Sweden was the first trip that I have taken where I was entirely alone for a big portion of the week. People asked me when I got back what I thought about traveling alone. I said that I absolutely loved it - you could go anywhere you wanted, if you walked into a museum and thought it was stupid you could walk right back out without wasting time wondering if other people liked it, there was no debate over what to do each day. I absolutely loved it....until dinner time. When you're traveling alone, you have to eat alone in restaurants. People can't ever hide their surprise when you say "Table for one," but you're in a different country so you suck it up and deal with it instead of eating at McDonalds all week.
I have always felt really awkward eating alone. I remember having an hour lunch break over tax-free weekend when I worked at Limited Too in High School and I wore my name tag to Subway because I didn't want people to think that I was just eating at Subway alone because I was a loser. Most of the time if I'm going to eat alone, I grab something and bring it home...so I can be a loser in private I guess. One time I went to Breadwinners in Dallas alone thinking it was a takeout place and when I realized it was a sit-down place I was too embarrassed to leave, so I sat alone feeling like all eyes were on me.
Today, I found the one place that I felt completely comfortable eating alone: Luby's! I went down to Hulen area around lunchtime to buy tickets for a sneak preview of 27 Dresses for several people and decided I wanted Luby's for lunch. So I just went inside, got my food, and sat by myself. I did not feel self-conscious at all! Maybe it helped that everyone else in there was either over 70 years old or by themselves too, but for the first time, I felt completely comfortable eating in a sit-down restaurant by myself. I think I need to go there a few more times before my next solo trip to train myself on eating alone. :)
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6 comments:
How was 27 Dresses? I am very anxious to see that.
It was soooo cute! Your typical sappy chick-flick: girl hates boy, girl starts to love boy, girl finds out boy did something stupid and hates boy again, and then boy fixes it just in time to roll the credits. Exactly what I enjoy the most. :)
You're more brave than me! I just can't do it. If I have to go to a place that is sit down, I would probably get take out. :)
Hey---can you help me get a better blog banner like you (and everyone else for that matter) has? I don't want to buy one...do you know how to do them yourself?
there was this great little bitty chinese buffet place on overton ridge called the abacus. i used to work for an orthopedic surgeon in that gray building next door... anywho... it was sosoooooo good! i used to go there like three times a week by MYSELF. at first i would bring a book and sit there and ACT like i was reading while eating. eventually... i didn't care.
Have you ever seen the Steve Martin movie "The Lonely Guy" (yes it's dumb but I have been known to like dumb movies)?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=iXyAdToiYSk
If I saw you alone in a restaurant I'd just assume that a) you didn't want to lead on the poor shlubs who asked you out, so you said no, b) you wanted some time to think about something important, c) you only know guys who are easily intimidated, involved in relationships, or not interested in women, or d) You are really an undercover narcotics officer investigating suspicious activities in this restaurant. Maybe I wouldn't think it odd at all (probably that last one).
I hardly ever go to a real restaurant (except for breakfast), but mostly because I can't afford it. When I do go out to a sit-down place alone, I bring a book, then they just think (know) I'm a nerd and (I hope) not just a pathetic loser who has no friends.
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