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The obvious needs to be said: other places around the world aren’t like where you grew up! Heck, your neighboring country or even the next town over might be very different in terms of culture, cuisine, and communication. That’s why we travel—to broaden our horizons, learn about how vast the world is, and discover new depths about ourselves as individuals… at least in theory.

Some people, however, use travel as an excuse to continue being exactly who they are, take selfies, behave like they never left home, and order cups of (non)coffee in historical European cities. Quelle horreur!

New York comedian Andy Haynes fired up a roaringly good thread over on Twitter about the experiences people from all over the world had while traveling. And a ton of the stories that social media users shared revolve around the one thing we all love best—food! The culture shock trying to order what they wanted was, well, shocking.

Scroll down for the funniest stories, upvote your fave ones, and be sure to drop by the comments to share your own tantalizing travel tales, dear Pandas! And, be honest, which of you ordered coffee with oat milk on your Eurotrip?

Andy, who's been a comedian for around 18 years, was kind enough to answer Bored Panda's questions about traveling abroad, standing out online with our wit, and his career in stand-up. Read on for our interview with him.

More info: Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | imandyhaynes.com

Image credits: imandyhaynes

Meanwhile, also scroll down for Bored Panda's chat about coffee culture and authentic food in Italy with travel expert, best-selling author, and investor Rick Orford. He revealed to us what to say if you want a latte and what reaction you're bound to get if you order a cappuccino after lunch!

"I've been to Europe a few times. I actually split my time between London and New York now, but that's less of an adjustment than the Continent," stand-up comedian Andy told Bored Panda.

"In England, I just know that if I want a cold brew or some other caffeinated American indulgence, I have to go to Starbucks, or maybe a hip coffee shop. But everything is pretty much available," he said.

"For instance, Tesco has plant-based milk and meats, etc. In France, or Italy where I am now, it's pretty unlikely that I get something like that, unless I go to a specific restaurant or cafe, so I just kind of give up and go with the flow. That Oat Milk latte was a long shot, and clearly a miss."

Consistency, according to Andy, is the secret to standing out on social media. "I will say that Twitter is my weakest link. I've never had a tweet explode like that, but on other visual mediums, it's just about putting out content on a regular basis and trying to make sure it's of decent to better quality," he said.

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"I think social media is all about feeding the beast. I mean most influencers aren't very deep, it's more like look at my body, or money, with a hit song to accompany it. Disclaimer: I'm not very deep either," he quipped.

Andy started doing comedy right out of college, about 18 years ago. It started out as a hobby. But once he got more work, he turned it into a full-time job.

"I love it, and I feel extremely grateful for the life it's given me, but I also don't have the traditional career trajectory. Where most comics get a little momentum and either build their fanbase and go on tour, write for television, or act, I've kind of done a million parts of the job and keep on going," he opened up to Bored Panda.

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LilliVB
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't be sure for the whole Italy, but you can't find almond milk in Italian bars, practically none of them has it (our bar aren't the same as the Usa, it's a place where you can go to get breakfast, they doesn't serve mainly alcohol). All the kinds of milk that aren't cow's are pretty rare in our bars

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Roman Hans
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of a joke I love: every time I go to a coffee shop I think about the time last summer when I asked for a latte with oat milk and the poor lad behind the counter somehow managed to say with a straight face "sir am sorry a cannae make a latte withoot milk"

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"I mainly perform around the cities I'm in, and then make my money doing consulting work or the random gig that comes up. Ideally, I'd like to be successful enough to keep on jumping between continents and selling tickets to shows," he said.

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As for his passion for comedy, Andy noted that it "ebbs and flows."

"It's like a marriage, you've got to be kind and patient, and sometimes you have to remind yourself why you married it in the first place. Don't show this to my wife," he joked.

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LongCoolWomanInABlackDress
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well, yes. That makes finding a dessert very difficult and I still don't understand how ppl expect every restaurant to have options ready.. my lactose intolerant kid knows he has to take his pills with him or chances will be high he's not getting dessert

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Laura Ketteridge
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm confused. There is no chicken in a Caesar Salad. It's romaine lettuce and croutons dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, egg, Worcestershire sauce, anchovies, garlic, Dijon mustard, Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.

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Cuppa tea?
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like when people drink coffee with skimmed milk. Like how much of it is there? 0.5 ml?

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Travel expert, investor, and best-selling author Rick shared his insights about coffee culture and the best dishes he'd recommend while you're visiting Italy.

"Italy is very different from the US when it comes to food and drinks. And coffee is no different. For example, coffee in Italy is usually served in a small cup—similar to what you'd expect an 'espresso' to be in the States. But in Italy, it's known as a 'Caffè.' Now, if you ask for a latte, you'll probably get a glass of milk because 'Latte" means milk in Italian. You'd be better off asking for a 'Caffè Latte' instead," he said.

"And last, never order a cappuccino after lunch. Many Italian restaurants will frown or downright deny the request."

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When it comes to travel, Rick suggests that anyone who's scared of taking the first step ought to see themselves as an explorer, who is ready to learn about other cultures.

"Sit back, relax, enjoy the scenery and the food, and try not to do too much... after all, you're on holiday!" he said.

Authentic food in Italy is regional, Rick told Bored Panda. "This means each region has a food or dish that they are specialized in. Here are a few of my favorite things to eat in the most famous cities:

  • Rome: Pasta Carbonara (Nothing beats authentic carbonara!)
  • Naples: Pizza (Pizza in Naples is something else. It's out of this world!)
  • Florence: Fiorentina (The most delicious T-Bone steak you've ever had.)
  • Venice: Cicchetti (The Italian version of tapas.)
  • Sicily: Cannoli (Probably one of the best deserts around.)"

Then for dessert (and for those lovers of all things sweet like yours truly) is gelato. Rick said that you can find it "no matter where you are in Italy."

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"People eat gelato in Italy year-round, and for a good reason—it's the best!"

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John Dwyer
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In her head: "can I have a vegetarian menu:. In actual French "my grandmother eats monkeys"

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Valentina Cupido
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try ordering a steak "well done" in Tuscany (where "bistecca alla Fiorentina" is basically a religion)! I used to work in a restaurant and this one time a pregnant lady ordered it well done and the cook was so furious! She sent it back three times because she found it too rear, in the end it was basically a shoe sole!

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Delta Dawn
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

surely they must have a brussel sprout or two hidden somewhere

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Stand-up comedian Andy’s thread got a jaw-dropping amount of attention online. He got over 203k likes. But the true beauty of his tweet about asking for an oat milk coffee in Paris was how much he inspired other travelers to open up about their own gastronomic and other experiences while abroad.

Andy focuses on doing stand-up professionally. He also has a podcast with his wife, called Find Your Beach.

Us, personally? We live for travel. There is nothing like the thought of having a trip waiting for you in the near future to energize and motivate you. It doesn’t necessarily even have to be a flight to Paris, New York, or Tokyo, either. Sometimes even hopping on a train or driving for a couple of hours is enough to give you a completely different perspective on life.

Life’s an adventure. Or, well, it’s supposed to be. But how many of us live it to the fullest? Or anything even close to resembling that? It takes quite a bit of energy and courage to step out of your comfort zone. Leaving your 9-5 and pile of unwashed dishes for a few days or weeks can be daunting. However, the result is very much worth it, we feel. Travel is good for the soul.

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Ace
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well no, it doesn't. It's either medium or well-done, can't be both.

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Taking the first step can be incredibly frightening. You don’t know what’s waiting for you on the other side! So it’s no surprise that some people cling to everything and anything that’s familiar: the language, behavior, food, and drinks that they’re used to. However, if you open yourself up to new experiences and go with the local flow, you’ll end up enriching yourself beyond taking a few selfies at popular tourist spots.

By being open to exploring the unfamiliar and unexpected, at the end of your trip you might find that you’ve made a ton of new friends with people whom you would otherwise never would have considered talking to. You’ll have visited places that might not even be in the tourist guides. And you’ll have tasted things that help you develop your palate. It’s fine to set aside your love of latte for a week and live like a local.

The mindset with which you head out on your journey matters a lot. Taking the time to learn a bit of the local language and customs can help improve your entire trip. Besides, the locals will probably be far friendlier when they realize that you’re not just any other tourist.

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DuchessDegu
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh, no. I got upgraded to business on Air France and I got the vegetarian meal I've ordered when I booked economy, plus the most delicious bread rolls I even eaten, extra dessert, a cocktail and a small bottle of champagne to make up for the economy meal!

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Ritchat
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh please, in Germany we have Starbucks, World Coffee, Double Coffee, Espresso House, Tchibo, and who knows how many other places that have oat milk or other kinds of milk substitutes on the menu.

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Previously, Professor Christine Vogt, the Director of the Center for Sustainable Tourism at Arizona State University, told Bored Panda that the more we prepare for the journey in terms of knowledge, the more of a positive impression we’ll leave with the locals.

“More than likely that [the local language and customs] is what draws a person to visit a certain place. The more local knowledge a traveler has, the more a traveler can feel like a local and fit in," she told us some time ago.

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Ace
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lost in translation. Presume the first one was out of stock and the second was his suggestion of the best alternative to it.

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"Local customs can include how a traveler dresses, eats, uses a cell phone, etc. When a traveler is out in a community such as walking in a downtown area or eating in a restaurant, these local customs can come into play,” she explained.

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Jaguarundi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you mean Mrs.Bucket? Hyacinth "It's pronounced BU-KAY!" wife of poor, sweet Richard Bucket?

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rahb1
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes; vegetarian is not a big thing in France. They assume it means you don't eat RED meat.

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LilliVB
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is because in Italian "Latte" means literally milk. So if you ask for latte, we assume you want a glass of milk (in Italian "un bicchiere di latte). If you want hot milk with a splash of coffee, you have to ask for a "latte macchiato"

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“For example, in Buddhist countries, a woman who has not covered her shoulders or legs may not be allowed into temples or even a restaurant. Learn as many local customs as you can and a few keywords to enhance your experience.”

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Amused panda
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is one thing to suggest "no, I believe you will find this wine will complement the meal best" but another thing to be entitled enough to force your choice of alcohol on another. Of course, it could be they had a stock issue, were out white (unlikely I know) and didn't explain. Or he was just rude.

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Tell us your funniest food ordering stories while you were traveling abroad, Pandas! Have you ever been in a situation like the people in this thread? Do you enjoy lattes and oat milk in your coffee? What city or country do you hope to visit soon? Share your thoughts, experiences, and future plans in the comments.

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Laugh or not
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nope, bread is always served for free in French restaurant. Same for water (not the bottled water).

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Mason Kronol
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do these places not have menus or are these people just picking a food they want and expecting the restaurant to accommodate any request? Are these type of stories why people hate American tourists? If so I can see why.

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