The topic "No shorts, no t-shirts, no paradise", er, I mean "No shirts or t-shirts after the convention" had a post that reminded me of an experience I had that didn't really fit the subject of the thread, so I'll start my own thread and maybe we can share stories about how we have spotted JWs in unique or strange settings.
This is the exchange on the other thread that sparked my memory:
My absolute favorite (not) was when I went to the international convention in Moscow. I got Switzerland as the side tour, and even though the convention was over and we were in another country, the females all had to be in skirts or dresses wherever we went. Including our hike up the alps, which wasn't a lot of fun in a dress, by any means.
Same with me. We were in China where we were told not to preach or mention that we're witnesses. But my wife was instructed to still wear only meeting clothes and no pants even though it was -20° in Beijing.
I remember visiting China, but on our own, not part of a WT group or any other organized group. We were told though as we got our visas to be careful about what reading material we took. Even fictional novels that might seem subversive to Chinese authorities was best left home. Religious material was also warned about.
So, we were touring an ancient Buddhist temple. In our tour group was a family of 4 or 5 that I noticed for some reason. I'm not sure what caught my attention at first but they stood out for some reason. As we were waiting in the courtyard the husband and wife got in a "discussion"...I won't call it an argument but they were in disagreement about something. The wife was adamant about something and nothing her husband said was having an effect.
As we were led into the temple, the wife stayed behind as the husband led the kids on inside. As we toured the various parts of the temple there were windows where we could see back into the courtyard. I glanced out them as we went through and I could see the wife sitting on a bench reading. It struck me as odd...yet at the same time, I had an inkling...
As we completed the tour and we were led back into the courtyard I got a good look at the woman and her reading material. It all made sense when I saw what she was reading.
A Watchtower magazine.
Now...that would have stood out here in the US at the airport or bus station just because I know that magazine well. But having been warned about what to leave behind while visiting a communist country and to see a braindead dub, in plain sight, reading a WT just flabbergasted me. How stupid are you, lady?
I figured that her thinking was that this was her "protection" from the demons as she sat in their courtyard, trying to keep them at bay from attacking her. She obviously ignored all the warnings about subversive reading material...I mean, she does have Jehovah, the most Almighty to protect her from her own stupidity...
Anyway...it was kinda weird to go half way around the world to visit a communist country and see someone sitting in an ancient Buddhist courtyard reading a WT magazine.