Ever Cluck Like A Chicken?
Feb 20th, 2002, 01:47 PM
#42
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Some years ago I remember being in an out of the way restaurant in Turkey where a neighbouring table were trying to explain that they wanted chicken – after much gesturing, flapping of arms and clucking a chicken was spotted rummaging in the adjacent field – Ahh! That! They all pointed at which the waiter was away – minutes later one chicken with wrung neck and one table of very suddenly unhungry English tourists.<BR><BR>Be very careful what you ask for – you might just get it!<BR>
Feb 20th, 2002, 02:08 PM
#43
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Not nearly as funny as above, but several years ago in Florance while trying to find a laundromat saying lavenderia and pulling dirty laundry out of a sack.<BR>One fellow got on his motorscoter took off and came back about 5 minutes later and directed us to one that was open (it was August and most were closed).<BR>
Feb 22nd, 2002, 11:54 AM
#46
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A friend moved to the States with her husband and three small daughters.The girls were making a mess with their colouring and so my friend went into an art shop to ask if they sold rubbers.With a red face she left the shop after being told that what she wanted was called an eraser in the U.S.A.!
Feb 22nd, 2002, 03:57 PM
#47
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Not in Europe, but in China, my husband got the sniffles, so he went to a walk in pharmacy like store for an over the counter remedy. He sniffed and gestured at the man behind the counter. He got a little bottle that we thought was like a Vick's inhaler, but when he squeezed the stuff into his nose then sneezed, it was some black powder. All of us in our group screamed and the surrounding Chinese nationals all laughed behind their hands. It is a common black powder used for colds.
Feb 22nd, 2002, 04:31 PM
#49
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When I was in Prague in November, I had caught a cold. I don't know what made me initially pack a box of Benadryl Cold and Sinus, but I eventually ran out of the pills, and needed to get something equivalent. I soon found out that these cold pills that are so readily available in supermarkets and drug stores like Walgreens, could not be found easily. I easily found cough drops in the supermarket -- even Halls, but still no pills, not even aspirin. I even went to Tesco, which is like being in a Walmart. Even in my travels I could not find a pharmacy. <BR><BR>Finally, I was able to find one in a neighborhood that I am sure that tourists don't frequent. I went into the pharmacy, and soon realized that the pharmacist did not speak English and I don't speak any Czech. So, this is where the charades begins -- I first point to my nose, and the pharmacist hands me tissues. I shook my head. Try to feign being sick -- it's not easy to mimic this. I put my hand to my forehead and then my nose. Still nothing. Then it dawned on me that I still had the empty box of Benadryl in my handbag. I gave the box to the pharmacist and she gave me something called Rhulihist -- I think that "rhu" is the root for the word nose in Latin. Trying to get cough syrup was easy, as I started to hack away. The cough syrup turned out to be cherry flavored too. The pills cost me about $2 and the cough syrup was just as inexpensive. I smiled at the pharmacist and went on my merry way. The meds saved me and I felt better within the next day. <BR><BR>But, I will make sure to pack twice as many cold pills before I go away next time.
Feb 22nd, 2002, 05:20 PM
#51
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Oh Pam, lol this is my favorite kind of thread also. i love reading about mishaps that are so funny to recall. i don't have a cluck like a chicken story but a mishap. In Provence, my husband stopped the car at the side of the road so I could get out to read a sign. I didn't see that there was an irrigation ditch about a foot deep, tall reeds covered it. Down i went, wearing my filenes basement Armani jacket and whatever. Completely Wet!!!!I was completely drenched!The sun was shining brightly across the road where there was this beautiful house and grounds sealed off from the public with a stone wall and a beautiful wrought iron gate.<BR>So I dragged my self soaking wet to that gate where that sun was so hot and laid myself down and suggested to my husband that he take a nap while I tried to dry myself off ( ladies, that is the virtue of natural fabrics)<BR>I dozed off in that glaring "friend"<BR>and was awaken by a grinding sound. I looked over my shoulder, and there was the gardner on this little motorized what??He asked why i was lying there. <BR>when I told my sad tale, he laughed and grinded away. An hour later, I was dry and off we went to our next destination.
Feb 23rd, 2002, 06:19 AM
#54
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I had the same situation as Leslie happen to me in Prague! Had no idea for the word for antihistamine so my husband & I were doing the sneezing, pointing to our eyes to imitate watering, rubbing the forehead, etc. The pharmacist caught on and brought out some medication. The correct word in Czech for what we needed...Antihistamine.
Feb 23rd, 2002, 07:07 AM
#55
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When in Germany my 11 year old walked into a restaurant and came out on the patio with her favorite lunch. Since no one spoke French or English, I asked her how she managed to order, her answer: she made the shape of sausages with her hands and then showed 2 fingers. She had two bavarian sausages in her plate!. We still get a kick out of that story.
Jul 25th, 2002, 11:55 AM
#58
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I have seen a product online which is just a large folding card that has illustrations of common items. It can be used in restaurants, finding hospitals, etc. I thought it was a pretty good idea since you could use it in every country around the world. Could have come in handy for some of the above posters! If I find the page again I'll post it.
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