Day 133 of 365: American Incognito

If there is one thing that makes me extremely uncomfortable, it's being solicited...by anyone: church groups, kiosk people at the mall, girl scouts -- okay, okay...not girl scouts...

*makes mental note that cookie-season should be here soon*

Today as I was waiting for Matt to pick me up outside my school, I could see a small group of men from a distance armed with backpacks and fliers. I observed them as they would branch off and talk to pedestrians, handing them out fliers, and then re-group as they made their way down the pavement to me. I'm chanting in my head, "Get here, Matt...get heeerrre," as I see them inch closer and closer. Then, I try to be elusive and appear unavailable by fiddling with my mobile when one of the men approach me.

Unfortunately, avoiding eye contact and not moving only works on velociraptors and he starts into his script. Initially I try to act as though I don't hear him, but he walks around me as I turn my back and I can no longer avoid it. Plan B was to pretend I don't speak English...but the foreshadowing I saw was him being able to speak whatever language it was I claimed to be native of, so nay on that option.

He asked if I knew where a certain street was near the bullring and as soon as I said, "No, sorry, I'm not from here," he exclaims, "You're American!" This is where the questions begin with where I'm from, if I've been to A, B or C, etc. -- but I'll spare you. You're welcome. Let's just say that I was able to get off the hook by fibbing that I was just a visitor and I wasn't here after this week -- which is partly true because half-term is next week and I honestly have yet to find out if I will be returning to the same school after the break.

So, successful (for me) end to the conversation and the man was on his merry way. Now I'm forever left with a souvenir from that moment -- until I threw it in the bin after I took the photo. Oops.