The Art of Ignoring People

In Kenya, I am one of very few white people.  There are definitely some of us, but there are not many.  There are also a ton of stereotypes that go along with being mzungu (white foreigner).  For instance, there are a ton of people here who just assume that I have a ton of money based on the color of my skin. Or they assume that I can just become their friend and bring them back to America without any problem.  I'm also a blonde mzungu, which further means that many people assume that I speak in a high voice.  Not generally such a big deal, but when they call to me on the street they alter their voices so that it's really high because they think I'll understand them better.  Really it just pisses me off.  All of it does.  Why do they feel the need to yell out "Mzungu, how are you?" from across the street? I really don't get it.  Once this guy behind me just talked and talked and talked to me.  I ignored him completely until he walked around me and he stopped in my path, bent over and said in his stupid fake high voice, "Jambo, how are you?"  I just walked around him and carried on.  

If you know anything about me, you probably have realized that I'm the biggest extrovert ever! I love talking to random people. I think it's fun and entertaining and I hope that at least some of the time it brightens people's days.  But here, that I just not an option.  Just about the first thing Allison told me was to just not pay any attention to people who talk to me.  Thank goodness I'm good at following directions.  The one time I strayed from the course, I talked to the conductor of our matatu (public transportation van thing).  He was so excited that this (stupid) mzungu would talk to him that he just went on and on.  By the time I'd realized my mistake, he knew my name, he'd asked for my phone number, told me we should be friends and he asked if I could take him to America.  This took a grand total of about 30 seconds.  I then just had to try to ignore him the best I could.  I started a conversation with Allison, but he was persistent.  He must have looked like an idiot talking to the back of my head for ten minutes, but whatever.

My sister is a professional at ignoring people, especially strangers.  I am not.  I have actually been thinking about calling her and asking her what the secret is.  I forget all the time to just ignore people because the opposite comes so naturally to me.  Heaven help me when I start understanding more of the Swahili thrown at me. But hey, I'll figure it out.  The last thing that my good friend Magz said to me before I left was not to just trust anyone.  I am so gullible and trust so easily that it worried her.  I have been fine so far and although the learning curve is steep, I am learning this art.  Don't pass me on the street here, I might not even realize you are there :)