A Simple Conversation with an American Stranger

I had a simple conversation with a stranger while having my quick lunch at Savemore supermarket today. I don't usually talk to strangers, but this guy seems friendly, and harmless perhaps. He is an American guy, a little bit bigger physically, and maybe in his early 50's.

Tables are being shared by everyone because there are only 3 tables for customers who want to eat at their little food court. There were only 3 of them including a little girl sitting at the white guy's table, so I asked the white guy, "Do you have companies?" He said no with a smile. So I settled and ate fast, I only had 1 hour lunch break and I have to hurry back to the office in 30 minutes, but I still have to buy few stuff for my daughter and for our daily use in our kitchen at home.

I wasn't sure but this American guy seems everybody's friend at the store. He calls the female salesladies (who were having lunch break) "Momma", asking them if they won the lottery because they bought lotto tickets. One saleslady won and shared her winning ticket to the American guy.
"How much?" The white guy asked.
"Forty pesos!" And she laughed. She meant she won worth 40 pesos.
He mentioned that in America is different, and I can't exactly figured out what he was talking about because I was busy eating. So I managed to ask, "Are you American?" He proudly said, "Yes! But I live in EGI (resort)." I nodded. He is currently staying at EGI resort here in Lapu-lapu City.
"Why are you here for?" I asked him.
"For a change, you know." He said candidly. I smiled.
"From what state?" I asked him again.
"State? From Hawaii." He said and I just said yeah. And he played with the little girl.
"So, where are you from?" He asked me back. "Here. From Cebu." I answered.
"You know, Filipino children are the most beautiful children." He said.

"Really?" I answered. I wasn't convinced that all Filipino children are beautiful (not all are beautiful I believed).
"Do you have kids on your own?" I asked. And he said no.
He keeps playing with the little girl sitting beside her. I thought she was his adopted daughter and the lady beside me was his Filipina wife, but no. I asked the lady if she's with the white guy but she smiled shyly and said no.


Because I was talking comfortably with the white guy, the shy lady had the courage to ask him, "Are you married?" Perhaps the American guy didn't hear well so I asked in a different way, "Are you still single?"
"Yes, I am single!"
"Single? Ever since?" I teased him.
"Yeah. I got married before in Hawaii but my wife died because of cancer."
"Really?" Was all I could say. I suddenly remembered my mother who also passed away almost 14 years ago because of cancer.

He kept playing still with the little girl. So I told him, "So you're sightseeing? For girls?" I laughed.
"Girls? Yeah." He proudly said.
"If you marry a Filipina, you will have beautiful children." I told him.
"Yes! I will definitely have beautiful children." He agreed. "What's your job?"
"Marketing. Internet marketing." I answered.

"Oh ok. That's good." He said.
"Please excuse me. I have to hurry." I told him after I was done eating and I rushed to the store and bought important stuff. He bubbly said "Bye bye!"

I must admit I like talking to foreign people, only if they are professional enough to indulge in a conversation. If I notice they are senseless, mean, and unprofessional, I would never have a conversation with them.

If you want to speak confidently with English speaking people, study English further at an English language school and enhance your communication skills.