One thing everyone knows to expect while in a different country is the communication problems, language barriers. I think these always provide great humorous and humiliating anectdotes.

1). So, to say "down" or "downstairs" in Italian is "ju" pronounced phonetically, 'jew'. I was aware of this yet it was nonetheless a little disconcerting, when, at the dinner table, the family dog Tobia leapt up to try to grab a bit of food and the family would collectively smack her down yelling, "NO! JU! NO!"

2). Probably by now I've told you all about the happy birthday \ happy asshole story? If not ... I think you can imagine how that one played out.

3). Sometimes things aren't my fault. Sometimes there is slang words that I can't find in a phrasebook. For example. There is a word that is similar to that for PENCILS which in Italian slang means DICKS. The family had some friends over, I was keeping the kids entertained colouring in the other room. I sincerely thought I would be thrown out when I came in the roomto ask for what I THOUGHT meant "coloured pencils"..........