Will you tutor me?
Waiting for the 19 at a stop in Cedar-Riverside, I was approached by a eager-looking guy, also waiting for a bus, who asked me in broken English for my name. As an ESL tutor, I was more than happy to help him practice his English, so I told him my name without hesitation. He then asked me a string of questions about my life, which seemed well within the scope of my ESL classes, so I gave him truthful answers and willingly fed the conversation, convinced that this was a valuable learning opportunity for him.
Oh, dear.
He then asked me if we could be friends. Because he was looking for a friend — a girl friend — a girl friend to make his wife. He told me that I was pretty and had a good job, so I would make a good wife. After I told him I wasn’t interested in getting married, his face fell.
“Could I have at least your telephone number?”
“Um, no, I’m sorry, I don’t have a phone.”
My pocket started to vibrate. And then, riiiinnnnnnggggg! Perfectly unfortunate timing. But, just as my faced turned red, the 19 showed up, and I quickly boarded, leaving my admirer in the cold.
Mar 31st, 2007 at 9:38 am
He seemed to have a nice comeback to your reply of no interest. One wonders if he was indeed at a lower level of English learning. There have been a few stalker cases in Japan with ESL teachers and “interested students”. The latest one ended in a murder in Chiba last week. I am not saying by any means ESL students are dangerous, I am pointing down the path of awareness. I have met only terrific people in my nine years of experience, there were a few odd sorts, they stalked the female teachers, no real ugly results though.
Cheers, S.
Apr 9th, 2007 at 11:52 am
When I first started riding the bus 4 years ago a young man who looked like he was about 16 years old walked up to me at the bus stop by the Metrodome and asked which bus I was waiting for. I told him “The 250 Express.”
“Oh. Where does that go?”
“North, up 35W to Blaine”.
“Oh. So, you work around here?”
“Yup, just over there a few blocks.”
“Mmm. Do you think I could get your phone number?”
“Ahhh, NO. First of all, I already have a boyfriend. Second, I bet I’m old enough to be your mother.” (I am 40 years old)
“No s**t! (slight pause) So, can I have your number?”
I just grinned and shook my head. My bus showed up less than a minute later.
Gutsy kid. My smile lasted for miles.
Apr 25th, 2007 at 8:30 am
This reminds me of the time someone on the bus asked for my phone number and I was so startled and naive that I actually gave it to him, but I was so flustered I was halting in how I recited it, so he looked a bit disgusted and turned away, thinking I was Fake Numbering him. Good thing, too!