To be fair, the conversation you are referencing is very pertinent and on topic. It demonstrates some of the complexities of cultural dissonance. The fact that it is very hard to judge whether something is trivial or not.

Learning language is comparatively easy. Learning culture is much more difficult.

Many aspects are so deeply embedded in every day behaviour, that people are not even aware of them. To be asked about such aspects can be very difficult. It can seem so dumb to even be asked the question, that they might think you are talking about something completely different.

Recall being in a foreign country once, on a cross-country bus trip to a town I'd not been to before. Had fallen asleep on the bus. Bus pulled up at a depot. Someone nudged me awake.

I jumped off the bus, still half asleep and a bit startled. I raced into town to get something to eat. Then after 15 mins or so, looked around and realised I didn't have a clue where I was. Wasn't even sure how long I'd been asleep. (turned out that we were supposed to change to another bus to continue the journey, but I'd left too quickly to find out that.)

Discovered that sometimes the simplest questions were the hardest. Spent another 20 mins trying to ask random strangers, 'Where am I? What is this place?' (with complication of speaking in another language)

To everyone it seemed like the stupidest question possible. How could you not know where you are, right? Took bloody ages to finally work out that where ever I was, it wasn't where I was supposed to be.

TIL Simple questions can sometimes be the hardest to answer.

(eventually got back to the bus depot to catch another bus. Depot manager was furious with me. Made me sit in one place with a guard beside me, making sure I didn't wander off again. Quite funny really!)