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Bad manners and good things
Apr. 30th, 2010 07:03 amOn Tuesday, I had to give this dinner for the Austrian ex-provincial governor, and I'd of course invited the KFOR guys, too, plus Stefan and Irene, because dealing with politcians all on my own is definitely not my thing.
When Irene and I arrived at the restaurant, he was already there -- WITH FIVE MORE PEOPLE!!!
I managed to keep a straight face. He got up to say hello. Then he said, "I'm so sorry, I had to bring the others as well" -- so why didn't you tell me, you arsehole, I thought -- "but of course I'm going to pay the bill."
Bad manners. Bad, bad, bad. Condescending, patronizing, unacceptable.
So I said, "I'm sorry, that won't be possible, because I have invited other guests, too, and I'm the host, so you'll have to allow me to pay."
Which I did, grinding my teeth. It's not as if I couldn't afford it, and I have to spend my representation money anyway, but being forced to spend € 350 instead of maybe 150 or 180 just makes me angry, mostly because I had to do it smiling. At least I could enjoy having the moral high ground.
And to think the KFOR commander asked, very politely, whether the driver could maybe have dinner with us, too...
Fortunately I was sitting with the soldiers, Stefan and Irene -- had to move only after the boys had left -- and we had a fantastic, fun evening.
They told a story about an absolutely catastrophic wine-tasting they did in Kosovo, and suddenly the guy who was telling it stopped and said he wasn't sure whether to continue in the presence of ladies.
I merely raised my brows and said, "And you're the man who recommended that I have Skanderbek, when we visited you in Kosovo. That was the most embarrassing piece of food I've ever had in my life! [it's shaped like a very large, very erect penis] Especially because I expected you all to wince when I cut it!"
They boys are going back to Austria on 20 May, but Stefan and I will go to Kosovo on the 19th, for the change of command. Solemn promises were made to that extent. Such lovely, lovely guys. Clever, and fun, and they can even play at quoting Asterix, something I've only been able to do -- after I left school, I mean -- with Stefan.
Today I have a day off -- nothing sensational is planned. I'm going to do a pedicure now, then a bit of Macedonian, while I wait for Slavica, then gym, then tailor, then I'll take the next batch of cothes home, and at 5 there's tennis. (Yesterday I played with Branko, Valentina's husband, and boy, did he chase me round he court. Loved it.)
For tomorrow Irene and I have been invited to Slavica's home for a traditional 1 May barbecue. I think we'll climb the Vodno in the morning, just to work off some calories before that gargantuan event.
And did I mention that spring is absolutely glorious here? So lush and fragrant, I feel I could get drunk just by breathing in the morning air. And the weather is gorgeous; according to the forecast, it's going to remain that way. Temperature between 24 and 30°. Happy boyz, happy mother goddess.
When Irene and I arrived at the restaurant, he was already there -- WITH FIVE MORE PEOPLE!!!
I managed to keep a straight face. He got up to say hello. Then he said, "I'm so sorry, I had to bring the others as well" -- so why didn't you tell me, you arsehole, I thought -- "but of course I'm going to pay the bill."
Bad manners. Bad, bad, bad. Condescending, patronizing, unacceptable.
So I said, "I'm sorry, that won't be possible, because I have invited other guests, too, and I'm the host, so you'll have to allow me to pay."
Which I did, grinding my teeth. It's not as if I couldn't afford it, and I have to spend my representation money anyway, but being forced to spend € 350 instead of maybe 150 or 180 just makes me angry, mostly because I had to do it smiling. At least I could enjoy having the moral high ground.
And to think the KFOR commander asked, very politely, whether the driver could maybe have dinner with us, too...
Fortunately I was sitting with the soldiers, Stefan and Irene -- had to move only after the boys had left -- and we had a fantastic, fun evening.
They told a story about an absolutely catastrophic wine-tasting they did in Kosovo, and suddenly the guy who was telling it stopped and said he wasn't sure whether to continue in the presence of ladies.
I merely raised my brows and said, "And you're the man who recommended that I have Skanderbek, when we visited you in Kosovo. That was the most embarrassing piece of food I've ever had in my life! [it's shaped like a very large, very erect penis] Especially because I expected you all to wince when I cut it!"
They boys are going back to Austria on 20 May, but Stefan and I will go to Kosovo on the 19th, for the change of command. Solemn promises were made to that extent. Such lovely, lovely guys. Clever, and fun, and they can even play at quoting Asterix, something I've only been able to do -- after I left school, I mean -- with Stefan.
Today I have a day off -- nothing sensational is planned. I'm going to do a pedicure now, then a bit of Macedonian, while I wait for Slavica, then gym, then tailor, then I'll take the next batch of cothes home, and at 5 there's tennis. (Yesterday I played with Branko, Valentina's husband, and boy, did he chase me round he court. Loved it.)
For tomorrow Irene and I have been invited to Slavica's home for a traditional 1 May barbecue. I think we'll climb the Vodno in the morning, just to work off some calories before that gargantuan event.
And did I mention that spring is absolutely glorious here? So lush and fragrant, I feel I could get drunk just by breathing in the morning air. And the weather is gorgeous; according to the forecast, it's going to remain that way. Temperature between 24 and 30°. Happy boyz, happy mother goddess.
