Travel Stories: Language Barrier Fiascos

I really enjoy the traveling community we’ve built here on my blog and on Facebook. It’s a true joy to get to know you, hear about your travel dreams, and read your travel stories.

Is anyone up for some laughs? Over the next few days, let’s share our funniest travel experiences. Each day, I’ll suggest a topic and kick things off with my own funny story — and then you can take it from there in the comments. Let’s start with stories about language barrier fiascos we’ve experienced. I’ve certainly had a few — but for me, it’s all part of the fun of travel.

Over the years, I’ve given myself countless chuckles because of my inability to speak local languages. I’ll never forget the bus ride in eastern Turkey where, at each town, ladies kept coming onto my bus with handfuls of nuts saying, “Buy them.” I thought of it as rude, until I learned they were saying the local word for almonds: “badem.”

In Scotland this summer, I took a huge gulp of something the locals call “double cream.” I figured it was yogurt…but it turned out to be very rich cream, and I nearly gagged.

And on one trip in Spain, I went through a period when I’d order a glass of hot milk in bars by bellying up to the counter and boldly saying, “Leche caliente, por favor.” I got strange reactions…until someone told me that’s slang for “sperm.”

Okay, now it’s your turn…

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