Flirtation!

There's no doubt about it, folks, I'm starting to look my age. The years in the sun are catching up with me. The stress from this move, alone, has taken it's toll. :( I remember living in Hawaii and loving the extra moisture in the air because I seemed to always have a healthy glow in my skin. So, of course, with ALL of this extra moisture here in Shanghai, I honestly expected to see the skin cells replenish themselves quickly, thus giving me that glow again. Nope. I look worn, tired...stubborn lines that just refuse to smooth out either by my usual plumpness or replenished moisture. And, NOOOOO, it's not just my imagination! I rarely experience the kind of stress I have been experiencing lately and frankly, I don't think my body has handled it with it's usual 'grace under pressure' kind of way. My husband nows tells me he wants to drastically cut back on any travel plans I, in particular, had envisioned us taking over here. What were the benefits of doing all of this...for me?? I thought I had at least ONE. Apparently, ZERO...now. Yeah...I'm so very tired and it's definitely showing.

However, with that being said, the most unusual things(s) occurred to me today. And the ONLY reason I'm bringing it up is because it took me by complete surprise...I was utterly shocked, THRICE! I was supposed to get a foot massage with my Australian friend today but she had to cancel at the last minute and I decided to go on ahead without her. This time, I was in a private room and a male massage person came in the door. No biggie. Well, as I was leaning back in the chair, he decides to strike up a conversation with extremely limited English. *sigh* Uh...ok. He looked to be about 22, but that could actually mean he's a Chinese "35" for all I know. OTHER people don't seem to get talkers...why must I?? Anyway, he's trying to talk to me...teaching me Chinese...wanting to know names of things in English. I keep thinking he's only trying to be personable, he's going to get tired of this little charades game and he'll let me actually enjoy this massage in silence! Then he told me I was very beautiful...WHAT?! Is he flirting?? haha Naahhh. That's ridiculous. Some cultural difference must be there that I'm not aware of or something. Or SOMETHING.

I know he wasn't looking for a big tip...because you don't tip over here. And on our last trip, we were having dinner with May and we had a discussion about how many white guys will hook up with Chinese women, but "not other way around...Chinese men do not like white women." She further explained, "...white women are too big and too forward." Well, that's that. As I discussed with many of my friends already, I fully expected to come over and be treated as if I wasn't even here, by Chinese men. And, thus far, I have not been disappointed.

Ok. So...moving on. Whatever. I indicated he was doing a great job and I wanted to doze. He immediately set the lights low and finally left me in peace. Ahhh. Now that is what I'm talking about. :) After he finished and as he was putting towels over my legs and feet to wipe the cream off, he told me, "I. eat. break." I interpreted this as: he will be taking a break after this and will be eating during the course of it. Then, he said, "You. eat. me?" hahaha WHAT?? hahaha Uh, WHAT? Then it dawned on me...I think he was asking me to have lunch with him! Because, he reiterated and slightly changed the wording, "You. want. eat...and pointed to himself." What?? Did he just ask me out??? hahaha I guess I'll never truly be sure...but I did suspect a little flirtation in there somewhere. haha I completely pretended I didn't understand so he could "save face" and he just nodded, smiled...and told me his number. His employee number...not his phone number! hee hee

Right after the massage, we headed to a big Costco sized store, called Metro. The driver and I went through the store picking out our goods. I went to the wine section to look around. I was immediately approached by a Chinese man with a French accent. I asked him if they had a few specific brands...nope. I asked him about a few different types of wine and if they had those. No such luck. But, I assume he is a wine connoisseur himself because he seemed pretty excited about my questions...as only a true connoisseur of wine can be! haha He asked me where I was from...what types of wine I really liked...then we talked about specific brand names from the US, etc, etc, etc. Ok, I was ready to go...but he kept on talking. His line of questioning became a little more personal. Do you live in Shanghai? Where in Shanghai? Do you work? If so, what company? He said he has seen me before in the store. Why do I live in Kangqiao...so far away? Ohhh...those sly French or Chinese with French accents. hee hee I explained that is where my husband works. His face actually "fell". I'm sorry...but it was actually funny! Then he gave me a little [knowing] half-smile and like any Frenchman, he was not to be deterred so easily! Ha! He then invited me to a wine tasting party they were having at the store this week and told me he would love if I went. Well, heck yeah I'll come...because I love wine and an official wine tasting party sounds so 'normal"...but NOT because he wants me to come. haha Too funny! Even my driver mentioned THIS flirtation. Laughing as we walked away, Mr. Chen said, "hee hee He like Kimberly (pronounced Kim-ber-ry), I think."

Then, as we were heading down our last aisle, I stopped to look at some cheese. There was an older French guy there. He looked at me. He looked again. And THEN it happened. haha He pulled the "typicals", I'm afraid. haha He mentioned we seem to be at all the same places at the same times, in the store. Really? I don't remember seeing him. He asked what cheese I liked, as if this line of conversation is supposed to hold my interest for more than a millisecond. haha And since I felt I knew where this might be going, I said 'au revoir' and headed back to my cart!

It was just one of those days, I guess. However, since I had every expectation of being a wall flower for the next two years, I found it interesting AND note worthy that these events occurred today. Especially from the Chinese men. Also, as stated above, I KNOW I'm not looking my best (healthiest, prettiest, whatever) as of late...which makes these events doubly surprising to me! I just didn't see it coming! haha