marie and I laugh that we should collaborate and write a tv comedy about au pairs who move to a foreign country where they don’t speak the language or speak very little. it seems so much is lost in translation alone but I feel like so many other things have also given us a lot of material. yesterday was one such experience...

I was picking lucy up from school and the teacher opened the gate. a little boy walked to the edge, looked around, locked eyes with me and confidently came strolling up to me with an outstretched hand. after entirely too long of the two of us having an awkward staring contest that neither consented to, this conversation followed. 

me: bonsoir. 
strange boy: uhh what? 
me: oh, you speak english? hey, how are you? 
strange boy: ... good. 

awkwardly long pause again. me wondering why he was reaching for my hand. was I being aggressively hit on by a six year old? 

me: what’s your name? 
strange boy: are you serious? you know my name. 
me: haha, I’m sorry. who do you think I am? 
strange boy: you’re my babysitter.
me: hahahaha, no I’m not. 
strange boy: yes, you are. you’re jessica.
me: who is jessica? my name is christina. what is your name?
strange boy: haha jessica!! I’m victor. you know me. are you playing some kind of joke? 
me: no, I’m sorry. I’m not your babysitter. I’m christina. I take of lucy. do you know lucy?
strange boy: come on jessica. can I have my snack? 
me: hahaha, is jessica new? 
strange boy: no, why? 
me: oh. (thinking to myself, then why in the world can you not tell I’m not her?) do I look like jessica?
strange boy: well yeah. because you are jessica!

lucy walks up, reaching for her snack and says hey christina. the strange boy’s eyes get wide realizing I’m not his babysitter jessica and he sprints away. 

I’ve been telling this story to people and josephine keeps saying, "tell me again, I’m TYING laughing just like you." hahaha