Ehh. I'll actually tell a real story of confusion I had on a flight.
South African Airways between Jo'Burg and Sao-Paulo, Brazil... This Asian guy was sitting next to me, when it was time for our meal the I of course was given a vegetarian one and the guy asked if he wanted chicken or beef. There was no reply to the scary flight attendant guy asked again to which he got the reply "Macaroni". Confused, we both looked at each other and slightly laughed and he asked a again getting the same answer of macaroni... He eventually just gave him a random meal and left.
If you're traveling, and can't speak English, I guess macaroni is a good first word.