We often take English for granted.
But very few people speak English in countries where I've lived.

In Haiti, only elite or urban people could, or those who worked on our mission. In Mexico, I had to use Spanish or perish..it seemed like nobody in Hermosillo spoke English.

Here in Songkhla, Thailand, I can go months without seeing anyone Caucasian, or hearing English, except online, or on TV.

A few minutes ago, two young Thai men got into the elevator with me in my apartment building.
They were confused by my petite figure (100 lbs), dark brown hair, appearance, manner of dress (Thai clothes), and location (in a Thai apartment building) and began talking in low voices about me.
I don't look like the typical tall, heavier, blonde American, so maybe I was Thai.

"Is she a foreigner?"
"I don't know!"

Each time they asked each other that, I'd smile and say, "Kah! (yes)," until they finally noticed it, and stopped talking, looking sheepish.

I quickly reassured them that although I'm foreign, I do speak some Thai. In Thailand, being a foreigner and speaking Thai are usually mutually exclusive.

They stared in silence a moment, then cautiously asked again, "So, you're really a (farang) foreigner?"
I said I was from America.

They continued to stare skeptically at me..apparently suspicious of being pranked, but eventually cheered up and when they got off, summoned their best English skills and said proudly, "Good-bye!"
I laughed and said good-bye in English also.

In Thailand, I praise anyone attempting to use English at all, since few people can speak it, and they are just trying to please me.

The photo, of me posing with a famous Thai pop singer, shows how similar we look. Every country I've lived, people have assumed I'm a native.