Oh and false cognates are fun, too! I particularlly like the false cognate in Spanish for 'embarrassed.' The correct word is 'verguenza' (at least where I'm from) but people often mistakenly use 'embarazada' and end up saying 'I'm pregnant.' I agree that London is very diverse and there are many different languages spoken here. However, I still think that it would be helpful to learn a few words in the main languages spoken in your area. In my neighbourhood in Chicago, we had mostly Spanish and Polish speakers, so that was the most useful to us. It's amazing how a few words can go a long way. But I'm glad that you're such a sensitive guy, Tom/Brian, and that you realise that body language and pantomime are often just as useful (if not entertaining!).