Sometimes yesterday across the dining table at a colleague’s house, this conversation took place among seven people of different nationalities. It is a discussion of how to ask for directions, and what the result usually is, in different countries.

You approach someone to ask for directions…

Rabat, Morocco: In order not to seem rude, the person you have asked would give you an elaborate description of the place you are supposed to be going. When you finally get there, you will find out that it had been a wrong description and your guide had given you that description in order to save face.

Lagos, Nigeria: Your guide ignores you, thinking that you’re a criminal with a malicious intent. Or, waits for you, then defrauds you in some way. Or sends you on your way with a wrong description. Or sends you on your way with a right description. Depends.

Cairo, Egypt: Same as in Rabat, or Lagos, depending on where, and whom.

Honduras: Your guide doesn’t know the way to where you are going. S/he doesn’t say so. Both of you then go to a third person to ask. The third person doesn’t know either, so the four of you look around for another person to ask. Depending on how long it takes you to find who knows the way, you may have a dozen people walking down the street looking for directions to the place where only one person is going.