Last night's dinner

I brought my mom and the kids out to the restaurant nearby for dinner last night. The food is nothing to shout about but it was better than eating at home, and plus my dad was still in the Netherlands. We were already tucking into our food, when this party of 12 ppl came in. It was someone from my dad's office and her family. So as usual, they recognize my mom and salam her. The thing that really got me was the overly-friendly auntie. I don't even know this lady, it was the first time me and my mom had met her (it was the mom of the lady that works at my dad's office). She thought I was still in my teens, so she was being very patronizing at first. I hate that, when ppl think I'm 19. I guess cos I never bother to wear anything "my age" when I'm in my neighborhood, because please, I live right down the road, I don't feel like I need to dress up. It felt like going to your local deli to get a sandwich. You know what I mean.

So this auntie was patting my shoulder and saying to my mom, "Oh so this is your number two? All your kids will be following you on your next posting then?" And my mom was saying, no, she's (me) working... And I say, "Yeah, I'm working, so I won't be going." And this lady puts on this mock 'shock-horror' look and says, "Laa...kesian! Apasal tak nak bawak skali!" I was thinking to myself, "Oh my God, didn't I just say, I'm working, and I can't go!" I was starting to get insulted, because I knew she thought I was still 18 or 19, and I shouldn't be left alone in this country. So I say, politely, "No auntie, I think I'm old enough to live on my own. And plus I'm working so everything should be okay." And she croons back, "Oh really? How old are you this year?" (Note the "this year". A patronizing way of asking young children how old they will be. I despise condescending ppl) And I say, "I'm 25."

And she is surprised, this time she's not faking it. And she says, "Oh that's only one year younger than my daughter! When she's gone (she's going on her first overseas posting) you can take her place! You can come to auntie's house anytime..."

Now I know she's trying to be friendly, but I was appalled. Firstly, how can you ask a stranger to take your daughter's place, and how can you ask that same stranger to come to your house anytime? That's just nuts. Plus her daughter was sitting right behind us, so like if she heard this whole conversation, I'm sure she'd be insulted. I did not respond at all. I don't think so. I think at that moment my mom, being the good diplomat that she is, changed the subject so that I wouldn't have to reply.

But it was the strangest, most funniest thing a stranger has ever said to me.