Funny Things that 'Foreigners' Do -

[David_Old_Jersey]

Given that this forum is full of folk spread all around the world, (some have even travelled by boat ) perhaps "Foreigner" is not the the best word, but...........

Following on from the recent thread on USA folk installing their electrical switches upside down (Up for on???!!) it kinda reminded me that when abroad it is sometimes the mundane differences that come as a surprise.

Of course I am sure most of us are aware when travelling foreign of the old saying :"The Road to Hell is paved with Assumptions" but IME the odd thing crops up now and again which one had never even thought about and even if never a matter of life is kinda interesting to find out about..........or puzzle over.

My thread, so I start

1) In Jersey (and at least parts of the UK) if a car flashes it's lights at you it means "'I've seen you and it's ok to cross the road - by foot or by car - and I will slow down and could even stop if needed". In Thailand if a vehicle does the same it means "I am coming through. as fast as I can. Stopping?? Hahaha! Buddha is me mate". A couple of spots in Bangkok where it is fun to watch the Tourists learn this

2) In Jersey an Orange is orange coloured. all of them. the clue is in the name. Orange. In Thailand some Oranges are Green (on the outside - but the usual orange on the inside. and tasty ). No great problem unless one is looking in a market for an orange when lingo would make asking too much hassle. It's a fruit and veg market, how long can it take to find a stall that sells oranges? about 6 weeks and that's only because someone told me. I could still be there looking...........