Your most amusing "misunderstandings" while traveling

[Crew Chief]

After several years of USAF service in Germany, I had picked up enough "Tourist German" to be comfortable away from base. Stopping for a meal break at an Autobahn service plaza, I saw that they had "Drei Ruhrei mit Schinken" (3 scrambled eggs with ham) So that's what I ordered. When I thought the woman behind the serving line repeated my order, I said "Jah!" (Yes) I was alarmed to see that the cook placed THREE plates in front of the grill. Realizing that I had mistakenly ordered 3 portions, I quickly tried to get her to understand that I had goofed. They graciously declined to make me pay for the other two...

[DewDropInn]

Originally Posted by DewDropInn

Funny. Neither Australians nor Kiwis speak what we Americans would call English. I get letter from my friends Down Under and practically have to get them translated.

Said with all the love in the world for both Australia and New Zealand.

But they use a lot of terms we Yanks don't. Just a few off the top of my head:

Pressies = Gifts

Lollie = Lollipops/suckers

Nappies = Diapers

Even food terms are different. After being sent 2 or 3 cookbooks from OZ I had to ask what certain things were.

On one visit we were lawn bowling and I was doing pretty well. One of the Aussies said, "Up the American!" That's not something you say in polite company in the USA. Took me a minute to realise I was being complimented.