Talking to a Stranger

Last day of class. Today was another 6-hour stretch, so I didn't have time to do much today. Not that I really wanted to, since I was out all day yesterday. But I couldn't just go straight "home" after class, so I headed to the Eiffel Tower and sat on a bench along an edge of the park that it towers over (Parc du Champ de Mars). Just like I did Tuesday at Parc Monceau, I was going to stay there for at least two hours reading and people-watching. But then out of nowhere came a Senegalese gentleman who took it upon himself to join me on the bench, even though he saw that I was preoccupied, and start up a conversation. And it was like he had nothing better to do; he just sat there and kept talking and trying to get me to talk back. He was friendly and all and we had a pleasant conversation about various topics. But then he invited me for coffee, offered to show me around the city this weekend, and wanted to exchange contact info, and it's like Dude, I don't know you. I don't mind talking to a stranger if the conversation is interesting and I don't get any bad vibes or sense any alarms going off. But I also have no problem giving people phony aliases and fake numbers. I don't know you, man. So on the one hand I got two hours of unexpected French conversation practice, but on the other hand I didn't get to spend my time the way I'd wanted to. I was really counting on some alone time! The scene was perfect and Mr. Senegalese man kinda ruined it, nice as he was. Eh well. It's the Eiffel Tower. I can always go back.

 Bread and Butter [Paris] photos