irritated, misunderstood, and otherwise engaged

Those of you who know me, know how much I hate seams that irritate my skin. I am wearing an underarmor compression t-shirt and the seam around the neck is rubbing. I buffed it with a nail file and it helped a little. I need to do it some more though.

Yesterday I was irritated by the language barrier. There is a mosque across the street. I am not sure if they are buidling it, redoing it or what but there is construction material all over the place. There are some shelves sitting there that would go nicely in the kitchen! I went over early in the day. Some Kuwaiti pulled up in a BMW. I asked if he spoke English but he said no. This was going to be hard. I tried to ask if the shelves were garbage or trash. I tried to show that I wanted to pick them up and carry them away. He thought I meant the wooden pallets and said yes. when I grabbed the shelves, I got a flurry of No No No. He gestured they were going back inside the mosque. Damn. Then he starts making hand gestures and asking family questions. Family, married, kids? etc. He was holding his hands in front of him with the index finger extended, other fingers curled. He moved his hands side to side bringing the fingers together. I vaguely recall seeing that before somewhere and didn't like where this conversation was going. I think, I can't say for sure, but I think that gesture means sex. I started saying No No No and backing up. I will tell you that I have a spring loaded gerber knife in my pocket at all times. I practice. I wasn't in any danger really. I just kept backing up and walked away. I am lucky that he didn't follow but the guards are by the building.
So my attempt to negotiate with a Kuwaiti failed. No news there really.
Yesterday afternoon, I walked down the street a few blocks to get something to eat. I called for delivery but they said the driver was out. It's not far but the roads are narrow, full of garbage, rif-raf, and vagrants. This is an internet, pool hall, and restaurant geared for Americans. It's a target because of that. It things get heated up, we won't be able to go there anymore. Just delivery to the buidling maybe, definitely not your room. As if they don't know where all the Americans live.
Anyways, the staff was very nice. I think she said her name was Ursa and after some conversation, she said she would deliver just for me. Which isn't true, but what she was saying was that now that we had a "relationship" started she would deliver to me. It's all about building that relationship here. So while I was waiting for my food a Kuwaiti came in. He of course sat next to me at the bar/waiting area. I was getting my food to go but ordered ice tea while I waited. I knew I didn't want to be here long. He sat a sachel on the counter and flipped it open. There was a pistol in a holster inside. Mental note to self. He struck up a conversation. He was a Kuwaiti policeman in civilians. He asked where I was from. We tell people Canada but they know I'm American. The 2 Asian staff, probably Phillipino, translate a little for us. He decides to show me his pistol. Great. He's showing off. He doesn't remove the pistol completely from the holster or the clip but he shows he his spare clip. Only 4 rounds. Good intel. Wish I was getting paid for this. And the bullets are worn and old looking. I'd actually be afraid to shoot with them. The staff is worried that I am getting scared. I smile at them and we make gestures behind his head. The conversation continues. He's asking about my family which seems to be another way of asking if you're married or have kids. Since I'm not married or have kids, the word family still means siblings and parents to me. He offers to pay for my food and drink. There is a little of tone from the staff when they explain to me that will allow him to pay for my drink but not my food. I'm not really sure what is happening but I say thank you trying not to be rude. To redirect the conversation, I ask him where the police station is but the conversation comes back to me. Some where in the confusion, marriage came up I think. I begin to get my money out to pay and gather my belongings. There are 4 people talking at once. I lay some money down and start to head out. The staff try to reassure me that it's safe to come back. I smile and slither away. He doesn't follow me which is surprising. I keep an eye out all the way home and enter my buidling through another door far from my own side. Just another day in paradise.