Hei Gabe, 3. Re: Deeply Offensive Allegations.Bhandare. Re: Vol 2 Issue 619 Gabe Menezes (Gabe Menezes)
As a goan yourself you will know we are a very private and reserved people. The quaint thing about goans is that we are sociable too without being intrusive. Having grown up in our 'goan culture' we pick up the nuances from what people say and actively engage in putting together the pieces from what comes across. So we can never be found guilty of being intrusive. People in the West often find it difficult to understand how we goans manage to relate in a real personal way without being personal. It is not uncommon to be chatting with a Westerner for hours about everything under the sun and yet not exchange personal information. At the end of such an encounter, often Westerners as per their culture feel obliged to introduce themselves with I am so and so. Hmmm you think do I really want to know you. If yes then we exchange names or with a polite smile keep our distance with glad to meet you and turn heel. A stranger who thinks he can introduce himself and barge into our table of mutual goan friends would be considered as breaking with formality particularly in a goan setting. Of course as is our culture the stranger would not be turned away but can expect a frosty reception with polite and subtle distancing. Now Gabe you have a goan name. Fine. Mine is a nom de plume, pseudonym, alias or nickname call it what you may. I am sorry that you wasted your not valuable time scurrying fruitlessly round the Internet. Hahaha. You flattered me once saying how brilliant I was, which would have been a good reason to be noticed on the Internet under my pseudonym. But there you see, you were wrong again hahaha. I will hand it to you that you have the edge on me in konkani. I understand konkani very well even though I cannot speak it. You may think you have got me there but any language is never exact enough and being well raised in the nuances of our language and goan culture tilts advantage in my favour. I don't know what finishing school you went to :))) As for introducing myself to you, why should I introduce myself to an unpredictable London based rottweiler lol. Mind you I would gladly buy you a drink at your local watering hole. A pint is affordable and I really don't have anything against you. Just kidding. Seriously, I value the information you contribute to goanet on your good days. I mean that. It is necessary to have people like you to keep us informed in the only way you know. By the way my circumstances have changed somewhat, and I have had my say on goanet for what it's worth. So before I take my leave, I will say that I have really enjoyed the experience of engaging with so many good people on goanet and listening to concerns, loves, hates and achievements of fellow goans home and abroad. If I have been a pain to anyone on goanet including yourself Gabe you have my sincere apologies. Of course I will be around from time to time for a laugh, information, keeping up and just to say hello. regards regards