Brief stupid boy rant
I am going to take a quick break from what has been called "Part 1" of a romantic movie type blogging to do a little bit of a rant.
Along with the influx of boy amazingness I have experienced lately (you know, the ever adored Marcus, Melvin my husband, Carlos the protective Colombian, and a new addition, Brandon the partner in dessert crime), I have seen an increase in boys that deserve some swift kicks in the knees. The frustration has slowly been growing over the last week since facing the world once again as a gal in a relationship that happens to be away from the other half of that relationship for an extended period of time. Unfortunately as it still happens, I am lacking in the feminine friendships here in BA (though Melvin does kind of count since he can give me girl-like appreciation of new fashion purchases) which means that I often find myself surrounded by boys. Which is strange, because I don't have many guy friends in the states! Anyway, there always comes the point in the conversation--you know this point--where "boyfriend" comes up. Back at home, I'm used to this being a quick way of saying goodbye to the guy who's trying to hit on me. Here, however, they just say, "No importa." This outrages me! YES, it's important. Who are you? You can't just negate my relationship with a snap of the fingers. I totally feel like they're disrespecting me when they say that, and then I get all hostile, feeling grandly offended... I know that it's a cultural thing, going hand in hand with the cheating and all that, and I know that I shouldn't let it bother me. The truth is that my reaction doesn't help matters at all. HOWEVER, I also have friends (or should I say "friends"?) who also don't seem to give value to my relationship, and as I found out last night, they just don't really like to listen to my opinions for how I want to spend my time. Apparently I'm boring for wanting to go to Spanish classes every day and be awake enough to actually learn what's being taught. I'm being encouraged to skip classes...I feel like I'm back in high school! They're like, "Come out and party with us! Come have fun." Then when I tell them that learning Spanish is fun for me, that going out and getting drunk and rubbing up against random people who don't actually give a shit about me as a person isn't exactly my idea of a good time, they still don't listen to me. Good thing I'm damn stubborn! Kudos to both (or rather all) parents for having instilled that characteristic.
Ugh. How come people totally don't get that I'd much rather eat cookies than go out and drink? That I don't need to spend money to have a good time? That going to a park and reading and people watching or going for a walk around the city is totally satisfying to me? That I prefer spending my time with people who care about me instead of people who go out and do dumb things so that they can have a story to tell or because they don't think of how their actions have effects on other people? People keep on telling me that I have to really take advantage of the time that I have here....but isn't that what I'm doing? Furthermore, why do I let what these people say bother me?
Last night both my stomach and head were churning as I tried to fall asleep, and then it hit me. I have been without conflict for so long, and I felt a bit of excitement at the challenge. Because it illuminated some personal strengths that perhaps I'd forgotten, and because it gave me something to get passionate about. I do believe that when we face trials (and I would hardly call this a trial, more like a little bump in the road), it brings out our strengths and it sheds light on the people we have the great potential to be. Ooh, aren't I so inspirational... :)
Anyway, it's annoying but I do realize that I only have control over my own actions and reactions and that it's not the best idea if someone doesn't listen to my opinion--that's their choice. I don't need to let it get me all fired up, though. Although we do love the firey...
Okay, the rant is done. If anyone has any good ideas about a more positive way to react to the dudes that make random comments in the street (and they usually do it when I've already passed, so the eyebrow up doesn't work as well), please share!
Now to take myself away to finish part 2...
Along with the influx of boy amazingness I have experienced lately (you know, the ever adored Marcus, Melvin my husband, Carlos the protective Colombian, and a new addition, Brandon the partner in dessert crime), I have seen an increase in boys that deserve some swift kicks in the knees. The frustration has slowly been growing over the last week since facing the world once again as a gal in a relationship that happens to be away from the other half of that relationship for an extended period of time. Unfortunately as it still happens, I am lacking in the feminine friendships here in BA (though Melvin does kind of count since he can give me girl-like appreciation of new fashion purchases) which means that I often find myself surrounded by boys. Which is strange, because I don't have many guy friends in the states! Anyway, there always comes the point in the conversation--you know this point--where "boyfriend" comes up. Back at home, I'm used to this being a quick way of saying goodbye to the guy who's trying to hit on me. Here, however, they just say, "No importa." This outrages me! YES, it's important. Who are you? You can't just negate my relationship with a snap of the fingers. I totally feel like they're disrespecting me when they say that, and then I get all hostile, feeling grandly offended... I know that it's a cultural thing, going hand in hand with the cheating and all that, and I know that I shouldn't let it bother me. The truth is that my reaction doesn't help matters at all. HOWEVER, I also have friends (or should I say "friends"?) who also don't seem to give value to my relationship, and as I found out last night, they just don't really like to listen to my opinions for how I want to spend my time. Apparently I'm boring for wanting to go to Spanish classes every day and be awake enough to actually learn what's being taught. I'm being encouraged to skip classes...I feel like I'm back in high school! They're like, "Come out and party with us! Come have fun." Then when I tell them that learning Spanish is fun for me, that going out and getting drunk and rubbing up against random people who don't actually give a shit about me as a person isn't exactly my idea of a good time, they still don't listen to me. Good thing I'm damn stubborn! Kudos to both (or rather all) parents for having instilled that characteristic.
Ugh. How come people totally don't get that I'd much rather eat cookies than go out and drink? That I don't need to spend money to have a good time? That going to a park and reading and people watching or going for a walk around the city is totally satisfying to me? That I prefer spending my time with people who care about me instead of people who go out and do dumb things so that they can have a story to tell or because they don't think of how their actions have effects on other people? People keep on telling me that I have to really take advantage of the time that I have here....but isn't that what I'm doing? Furthermore, why do I let what these people say bother me?
Last night both my stomach and head were churning as I tried to fall asleep, and then it hit me. I have been without conflict for so long, and I felt a bit of excitement at the challenge. Because it illuminated some personal strengths that perhaps I'd forgotten, and because it gave me something to get passionate about. I do believe that when we face trials (and I would hardly call this a trial, more like a little bump in the road), it brings out our strengths and it sheds light on the people we have the great potential to be. Ooh, aren't I so inspirational... :)
Anyway, it's annoying but I do realize that I only have control over my own actions and reactions and that it's not the best idea if someone doesn't listen to my opinion--that's their choice. I don't need to let it get me all fired up, though. Although we do love the firey...
Okay, the rant is done. If anyone has any good ideas about a more positive way to react to the dudes that make random comments in the street (and they usually do it when I've already passed, so the eyebrow up doesn't work as well), please share!
Now to take myself away to finish part 2...
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