I was going to take a pretty girl out the other night. We'd spoken a couple of times over the past few days, and had friendly conversations. I was going to pick up her and one of her friends.
As I was calling for directions, the conversation went like this (the conversation was in spanish):
Her: "So, USTED should turn left at the light"
Me: "Please, use tu, not usted.."
Her: "Ok.. And then USTED should turn right"
Me: "hey, you know I'm Australian and we're very informal.. using USTED makes me uncomfortable, please use TU"
Her: "Ok.. So then USTED should go straight"
Me: "Look, I really don't like this.. If you can't use tu with me, I don't think we should go out"
Her: "Well, I use USTED with everyone.. Its just how I am"
Me: "Well, I'm only comfortable going out with you if you're comfortable being more informal"
Her: "Sorry, this is how I am"
Me: "Ok, well, I'm going to have to cancel for tonight, sorry".
I really don't like this formality. So for people living here a long time in the bigger cities.. Am I missing the point somehow?
Adrian
As I was calling for directions, the conversation went like this (the conversation was in spanish):
Her: "So, USTED should turn left at the light"
Me: "Please, use tu, not usted.."
Her: "Ok.. And then USTED should turn right"
Me: "hey, you know I'm Australian and we're very informal.. using USTED makes me uncomfortable, please use TU"
Her: "Ok.. So then USTED should go straight"
Me: "Look, I really don't like this.. If you can't use tu with me, I don't think we should go out"
Her: "Well, I use USTED with everyone.. Its just how I am"
Me: "Well, I'm only comfortable going out with you if you're comfortable being more informal"
Her: "Sorry, this is how I am"
Me: "Ok, well, I'm going to have to cancel for tonight, sorry".
I really don't like this formality. So for people living here a long time in the bigger cities.. Am I missing the point somehow?
Adrian