Commedy of manners: "A ver si quedamos"
I´m still reclycing old posts.
I have been told that this blog is anti-American, and it was not said as insult or praise, just as fact. I dont intend it to be. If this was a political blog it would definitely be anti-American, but Im trying to write comedy of manners, which is a lovely, mildly satirical genre that pokes fun at things instead of setting them on fire, so you see the absurdity of everyday life. It is only for fun after all. Anyway, to show that I am not particularly anti-American Ill tell you of Sevilles most hated absurdity (most hated by me, at least)
I know people from different cultures that think that theirs is the only one is the world to do something unpleasant. For example, many nationalities think they are the most unpunctual one. So, I dont know if this will be characteristic of anyone else. I am talking about the inhabitants of Sevilles habit of saying A ver si quedamos: lets meet some time. Quedar means to meet, to go out, to make arrangements to meet in the future, to have a date.
You know this person, someone who isnt your friend. Maybe they used to be. You meet them by chance on the streets, or something like that, and just like anywhere else in the world you stop for a minute and catch up on how they are. And if you are in Seville, Spain, one of you will say goodbye by saying well, we have to meet again some time soon. No one makes a mention of when youre free or makes sure of how you can be contacted.
When someone from Seville says theyd love to meet me again and they dont immediately suggest a time, a place, a plan, and make sure my mobile is still the same number, I know they dont have the least intention of calling. Everyone hates being told lets meet. Everyone says it anyway. Dammmmm it, even I say it, whenever I cant say Im glad to see you with a straight face. Besides, I spend so much time away from Seville that indulging in very Seville-like vices reassures me that I still belong there.
Some people from the South with spontaneous, warm behaviour think that people from the North, who are apparently colder and more distant, are more sincere in their personal relationships. Less smiles, more real care. Sevilles art of the oh, yes, we have to meet hypocrisy seems to prove it. Does anyone disagree?
I have been told that this blog is anti-American, and it was not said as insult or praise, just as fact. I dont intend it to be. If this was a political blog it would definitely be anti-American, but Im trying to write comedy of manners, which is a lovely, mildly satirical genre that pokes fun at things instead of setting them on fire, so you see the absurdity of everyday life. It is only for fun after all. Anyway, to show that I am not particularly anti-American Ill tell you of Sevilles most hated absurdity (most hated by me, at least)
I know people from different cultures that think that theirs is the only one is the world to do something unpleasant. For example, many nationalities think they are the most unpunctual one. So, I dont know if this will be characteristic of anyone else. I am talking about the inhabitants of Sevilles habit of saying A ver si quedamos: lets meet some time. Quedar means to meet, to go out, to make arrangements to meet in the future, to have a date.
You know this person, someone who isnt your friend. Maybe they used to be. You meet them by chance on the streets, or something like that, and just like anywhere else in the world you stop for a minute and catch up on how they are. And if you are in Seville, Spain, one of you will say goodbye by saying well, we have to meet again some time soon. No one makes a mention of when youre free or makes sure of how you can be contacted.
When someone from Seville says theyd love to meet me again and they dont immediately suggest a time, a place, a plan, and make sure my mobile is still the same number, I know they dont have the least intention of calling. Everyone hates being told lets meet. Everyone says it anyway. Dammmmm it, even I say it, whenever I cant say Im glad to see you with a straight face. Besides, I spend so much time away from Seville that indulging in very Seville-like vices reassures me that I still belong there.
Some people from the South with spontaneous, warm behaviour think that people from the North, who are apparently colder and more distant, are more sincere in their personal relationships. Less smiles, more real care. Sevilles art of the oh, yes, we have to meet hypocrisy seems to prove it. Does anyone disagree?
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