Error puts Chinese tourist in German migrant hostel

[NWCorona]

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

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Odd story. Was the hostel on lock down?

[onehandle]

1. Always learn a few basic words/phrases in the language of your destination.

Not only is it polite, but also can be lifesaving.

[NWCorona]

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?

[mainer]

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."

[DorothyG]

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?

[NWCorona]

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

[MrScorpio]

6. There's a screwball comedy somewhere in all of this waiting to be made nt

[NWCorona]

7. So true! In the style of Mell Brooks