That is a French woman beside me and no, she is not my friend. It is not because I am not friendly. It is because of something she said that made me feel a little bit unsympathetic towards her. Why? The story goes back in Langakawi. As you know well, Rene and I vacationed there. It is there where we saw this old French woman and the one thing we cant ignore about her is the fact that she walks around ALONE all the time! This is very unlikely. Most old people we saw in Langkawi are always accompanied by other person/s be it a friend, a spouse, or a group. So we thought… that is strange.
One lazy afternoon, Rene and I were enjoying a sunset together when this old woman approached us and started to talk about something we know nothing about. After a moment she noticed our confusion and immediately apologized. She said she thought we were the couple she talk with the other day. Yeah so anyway, the conversation went on and on until she said she has to go for her afternoon walk by the beach. We said goodbye to her and we watched her walked away. From then on, we exchange hello every time we see each other.
It was another afternoon when we saw her again….and as usual, she was alone. She came towards us and started a conversation. We started to exchange questions and took pictures. At some point she and Rene talked about Europe and all the places theyve been so I was silent and was just listening to them until she asked me where Im from. As expected, I said I am from the Philippines and then she dropped the bomb that sent my blood temperature to boiling point. So you are the rescued doll she said without hesitation. I didnt say a word but I am pretty much sure that my eyebrows met the moment my brain realized what she meant. She must have noticed this cause she immediately said that she was just kidding. I dont know what kept me from speaking up but I was really offended when she said this. Maybe it was the fact that I pity her for being old and alone or the fact that I am too polite to speak my mind. Anyway, after she went away I instantly complained to Rene. I started babbling about me not needing any rescuing and so on. Poor guy, he have to listen to how strongly I defend myself and how I see people being so judgmental and all.
Anyway, point is, I hate the fact that people immediately think that I am some girl from the far eastern part of the world who got lucky to have somebody from the west to come rescue her from the miserable life in her country. True, I am some girl from the far eastern part of the world, specifically, from somewhere considered as a third world—the Philippines. But anyhow, I am still proud of my roots and never will I deny that I am from Philippines. True, I am lucky to have Rene but it is just for the simple fact that we love each other and that we are happy to be together and not because I need him to get me out of the miserable life. I needed not any rescuing because I never see my life as miserable. I never consider that being born, growing up, living, and eventually dying in the Philippines are such catastrophe. Why cant this French woman see that? It is because she is judgmental. That is why I do NOT like her. That is why she is NOT my friend. Period.