“No, I’m American.”
“Where are you from?”
“Ohio.”
“Eh??"
"Ohio—in the Midwest. Close to Canada."
"How long have you been living in New Zealand?”
“About ten years.”
“So, you’re almost a Kiwi!”
“Yeah!" Fake laugh. "Ha, ha.”
“How did you end up living in New Zealand?”
“I married a New Zealander…”
“Did you meet here?”
“No, in Hawaii.”
“That’s so romantic!”
“We’re not together anymore.”
"Oh, I'm sorry." Awkward pause.“Were you on holiday?”
“Well...my FRIEND married Adam’s BROTHER. Adam and I met at THEIR wedding. Then Adam visited me in San Francisco. And I came to New Zealand — we went back and forth a few times.”
“Are you going to move back to America?”
“No, Adam and I share custody of Seven. OF COURSE I wish I lived closer to my family. But Adam’s family is all here. Except for the brother who married my friend.”
“Are they still together?”
“Yeah, but we don't talk anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Oh, y'know. Divorce. I don't want to complain to Laurie about her husband’s BROTHER."
"Hmm."
"It’s OK though. I have a BLOG.”
12 comments:
Ha! I'm so glad you have a blog, else there'd be no where to share such predictable conversations for irony's sake! Hope you're well... xoxo
Don't people know it's rude to ask questions. Eek!
I don't know how to be vague and aloof when answering nosy questions. I tend to overcompensate by sharing too much information.
And in all fairness, there aren't many Americans living in New Zealand. I'm a novelty.
It's good to have a blog...And, Um, I go the route of overshare as compensation, too. Way I see it, if you don't really want to know, you should turn the filter up a little higher and keep your queations behind the line.
Kiwis love to spin a yarn. Accent deciphering and yarn spinning are our national pastimes.
Ech. How awkward. I get the same questions, up until the divorce thing. But I usually get, "Is your wife a Kiwi?" Then I say, "No, he's an American." The look I get is priceless.
On the Kapiti Coast there are a lot of lesbians. But the rest of the gay community seems largely invisible (to me).
People can be really rude can't they? I'm glad you are still blogging as well. x
I'm definitely not going to win an award for good manners. Unfortunately, I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve and speak my mind. Hardly a day goes by in which I don't offend someone somehow. It's really sad.
What a story. And how well told. I found you on Citizen of the Month and I'm glad I did! I'm from Ohio too - Cleveland. I'm in New Jersey now. New Jersey..New Zealand... ;)
So perfect.
It is OK, because I have a blog, too.
xo
Post a Comment