My first day in France, I needed to exchange some dollars for francs. In my proud 6-years-of-high-screwel-French accent, I asked the first passerby, "Où est le banque?". Couldn't figure why they kept pointing to a bench in a nearby park.
My first morning, after many hours waiting and traveling, parched and searching for water (no water fountains), my novice French earned me a small, steaming hot coffee, instead of a big glass of water... A real thirst-quencher ;)