Tell a story about an unusual, dangerous, or exciting experience you've had while traveling.
When I was a college student, I studied in the south of France. This was an amazing experience, and something very unusual happened to me while I was there. The students at the university were upset about possible tuition increases. They did not want to pay more money to attend the school. So, one day, they planned to go on strike. Strikes in France are very different from strikes in the United States, so I was very surprised by what I experienced over the next few months. A few days later, a friend of mine was in class when some French students came to their class and asked them all to leave because they were closing the school down. In fact, the students barricaded the doors of all the classrooms and the main entrances of the university. To barricade something means to block it with some object (in this case, desks and chairs). So, no one could enter or exit the university unless they wanted to climb over small hills of chairs! The strike lasted for 6 weeks, which meant I wasn't allowed to attend class for all that time! Instead of class, my friends and I traveled, went shopping and had picnics, so it wasn't so bad. It was a very interesting experience, and I learned so much from it!
Tell us your story! Then comment on two classmates' posts.
Befor I came to the United States ,I had never been abroad, and HongKong was supposed to be the farest place I've ever been .I went to HongKong when I was 13 ,with my dad and followed tourist gruop .Everything was fine at the begging of the trip and something unexpected happened when we were visiting the HongKong Disneyland .We saw a very huge and splendid statue ,which was probably made of marble and crystal ,an ancient Chinese statue .And the tour guide told us if we stroked(touch)the gem which was in the man's head,we would get a good luck next year .So I was waiting in line to touch the gem and when it was my turn ,I scrambled up the statue and began to collect the luck for the my next year ,while my dad was taking photo of me .But suddenly ,something unexpected happened--the gem ruptured and fell down the floor ,then it was shattered into pieces! I was shocked and one thing came into my mind:What?I broke the gem? Did I have to compensate or pay for it ? My dad came up and asked what happened ,but I just said nothing special and blamed it to the poor quality of the statue .My dad called me a rascal but he agreed about my point ,then we left as if nothing happened..
ReplyDeleteLater I heard the tour guide say that it was really because of the problem of the statue itself ,which proved my previous assumption ^^ Anyway ,consider it an adventure experience !
Few years ago, I went to Disneyland in U.S. either.
DeleteThere was amazing place and I was really fun in there. I think you have good experience and you never forget this tour.
I’ve had a business trip to Dalian in China over 40 times from 2001 to 2005.
ReplyDeleteIn China people usually drink too much in the dinner and urge their customers to drink. Although I’m lightweight drinker, I had to drink when they said” Cheers!”. So I’ve sometimes got falling down in the restaurant.
One day in Japan I drank with my co-workers after our work and went back home by a train. The train was crowded as usual so I couldn’t have a seat. However I was so tired and sleepy that I had a dream standing and hanging on a strap by my right hand.
In my dream…I was having a dinner with our Chinese customer in the restaurant.
The customer said, “Cheers, Mr. Fujimura!”
I said ” Sorry I’ve drunk too much, so I cannot drink any more…”
But customer said,” No, you must drink, this is the last time!”
“ You said the same thing to me. It’s third time. Sorry I cannot…”I said.
” No, Cheers, Mr. Fujimura! Go, go!” customer said.
I was in a haze but managed to extend my right hand pinching a very small glass, and said” Ch…Cheers….”
And then I woke up from the dream. I was standing on the train to go back home but my right hand didn’t hold the strap. Mercy! My right hand was pinching an earlap of a young woman standing in front of me! I really thought my life was the end. She would criminate me and I would be arrested by the police, fired by our company, and lose my family and all my friends….
Eventually, I was forgiven by her because I said immediately with loud voice” I’m sorry!”
I read this and it was really funny. Sometimes, alchol makes people to be in a good mood but it also can make people to make mistake without our will. I think appropriate amount of alcohol is good for person in society.
DeleteOne day, I drank a lot with my friend. These day I took semester off and focus to study English. When I drunken I started to speak English to strangers. And when i came back home, i spork English to my mom. She was upset because she couldn't understand what I was saying. Next day, I was yelled by my mom. hahahah
Delete3 years ago, I visited U.S. for business meeting on January. We came to San Francisco and Chicago. On January, Japan is winter. Usually it is cold. But, San Francisco was warm. We enjoyed sightseeing after business. In San Francisco, we could eat delicious seafood, and see some beautiful views.
ReplyDeleteAfter that we had to go to Chicago. I checked weather of Chicago. I understood that Chicago was cold. I prepared some warm clothes. When I arrived at Chicago, I felt that I didn't understood about Chicago. Because, Chicago was very colder than I thought it at that time. I was shivering when I went out from airport. Road and car was freezing. We didn't enjoy at Chicago.
I understood differences between two cities of U.S.
There are same country. But, weather is very defferent.
America is really big country!! On the other hand, Korea is very small country. So, we have almost same weather in every cities. Now, Korea is very very cold.
DeleteSo, I like Tucson !! Hahahahahaha
I went to chicago on winter. I couldn't stand outside, even though it was warmer than Korea. But that time, my friend was in California. He made fun off me why you are there, here is warm and you could have enjoyed this weather... I didn't regret because chicago was nice. But, I want to go there again on summer!
DeleteWhen i was just 14 years old i remember traveling to Kaprun, which is a small city in Austria for two months. And for sure i was traveling with my family; two sisters and two brothers. I also remember it was my second time traveling to europe. Kaprun is a really small, quite city, its a bit similar to Tucson but little bit quieter and more calm than Tucson. So basically its safe. When i was a kid (young teenager) i remember that i was always naughty and curious. So in my second day in Kaprun i remember going outside the apartment by my self. And for your information Kaprun i a nature city like its full with oak trees, mountains, deers, squirrels, etc. So i went walking by my self without an adult and i never thought or worried about my mom, so like i said i was walking alone and discovering the small city by my self. While i was walking i saw a soccer field where all children were playing, of course as usual i went and played with them. It took me 2 hours to play with the other kids, as I'm leaving i realized that my cell phone was lost and i totally lost my direction back home. So here i began my quest to find any cell phone or the way back home. I remember going to an old Austrian man who looked like maybe 78 years old, I'm trying to communicate with him but his english was 0% but i don't how he understood the phone sign. So i used his phone and called my mom, and for sure my mom was yelling and screaming, she's being a typical mother. So i got the directions and went back home. From this glorious day i really learned an interesting thing and that is self confidence in rough times. And that gave me a really good experience in my life.
ReplyDeletewooow Hamad, I really like your story .its similar to my childhood. I was so curious and alittle naughty. I did what I want to do with no permission. i got terrible of punishment.
DeleteThis story is funny! You were naughty in your childhood, weren't you? Even so, I think you were so happy that you had went back home safely. Maybe your mother worried about you!
DeleteSix years ago, I went to Taiwan with my friends for golf tour. In winter, Because Korea is very cold, some people go to warm country for playing golf. Taiwan is warmer than Korea in winter. I went to very small town in Taiwan(I forgot the town name). After we arrived the airport, we took a tour bus. The bus was very dirty and too slow. we were so tired and hungry. This small town was hardly developed. In the street, there was just few person, few old-fashioned buildings and cars.I felt the town was lonely. When I arrived hotel, there was another new city around the hotel. Everything was new. It was very suprising. Next day, While I was playing golf, some caddy helped for me. She wore a big hat and covered whole face with scarf. She was very active. Later when I saw her face, I was surprised again. She was an old lady. Maybe she was 70~75years old. In Korea, normally caddies are very young women. Suddenly I felt respect to her. Even though she was old, she worked hard in her life. The tour was interesting and my basic thought were changed.
ReplyDeleteIn Japan most of caddies are 40-50years old.
DeleteI've played golf and I think it's very fun. However in Japan the cost is too expencive and the field is faraway from our houses so we must wake up too early when we play golf.
Last year, my mom and I went to Hong Kong for shopping in summer sale section. In the first day, we shopped some shoes and cosmetics and planned to buy clothes the next day. Unfortunately, my mom had diarrhea so she was at hotel all the day. I went out hotel alone with pocket money that my mom gave me in the morning. I bought a lot of stuff and I did not know how much I spent that time. I realized again when I could not carry all of my stuff. And it was 4 P.M. I immediately headed back to the hotel. My mom was very angry because she did not have lunch, she was waiting to eat with me. She looked at my stuff and wondered that why there were a lot. Oh…Sorry mom, I enjoyed it! I told her that “I had not forgotten to shop pretty nice clothes to you, mom.” In fact, all of them were mine but we are the same size and we can share. So lucky!!
ReplyDeleteHowever, I wished I had shopped with you, mom.
ouoh!!! how **** hhhh , you spend her money and let her hungry , back late home, and you didn't but anything for her !!! that too much.. be careful next time
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DeleteMost of the ladies like shopping! Why do they like shopping? I can't understand... I often went to shop with my wife. I always waited at cloths shop or cafe. She always forgot that I waited for her... Usually, men don't do window shopping! However, ladies do that. So it takes a lot of time to shop...
DeleteI went to Hong kong with my mom and my brother in 2005. we stayed 5 days. But we didn't go anywhere in Hong kong. We only went to the shopping mall for 5 days. We didn't see any popular tourist spots. Hong kong is a shopper's paradise!!
DeleteI want to go Hong kong again for take a sight-seeing trip.
I traveled whith my family to Egept, when I was 10 years old. At one day while my family was sleeping on early morning. I was tosting and turning in my bed.I decide to walk around. I went outside I was so happy. I headed to near park I played hide and seek, played swing. I had fun time. But I didn't realize that I was too late.I back to hotle fast. I saw my father waited out in front of the hotle. he was so angry and afraid. He start yelling at me and scolded me sharply
ReplyDelete. I got the worst punishment.
Interesting story .Guess a child's curiosity can previal over anything even when it faces a high risk of being punished .When I was young ,I was very naughty .Because of this I had been punished by my parents a thousand times but I never behaved .But please remember ,it is not always good to be curious because sometimes you might get hurt !
DeleteAli Albahrani
DeleteThe same thing happened to me when I was 10. You can read my story, i posted it at the end of the page.
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ReplyDeleteI went to the Europe concert tour in 2010. I went to the Italy,German,Russia and The Czech Republic during 18 days. we had concert at 9 cities. It was a valuable experience for me. At first, we arrived at Italy. we were having 3 days free time,so I went to the Milano. But we didn't know how to buy a subway ticket, so we were standing in front of the ticket machine.And we were talking about how can we buy a ticket. Suddenly, one woman came to us, and she asked us to helping to buy a ticket. We accepted her helping. Ticket was 1 euro,and we were 9 people. We gave her 1 euro each. But she hid our money in her clothes. After that, she asked for more money. We were shocked by her words. We started to feel afraid of Italian people. But we went to the Milano to see "Duomo Cathedral". Finally, we arrived at "Duomo Cathedral". We were so excited!! My friend want to take a picture in front of "Duomo Cathedral". So I was taking a picture of my friend. At that time, one man came to my friend and gave a bird. And he suggested take a picture with a bird, so my friend held a bird. And I took picture of my friend. After that, the man asked money and glared at her with a fierce look. My friend were terrified,so she gave him 50 euro. We were shocked again. Many people like Italy, but I have only bad memories. So I don't want to go Italy again.
ReplyDeleteOh, you should not have easily trusted a man just because he is a handsam boy...there is no rose without a thorn.
DeleteI agree with Masahiro!!! But I afread that he might have seen the first situation that was a womon offered to help you and your friend.
DeleteDo you know many countries in Asia have the same situation that you met. I think we have to take care ourselves anyway.
In Japan, we don't have a daylight saving time. However, in America, we have a daylight saving time except Arizona. From last November 4th to 6th, I went to Las Vegas with my friend. First day, we enjoyed playing casino and eating buffet. Second day, we enjoyed playing casino and watching show. The final day, we got up at 9:00 in my watch. However, watches in hotel and in casino were delayed one hour. I thought watches in hotel and casino were delayed one hour on purpose to enjoy playing casino as long as we can. In fact, the final day was the day which daylight saving time changed. I didn't forgot about that, and I didn't notice that. I continued to enjoy in Las Vegas without noticing daylight saving time, and we went to airport to go back Tucson at 15:00. Of course, watches in airport were delayed one hour. Finally, I noticed about daylight saving time. "Today is the day which daylight saving time change!" I thought that I may miss the flight if time is one hour fast. This experience is my funny story in my trip!
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to Las Vesgas I always forgot to adjust my watch too. I thoght it was all right because of only one hour differnce, but sometimes I missed the meeting time. That was terrible day!
DeleteI'm so jealous that you guys have been so many places ,unlike me,who has just been abroad once .I suppose it would be a shame if my friends ask me have I been any other cities in US ,coz I've only been to Tuscon .....
DeleteI traveled a lot of countries with my family with guide and comfortable transportation. But almost trips were boring, because I repeated falling asleep on bus, waking up and going around somewhere. In other hand, I had exciting travel with my friends on 2010 winter by ourselves. It was very cold. And it was my first travel by myself without parents' help. I slept uncomfortable place or bus, and kept walking every day with heavy bag. we moved to other city everyday, so we could travel 7 cities for 5 days. It was crazy and unbelievable trip, but I won't forget this trip forever. It was hard, but funny and I enjoyed with my friend. If I have a chance to go travel like this, I want to go and experience again!
ReplyDeleteI went to LA this winter break, but it was a terrible trip for me, cause I got sick the first day I arrived in LA. I was lying on the bed in the hotel for two days. My friends went to the Six Flag Amusement Park, the Universal Studios and the Hollywood's Walk of Fame and so on. They also enjoyed the food in the China Town. They told me about those which broke my heart. But I still love the city LA, maybe I will go to LA again.
ReplyDeleteAli Albahrani
DeleteChirs, I went to LA this winter break too. I think you should really go again because there are a lot of place you can visit, such as Beverly Hills and the ones your friends went too. I hope you go again and don't get sick.
Ali Albahrani
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 10 years old I went to Syria with my mom. I was very upset and I was a crazy child ☺ . So, I went outside and started walking, thinking that like this I am a man. After a few hours I was very far from home. The problem is I wasn’t looking while I was walking I was only thinking that I am brave and I can depend on my self. I didn’t have anything that could help me get back home. Then, I felt very scared and I tried to find my way back home but I couldn’t find it. After an hour, which was the worst hour in my life that day, I found a guy who lived with us at the same hotel. He took me back and my mom was crying and everyone was looking for me.