english ^^