teeth, interrupted

the funniest thing happened while i was brushing my teeth just now. and it's got nothing to do with my teeth. there's a huge vintage car rally going on outside and while i'm guessing it's vintage car, i'm not entirely sure. it could be some white supremacist protest, for all i know. so there were two leader clad women in the washroom with me. they might be hotel guest or they might be rally-ers who snuck in to use the loo from outside. anyhoos they see me start brushing my teeth and decide it's a perfect time to make conversation.

they begin by asking me if i speak english. and because i am annoyed that someone is talking to me while i'm very obviously brushing my teeth, i say grunt, "mandarin." back. which comes out, like, 'mah-in' because i can't ennunciate through toothpaste. they look puzzled and continue in english and i grunt again. thinking they'd leave me alone. this time, i try, "chinese", which they miraculously understand! but no! they persist! only this time they ask me questions in english, slowly. the first question they ask is "what are you doing?" to which i just about resist rolling my eyes and answer, "bwuh-ing teef!" the lady then takes umbrage at my obvious answer to her equally obvious question.

"nono, i mean, in stockholm! what are you doing in stockholm?"

"bwuh-ing teef!!!"

"of course you are! i understand. please continue your brushing. we can talk in awhile."

and to my absolute horror, she casually leans against the sink as i continue to brush and then gargle. i couldn't believe she was actually waiting!

to cut a long story short, she asked (again) why i was in stockholm and by this time i was irritated and said i was traveling. she expressed her surprise that i was travelling in stockholm. why, i don't understand. she asked if my parents were with me. at this point i got really annoyed and told her i was thirty years old and well capable of looking after myself (both statements made with plenty of literary license). all the while i'd to keep up my little lie of not speaking english so i spoke funny. "i is thirty year. parents no must come, no?" and "stockholm safe city for girl thirty year, yes?" but i did feel bad when she asked if i knew anyone here and when i said i didn't, she very welcomingly said, "well, now you know me! enjoy your stay!", patted me on the back and walked out. so maybe i was too quick to get annoyed with yet another friendly local but come on, there's a time and place for everything and interrogating someone while she's brushing her teeth will not achieve any desired outcome.

that said, i sort of regret being a retard and wish i could've reciprocated her warmth somehow. maybe she was tipsy and hence oblivious to common courtesy.

(and because i'd to keep up the guise, i smiled and said "thank you and have a pleasant flight!" when she left the toilet.)