No Habla Espanol

Congratulations, originally uploaded by Shon C.

8:30 AM flight.. I guess I wasn't thinking, yet again. The cab is late, I hope I don't get rushed like my last trip.. There's a stretch limo outside the door.. naah! let me call the cab company. Oh Yeah!! The limo is for me! :) Quick coffee stop at Dunkin Donuts and off we go.

At the airport in Mexico City, conversation with the immigration officer:

Officer (Looks at my Indian Passport, puzzled): **** ** ***** *** **** (something in Spanish)
Me: No habla Espanol (Yes that's right, I'm Indian, not Mexican)
Officer: Oh.. Sup.. reee.. yah?
Me: Correct
Officer (flips thorough the passport, can't find the visa, hands it back to me, I open the right page): ******* ** ***** *** *****(Spanish again!)
Me (What part of "No habla Espanol" did he not understand? or does he think I'm lying?) : *Smile*
Officer: Sup.. re.. yaaaah!
Me (Yes, you learnt how to say my name, congratulations!)
Officer (stamp stamp): *** **** **** (more Spanish)
Me: Thank you!

Thus began the 5 days of people staring incredulously at my face, waiting for some Spanish words to find their way into the air, while I practiced the deer in the headlights routine. All this time my very white (looking) friend took every opportunity to launch a sneak attack at the waiters, cab drivers and shop keepers with her super fluent Spanish.