my friend howwa

Howwa describes everything as exciting. At first I was flattered because she called me that. I think she’s wonderful and when she said “ada jirwi” I thought she reciprocated the feeling. My stomach flipped with the anticipation of a new best friend. Then I heard her say a television show (Spanish soap opera dubbed badly in French watched on a black and white screen) was exciting. And then the Burt’s Bees chapstick I gave her was described as exciting and I saw where I stood.

Sometimes I meet people I like so much I immediately want the privilege of being in their tightest circle of friends. Avoid small talk and jump over the gathering of personal histories. I want more of them. To know their thoughts, predict their actions and go on vacation with them to some remote island so I can have them all to myself.

Take this irrational impatience with my inhibited self of a second language and we have quite a situation on our hands. Comfortable and flowing conversation is hard enough to come by between two stranger Americans, about the same age and with similar backgrounds. Eliminate all similarities including race, religion, age, language and education and then how does one befriend another?

I guess you resort to giving Howwa your Burt’s Bees honey chapstick and hope she hears your sentiment.