A VERY Friendly Taxi Driver

It's not unusual to have guys be ultra-friendly to you here. Heck, it's only unusual when they DON'T stare! And it happens every day to every girl on this trip. (I'm pretty sure it's just because we're white.) I could give countless examples of how forward the guys are here...they whistle, blow their horns, shout "Wow!", or just stand in groups and grin. But last night...well, let's just say my taxi driver was a bit more friendly than the average Peruvian guy. He won the creeper race to be sure...

Now, before I give you the dialogue, I'll first state that I have been in taxis with curious drivers before. Occasionally, with a group of other girls, we'll be asked: "Where are you from?" or "How old are you?" But that's about it.

Ok, so the story. (conversations translated from Spanish)

Approx. 8:30 last night:

Kathleen, Elisabeth and I flag a taxi from the Plaza de Armas in downtown Arequipa. It's a well-known company and very safe...so safe that we were told to program it's number in our cell phones. So we flag a taxi, hop in and start to chat in English.

Mistake #1. This always prompts the following question.

Ultra-friendly and too curious taxi driver: Oh, so are ya'll from the United States?
Us: Yup.
Ultra-friendly and too curious taxi driver: That's cool. Why are ya'll here?
Us: To study Spanish at UNSA.
U-F&TCTD: Nice nice. Your Spanish is pretty good. How long are ya'll here for?
Us: Through the end of October.
U-F&TCTD: Oh, not very long. Do you like it here?
Us: Oh yeah. It's nice that it's always sunny.
U-F&TCTD: Yeah, it is. So, how old are ya'll?
Us: Around 20.
U-F&TCTD: Cool.

We get to Kathleen and Elisabeth's house. I whisper, "Boy, he's curious!" and they wave goodbye and go into their respective homes.

Mistake #2. Continuing the conversation.

U-F&TCTD: So, you like Arequipa, huh?
Me: Yes.
U-F&TCTD: And you, too, are just here for a few months?
Me: Yup.
U-F&TCTD:(grinning at me in the rearview mirror)...So, you've got a novio o amorado (translation: boyfriend or lover)?
Me: Yes. Actually, we've been dating for 4 or more years.
U-F&TCTD: (not phased) Oh really? And where is he?

Mistake #3.

Me: In the States.
U-F&TCTD: (another grin) Ohh...so you want a boyfriend here, then?
Me: No no no no! (pause to think of why) My boyfriend is really the jealous type, you know...
U-F&TCTD: Ahhh, yes. But, you don't want a secret one for just a short amount of time?
Me: (counting the blocks til home) No no no! I'm not here long enough for that and I'm not looking for anything.
U-F&TCTD: Oh ok. So...ummm...what's your name?
Me: Uhh...

(my brain, for some reason, shuts down at this point with the effort of trying to make up this tiny lie)

uhhh...
What did you say?
U-F&TCTD: Your name?
Me: (ready now!) Lucy. It's Lucy. (This is actually the name of my middle-aged program director)

Getting close to home.

U-F&TCTD: Well, Lucy, it's really nice to meet you. You sure you don't want a boyfriend? (another smile in the rearview mirror)
Me: I'm positive. In fact, here's my stop! (I frantically dig out my change)
U-F&TCTD: (He gets desperate) Do those other girls have boyfriends?
Me: (my brain is too tired at this point) You know what?...yeah! They do! (rambling) You know, it's a funny thing, but all of the girls on this trip...hahaha...have long-term boyfriends! Hahahah (why am I laughing? This sounds SO ridiculous!)

Silence. We get to my corner.

U-F&TCTD: HEY! You want to be my new friend? Yeah, want to be my friend?

He continues asking me this as I shove the money in his hand, quickly mutter "Buenas noches" and quickly walk to my gate.


Now, just to clarify, I was nothing more than a tad uncomfortable. We were in a densely-populated area, with many lights, and I could've gotten out in case of an emergency. Yes, I was feeling like that white girl from the MadTV skit "Can I Have Yo Numba?", but I knew he meant no harm. If I had been at a bar or dance club, the same kind of young guy would've asked the same kind of questions. Besides, it was kinda fun making all that stuff up...and telling the story to the group later!