Years ago, I moved to a place where I didn't speak the language. My initial strategy for dealing with interactions I didn't understand was to simply say "no." I figured this was safe - at least I wouldn't agree to something I didn't want. One day, as I was leaving my apartment with a friend, the guy across the hall asked me a question. "No," I said. He looked like I'd spit in his face then retreated to his apartment. My friend, dumbfounded, asked "…