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07 May 2009

The Edwina Monologues (Part 1)

I haven't had much to do with Edwina recently, but have just started sitting close enough to make a few observations. Today's topic is racism.

Edwina equates poor English with being stupid. Last Wednesday she went out of her way to intercept R as he was leaving the office. It was quite abrupt, in the manner of “have you booked the training room for tomorrow?”. If only. Edwina  wanted to share a few insights on the local culture:

“They’re really quite clueless, aren’t they?”

-- “Who are?”

“The local Vietnamese. They have no idea. They really have no idea.”

-- “No. What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

“I have to tell them everything. They need my help with everything.”

-- “Huh? I don’t understand.”

“They just don’t get it. They’re really cute though. They’re just like little puppies.”

-- “Sorry. Can’t talk. Must run. Busy busy.”

Another tip with Edwina: never have a conversation with her while standing up. Because this gives her the space to act out some anecdote, usually involving a local person. As she comes to the point where she says “so then X came up to me to ask …” she will start running on the spot with eyes wide, mouth open in a dumb smile and hands at shoulder length waving. It’s like a toddler pretending to be a bunny pretending to be your devoted friend. It's patronising and inaccurate.

3 comments:

alexandra s.m. said...

now i understand better!

La Reina de las Lineas Longas said...

Edwing is my favourite character. Love to hate! A bit like Deacn on the "The B and the B".

http://www.sonypictures.com/bb/specials/bb_at_home_sean_kanan/upclose.jhtml

By the way, am I the only one that thinks this URL suggests that Sony has moved into a whole other area of entertainment?

SinBBQ said...

perdon. pero no comprendo nada, senorita nancy.