Mistake in speaking English

When I was a university student, I visited USA for the first time in my life. That was my first overseas travel and my first experience of flight. In 1991, there was not many big shopping mall and tall buildings in Korea. Every moment that I spent in New York was a little bit strange and exciting as well.

At that time, I was not good at speaking English. Whenever I had a chance to speak English, I felt so nervous and discouraged. I thought my knowledge of English was better than that of my friends. It was very immature, though.

In New York, I was walking along the street of downtown. I had company and should be together with them. I had no chance to go to the bathroom. I needed to take a piss. I couldn't hold it anymore. I told one of my frineds that I would go to the bathroom for a minute and started to look for a bathroom. I found one big building and got inside. But it was so big inside and I couldn't find any sign of bathroom. It was so desperate and I asked a guy passing by.

"Excuse me, where is the bathroom?"

"It's over there. Go straight and turn left."

I understood where it was and I wanted to thank him. But the words coming out of my mouth was,

"Oh, you're welcome."

Saying this, I walked away from him and directly ran to the direction for the bathroom. What a embarrassing moment! I couldn't take it back. I should have said 'Thank you' but I said to him 'You're welcome.". I said what he was supposed to say after my gratitude.

I learned those words like a formula, 'You're welcome' after saying 'Thank you'. But at that urgent(?) situation, they were switched. I've never wanted to imagine what he thought of me so far.

For studying a second language, they say we need practice and repetition. It's still not that easy to learn and practise English. But now I speak much better than before. Embarrassing moments turn into precious memories after all. This is the beauty of life.