Day 2: Pepo 1.9.2010

Day 2: Pepo 1.9.2010



Pe-po is a silly word for people. When I was a little girl in a little primary school in Ireland, I read a book called Pe-po which, you guessed it, was about people. It was about a little baby who looks out of their pram and sees all different types of people wandering around in the world. I could write about sitting, having a coffee, watching others as they contemplate, read, chat, text on their phone. I could wonder to myself “where is that person going, where have they come from, what’s their story, what were they thinking wearing that skirt in public? But I won’t because, I’ll bore myself. Instead, I will write about the odd things people do that catch my eye. The first odd ball I came across was George.

This morning, we checked out of our hotel at 11 am. Because our flight wasn’t until 7pm, we decided to sit in the hotel lounge and watch some tv or read a bit. The usual "pass the time" activities. There were two large flatscreen tv’s in the lounge. One showed BBC news, the other some pre-school children’s programme with these pastel coloured, bumbly sounding creatures. Well, there was a Chinese man (well, I think he was Chinese, I’m not sure to be honest. Please don’t start getting on your high horse saying “Loren, not all Asian people look the same! You can’t say that!” I didn’t say that, I just don’t know where he was from, so I’m guessing. I’m Irish and Kobus is South African but if some strange fucker looks at us, they won’t know we are different nationalities will they. We are both whitey pink with freckles!).

Anyway, I digress! The man of Asian origin, let’s call him George because we don’t know who he is, was watching the kid’s programme with a glass of white wine laughing his arse off. So, being as curious (or nosey, take your pick), as I am, I decided to investigate the source of humour. Jeez, this man needs some hobbies or a novel to read! The yokie bobs on telly were in a forest when one fell over a log and the other thingy started bumbly laughing, not laughing like a person, laughing like a whale whose mouth was full of cotton wool balls. George was in hysterics! WHY? I really wanted to ask him but I’d feel silly.

Then I remembered Pokemon and that advert for Oasis (you know, the drink), where the two Japanese girls are drinking Oasis and their Dad says they should only drink water because Oasis is connected to some giant rubber duck. Maybe George is also Japanese? Maybe I had learnt my first lesson is the differences in humour cross cultures? Thanks Cbeebies!

I think George must have been about fifty,  but I wouldn’t like to guess, for fear of being ageist!