When has knowing Spanish come in "handy" for you?
It doesn't matter if you are fluent or a beginner... Has there ever been a time in your life when you were extremely thankful you knew Spanish?
If so...¡Dime!
Thanks for your answers.
6 Answers
There have been many times that knowing Spanish has come in handy for me. There are too many to list, but I'll give a few examples....some boring and one at least that was a life saver (literally).
I have used Spanish numerous times to communicate with people who work in hotels, restaurants and other establishments who don't speak any English. These requests have included everything from the need for extra towels, to looking for a lost camera, etc.
I had the opportunity to speak out for and help three Mexican maids at a hotel in Virginia. They were doing something to help me with my sick daughter. When confusion ensued with their obnoxious manager, I was able to straighten everything out for both parties. I was also able to make a small joke at the manager's expense, which made the maids laugh and feel better.
Numerous times I have been able to help Spanish speaking people to locate things within stores, as the store employees had no idea what they were saying.
I saved my own life once when I was able to ask if there was any shell fish in a particular food item I was choosing at a buffet. The only employee nearby spoke little to no English. So when I asked in Spanish, he saved me from eating something that would certainly have caused my airways to shut down immediately.
One of my favorite memories was from last summer. I have mentioned this before, but was able to keep an elderly woman company for most of her three month visit to the U.S. from Chile. She was visiting her son who was usually working, leaving her alone. I had the privilege of becoming friends with her and made sure she wasn't too lonely. Last September, I was able to take her out for lunch for what would be her last birthday. She told me that she was so thankful to have someone to communicate with in a strange country, even though I am far from fluent. Sadly, she passed away on Christmas Eve, so that was her very last birthday. I will always feel honored to have known this dear sweet lady! 
I live in New York. Now that I have a good understanding of this language my ability to communicate with people in many different circumstances has broaden. I understand people in the train, supermarket, doctor's office, and most importantly, in the hospital.
This was the best decision I ever made for expanding my horizons. I speak French and German, but now, Spanish is the language!
I am a learner of Spanish, and I use it everyday, Life would be very difficult for me living in México if I could not communicate with all the people around me, even with my errors.
I graduated from a college in the United States in December 2010 and had been looking for a job ever since. Due to the poor economy it took me until May of this year to find one. The job I found is in Santiago Chile, and I believe I would still be looking if I didn´t speak Spanish.
I had been studying Spanish for 2 years in high school when my father was transferred to Caracas. That was handy.
I now live in Southern California and I own a horse ranch. Most agricultural workers around here are native Spanish speakers. Another handy thing.
I've also taught school where many of the students are native Spanish speakers with limited English skills. That's handy.
I was once on an airplane when the pilot announced that we would be delayed for a few minutes before take-off. The woman sitting next to me only spoke Italian and was very worried that something bad had happened. I could explain to her in Spanish what the pilot said, and that was close enough to Italian for her to get the gist of it. Handy.
I'm not fluent, but I'm conversational enough to get by in most everyday situations.
I remember being a teenager when I made my first visit to Puerto Rico. At the time, I had only learned the Spanish basics which my father taught me and the little bit I had learned in school.
I remember my brother and I being in a room with one of our cousins, who knew as much English as I knew Spanish (my brother knew only a handful of Spanish words). We had a rough time at it, but we communicated for a little while (though in shallow conversation only) until we tired of the inability to go any further in conversation. It is just a memory now, but still a pleasant one. The first time I ever remember conversing with a Spanish native, without having anyone around to assist in translation.
