By John L. Elman, JD, CLU

One steamy day last October, while traveling in Chiang Mai, Thailand, I asked our driver and guide if driving was his full-time profession.

“No,” he said, “during the off season I sell life insurance; but it’s hard to do.”

I was speechless! Wouldn’t you know that his experiences are no different from yours or mine—except I never take people to ride elephants during the “season”? (That’s where he was taking us.)

During the last half of October, we were in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, a country with breathtaking scenery. One day, I walked past the Royal Insurance Company of Bhutan. I thought Bhutan was not well developed, so what kind of insurance could the people need? The lobby was open, and I picked up a couple of flyers. One read: “Protect your family. Buy passenger insurance. Covers death and total disability as a result of an accident while traveling as a passenger in a bus. Covers journey to a specific destination. Cover of NU.20,000 (U.S. $500) costs NU.20 (U.S. 50 cents) and is much more worthwhile than beetle nuts, cigarettes or alcohol.”

Wow, I thought. A good salary in Bhutan is about $100 a month; protecting one’s family is essential everywhere, it seems. This flyer is one of my most precious souvenirs.

Reading English-language newspapers will provide laughs or, at the very least, some amusing perplexities.

I am convinced it is easier to look for, and find laughter and funny incongruities while traveling than it is at home. On the same trip, I noticed the following headline: “Council Calls for New Steps on Elephants.” The first paragraph of the story read: “The city council wants the administration to quickly bring regulations curbing the number of elephants roaming the streets.” Roaming? Are we talking leash laws, curbing of elephants or pooper-scoopers?

Reading English-language newspapers in other countries will provide laughs or, at the very least, some amusing perplexities. For example, a story in a paper that I picked up in Turin, Italy, read: “…a twenty-year-old Turin woman was found strangled to death by her parents early Saturday morning.” Help me. Who did what to whom and when? Did her parents find her or strangle her? Do we sometimes confuse our prospects in the same way?

While traveling, another of my favorite hobbies is noticing signs. Here are some of my favorites:

• At a tailor shop in Bangkok: “Women Have Fits Upstairs.”
  
• At a dry cleaner: “Drop Your Pants Here for a Good Cleaning.”
  
• On a Paris hotel door: “Please leave your values at the front desk. If you lose them in the room, we are not responsible.”
  
• In a Puerto Vallarta restaurant: “We are pleased to announce that the manager has personally passed all water served here.”
  
• In a Prague hotel lounge: “Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.”

Humor at home
Even at home, signs can be funny and can provide a rich source of entertainment. Many of us have spoken at a luncheon or dinner meeting where, as a fire safety measure, the maximum occupancy is stated above the door of the room where the meeting is held. More often than not, right next to the occupancy sign is a sign that directs you to the restrooms. Here is an example: “RESTROOMS. CAPACITY 350 Persons.”

I always mumble to myself, “Better get there early.”

Knowing of my search for fun signs, my son called recently and told me he had taken little Olivia to the park where he found a new sign that said: “Fine for Littering.” I guess if you’re going to litter in Santa Cruz, that park is the place to do it.

“Passenger Drop-off” is another sign that makes my mind wander. Is there a hidden abyss? I worry. Will we ever see the passengers again? Do they need parachutes?

By the way, when traveling in foreign countries, watch the hand signals you use to give compliments, as in a “thumbs up” or a circle with the thumb and index finger for “OK.” I have learned the hard way that these hand gestures are equivalent to obscene epithets in some cultures.

Look for humor wherever you go and don’t forget to laugh every day.

John Elman, JD, CLU, a senior agent with Northwestern Mutual, has studied humor and laughter as a lifelong hobby. His address: 2600 El Camino Real, #318, Palo Alto, CA 94306.

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