You know, we just can’t seem to shake it.
Chinese I mean. We’ve got a lot of stereotypes. I’ve written about it before. http://kumvera.blogspot.com/2007/05/robbed-blind.html
Our family seemed to always have fought them ( we grew up in Wallaceburg, none of us are doctors, lawyers, and sure, maybe two of us went through engineering, but look at what we're doing...) . But the reality is, we just cant’ seem to escape them because it just runs in our blood ( see my brother KK’s evidence http://themintmansion.blogspot.com/2009/04/cousins.html)
Consider this exchange that I had with Teddy, our housemate....(who lives in the chicken koop...but that is another story) the last few days.
Sunday: I had walked into our living room one day to see him watching a Zambian karate match on TV. Thinking it was a harmless joke, I said, “eh, Teddy, I’ll teach you this.” “ OH YAH!? I want to learn”
“no on, I’m just kidding, I don’t know, but everyone thinks I know."
Monday evening: I’m working at the kitchen table, and Teddy pulls up a chair. “ so, sister Ka-Hay, when are you going to teach me the “ insert a few hand jabs into the air “ these moves”.
“ uhhh what?”
“you know, the KA-La-Tey” .
“oh ya. Sorry teddy, I’m very sorry. I was just kidding”
“AAAAAAH…no. no no. come one. I really want to learn”
“Ya, I’m sure you do, …..but really I don’t know.”
“ah, no, please please. Please teach me. I can to learn….”
“ and…I know these “ and makes the gesture of bench pressing “ and I can teach you how to do them". Seeing as he had a bandage on his left eye last week because he had dropped the bench press bar on his face…that didn't necessarily sweeten the deal....not that there really is one. And hey, what’s he saying…that I need to do some weights? shit....i'm getting soft.
“ Sorry teddy. I was really just joking when I said I knew. I don’t know. not a bit! Have no idea! Sorry. sorry. Did I disappoint you?” I was expecting the typical Zambian polite response.
“ah, BAD. Very BAD” shaking his head and shoulders slumped. interesting, I think we have a pretty open and trusting relationship.
Tuesday: Teddy is in the kitchen, doing dishes. I walk in.
"Hey teddy, how’s it going?"
“So, you really are not going to teach me?”….
I'm starting to feel really bad now. Anyone have a quick 12 step guide to ka-lah-tey they can lend me? I need to put him out of his misery.
