I thought I was a seasoned traveler in more culturally complex places. On my way from Tbilisi to Zugdidi, I arrived late and got the last seat – a middle seat – on an old and very dilapidated train. I covet wonderful train experiences, but quickly realized that this hot, small center seat was going to be awful for 7 hours. I then offered to pay the person next to me to switch using my google translator. (There is very little English spoken in Georgia.) This gesture was met with upset and confusion by my seat mate, and then those around him. To make a long story short, I ultimately realized this was seen as an insult. The rich tourist wants to pay to switch. My point of view was that the center seat was much more uncomfortable and that this seat mate would enjoy essentially a free ride for the trade. Ultimately, I traded seats but did not exchange money. At least five people around me were clearly upset at me and remained so.  Lesson learned.