Working in a shop that sells tacky tourist souvenirs gives me the opportunity to acquire many funny stories involving random customers that come in. The best stories usually involve American tourists (I'm sorry, but it's true). Last night, a group of American guys came in and they kindly provided the fodder for the following stories:
Story 1: I was stocking up a display nearby and I could hear this one guy asking his friends, "Who's Robert Burns? Is he a poet?"
Two seconds later he comes up to me and says, "Excuse me, who's Robert Burns?"
My answer: "A poet."
I guess that story is funnier if you know who Robert Burns is . . . if you're unsure google him.
Story 2, is admittedly the better one: One of the American customers is looking at a display of key rings, badges, car stickers, etc; and turns to me and asks, "What's Bonny Scotland anyway? Is it a famous place or something?"
(internally I am laughing my butt off, but I think I managed to keep a straight face and say) "No, it's an adjective that means 'pretty or beautiful'".
As he than ran over to his friends to share his new found knowledge I shook my head slowly from side to side in complete bewilderment. I really hope that I am not that ignorant when I travel to other countries.
THE END.
