the water is turned off, or when I get woken up by crying babies or fighting unidentified animals.
The maid being tied up with rope, hurled onto a tarp and made to breathe in some ‘medicinal’ incense while screaming of abdominal pain [I offered my PA friend who was visiting, they turned her away...she's still alive]
Adults (always male) who mock me with ‘mock’ mandarin, don’t they know that’s racist and disorienting?
Calling me China but telling me in English that I am pretty…Let’s speak to the China girl in English because that makes sense.
Walk-by “ferenji” or “China”, why yell at me and not even talk to me? It’s the equivalent of yelling “car” when one drives by, what’s the point?
Receiving “yes” as the response to non-yes/no questions, at least learn “I don’t know/understand”, you supposedly have learned English since 1st grade.
The long pause after I ask, “how much is this?” and me walking away because the length of time signifies their calculating thought process before giving me a jacked up price for being “white” [which is also synonymous with rich]
Going up to a bus and asking where it is going to get the question back, mmm so if I tell you where I am going, are you going to go there instead of your normal route? I’m confused.
The clean and fully clothed people that beg by motioning that they are hungry. [Once I offered my orange and the guy refused it, I was almost done peeling too]
Men running towards public transportation to get in first, there is no such thing as waiting in line, let alone chivalry.
Sorry folks, looks like there is no escaping stupidity. It’s a world-wide epidemic.
My favorite moments so far are when children quietly come up to me with both arms extended in respectful manner to shake my hand. [I did have to teach most of these children, thank goodness learning is a process most people are capable of]
My second favorite are the 1 minute phone conversations I have with my host dad: “How are you, are you fine? How is work? How is Sagure/Mek’elle? We/I like you very much. We/I miss you. Ishi, ciao.”
Ishi, bek’a. Ciao!
