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I will never understand why guys do this
Ask for your phone number when you can barely speak to them. I was walking our dog last night and I hear someone yell out to me. Our convo was a bit like this, I think. Most of this was me filling in the blanks with the few words/phrases I do know.
Guy: Dyevochka (girl! Common in Russian, although I find it annoying)! Blah blah .... sabaka (dog).
Me: [Hmmmm, he is asking about my dog. Crap, what if he knows who she belonged to before we brought her home? He saw me look up... may as well go over there instead of pretending I didn't hear him, he probably just thinks she's cute.] So I walk over.
Him: blah blah blah sabaka.
Me: Ya nyet gavaro Ruski (I don't speak Russian). Bir az Turkce konusuyorum (I speak a little Turkish).
Him: Blah blah Russian blah... what kind of dog.
Me: I don't know. We found her on the street by the Ashgabat Hotel
Him: Ahhh...are you Turkish?
Me: No, American.
Him: (still in Russian) what state?
Me: California.
Him: Arnold Schwarzenegger! [flexes]
Me: [internal eye roll] haha, yah.
Him: Blah blah... how long have you been here... 1, 2 3...
Me: Since May - 3 months.
Him: Where are you staying?
Me: I live here.
Him: I'm Suleiyman. What is your name?
Me: Jeanine, [point at dog] Moxie.
Him: Telephone number?
Me: Ummm...
Him: blah blah.... Do you have a telephone?
Me: I have a boyfriend.
Him: Ahhhh, OK, bye [waves].
Now, I don't know why I bothered trying to talk to him, but I just felt rude walking away, especially since they saw me look up and at first I just thought they were talking about the dog and I like showing her off. Also, I've never been the type to use the boyfriend card (and I never lie about it, even in places where it would have helped a lot like Morocco, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Malawi, etc.)... and in this case it was true and all.
But what the hell did he want to talk to me about?! I mean, even if I had given him my number and he had called (and I answered), we probably wouldn't even be able to make plans to meet! It's just so absurd, I don't get why they bother. I'm not going to meet you and have sex with you all without saying a word. And why would either of us want to labor through an excruciating attempt at a conversation?! Anyway... I don't get why dudes bother sometimes.
In other news, our vet yesterday said he wished that he was our dog, because we are taking her to America. He is a nice guy and I felt a bit awkward about that and didn't know how to respond. He is the second Turkmen that has said he wished he were our dog. The other guy is our driver and was more commenting on how much we spoiled her (by buying her some toys and bones, a dog bed and letting her into the house - these things are almost unheard of among Turkmen). Sometimes I feel so guilty just for being lucky enough to be born in a rich country.
Re: I will never understand why guys do this
bahahahhaha! That sounds about like the type of comments you would get here!
OP, that conversation would have creeped me out! I wouldn't have stopped unless you had trained Moxie to be an attack dog
Expat - it's very safe here due to the whole police state/3 police on every corner thing, so I don't really worry about anything harmful being done. Generally annoyance and/or misunderstanding are really the worst that can come out of most encounters. But I probably should still be more careful.
Brainie - that is so hilarious! It sounds like a very French thing to say! The "good" thing about these macho type cultures is that men get very possessive and think that a pure woman or whatever is about honor, so once you give them the boyfriend line, they back off. At least in my experience.
I had a similar experience... this guy followed me around Paris for awhile talking to me and I hate to use the "I'm married" card because I feel like it makes me conceited for assuming the person is attracted to me. Anyways I finally told him I had to leave to catch the train back to London (I wasn't actually leaving for 7 more hours but I just wanted to be alone and enjoy Paris dammit!) and he asked me for my e-mail address. I panicked and gave it to him (seriously all I had to do was change 1 stinking letter) and then hid in a metro station for 1/2 hour until I was certain he left the area.
2 days later I got this e-mail (yes I saved it, it makes me laugh every time):
Hi Lindsey,
french man (and modest) who speak to you
in Saint Paul Le Marais (Ah Paris !!
)
I am the beautiful, intelligent, strong, incredible
Tell me a little bit about you ?
How much measure your highest heels ?
What do you take for breakfast ?
How many spoons of Nutella in your croissants ?
Anyway, the bases!! [basis?]
Renaud
Ps: Lindsey is it your real name?
Now jumping domestically.
Well that was a crazy couple of years.
Haha! Classic! (Is it just me, or are French guys among the worst at this -- among western Europeans, that is?)
Giggle. I love these stories!
I spent an entire night making out with a Russian guy at a club when I was 16. His friend had to translate. Hilariously, he asked for my number! Not sure what he planned to do with it... I guess call me when his friend was free? Anyway, I didn't give it to him so I'll never know. Could have had my own interesting story!
BFP Apr 2012, EDD Dec 19 2012 * twin h/b at 6wk, 9wk scan * Baby A lost at 12wks, Baby B was my rainbow born at 36wks
Dyevochka fills the void for the loss of the word comrade. It's not meant to be offensive. Better to be called dyevochka than babushka
HAHAHAHAHA very basic, the high heels question was just funny lol Weirdos all over the world...