One of the reasons why I moved into the building I live in, besides the excellent view it offers of the river, is how quiet and peaceful it is. The building is half occupied, and even then I never seem to bump into, see or hear my neighbours. Not even in the lobby or in the pool. It works out very well for me. But this evening, something out of the ordinary happened. I met my new neighbour in the lift. Our conversation went something like this:
New Neighbour (NN): It's you! I wanted to talk to you!
Me: (Wondering who the hell the stranger with the pink face is) Me? You want to talk to me?
NN: Yes! I just moved to the building. Am on the 5th floor. I've seen you a couple of times...in the pool or walking around.
Me: (Puzzled, because I have never laid my eyes on that pink face. Admittedly, I am the only black person in the building so I must stand out like a sore thumb) Well then!
NN: (Confidently) So you are from India?!
Me: (Laughs and silently questions his IQ) Do I look Indian?
NN: (Shrugs and points a finger up) She told me you are Indian......
Me: The landlady?! She knows that I am from Kenya
NN: (Looking confused) Is Kenya in South Africa?! (Draws what suspiciously resembles the map of England in the air) Or is it in North Africa?!
Me: (Surprisingly, laughs hard. Usually, I have no patience with people who don't know their geography) Kenya is in Eastern Africa. It borders the Indian Ocean.
NN: Well, my name is Frank. But you can call me Frankie. What's yours?
Me: Tafsiri Hii
NN: Te....?? (leans so close I can smell the cheap local brew in his breath)
Me: TA.F.SI.RI HII
NN: Ta...?? Could you please spell it out for me?
I spend the next 2 minutes teaching him how to spell and pronounce my name. I surprise myself sometimes.
New Neighbour (NN): It's you! I wanted to talk to you!
Me: (Wondering who the hell the stranger with the pink face is) Me? You want to talk to me?
NN: Yes! I just moved to the building. Am on the 5th floor. I've seen you a couple of times...in the pool or walking around.
Me: (Puzzled, because I have never laid my eyes on that pink face. Admittedly, I am the only black person in the building so I must stand out like a sore thumb) Well then!
NN: (Confidently) So you are from India?!
Me: (Laughs and silently questions his IQ) Do I look Indian?
NN: (Shrugs and points a finger up) She told me you are Indian......
Me: The landlady?! She knows that I am from Kenya
NN: (Looking confused) Is Kenya in South Africa?! (Draws what suspiciously resembles the map of England in the air) Or is it in North Africa?!
Me: (Surprisingly, laughs hard. Usually, I have no patience with people who don't know their geography) Kenya is in Eastern Africa. It borders the Indian Ocean.
NN: Well, my name is Frank. But you can call me Frankie. What's yours?
Me: Tafsiri Hii
NN: Te....?? (leans so close I can smell the cheap local brew in his breath)
Me: TA.F.SI.RI HII
NN: Ta...?? Could you please spell it out for me?
I spend the next 2 minutes teaching him how to spell and pronounce my name. I surprise myself sometimes.
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