Mon Aug 8, 2016, 01:58 PM
NWCorona (8,541 posts)
Error puts Chinese tourist in German migrant hostel
Source: BBC
German media say the 31-year-old backpacker, who spoke neither German nor English, underwent a medical check and his fingerprints were taken. A Red Cross worker later found out that the man's wallet had been stolen in Stuttgart. But instead of going to the police the man registered as a migrant. A translation app confirmed Mr Schluetermann's suspicions that the tourist had got entangled in the asylum system by mistake. "It came up with phrases like 'I want to go on a trip abroad'," he said. It emerged that the tourist had plans to visit Italy and France. Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37013007 Odd story. Was the hostel on lock down?
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7 replies, 1679 views
Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum
Replies to this discussion thread
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Author | Time | Post |
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NWCorona | Aug 2016 | OP |
onehandle | Aug 2016 | #1 | |
NWCorona | Aug 2016 | #3 | |
mainer | Aug 2016 | #2 | |
DorothyG | Aug 2016 | #4 | |
NWCorona | Aug 2016 | #5 | |
MrScorpio | Aug 2016 | #6 | |
NWCorona | Aug 2016 | #7 |
Response to NWCorona (Original post)
Mon Aug 8, 2016, 02:09 PM
onehandle (51,122 posts)
1. Always learn a few basic words/phrases in the language of your destination.
Not only is it polite, but also can be lifesaving.
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Response to onehandle (Reply #1)
Mon Aug 8, 2016, 02:23 PM
NWCorona (8,541 posts)
3. I think Germany has some blame by not trying to contact a translator for the duration of his stay.
That said. Yes. It is very helpful but I'm not sure what common phrase would have helped. Maybe "I'm a tourist " But how likely are you to learn that saying?
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Response to NWCorona (Original post)
Mon Aug 8, 2016, 02:15 PM
mainer (11,738 posts)
2. This is a smile-worthy article -- especially the last line.
"According to German broadcaster WDR, the man did not get angry but left Germany saying simply that he had imagined Europe to be quite different."
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Response to NWCorona (Original post)
Mon Aug 8, 2016, 02:36 PM
DorothyG (95 posts)
4. Something went really wrong.
He had no visa to show them? No return plane ticket? No itinerary? No travel books? No phrase books? No mime skills?
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Response to DorothyG (Reply #4)
Mon Aug 8, 2016, 03:01 PM
NWCorona (8,541 posts)
5. The thing I don't get is that he turned over his passport
And it should have a stamp of when he entered the schengen zone. If they ran his passport they should have known something was up.
Does the hostel get paid by the occupant? Like I said. It sounds odd |
Response to NWCorona (Original post)
Mon Aug 8, 2016, 10:22 PM
MrScorpio (73,501 posts)
6. There's a screwball comedy somewhere in all of this waiting to be made nt
Response to MrScorpio (Reply #6)
Tue Aug 9, 2016, 12:16 AM
NWCorona (8,541 posts)