Forum Index
»
Off-Topic
Embarrassing moment when talking to someone from another country
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
In college I lived in Istanbul with a couple the same age and my Turkish was pretty basic. The phone hardly rang so when it did one day, I thought it might be my family. It was the guy's father so I explained that the guy was "working" (outside the house) -- even conjugated the verb correctly, according to my dictionary. The father signed off quickly. But alas in slang the verb was used for "peeing." I of course didn't learn this until the guy came home and (just as embarrassed as me) explained it to me.
Although it's no big shake in the US to say that someone is in the bathroom, it was so incredibly inappropriate in this situation. Still cringe (and laugh a little). |
Anonymous
|
This is more pathetic than embarassing but here goes:
A German woman staying with me for a couple of weeks kept "reminding" me not to put any garlic in her food in cooking situations that were a real non-sequitur...cooking steak...cooking on the grill...making a sandwich...whatever is was, she would "remind" me not to put garlic in her portion. I finally asked her why she was so hung up on garlic in her food. It turned out she had been told by several Germans that Jews put garlic in everything they eat. I was flabbergasted. |
Anonymous
|
Our Italian friend came over for a Southern style BBQ, with plenty of slow cooked, mushy ribs that fall from the bone. Evidently they don't do that in Italy.
She pointedly looked at my husband the next time she saw him, with food no longer in front of us, and said "Your meat. It is so soft." |
Anonymous
LOL! |
Anonymous
|
OK, not conversation really, but in highschool, I went to Germany with a friend to visit her relatives. One of our stops was her Grandma's house. I noticed that when someone was at the door, she buzzed them in. I guess -at age 16 - this seemed like the coolest thing to me. So the next time someone was at the door, I asked if I could buzz them in and I went over and pushed the button.
Except - I didn't push the buzzer to open the door - I pushed the emergency "I've fallen and I can't get up button" Next think I know there is a flurry of activity as Grandma rushes to the phone to explain that she doesn't need an ambulance. The only word I actually understood was "American" said in the tone that clearly meant "idiot." Luckily, it was followed by a lot of laughter. |
Anonymous
It's not so much a no-no as just weird. My first thought when I read this was "where did she get the cream?". It's kind of like serving a guest pancakes and watching the pour catsup on it. You wouldn't necessarily be offended or horrified, but you'd certainly remember! |
Anonymous
|
I made some geography gaffe in front of someone, and self-depreciatingly stated afterwards, "They don't teach us much geometry here in the States."
Double-d'oh! |
Anonymous
|
I studied abroad in Madrid and the dumbest things that would come out of my mouth were often to ask for the Spanish name of an item and it would the the exact same as in English.
"Como se dice este?" (pointing to a piece of velcro that my friend had on his jacket) My friend: Velcro. "Como se dice este, senor?" (pointing to a donut in a display case at a sandwich shop) Sandwich man laughing at me: Donut. |
Anonymous
They had cream because it was at a meeting in the United States and there was American coffee served as well. |
Anonymous
| I came to the USA and asked a saleslady for a size 80 bra....(80 cm, I meant) |
Anonymous
|
When in college, I was honored to give a campus tour to a large group of Chinese businessmen in town for a conference.
At the conclusion of the tour, they all excitedly shared their business cards, bowed and thanked me... and in response, I bowed and said what I thought was an appropriate goodbye.... I said, 'sayonara.' They all laughed! So I thought it was a great moment, until I told me boss 
|