Questions to answer, thank you
The vehicles in the fuzzy posted photo are motorcycles, I will try to remember to take a picture of some becak soon. When you walk anywhere, and nobody walks here--except me, the becak drivers call out to you "hey Mister!" It is also not uncommon for strangers to pass by on motorcyle yelling "hey Sir! Hello Sir!" and even, in the case of some women, "I love you, Sir!" There is a lack of sincerity in that last one. I'm a little uncomfortable typing this but here goes. Being a tall white man here makes one sort of a magnet for unsolicited attention from local women. Wherever I go, like all people who are obviously foreigners, I get stared at. If you make eye contact with a lot of the women, they will smile at you and sometimes try to talk to you. I turned around at the mall and noticed three young women who were following me. When I caught them they all giggled and ran off.
I had to go to the immigration office to jump through yet another hoop for my work visa. There are many teachers who are here on extended tourist visas which they will just continue to renew for a while--to what end, I don't know. The woman at the embassey and the female agent who was translating for me both kept saying, "sir, so handsome. Mister is single." I don't get this kind of attention in America, but here I must symbollize something quite different. White guys in general get some of the same treatment. At first it was strange, and now I just avoid eye contact.
The kids eat lunch in shifts and have but a short recess in the morning and another at lunchtime. By then it is often so hot and humid that I wouldn't personally want to be too active but it doesn't stop the kids.
I get time everyday to prep for class and at the end of the day as well. We are required to stay at the school until at least 4:15 and usually have to stay later than that due to the extracurricular activities. It is all but confirmed that I will be going out of town this weekend and picture will follow. Today I will photograph a becak and more.
I had to go to the immigration office to jump through yet another hoop for my work visa. There are many teachers who are here on extended tourist visas which they will just continue to renew for a while--to what end, I don't know. The woman at the embassey and the female agent who was translating for me both kept saying, "sir, so handsome. Mister is single." I don't get this kind of attention in America, but here I must symbollize something quite different. White guys in general get some of the same treatment. At first it was strange, and now I just avoid eye contact.
The kids eat lunch in shifts and have but a short recess in the morning and another at lunchtime. By then it is often so hot and humid that I wouldn't personally want to be too active but it doesn't stop the kids.
I get time everyday to prep for class and at the end of the day as well. We are required to stay at the school until at least 4:15 and usually have to stay later than that due to the extracurricular activities. It is all but confirmed that I will be going out of town this weekend and picture will follow. Today I will photograph a becak and more.
posted by athensinternational at 5:01 PM
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