I see very good answers, here is one situation I haven't seen yet:
Pressing a button to stop public buses.
I'm from Bolivia, the first time I visited Italy, we still didn't have buses with buttons back home. Public transportation was, and still is very bad and basic (it has improved A LOT, while still have to improve many areas).
In my home city, you have to yell “Bajo esquina” (I will get out in the corner) in order to get a bus or mini bus to stop and be able to get out the the vehicle.
This is very chaotic, and only in the last years we have a new bus system using buttons.
Back to my story, I prepared for months for this trip, studied all bus stops, planned ahead the places to visit, how long will take me to get there and how much I will stay in each place.
With confidence I got on the bus, took a seat and gazed at the beautiful city of Rome. Before I knew, my stop was next. I got up and then it hit me: how do I announce that I need the bus to stop? Maybe they stop at ALL stations, I'm sure they do, or I have to yell bolivian style? Or maybe I should go to the front and talk to the driver? I was seconds away from the stop and honestly didn't know what to do, I froze and at the las second I yelled in English “driver please stop” every one stared at me like I was crazy, the driver simply look at me from the mirror for a brief second and then looked at the road again.
I missed my stop, and was too ashamed to ask anyone for guidance. I stood next to the exit door like a fool. When the next stop was near, an old lady stood up and pressed the red button, it was the first time I ever noticed the existence of such button, and I realized it's purpose. I couldn't help but to laugh at how such a simple detail was completely strange and confusing for me.
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