In the light of this supposed 'bogan Aussie tourist' in Thailand, who stole a bar mat, ran from and abused the cops then tried to bribe them, I thought it would be interesting to see what misunderstandings you guys have had overseas. I'll start the ball rolling.
1. When I was in China, I saw a beat up old four wheeler/cart with a few tattered police stickers out the front of a noodle shop and decided that it looked like a better place than anywhere else to chain my hire bicycle to. To my surprise, it turned out that this beat up buggy was actually a real police buggy. I was busy munching on some 20c noodles and drinking 3c longnecks, when the waitress came rushing up to me almost jumping out of her skin. She couldn't speak a word of English, but someone translated for her, and I looked up and out the window to see my bike being towed away on the back of this buggy. Now, I'd only paid about a $15 deposit on teh bike so it was no drama if I lost it, but I'd already been stooged by some 'watermelon skanks' in a bar the night before and decided I'd chase this down.
This thing didn't look like it had a very high top speed (I was surprised that it went at all) and I'd just finished the biggest pre season I'd ever done so I quickly caught up to it. Rather than stop and give me back my bike the two cops both gave me the finger and tried speeding up. I ended up chasing them for about 3km before they pulled into a police station.
They couldn't speak a word of english and my Chinese was pretty bad, so I struggled at first. I just kept saying in my best Chinese, 'Please bike there,' but they were getting really upset for some reason. Some guy came from out the back and started speaking to me in English and once they realised I was an Australian and not an American, they changed their tune completely. They ended up giving me a few police stickers and some old communist party hat as well as a map telling me where all the best eating places were.
2. When I was in Japan I got invited on a tour round Hiroshima with some fine Japanese girls. I was doing my best to be friendly and keep them interested but I think I looked like a lost puppy more than anything. Whatever the case, they didn't seem too impressed with me. I don't know if anyone knew this, but instead of the usual 'beckon' with the fingers to indicate that you should follow, the Japanese wave at you. I was a bit hungover from the night before and wasn't all that switched on and remember thinking, '**** you too,' and wandered off into the city. As it turns out, they were trying to beckon me to come with them and before they realised I wasn't there they'd got on a bus. I didn't really have any idea where I was and wandered aimlessly around for a while until about an hour later I met these girls again. It turns out as soon as they realised I wasn't there they came back to try and find me. Oops.
3. When I was in the States a few years ago, I went to a July 4 bbq in Texas and made the mistake of singing the Australian national anthem after they'd finished God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner and gave them a history lesson on the poor history of 'patriotism' in American society. I know that we're good allies with them, but a lot of Americans feel threatened by any foreigner regardless of where you're from - especially if you disresp. I found this out the hard way and copped a couple of black eyes from some drunk American bogans. Also, if you're down that way, I got in trouble another time because I got drunk and started swearing and carrying on as you do. As it turns out, even though they don't all practice what they preach, there are a lot of southern Americans who don't take too kindly to that sort of thing and because I'd 'disrespected his gal', this bloke tried running me down in his Chevy Silverado. My mates backed me up and got rid of this clown, but you can't be too careful. Umm... oops.
What are some misunderstandings you guys have had during any visits overseas?
1. When I was in China, I saw a beat up old four wheeler/cart with a few tattered police stickers out the front of a noodle shop and decided that it looked like a better place than anywhere else to chain my hire bicycle to. To my surprise, it turned out that this beat up buggy was actually a real police buggy. I was busy munching on some 20c noodles and drinking 3c longnecks, when the waitress came rushing up to me almost jumping out of her skin. She couldn't speak a word of English, but someone translated for her, and I looked up and out the window to see my bike being towed away on the back of this buggy. Now, I'd only paid about a $15 deposit on teh bike so it was no drama if I lost it, but I'd already been stooged by some 'watermelon skanks' in a bar the night before and decided I'd chase this down.
This thing didn't look like it had a very high top speed (I was surprised that it went at all) and I'd just finished the biggest pre season I'd ever done so I quickly caught up to it. Rather than stop and give me back my bike the two cops both gave me the finger and tried speeding up. I ended up chasing them for about 3km before they pulled into a police station.
They couldn't speak a word of english and my Chinese was pretty bad, so I struggled at first. I just kept saying in my best Chinese, 'Please bike there,' but they were getting really upset for some reason. Some guy came from out the back and started speaking to me in English and once they realised I was an Australian and not an American, they changed their tune completely. They ended up giving me a few police stickers and some old communist party hat as well as a map telling me where all the best eating places were.
2. When I was in Japan I got invited on a tour round Hiroshima with some fine Japanese girls. I was doing my best to be friendly and keep them interested but I think I looked like a lost puppy more than anything. Whatever the case, they didn't seem too impressed with me. I don't know if anyone knew this, but instead of the usual 'beckon' with the fingers to indicate that you should follow, the Japanese wave at you. I was a bit hungover from the night before and wasn't all that switched on and remember thinking, '**** you too,' and wandered off into the city. As it turns out, they were trying to beckon me to come with them and before they realised I wasn't there they'd got on a bus. I didn't really have any idea where I was and wandered aimlessly around for a while until about an hour later I met these girls again. It turns out as soon as they realised I wasn't there they came back to try and find me. Oops.
3. When I was in the States a few years ago, I went to a July 4 bbq in Texas and made the mistake of singing the Australian national anthem after they'd finished God Bless America and the Star Spangled Banner and gave them a history lesson on the poor history of 'patriotism' in American society. I know that we're good allies with them, but a lot of Americans feel threatened by any foreigner regardless of where you're from - especially if you disresp. I found this out the hard way and copped a couple of black eyes from some drunk American bogans. Also, if you're down that way, I got in trouble another time because I got drunk and started swearing and carrying on as you do. As it turns out, even though they don't all practice what they preach, there are a lot of southern Americans who don't take too kindly to that sort of thing and because I'd 'disrespected his gal', this bloke tried running me down in his Chevy Silverado. My mates backed me up and got rid of this clown, but you can't be too careful. Umm... oops.
What are some misunderstandings you guys have had during any visits overseas?
