My first full day on the beach got off to a slow start with switching rooms but the Afternoon had so many unexpected pleasures in store.
The general consensus is that this would be the perfect beach (serendipity beach) if it weren't for the near constant offers of bracelets, manicures, fruit and everything else the young locals are selling. If you are nice to them, they are really friendly and I have learned a lot from the friends I made today. There are however those who seem to think the best tactic is provoking the desire to pay them to go away. Although my yeses don't apply to them I did agree to some when they used indirect approaches. As soon as I'd made my way down to the beach I met Mi (who is 17, from Vietnam and has been here for the past ten years with her family of 5 younger siblings). She gave me the general briefing of how things work at the beach, where to sit, what to look out for, how to make the most of my time, etc. I spent my first couple hours sitting with her and her friends, drawing flowers and making friendship bracelets (I have three now! From Nii, KaKa and Sam). During this time I Also agreed to buy two personalized bracelets and leg threading... As we got to know each other I started getting better tips on how to avoid - a simple no thankyou isn't going to do it, and if you say maybe later or I'll think about it they Will remember you and make you promise to buy it from them alone. To illustrate, when I bought the bracelets from Nii a girl came up and said that she had offered me bracelets first (possibly as Mi and I had passed her not paying attention?). Despite any apologies you can make they insist you buy from them as well (they aren't cheap) And so this girl started crying! but you can't afford to buy from everyone who cries! They'd catch on. I don't want to become the girl who ilicits crying as she walks down the beach!
The remainder of the afternoon I whiled away reading and enjoying the sun and peace having Learned that all I needed to say was that I'd already promised someone else. Also of note here - supposedly I have a look alike on the beach because some crazy lady started yelling at Mi and KaKa since I had been promised to her. Eventually she discovered her mistake and returned to ask me when I had arrived and apologize, but she really ought to have apologized to Mi.
Drama aside, there were tons of things to say yes to on the beach today including invitations to two more parties (yes and yes) and a request to kiss me from two guys (yes, I suppose) passionately (yes? Both of you? yes), invitation to watch the sunset, a restaurant recommendation and a game of tic tac toe with very high stakes... If I won, I got a free bracelet and a boyfriend ( the networking of Mi and her friends, in this case Sam has found me a handsome Canadian, who's tan is supposedly coming along very nicely.) If I lost, I would have to buy an anklet but would gain a lifelong friend in Sam. I lost. but she made me an additional friendship bracelet - I think this is the start of a wonderful relationship.
And now, no tic tac toe rookie, I refused the next time a small boy asked to play a game - which would have led to me buying a fish. And I'm not quite sure I understand his tactics but he followed me all the way along the beach cursing. As well as throwing in some creative stuff like 'you should go back to your f****** own country and on the way I hope your f****** plane crashes and burns'... *€&@*... *%$@£... 'if you survive find a husband and have a f****** baby. I hope your baby dies because your a ******* ****** ******'
Did I deserve this in my week of positivity and yeses? I think not. Jason suggests you pick these small ones up and throw them into the sea, I met him when he sat down next to me and offered me a manicure. oh the things that will bring travelers together.
Last night yes saw me accepting a job offer at C.U.B. Where I report today at 2. I then sought refuge by moving along to the second party with someone I'd just met, isn't it nice how yeses can overlap? Here I found my awesome friend Argentinian Marianna from the night before who soon suggested I get really drunk (yes). Which was helped along by several free drink offers which unfortunately encouraged the attentions of some incredibly creepy people, including some very drunk girls who knew no such thing as personal space or unfriendly touching. But yes is positive and my meeting and avoidance of dozens of people led me to accept a lesson in French kissing (apparently only genuine with a French man), give my email out to who knows who, accept offers of accommodation in sseveral cities I will probably never visit, drink More, drink things i am allergic to, meet the 'soul assassin', a dj, a tree hugger, a Canadian expert (not Canadian himself), someone who followed a girl here, someone selling Viagra (thank goodness he didn't present me with any yes moments), a diver, someone who Had thrown a child into the sea today as well as people from every continent. And I finally accepted the suggestion of going to sleep (thankyou) at 4. Luckily, since I have work to get to.
And for those of you who I've given my email to, or my card (as one does when one is this hip) and have eventually found your way to this page, where all my contact details ultimately lead - I didn't say yes to you because I had to, I said yes because you were awesome and I got to say it to You. (unless your name is ed, mark, johnny, molly, or tom). there were still choices involved and even if I said 'Yes, I will stay until closing so we can make out on the bar' or 'yes I will leave with you right now' or 'yes I only have eyes for you, funny that you knew to ask, you're right we probably Should go home together' I obviously didn't follow through. Not to worry folks! And to those who kept telling me to follow them I did try, but there were so many friends along the way and distractions to say yes to.
Yes had made me popular but I just can't be everywhere at once. Especially when I am sleeping.
Sent from my iPod
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