1 Travellers researching a trip ask the tourist board daft questions
2 When entering a new country you ask a daft questions
3 When interviewing somebody you ask a daft question
Answers
1 Research the answer, and check FAQ (frequently asked questions), before asking questions and taking up the tourist board's time.
2 Never mind. Just remember and write down your question - and the reaction - you'll laugh about it years later.
3 Read William Brougham's checklist on Facebook.
Stories
On Facebook I read a checklist for interviewers compiled by William Brougham who I met in London when he came to Harrovian Toastmasters to be the speakers' meeting's General Evaluator. William has interviewed me several times on YouTube. I liked his useful checklist for interviewers. I was also amused by example of his silly question to the tourist board of Andorra, about the beaches. Andorra is land-locked! I began thinking about my silliest questions.
'My silliest questions'.
Angela Lansbury On Asking A Silly Question On The Plane to India
My cringe-worthy moment was when I was jet lagged and filling out the immigration form for India on the plane. I asked the person sitting beside me, "Why do they want my VISA number? Will the MasterCard do? I suppose it's to be sure I am solvent."
The reply was, "They want your immigration visa number. Visa with a small v."
Angela Lansbury On Asking Silly Questions in Malaysia.
I took my first trip to Malaysia and encountered something strange in the toilet. I went to the information desk where a girl a a bright purple headscarf smiled.
I hesitated, "May I ask a silly question?"
"Please do," she encouraged me, "I ask silly questions all the time.:
"Er," I said, "In the ladies toilet, the long shower attachment with the tap on the wall by the toilet in the cubicle, is it for washing the floor or washing yourself?"
"It's for washing yourself, you can use it," she assured me.
I have always remembered not just my question but her lovely, friendly, reassuring answer.
Angela Lansbury on Asking A silly Question About Buffalo Wings
I was on a press trip around America on a trip to the Grand Canyon. Our coach had driven past many places where the guide talked about the Wild West and buffalo. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch. I saw the starters included Buffalo wings. Oh, I thought, some fancy name for small cuts of buffalo meat. I ordered the Buffalo wings. Up came chicken wings. When the serving staff came round to ask how we had all liked the lunch, I pointed out that I had not received my Buffalo Wings. She retorted, "Yes, you did!" I did not wish to pursue the point. It was a free meal. No point in causing trouble.
A few months later I was talking to somebody and she said she came from Buffalo.
I asked her, "Does your area have any special food?"
"Yes," she said. "Buffalo wings."
I asked, "Made from Buffalo?"
"You mean bison? No. Made from chicken wings."
I want not and cold and blushed.
She told me the story of Buffalo wings, supposedly invented in bad weather when the only food was chicken wings and sauce, which were combined to make what is now known universally, at least all over America, as Buffalo wings.
I still get waves of horror when I think about it.
Tips
Check menus online before you go to a new country. Learn to pronounce the names of food and the ingredients.
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Please like, follow and share my blog posts. See the next post on silly questions.
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