Women looking for trouble – From Furio’s old diaries

Wudaokou

Disclaimer: This history is part of a sea of personal reflections that I collected during my first year in China. Despite having changed the names of all people mentioned, the facts – as improbable as they might seem – all really happened.

Spoiler Alert: This series is extremely explicit and contains a high level of sarcasm. If, for some reason, you might take offense, I would then recommend the Junior Woodchucks Guidebook : )

Index: Click here to read all stories from the “Old Diaries” in chronological order.

“When the snail pulls its head out of its shell, he gets a knock to the head,” Japanese Proverb.

If I belonged to the group of men that never have to ask this story wouldn’t exist. Sadly I’m not that good-looking. If I’m interested in a girl I have to intrigue her, conquer her. Despite this, when I was in Beijing I noted a curious phenomenon: Westerners come looking for me.

But let’s go in order.

Foreign language teachers have found paradise in China. They work five-eight hours a day where the average salary is less than half. Many are only busy in the afternoon, and leave early to spend the night in bars and sleep in the next morning. Or at least, this is the life of the majority of those invited to Nedia’s birthday who arrive from Marrakesh and teach French to the wives of rich men.

I’m a little lost because apart from Nedia I don’t know anyone. Then a young man of Hispanic lineage begins explaining to me the difference between baijiu, the Chinese spirit that he’s sipping, and the national drink of Panama. The conversation is interesting but, before I can ask him where he’s from, a girl who looks like Kelly from Beverly Hills captures my attention with a ferocious look. Although not being a great estimator of pom pom girls, this cowgirl from Arizona knows how to make herself interesting.

She tells me that at 29 years old she was an administrator for a high-tech firm. Then, burdened by the responsibility and without any free time, she quit to go in search of adventure and now teaches English to children. Among our discussions about negative qualities of the New York subway system and the goodness of Thai curry, we wind up talking about “The Kite Runner” the book by Hosseini. I ask her how to say “kite” in English. She laughs, surprised that I don’t know such a common word. She’s about to respond to me when her iPhone rings.

I don’t feel too comfortable listening to other people’s phone calls, so I move on to see if there’s anyone else worth meeting. While I discuss of – improbable – businesses with a Swiss engineer that works in the hydroelectric turbine sector, Arizona shows her cards by following me to the bar and makes herself comfortable on the stool next to me.

“Next Saturday there’s a student party in Gulou, will I see you there?”
Source: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/women-looking-for-trouble/