Nosy Americans

I went out on a limb on Saturday night to attend a meeting of an International group. It is mostly an on-line group of Atlantans who are internationals of other countries. They get together every month and do a "social", comprised of dinner, dancing etc, anything, but it's mostly a social event, a place to meet other internationals.

Based on this definition you would think this would be a lot of fun. So it seemed when an old co-worker of mine (who is Argentinian) invited me to join the group. And for about a year now, I have just been to uncoordinated to attend any one of their socials. But then, this Saturday armed with some gumption, I decided to attend. So here I was, thinking I was in for an
evening of fun.

First off, the restaurant we met this time was some sleazy Cuban restaurant in Buckhead, name shall be withheld. This wasn't so bad to me because I had already had dinner. And then, the age ranges of the people were a little above and beyond what I had expected. They were just a little older, only a handful were actually young, spirited professionals (my age) and the
rest were older internationals who have been here so long, I don't necessarily think they can be considered internationals anymore.

You would also think that based on this being international that there will not be any Americans in the group. Not so much, there were more Americans than there were internationals. Which is not so bad except with American's come all sorts of stupid questions about one's origin. so where are you from? is life better in America? how come your English is so good? when was the last time you visited your country? so what do you do? have you always done that? don't you just love how crazy organized this country is compared to your country?

To the average American, there are very few questions that can be posed to them in casual conversation, even in indepth conversation. they are very secretive, guarded and contained. And every question seems like a mission to discover more about them than you need to know and most times you are met with no answer, or a nondescript answer, leaving you to come to the conclusion that maybe it's time I minded my own business. But here I was answering all sorts of questions about Nigeria and why my countrymen choose to do the things, (good or bad, mostly bad in this type of conversations) that they do.

I don't want to spend all evening, my precious Saturday evening discussing my heritage and my (which at this time seems like it was a bad choice) American sojourn. I really don't. But I had to because this was the kind of trap I walked into by attending this social. And then there's this myopic sense of thinking. They think because it's African, it will be worse, or your English will be bad. No. Maybe if you had read about Nigeria you would know that English is our national language. those that do not speak it well, just choose not to. then, they think because you're African that means your sister is married to an African as well, no. It doesn't always work that way. Or that you would be asked out by fellow "African" (let alone African-American) men. It shouldn't be that way. At least I don't think so. It was just a ridiculous evening. The good part was that we went
out dancing afterwards at this noisy salsa club that was too loud for anyone to carry on any of that unnecessary conversation. So I danced (on my seat) and people watched, and when I felt it was time to say good-bye, and I got up and moseyed out of there.

Needless to say that I may not attend any other social. At least not in readiness to answer any of their questions.