Just outside the gate of the school I work in and in my neighborhood is a collection of small stores. There is one in particular that I frequent on a very regular basis. Once, twice and sometimes three times a day I wander over to the small store to buy things and use the long distance telephone. Outside the store is a street food vendor that I also go to everyday. The owners of the small store have a middle aged daughter. I hate her. Lately I've been avoiding going there because everytime she sees me she gathers her young daughter and comes up to me. She will point to my feet and say, "Foot" look at her daughter and request she say the same thing. She points to all of my limbs and says what they are. She asks me how much money I make. She asks me how much I weigh. She asks me to repeat simple one syllable words over and over and over again to her young daughter. She generally makes a nuisance of herself. I'm generally a very polite person and don't want to ignore her for fear I'll upset the store owners as she is their daughter and I go to the store so often. But, the fact is she really annoys the hell out of me. Today I was standing outside after just using the telephone. Sometimes I stand outside and have a cigarette because many of the teachers I work with also go to the same small store. I stand outside for something to do. I saw here today and ran home. I don't want to deal with her nosy nature, as well intentioned as her curiousity may be, it really borders on obtrusive. It's not like she's trying to make friends. She just wants me to say words to her in English. The day I stop going to that store because of her I"m going to be very angry at her unwillingness to leave me the hell alone. I see her and I automatically sense that she is trying to think of words she'd like me to help her practice. Maybe I'm being ridiculous, but she makes SUCH a bloody nuisance of herself. There is really no way around the situation because if act dissinterested I will not only offend her, but also her family who I am friendly with. Sometimes living in places unacustomed to having foreigners around isn't as easy as one would like. I guess I should be thankful that it's not a more serious grievance. Oh well, I'll continue to smile and bear it I suppose. I don't want to change stores, and she isn't there everyday. Thank God! Over and out...