Tuesday, May 06, 2008

Not so secret admirers


Disclaimer: Last time I mentioned something to this effect on a blog, I was accused of stereotyping people culturally. That is not my intent. This is merely fact.

So I have mentioned previously (quite a lot actually) that I'm not a big dater, nor do I receive a lot of male attentions. That I am usually aware of. Granted, this is largely just so people will feel sorry for me and men will want to make me feel good about myself by showering me with compliments. I do not, however, want to discredit those who have always been generous with their attentions.

So yes, I may or may not milk the fact that when I start speaking Spanish to the guy at the taco stand, or the employees at Cafe Rio, or at my favorite whole (I just noticed that I spelt 'hole' incorrectly, but yet, am keeping it that way for the enjoyment of my friends. You know you are. A-wholes) in the wall in Vegas, Santa Rosa, that I become a fast favorite. That's what happens when you are a tallish, blond, curvaceous (?) , espanol speaking gringa. It really doesn't matter what you look like apart from that. They like it. And they let me know. And sometimes give me free drinks. A girl gets attention where she can.

I fully realize it is mostly a cultural thing. Ask most women who move to the states from Mexico, there is some insecurity that comes with the fact that catcalls aren't as common place here. Where we might feign offense in our country, it is the norm in their native land. They let women know that they are appreciated. In that way. And sometimes we really need to know that. So yes, I enjoy it when the Argentine cafe rio employee asks me if I have a boyfriend, and when I say no, he asks "quien te mantiene?" which literally translates to who maintains you. I tell him that I maintain myself.

I also enjoy when my clients come to the office to sign paperwork or the like after having only spoken Spanish with me via telephone. The wide eye response kinda makes my day. It's just the blondness and 3 inch heels I sometimes wear to work I am sure. So am pretty confident speaking Spanish with native speakers. You get me with someone who is not a native speaker and just speaks well however, and I am intimidated. Perhaps because I realize that I don't quite have the same effect on them. And my grammatical flaws will be less endearing.

So there you have it. I am a glutton for attention. And what better day to get it than the Cinco de Mayo of yesterday with the taco stand man who remembered me from last time. Hispanic men like me, what can I say? Upon proclaiming this last evening (in blissful weather) I was informed that white guys like me as well. That has remained yet to be seen. Consistently anyhow.

In other news: I have decided to start collecting found pieces of vehicles to construct my own. So far, I have 3 hubcaps discovered on the side of the road. I am well on my way to a full blown vehicle. I left the hubcaps on the side of the road however. For safe keeping until I get more substantial pieces that make cars go.

3 comments:

LuLuBelle said...

Gringa muy alta y rubio!!! Men used to yell this at me when I lived in Mexico in my teens. I never really understood why they wanted to shout at me the most obvious. I especially enjoyed "American girl, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. stand up sit down!" Bet you haven't had a guy say that to you lately.

j cubed said...

Oh you make me laugh! I forgot how much I love you and miss you. Do you remember the time we had yummie salsa and enchiladas at your house? I wish we could have had a fiesta together yesterday.

becky said...

i am the same way as you about speaking spanish! although, the latinos always think i'm one of them so my grammatical errors are probably only endearing to me.