Three Indians. One Vietnamese. One of the strangest conversations of my life.
“India?”
“Yes! We are from India? Where are you from?”
[blank stare]
My friend thinks for a moment. “China?”
“Ohh.. No no no.. Vietnam..”
“Ahhh….”
Silence for five minutes.”You computer?”
“Yes, we computer.”
“Good Good..”, [thumbs-up sign and big smile]
Another bout of silence.
Suddenly he speaks up.
“India… Computer.. [taps on temple] .. Goooood!!!! ” [accompanied by a thumbs-up and a wide grin]
We smile politely..
“Computer.. [shows cash sign with his fingers] .. Gooooood!!!!” [again the thumbs-up and grin]
My friend replies, “India.. [cash sign] .. Not gooood!!!” [thumbs-down and sad smiley]
Long silence. He seems to be thinking hard.
He asks something in German, and none of us understand a word.
He looks around desperately.
Soon he was scribbling on a piece of paper.
“E 8000-100000 / m”
We stare at it for a moment. WTH?! He really thinks that??
My friend writes back
“E 1500 / m”
“Noooooo… ” [ head shaking] , “nooo..”
My friends replies, “India.. [cash sign] .. Not good!!!” [thumbs-down and sad smiley]
“ohhhhh..” [sympathetic expression]
Long silence.
“Germany.. Baaaaaad!!!” [thumbs-down and sad smiley.. then downturned palm at low level]
We nod sympathetically.
“America.. Gooooood!!!” [downturned palm at mid level]
“Canada.. Gooooood!!!” [downturned palm at high level]
“Green Card… Gooooooooooooood!!!” [HUGE thumbs-up]
Long silence.
“Germany.. Baaaaaad!!!” [thumbs-down]
Long silence.
He scribbles 1990 on the paper.
“Germany.. Goooood!!!” [thumbs-up]
He scribbles 1995 on the paper.
“Germany.. Baaaaaad!!!” [thumbs-down and sad smiley]
Long silence.
“Ehe?” [got that from the dictionary]
“Jaaaaa.. Jaaaa.”, showing us his ring.
Then gestured to the counter..
“Oh! That was your wife.???”
I think he understood that.. He nodded..
Then he runs to the counter, and comes back with a picture of a kid.
“Oh… that’s your kid??? Cute kid..”
He puts it back.
Much longer silence.
More silence.
The cab driver came and we said our byes and left.
“Green card gooooooood!!!” .. . .. . . . ..