Originally Posted by kimilseung (Post 10531204)

Well then, we must move on to the snobs definition. My mum says people who go to the Dominican Republic are wrong when they say they were in the Caribbean.

Originally Posted by Middlemore (Post 10526527)

When contacting Expedia a few years ago, I asked about flights to London, and the lady said "That's in France, right?"

She wasn't joking.
She just worked for an international travel company.

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 10531158)

Next you're going to tell me the UK is in Europe, aren't you? :rofl:

Joking apart, membership of a political association does not alter geography. Martinique is treated by France as being politically part of France, but that doesn't mean that Martinique is "in France".

Originally Posted by Desdemona (Post 10531911)

When we returned from the UK one year, we also visited Paris and Brugge. On attending our travel club meeting (for Rv owners who like to go to places here in the US as a group) I was asked by the wagon master (leader of our group) to give them an account of our travels.

Originally Posted by Steve_ (Post 10532794)

Taken in the parking lot at Lake Minnewanka, Alberta.

Originally Posted by yellowroom (Post 10525450)

A colleague of mine is going to our UK office for some meetings, and then onto mainland Europe - they've never been to either before.

They were asking me for hints and tips, so I was advising them on the area and mentioned that they need to take a small amount of cash. Mainly for personal things, eg snacks as paying for small items by card in the UK can be difficult, and for using public loos etc. The conversation went like this:

I can take dollars, right?
No, they aren't accepted in the UK. You need some pounds.
Really? I can't use dollars?
No. In the same way I can't spend British pounds here, you can't use US dollars in British shops.
Oh, but I'm going to Europe. I'll just take Euros then.
Well, yes you'll need them for Europe, but you'll still need British pounds in England.
Really? I can't use Euros?
Well, in the odd shop in towns with ports, maybe, but, no the only currency where you are going is Pounds Sterling.
Oh, but I don't understand pence. I dont know what pence coins look like and won't know what I'm paying. Are you sure I can't use dollars?

This is a college educated person working for a multi-national company. I won't bore you with the details at their horror of only getting British tv channels and not US cable in the hotel while they're there, and their relief at having a McDonalds nearby. But really - I thought such attitudes were apocryphal amongst professional type staff. Obviously not!

I'm not sure how much practice it will take for me to master my face and voice into a more professional tone than the one I took today....

Originally Posted by Redwing (Post 10643820)

I just remembered this thread too. I was in the doctor's office this week, and there was a new technician there. Of course there's the usual "Where are you from". She guessed England at the third attempt.
"What part" she asked.
"Warwickshire", I replied, drawing a blank look.
"The second biggest city in England is in that county" I told her.
"Oh you mean Wales".

Originally Posted by Zen10 (Post 10645401)

Now you know why their foreign policy is the way it is.

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 10645615)

I used to manage a team of international analysts, one of whom told me "I always confuse Bulgaria with Bolivia". :confused: WTF?

I asked another one to draw Peru on an outline map of South America ...... it was news to him that Peru has a coast! :rofl:

Originally Posted by Redwing (Post 10643820)

I just remembered this thread too. I was in the doctor's office this week, and there was a new technician there. Of course there's the usual "Where are you from". She guessed England at the third attempt.
"What part" she asked.
"Warwickshire", I replied, drawing a blank look.
"The second biggest city in England is in that county" I told her.
"Oh you mean Wales".

Originally Posted by Zen10 (Post 10645619)

If there was a face-palm smilie, I would put three in a row right here!

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 10645623)

A palm-face would really not do these things justice. ..... I forgot, ..... another gave Brazil a coast, ...... but it was a Pacific coast! :ohmy:
It's hard not to laugh at them, .... it's just embarrassing!