Hey look, gringos!

I have only been in Colombia for a week and a half and I am already picking up some local habits, the oddest of which is perpetually staring at blonde people. Yes, I seem to have forgotten that I myself am a blonde person, and a very tall one at that. However, in a city of over 7 million people where those with blonde locks are few and far between, it becomes difficult not to stare or point them out when they walk by. Blue eyes are also extremely striking and rare - and have become easy for me to notice at a distance. (In Canada I am sure I rarely notice the colour of people's eyes.) So I am beginning to understand (and even empathize!) with the people who stare at me, as now I am often doing the same thing.

"Hey, Jon, look!" I nudged my husband yesterday as we were hiking up Montserrate. "Blonde people!" And then we both proceeded to watch them intently and they walked by. How quickly we forget how much we dislike it when people stare at us! I am starting to get used to it though, and now I frequently try to start conversations with those staring at me. These often wonderfully friendly Colombians just explain that they are not used to foreigners - they cannot help but stare. Ok, fine. But what about the ones who point, yell "gringo", and then burst out laughing? (I kid you not, this has happened multiple times). My response has now become "No somos gringos, somos canadienses." That seems to help, or at least break the ice, because I'm usually smiling when I say it. But Jon was quite distressed when two young girls ran around a corner yesterday, pointed at him and shouted "gringo" and then erupted in gales of laughter. I guiltily joined in the laughter when he told me the story (my only regret was that I missed this hilarious event!).

When you can't beat 'em...