¨Hey! I saw you reading in the library. I read too. Could I have your mobile number?¨ I should start keeping a list of ways Ecuadorian guys have tried to approach me. Whilst in the Netherlands, I might have taken it as a compliment. Here I feel insulted. He doesn’t even know my name. And, for sure, I am not the first blond girl with blue eyes he has tried with.
On the streets, it gets out of hand. Lots of cattle calling, men asking whether they can give you a ride, occasionally you’ll get touched. Even police men join the party. A friend of mine had a man screaming ¨I want to fuck you¨ the other day. That’s crossing a line.
Yet, their gentleman-like behaviour is the most offensive of all. At least, for an independent Dutch girl: ¨No, you don’t need to carry my bag. Yes, I know how to get home by myself. Thank you, that’s very noble of you but I don’t need your jumper. It’s still 20°C outside. And I brought one myself¨.
At the moment that they could actually come in useful, they miserably fail. On my hiking trip last weekend, our teacher and Ecuadorian male students suddenly disappeared into a pub to watch football. It was 7 o’clock at night. We had just swum in a river. Mosquitos everywhere. I got an awful cold and don't get me started on the mosquitos bites.
The guys in my Agriculture class don’t score higher. We have practicals on a farm every week. Yesterday, our task was to weed the onion and carrot fields. What did they do? They sneaked out and ate mandarins for two hours. Afraid of getting their hands dirty.
So this is to all of you guys. Keep on trying. You’re scaring me away. And that smile on my face doesn’t mean I am into you. I am laughing at you and your 'manly' manners.