Robyn.Bowles.es

I had heard that Spanish men would be more forward than American men. I was told to expect to hear random men make comments – most of which, I figured, I could easily ignore due to my lack of knowledge of the language. Until last week, however, I hadn’t noticed.

I was walking to the bus stop from the office at which I had just taught in an office park outside of the city. It is not a busy place – no stores or anything other than the offices – some in the midst of construction. I noticed a man standing on the other side of the road. It was a little odd since, as I said, there isn’t much there and he wasn’t at a bus stop. Then I heard him say something which included the word “guapa” (attractive . I sort of ignored him, then he said “adios!” I replied with the same: “Adios!” not turning to look at him.

As I stood at the bus stop reading my book, I sensed someone approaching. I looked, it was him. He again told me that he thought I was attractive and some other things. Then I let him know that I didn’t have a very good command of the language. But he proceeded to ask me out anyway! He told me that he had a meeting with a client nearby, but not for another 30 minutes and would I like to join him for coffee? (I don’t know WHERE we would have had coffee out there – no cafes! Maybe he meant after his client meeting?).

I then told him that I was married and that I had a husband (just in case I hadn’t told him about the marriage properly. “Tired” and “married” sound a lot alike in Spanish.) He said, “ah, tienes un pareja” (you have a partner).

He again told me how beautiful I was (he threw in a few words other than “guapa”), that he was enchanted to meet me, and then he gave me the typical Spanish greeting and parting gesture by kissing me on both cheeks (the lips don’t actually touch the cheeks – they just “kiss” the air).

Needless to say, I had a little more confidence in my step and a big smile on my face for awhile afterward. It’s not every day that a man tells me how beautiful I am . . . (yes, I do hear it from Samuel, but not EVERY day

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