I have the feeling that my family was either trying to set me up with a cousin or said cousin got the brilliant idea on his own, but now I have been receiving the very unwanted attention of a 30-something filipino police officer whose life dream is to go to the united states. He came over for dinner a few nights ago and I maybe spoke with him (with the entire family present) for an hour, tops. Before he left he asked if I had a mobile phone, which I couldn’t lie about since my family has my number and I ended up (much to my own dissatisfaction) giving him the number because it would be a grievous insult to refuse. My language instructor told me to claim “peace corps use only- sorry!” from now on, but in this case it’s too late.
In any case, I now have a small slew of text messages from this guy (who was stopping to visit his family on his way to Manila to get his braces- yes, braces- adjusted) whom I’ve met once. He also left me a present, which I could not refuse without insulting him and causing him to lose face. If you can’t tell, this whole system of saving face and telling people what they want to hear even if you don’t mean it is terribly tedious.
And for your amusement, I will share the lovely text messages so that you can all revel in the schadenfreude.
#1 (about 20 minutes after he left our house)
Having friends like is one gift I am thankful for and whatever blessing I receive I pray you’ll have them too, increased n multiplied.
#2 (the following afternoon)
smtyms not all we wanted is given 2 us lyk d ideal person 2b w/ it may not turn out d way we xpctd bt at d end ul c dt wat u have s better dan u wanted (that reads: sometimes not all we wanted is given to us like the ideal person to be with. it may not turn out the way we expected, but at the end you’ll see that what you have is better than you wanted.)
#3 (evening of day 2, 24 hours after meeting)
I have left a present 4 u, I left 2 my cousin ate shirley. Im on da way 2 manila, always take care of ur self.
#4 (evening 3, I haven’t responded to a single text- he’s persistent!)
hello vanessa im here in manila infront of USembassy along baywalk roxas blvd, how r u? Take care.
Needless to say, I’m a little creeped out and dreading that he’ll come back to visit his family every two weeks on his way to Manila for orthodontist visits. Laugh at my discomfort, but know that he will never arrive in the US by my doing. Apparently, his family is petitioning to bring him to California but I don’t know if they really understand here that there’s a 22 year wait and you can’t expedite that particular route. Or, in light of recent events, maybe they do…
Ah this is a similar experience that I had in Spain, years ago. A prior engagement state side might be a option at this time. Already take!
:) who else on god’s green earth uses the word schadenfreude and actually know’s what it means……I miss you
or perhaps: im all alone with the rosebuds of lonelieness without you and the blessings of your friendship and…..(add creepy bad baroquesque lines here)