3/14

I’ve tackled this obstacle about a hundred times since I got here, and I’m getting used to answering this question smoothly nowadays. When somebody here from America asks me what part of the States that I’m from, I’ll tell them simply that I’ve lived all over the west coast: California, Nevada, Washington State, and Oregon. When someone from Ireland or any other European country asks me where I’m from, I always tell them that I live San Francisco, California just for the simple reason that it’s a big enough place and most everybody knows it. It avoids having to explain where Reno, Nevada is and it keeps all the Reno 911 jokes at bay. Most times when I tell somebody that I am from the Bay Area, a typical response would be “oh, I love San Francisco. The weather is beautiful” or “I’ve never been, but when I do go to the States, it’s the first place that I’m going to see.” Today, while getting my haircut at the local barber shop, was the first time that I actually regretted telling someone that I was indeed from there. Never before have I gotten the response “oh…so you’re one of the gay people, then.”  Coming from most other people this comment would sound offensive, but this barber’s expression never changed as if it was just something they openly ask about here in Ireland. On account that I am not gay, my instinct told me to become offended. Had I been a much more snide of a person and less afraid of a bad haircut, this would have been the perfect opportunity to retort with a snappy retort of a question. I think something along the lines of what I would have liked to have said was “are you from Ireland? does that mean you’re a drunk with no long term goals?” It took only about ten seconds for my temper to subside when I told myself “what have I got to worry about? He’s the one in the hairstyle business.”

I politely told the man that no, I was not a homosexual but that if he were to ever go there to not start accusing people of being so as most people wouldn’t take kindly to it.  I then told him that I’m not actually FROM San Francisco, but rather a place nearby that most people here in Ireland wouldn’t know about so I opted for something a little more internationally known to avoid conflict.

Something small, I know. But I thought it would make for an interesting story while walking back to my apartment. I guess from now on I’ll have to be more careful with where I say that I’m from. Maybe I’ll stick to the truth and tell them that I’m from rural, small-town Fernley, Nevada or maybe I’ll just make up a new, funny place from now on. We’ll just have to see whatever kind of mood I’m in.