That anonymity - the lack of expectations - is my favourite thing about travelling. The solitude of it helps as well. You're stripped of your normal roles, you just are. I don't think I believe in some sort of existential purity of the self - even as you travel you're creating new roles, a new persona for yourself - but nonetheless it's very compelling. I'm glad you're finding the language barrier interesting rather than frightening or frustrating.

Solitude is very liberating though, I learned that at Glastonbury. So is quietness. After being such a talky person in English it's really refreshing to not have that option for a while. Like being on retreat, almost.