Travel: Travel Mishaps and My Experience

     Traveling is an exhilarating and transformative experience, but sometimes, the darndest things happen. From unexpected mishaps, or hilarious blunders, I sometime find myself in comical situations that make for lasting memories. I share some of my experiences that occurred during journeys around the world. I hope that they make you chuckle!Lost in Translation: One classic mishap for travelers is language barriers. My French language skills are good and while visiting Paris, sitting in a wonderful restaurant, perusing the menu, I made the decision to order in French. I choose the fish in butter and white wine. Of course, I make sure that pronunciation is perfect as I order. Well, I ask for the “dog” in butter and white wine instead of the fish! (Chien verses Poisson…an easy error.)  The look on the waiter’s face is difficult to describe as it was a looks of horror, amazement and doubt all rolled into one. Thankfully, I catch myself, just as he, in his perfect accent says, “That is not on the menu, Madame! He bursts out laughing and the same reaction comes from the neighboring tables. Yes, I am embarrassed, but another glass of wine, and I cannot help but laugh at myself and my “pretty good language skills.” Lesson learned: sometimes, even the most well-intentioned attempts at communication can end in hilarious misunderstandings     Full Exposure at Baggage Claim and the Briefcase Episode: Ah, the joys of traveling with luggage, briefcases, and purses. In the baggage claim, I see that my luggage is open wide with clothes strewn on the belt. Unhappy and embarrassed me! I invested in packing cubes. (Packing cubes are not just for organization!)  And you have heard that announcement “luggage looks like many others on the belt” and, yes, someone mistakenly takes my suitcase! I start to chase the person to retrieve it and the mishap ends smoothly. Now I have brightly colored yarn braids on my luggage to avoid this situation again.

     Another chase happened while in a taxi, on my way to the hotel in Washington D.C. I have my briefcase and my purse with me. My suitcase is in the trunk. Upon arrival at my hotel, I exit the taxi with only my purse, pay the driver, grab my suitcase, and take two steps. There is a feeling in my gut that tells me something is not right. Something is missing! I look at what I have in my hand and on the sidewalk. I realize that my briefcase is still in the taxi that is pulling away! (Thank goodness for traffic!)  Like right out of a movie, I am running down the street, calling after the cab and waving my arms! Fortunately, the driver has glanced in his rear-view mirror and stopped. I had only run one half block, but it felt like it had been more. With briefcase back in hand, all is right with the world once again.

     The APP Embarrassment: With technology, navigating through unfamiliar cities has become easier than ever. However, even the best APPS can lead a seasoned traveler astray as it did with me while in Tokyo. Imagine relying on your trusty navigation app to guide you to a simple convenience, let us say a restroom, only to end up in an adult bookstore. Red faced for sure! Lesson learned; you cannot always trust technology.

  The Culinary and Cultural Tale: Trying local cuisine is an essential part of the travel experience. But for visual eaters, like me, you may have one of those surprising moments. Picture me in a kimono, sitting on a pillow, on the floor in a large room waiting to participate in an authentic Japanese banquet! Servers come with our little barbecues and set them in front of us and another server brings shrimp, meat, vegetables and what is that? A large dead goldfish! Oh no! I cannot eat that. I will not eat that! But, according to custom, I will, with the others cook it on my barbeque and try it… but whoops! My fish is on the floor and one server whisks it away only to return with another! The fish did get cooked but not eaten. Cultural and culinary experience noted!

   With any travel, expect minor mishaps and some pretty funny scenes to look back on and share with friends as I have done. Not every trip includes a mishap, but what always occurs is that I learn something new about myself and people. It is such a fun journey. Hope you can come along with me one day. Call me at (401) 265-8300! I love company when traveling!