El Guapo in DC

I am El Guapo. The most Guapo man in all of DC. Mucho Amor

Monday, July 09, 2007

Manners

“El Guapo, you have to walk on the outside of the sidewalk when you walk with me.”

Mi abuelita was always making rules for me when I was growing up.

But abuelita, why?

“Because you are a man. When a man walks with a woman, he should walk on the street side of the sidewalk.”

But, I’m just a boy abuelita. And you’re mi abuelita.

“El Guapo, every respectable man with manners walks on the outside of the sidewalk. It’s the polite and gentlemanly thing to do.”

But abuelita, why does it matter?

“When was I was a girl growing up in Guatemala, the streets were made of sand and rock. There weren’t any sewage drains, so when it rained, the sides of the streets would be muddy puddles. When carts went by, they would splash everywhere. The man, the man with manners, who would be walking on the outside of the sidewalk, would be splashed and his woman would stay dry.”

But wouldn’t she get splattered?

“Oh, El Guapo. Your imagination… Si, maybe she would get splattered, but the important thing is that most of the water would be on the man. The man with good manners and respect. You should always do this when walking with a woman.”

Even when it’s not raining?

“Si, El Guapo. Even when it’s not raining.”

Mi abuelita would always move me to the outside of the sidewalk when walking with her. Always. She did it so much that it became second nature for me to always walk on the outside.

Later in life, I was able to tell my hermanitas about this. I would tell them that they should only be with a man who walks on the outside of the sidewalk. No real man would ever allow a woman to walk on the outside.

The other day, mi hermana told me that for the first time in her life, she had found a man who walked on the outside of the sidewalk. She told me this with a smile in voice because he did it on his own, without any prodding. I am happy for mi hermana.

Even if the man was a gringo, with spiky hair.

Mucho Amor,

El Guapo

25 Comments:

At 3:59 AM, Blogger Kim Ayres said...

In the UK, the reason for the man walking on the outside started for a similar, though slightly different reason.

If you ever see pictures of medieval London (or other old British towns), you see that the top part of the houses hung further over the street than the lower parts.

There was no indoor plumbing and the chamber pots were emptied out into the streets from the upper windows. So if you were on the outside you were more likely to be hit by the contents.

So it was more polite for the man to walk on the outside.

Of course there is another rule of walking, sitting or lying in bed with your loved one, and that is that she is always on your left, thereby leaving your sword arm free.

 
At 4:02 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey, my husband does the walk on the outside thing, too! i dunno who taught him, but it's very sweet.

 
At 4:17 AM, Blogger Namaste said...

i miss being walked on the inside. like whoa.

 
At 6:10 AM, Blogger Raven said...

My hubby always walked on the outside, opened car doors, and insists I sleep on his left side. He had done these things from the beginning. I always said I thought he was a medieval night reincarnated. Maybe instead he was a Guatemalan!

 
At 7:02 AM, Blogger EsLocura said...

I had a boyfriend from Costa Rica who did that back in Brooklyn, oh he was so sweet ... not to mention damn cute.

 
At 12:00 PM, Blogger Ellis Johnson said...

That was how I was raised as well. It used to drive this girl I dated absolutely crazy, but I told her that it just felt wrong to walk on the inside.

 
At 1:01 PM, Blogger Rachel said...

Last night my date walked on the inside and didn't walk me to the subway. Class act.

 
At 2:42 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I didn't realize Guatemalans had such good manners, I thought it was just MY countrymen. I was taught to walk on the outside by mi abuela, too, but I think it was to protect her from getting trampled by a parade celebrating another World Cup victory.

 
At 7:25 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Old school manners--the ultimate way to anyone's heart.

 
At 7:39 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My boyfriend in Costa Rica insisted on walking on the outside but he said that people would think I was a prostituta if they saw me on the outside. So of course I walked outside on principle!

 
At 10:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I bet your sister is super hot.

 
At 3:58 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

My husband was from the South (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, etc.) and he always walked on the outside, but his reasoning was that in case a run away vehicle was heading toward us he would have a better view and he would be able to grab my arm and sling my ass out in front of him so that I could take the brunt of the impact. Needless to say he is now my ex-husband, damn gringos!

 
At 2:32 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

A man who walks on the outside is a true gentleman. Your abuelita was a good woman to teach you that.

I'm still trying to get used to my boyfriend wanting to order for me in a restaurant. He says it's the gentleman's job, but it feels weird.

 
At 9:33 PM, Blogger A Margarita said...

I notice that too, when a man moves to the outside of the walk. It means he was raised right, and it makes me smile. Boys who walk on the outside of the sidewalk are keepers.

 
At 10:43 PM, Blogger Jezebella said...

I bet the gringo with the spiky hair is Southern.

 
At 1:26 AM, Blogger Snark Scribe said...

I also appreciate it when men know how to walk on stairs with a woman. Going downstairs he goes first, and going upstairs he follows (in case she falls).

 
At 11:27 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Snark Scribe- I was just about to comment that my boyfriend does just that, along with the walking on the outside thing! He's a true (Peruvian) gentleman. Definitely a keeper.

 
At 4:29 PM, Blogger GreenCanary said...

I have yet to find me an outside-part-of-the-sidewalk walker *sigh*

 
At 5:45 PM, Blogger keano said...

I've been reading your blogs for the past half a year or so, and I have to say that I find them hilarious. I only just set up my own blog so I thought that I'd send you a comment to let you know how great I find your frequent posts.Keep it up, cheers

 
At 7:05 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Current boyfriend (and I hope a keeper) walks on the outside, opens the car door, brings flowers, carries the heavy stuff, repairs things in my house (without being asked), brings the car to me when it's raining or too cold, went to Wal-Mart at midnight to buy and then install a new battery in my car.

Someone taught him right.

 
At 12:09 AM, Blogger Moxie said...

My Latino boyfriend with spiky hair walks on the outside and will jump around me so that I am not walking on the outside. He also washes my car and takes out the trash & recycling.

Ain't love grand?

 
At 7:13 PM, Blogger Leonesse said...

My exhub did those things. I did find it quaint and refreshing. He lit womens cigs, stood when they got up, walked on the outside, opened doors, etc. Always respected him for that. Too bad he also thought his wife should act like it was 1950 but still work while spending all her money on things and eventually drugs. Gentlemanly in actions but not a man in any other way.

New DH is the total opposite. Sometimes I miss the 'gentlemanly' things but wouldn't change him for the world!

 
At 1:23 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

thank you. I am a gringa and still I hope for this. I know it is a long shot, but I still hope that there are men out there that understand this.

s

 
At 10:45 AM, Blogger nxnfgfgh said...

hi ...
That detail that the woman was walking along the inside of the side walk and almost no gentleman used ... Only those who are very detailed and respectful and than use generic viagra ... lack of social manners

 
At 12:32 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

i picked an quotes that who let my nerve stand.
i don't think if this kind of weird but i love this word.

you are a man. When a man walks with a woman,


Neuse River News - Oriental NC

 

Post a Comment

<< Home