I’m lost in Tbilisi…
I see a guy on the street showing tourists the menu from his restaurant.
I ask him for directions
“No English,” he says.
I keep walking.
His restaurant is empty.
.
.
.
I’m working in my apartment.
I hear a knock on the door.
An old man with three teeth is selling pomegranates.
He talks fast. I hear the word “Azerbaijan” and “lari” as he holds up one finger.
I understand his fruit comes from Azerbaijan and cost one lPhiladelphiaari each (about €.40).
“Do you have any Czech beer?” I ask him.
“No English,” he says, but not in English.
.
.
.
My first minutes in Tbilisi a taxi driver convinces me to get in his cab.
He starts a conversation: “I have a cousin in America. In Philadelphia.”
Later, I find out that was a very expensive taxi ride.
.
.
.
Three stories.
Three men.
But only one got my money.
I understand, Ryan. In Cairo, some days ago, when I came to airport to fly to home a young man took my luggage to help me without asking him for. I thougt two Euro for this small service should be a great for him. He asked 20 Euro. He finally got nothing…You know, every stranger is a henn which brings golden eggs. It’s a game. Your score was 3:1, but my score was 1:0. Score is a word from PWA. Cheers.
He was greedy!
And today I gave in and bought some food from an old lady. For about a dollar I got something I kinda wanted. No scam. No hassle. All good.
It happens, too
It happens, too
Мr. Vig, your stories and examples are more than interesting. Thank you. I would like to ask about the tense you have used while writing these three stories. Simple present tense. Weren’t you describing something that has happened in the past? Or…?
Yes, you’re correct! I used the present tense when talking about the past. Native speakers do that sometimes when telling a story. It makes the action seem like it’s happening now. If you watch documentaries you’ll hear this a lot.