Thursday, March 31, 2011

THTM: This morning at the park

End of run, stretching at a park bench. Sound of someone walking on dry leaves, toward me:
(*scrunch*scrunch*)
'Hello, good morning, wanting to talk to you long time' (kindly 50+ lady)
'Hello'  (smile)
'Who you are?'
'           '  (raise eyebrows)
'No, no, I see you running every morning, long hair waving, it is good looking on you'
'Oh, thanks'  (smile)
'Like paramhansa you look' (smile)

'Oh, what? I see...'
'Yes, like swamiji. You have seen his photo? In paper?' 
'Think I have, yes' (oh, darn, like a swamiji?!)

'What is your surname?' (!)
'Sr-------n'
'That is from where, in south?'  (thinking expression)
'Yes. Mixed'  
'What is mixed?'  
'I'm half I--r and half G-B (Ko---n region)' 
(Lit up smile, beams)'Oh, I know, my first daughter is married to I--r boy. But we are from Surat <+detail>'  (animated phase)

'Where are your parents, what they do?'  (inquiring smile)
'China....<+one line summary>'
'So you are new here?'
'No. Spent my childhood here'
'You are having some accent, that's why I asked. You are visiting from abroad? USA?'
'Yes, a few years ago. I work here'
'Oh my sister is settled there . Since many many years <+ extra detail>' (beaming)
'But you know Indian language?'
'Yes' 'What you do?' (smile, smile)
'Mkt... <+whatever>'
'You are having H1?'  (sounded like the flu)
'No, I don't'
'Green card? Or you are citizen'  (inquiring frown)
'Why do.......yes, green card, but am Canadian'    (error III)
'Canada green card you have?'
'No. United States'
'So USA green card and Canada citizen' ('Now I get it' frown, looks at the ground)
'What is procedure for Canada? My son-in-law is thinking to go' (inquiring frown, looks up)
'That'll take a while, ma'am. I gotta go now' (smile, turning to leave)
'Wait, wait... where you live?' (eyes wide, smile)
'Oh, nearby... I have to rush actually!' (smile, take-off mode 3-2-1)

'One minute - you are married?' 

 .............

5 comments:

Boston128 said...

Figuring out where you're from has always been a maze like problem!

Ever since 2000

Anonymous said...

Every person will not be of your capacity in language abilities or the way you are socializing with others. With whatever, capacity that old lady has spoken to you thinking like you are just like her Son. So be polite! there is nothing to tom -tom about it.

" Expecting everyone to be of your level" will be difficult and you cant shoot everyone for this"


Some ---- dont understand, but trying to understand the context.

Vcat said...

@Anonymous - Thanks for your inputs. This post is NOT about language, or any notion of superiority. I quoted the kindly lady verbatim, and no one was identified. Was polite to her all through.

It is an anecdote about a situation. One that I gather is encountered by more people than I thought.

Anonymous said...

Still marriage material...u in demand cat!!

Nona said...

:) Not safe anywhere from inquisitive people? I like this post better than your usual short ones.