I work at a natural history museum that has an earthquake simulator. I am working in the café, and a tourist is telling me about her visit.

Customer: “Oh, we’re having a great day! We went to your earthquake and volcano section and tried the earthquake stimulator!“

Me: “The earthquake sim-ulator! Yes, that’s always a favourite.”

Customer: “Oh, yeah, it was a really good stimulation! We all had to hold on while we were shook about!”

Me: “Yes, it’s a pretty good sim-ulator!“

Customer: “I might go try the stimulator one more time before I go, but maybe without the kids. They got scared last time.”

Me: “Yes… that might be best.”

A lady in the office asked our manager if she could bring her daughter in for a day to show her what it’s like to work in an engineering firm and help her choose her university degree. This request was made in a team meeting and was pretty much greeted by most of us saying, “Yeah, sure, that’s great!”

Our boss agreed, and that’s when things turned sour. The woman said that a few “safety” arrangements would have to be made for her kid, who was about fourteen.

Number one was that no transgender or nonbinary people would be allowed in the office that day. 

Coworker: “I don’t have a problem being around them myself, but they’re dangerous to the mind of a child.”

A total silence fell over the room.

Finally, our boss told the rest of us that the meeting was over and he’d have a private word with her. We left, the door closed, and from within we heard his voice.

Boss: “WHAT THE F*** IS WRONG WITH YOU?!”

[Coworker] did not bring her daughter in, and she didn’t speak to any of us for a long while.

She handed in her resignation a month later.

I have moved into an apartment in a relatively upscale part of London, sharing with two other people. They are both Chinese students who seem to come from very wealthy families as they don’t work, are always out shopping for luxury branded items, and order from [Food Delivery Service] for every… single… meal.

I don’t begrudge them this in any way but as someone who, while not poor, is on a budget and is working to get through university, it’s an interesting observation.

For the last two weeks, my flatmates have been ordering from either the same Chinese or Korean fried chicken place for nearly every meal. After some noticeable digestion issues and weight gain, they decide to order from a salad place.

The [Service] delivery guy is handing my flatmate their packed salads.

Delivery Guy: “I’m so proud of you! This is the healthiest thing you’ve ordered in weeks!”

After the door closes, my flatmates are looking at each other.

Flatmate: “Maaaaaybe we should start cooking at home more.”

I am working at a food counter at a convention centre in the middle of a large anime event. I am extra happy to work this weekend, as I am an anime geek and I get to tell my customers how much I love their cosplays.

A timid-looking girl in a wheelchair is with her friend and they order some food from me. She is cosplaying as an anime character.

Me: “That’ll be £10.95. By the way, I love your outfit! Tougou Mimori from Yuki Yuna Is A Hero, right?”

With this, the girl suddenly breaks down crying.

Me: “Oh, no! Did I say something wrong? Did I get the wrong cosplay?”

Girl: *Through some tears* “No, you got it right! You’re the first person to get it right!”

Me: *Nervous laughter* “Oh, well, I am sorry to hear that. But it’s a limited-run anime from 2014, so I guess you kinda have to be a fan?”

Girl: “It’s just, she’s the only anime girl in a wheelchair, so I thought I would try her out. She’s such an inspiration to me, and I was getting so upset that not one other person at an anime convention got it. You’ve just made me soooooo happy!”

Her friend then gets a photo of us both to record the happy memory. I say thanks to the photographer, who responds in basic sign language.

Girl: “Oh, yeah, my friend is deaf.”

Me: “Ah. Is that why he’s cosplaying as Bojji from Ranking Of Kings?”

The girl’s eyes go wide, and I look at her friend who has read my lips. His cosplay is based on a deaf anime character, so for me, it was an easy guess.

Girl: “Who are you?!”

I got pics with both of them and shared Instagram details so I could continue to marvel at their amazing cosplays.

I would like to point out that I think those with and without disabilities should both be able to cosplay characters with or without disabilities, but in this particular instance, it was like putting two and two together. This will always be my favourite customer encounter.

This story is part of our Highest-Voted-Inspirational-Stories-Of-2023-(so far!) roundup!

Read the next Highest-Voted-Inspirational-Stories-Of-2023-(so far!) story!

Read the Highest-Voted-Inspirational-Stories-Of-2023-(so far!) roundup!

I am working at a tourist information centre in a touristy part of central London. A family approaches me. They speak with a US American accent; I mention this only to point out that there is no language barrier at all during this interaction.

Tourist: “I think some of the signs around here are wrong!”

Me: “What is the issue you’re having, sir?”

Tourist: “This road sign here says ‘London Bridge’, but it’s the wrong bridge! London Bridge is over thataway!”

The tourist points to the actual London Bridge, which is an arguably ugly concrete construction from 1973, and then over in the direction of Tower Bridge, which is the “famous bridge” with the ornate towers and iconic design. A lot of tourists seem to think that this is London Bridge, though. Thanks, Fergie.

I explain this common mix-up to the tourist.

Tourist: “Wait. So, that’s not London Bridge?”

Me: “That’s right; that’s Tower Bridge.”

Tourist: “But we wanted to see London Bridge!”

Me: “Well, congratulations: you’re next to it.”

Tourist: “But… where is it?”

Me: “It’s… right there.”

I point again to the actual London Bridge. I admit that it’s a little underwhelming compared to Tower Bridge, but it’s still very much visible!

Tourist: “Where?”

Me: “That bridge, right… there.”

Tourist: “I still don’t see it.”

Me: “Do you see the thousands of people crossing the river at this very moment?”

Tourist: “Yes.”

Me: “That’s it. That’s London Bridge.”

The tourist looks at the bridge, then at me, then at the bridge, and then at me.

Tourist: “But I can’t see London Bridge.”

Suddenly, the tourist’s wife whispers something to him.

Tourist: *To me* “Oh, is that because London Bridge has fallen down?”

Me: “…yes. That is why.”

Tourist: “Figures we’d miss it!”

It’s easy for tourists to get turned around in a new place, but please listen to the locals when they’re trying to help you! To be fair, these 13 More Cringe-Worthy Stories About Tourists Who Have Absolutely No Clue don’t fair much better!