In this job, you have to accept a huge number of invitation:
schools graduation ceremonies, wedding parties of some relative of a cousin of a colleague, also funerals, Hindu festivals, Buddhist mountain climbing, and thousand of lunches or dinners.
I don't know how to explain it, but you always feel uncomfortable.
Once they asked me to do a speech during a wedding of which I've never met before the groom or the bride. Just because I'm the foreigner, the attraction. Inexplicably, you become the guest of honor wherever you go.
Just because you belong to that part of the world the majority of the people in developing countries thinks is all looking as Hollywood.
It's annoying that the only reason why they want you at their celebration is so vain.
Even if you stink, or you are a pervert, if you are the expat, you will be always invited.
A part of the speeches, and the fact they always serves you first, and they always try to make you TOO comfortable, in Tajikistan was an additional reason to feel bad about those dinners: women were not allowed in.
Once I was invited by Makhtob, a translator, a woman, at her place for dinner. And I didn't see her at all during the evening.
Women were in the other room preparing the dishes, and kids were sent to bring them. In the dining, only men.
I asked about where Makhtob were, and his uncle explain me the reason: "She's not allowed"
I said I had to go to bathroom, a declaration that always create panic in the room (will our inadequate toilet be enough adequate for a foreigner pee?), and I sneak out to find Makhtob, imagining her in a tiny, dark, cold room preparing food.
I found her. She was with other women in their own female party. They were laughing, joking, chatting, and preparing the plate. When she saw me she was surprised: "What are you doing here?"
"Well, you invited me for dinner...And I didn't know you were not supposed to actually be in the dinner"
"I knows, this is how it works...That's why in Tajikistan, between women we say: If you do not want to see someone, invite him for dinner!"
I don't know if she actually ever realized her gaffe
schools graduation ceremonies, wedding parties of some relative of a cousin of a colleague, also funerals, Hindu festivals, Buddhist mountain climbing, and thousand of lunches or dinners.
I don't know how to explain it, but you always feel uncomfortable.
Once they asked me to do a speech during a wedding of which I've never met before the groom or the bride. Just because I'm the foreigner, the attraction. Inexplicably, you become the guest of honor wherever you go.
Just because you belong to that part of the world the majority of the people in developing countries thinks is all looking as Hollywood.
It's annoying that the only reason why they want you at their celebration is so vain.
Even if you stink, or you are a pervert, if you are the expat, you will be always invited.
A part of the speeches, and the fact they always serves you first, and they always try to make you TOO comfortable, in Tajikistan was an additional reason to feel bad about those dinners: women were not allowed in.
Once I was invited by Makhtob, a translator, a woman, at her place for dinner. And I didn't see her at all during the evening.
Women were in the other room preparing the dishes, and kids were sent to bring them. In the dining, only men.
I asked about where Makhtob were, and his uncle explain me the reason: "She's not allowed"
I said I had to go to bathroom, a declaration that always create panic in the room (will our inadequate toilet be enough adequate for a foreigner pee?), and I sneak out to find Makhtob, imagining her in a tiny, dark, cold room preparing food.
I found her. She was with other women in their own female party. They were laughing, joking, chatting, and preparing the plate. When she saw me she was surprised: "What are you doing here?"
"Well, you invited me for dinner...And I didn't know you were not supposed to actually be in the dinner"
"I knows, this is how it works...That's why in Tajikistan, between women we say: If you do not want to see someone, invite him for dinner!"
I don't know if she actually ever realized her gaffe
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| All men |
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