So our uber-security driveway gate is broken and one of the guys working on the gate is named Africa. "That's a big name," I said. And then he, like everyone else in the world outside the U.S., tried to figure out how the hell to pronounce my name. At one point, he called me "Thailand."
Then Africa said that he liked my boots and asked me when I'm going to give him my boots. This is a more common request than you'd think - people are really obsessed with footwear here because most lack a decent pair and we take for granted how much a good pair of shoes improves daily existence. They couldn't care less about correct sizes.
Not today, I said. So I just refused to give Africa a pair of shoes. Not sure if there's a conclusion to be drawn here.
I gave him a pair of running shoes that don't fit me. He was shocked and happy and stood up from his work. "This is my hand" he said and we shook.
