This is an excellent book to have if you are traveling in a country where you don't speak the native tongue. It is small with thousands of photos of everything you possibly need to find out from somewhere. If you really must speak with someone... look for a man in a business suit. They will usually speak English (at least in India & Nepal I found this to be true, but not China).

This book works because you can literally point to the picture of what you are looking for. I never go abroad without it!