Lost in Translation -
Back in the 70's, it was a rare thing to have an overseas school trip, but being in the school CCF, or cadet force, meant an annual week away at an Army/RAF base. Hence, a group of some forty 16-year-old lads spending a week at RAF Gutersloh in Germany. Part of the schedule was a day out in Munster (to see the cathedral, or some such nonsense), but we were also to have a few hours left to our own devices (presumably so that we could go visiting art galleries, or admire the architecture). So, the coach has been parked up, and we are instructed to memorise the location to ensure that we can rendezvous at the appointed time of 16:00, and sent on our merry way.
Inexplicably, several of my mates and I have the same brainwave - head for the nearest Bierkeller. Two hours later, and a few litres of Germany's finest safely consumed, we leave said premises, and make the two minute walk back to the coach. Now, 16:00 comes and goes, and the majority of the party have re-assembled in dribs and drabs, and in varying degrees of sobriety. Supervising teacher speaks to coach driver, and arranges to allow another half-hour to wait for stragglers. Fast forward - the time is now 17:30, and coach driver is getting steadily more hot under the collar, but we are still waiting for two no-shows. 18:00, the local Polizei are now involved, and a bulletin has been issued to all patrol cars to look out for the two British teenagers wandering aimlessly around the city. Eventually, at about 18:15, the two miscreants come into sight, looking exhausted.
After much bollocking on the lack of respect for their peers, irresponsibility, and so on, the two are told to explain themselves. Turns out that they had "made sure" they knew the location of the coach by writing down the name of the street where it was parked, and produced the piece of paper. They had apparently been trying to get directions from the locals on how to find "Einbahnstrasse". Brilliant move, lads, that's German for One-Way-Street.
(b3ta_demeter, Thu 7 Dec 2006, 12:56, Reply)