After two weeks on the road it was time to take a breather and setup shop in Tunis for a while. Hotel Salambo would become our home, and café (I can’t recall the name), our office. We needed a little time to regroup, research our next move, edit photos, update blogs, and get our wifi fix – you know, the important stuff. At the time of arriving, Egypt was still a strong contender, but other areas in Africa were calling to us too; it’s hard to make a decision with so many interesting options close by.
Within a few days we had settled into a routine. Get up, watch Al Jazeera while getting ready, laugh about the Tea Party clips they’d show (especially Karen Angle – that lady has half a brain), stroll into the office around 10am, and then break for lunch in the mid afternoon. We frequently dined at this tiny sandwich shop which was epic. For around $1.50 you get something that puts the likes of Subway to shame. They sprinkle fries on top, so it’s not exactly healthy, but delicious nonetheless. We’d return to the office for the afternoon, squeeze in a walk or two, and then our evenings usually consisted of wine, movies on my laptop, and a little shuteye when the mosquitoes weren’t feasting.
One afternoon, while minding my own business, I was approached by two men while enjoying a cup of coffee. A few minutes into our conversation, I learned that they were both local journalists. Normally I would shoe them away, but I saw this as an educational opportunity; perhaps I could get away with asking questions, others might not. After all, being a young female American does have its advantages from time to time. They invited me to join them for a drink, but I thought lunch would be more appropriate, so we decided to meet the next day. I opted to play the student card and asked if I could interview them for a paper, to which they graciously agreed.
We met in the city center and took a short stroll to a nearby restaurant. At first, our conversation consisted of the usual questions: family, work, and travel. Once our meals had been ordered, I decided to get cracking. Unfortunately, they had the same thought too. Sadly, my questions were never answered. Instead, they wanted to discuss my relationship status, have me guess their ages, and share a plate of spaghetti, Lady & The Tramp style – I successfully dodged all three.
At one point, I asked the older man if he had a family (he looked to be around 50). The younger one, who acted as a translator due to his English skills, responded by saying, “yes, he has a wife and kids.” He was quickly interrupted and an argument ensued between the two in Arabic – talk about awkward. Once it was settled, I was told that he made a mistake. His friend was in fact single and without children. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Check, please!
