Calling the Embassy

Some travelers have unrealistic expectations about the capabilities of their home nations' embassies. Here's a few ridiculous requests fielded by British consular personnel.

One lady, unhappy with the size of her newly-boosted breasts following surgery, asked if the embassy could help.

A mother asked the Florida consulate to help her teenage son pack his suitcase and give him a lift to the airport as he was feeling unwell.

One person called in consular assistance to find out what ratio of fruit to sugar should be used when making jam.

A holidaymaker in Italy asked the embassy where a particular brand of shoes could be bought.

Other requests have included asking for embassy staff to pay a bill when a credit card had "maxed out" and a traveller asking "Can you tell me how to make my naughty son behave?"

As entertaining as these instances are, they are hardly surprising. Ignorance and stupidity have no boundaries.

In a way, though, it's understandable why the embassies are being presented with bizarre requests. Many travelers carry with them the mistaken belief that all the rights and privileges granted them in their home nations apply in foreign countries. Here's a news flash for those folks, all the rules change when you leave your home country.