[mercedesjin]

What are some stupid (but funny) mistakes you've made while in Japan? Or any other countries, if you'd like to share that experience.

I was in Sendai, going to Miyagi Gakuin, when I got on the completely wrong bus. I noticed that the bus was making different stops I wasn't used to, so I asked the bus driver if I was on the right one. He spoke really quickly, so all I could understand was "iie" and "ushiro." So, I look behind me, and there's the bus that I'm supposed to be on. I had to jump off of that bus and run on to the other one.

Also, I have a question that's sort of related to the idea of "baka gaijin"... has anyone, while in Japan, made a stupid mistake while riding a bike? Because every single person I speak to here in the USA says, "Whatever you do, DO NOT RIDE A BIKE." But riding bicycles is one of the main modes of transportation, right? I'm also not really sure why everyone I speak to is so worried about me riding a bike. It can't be that hard... right?