At some point in Abidjan I realized I needed to shed off my "friends" but was not sure how to. They were useful in terms of keeping me company when I wanted to do things, but I realized that their company came at a price. First a monetary price and second at the expense of my fun. I need to say that my couchsurfing host and her family were exempt from what I am about to say. With them we had a very symbiotic relationship. It was with all the other miscellaneous people that I realized I was their benefactor. Yes, they would want to come out with me but they would never pay a bill. To make matters worse, posing is quite common in Abidjan. As such I would be the one paying the bills everywhere we went and people would not have the decency to finish their food or their very expensive drinks. It's considered cool to be wasteful. "I'm so rich that I order bottles of whisky in the club then decide i'm bored and leave the bottle almost full." It was getting on my last nerve.
One Friday one of these hanger-ons came to my place, we pregamed and went clubbing. On my tab, the girl decided to be moody. That was common too - be fun in the house then become an absolute party-pooper diva once at the club. I was tired! We went to a dance club called "Club pink." Her spirits lifted there and we had a fun night of dancing. Some French guy saw me about to take a shot and came to explain to me how to take tequila shots. I was irritated. I know how to take tequila shots, dummy! I could have written the book.
If Friday was an annoying night, Saturday was to be the epitome. The whole crowd came to pregame at my place - which I really didn't mind. They all only wanted to have a drink or two. When we went to the club though, they ordered a bottle (even though we had left many in the house) and only sipped a bit of it before deciding they were bored. I was livid. They had not realized that my French was improving. In the taxi, one of the girls was saying "Elle est tres riche!" "She's rich!" That is when I confirmed that they did in fact think of me as an ATM. At the next club I refused to pay a cent for the bottle they ordered - as I did not want any part of it. I told them I was leaving for another club. They were so surprised. I left them and their bottle and I went to Club 40. It was empty and I finally went home. I was happy I had made a statement. I have no idea how I became "that guy" - the one who is wining and dining 5 girls and getting absolutely nothing out of it.
Heeeeeee! Heeeee! I can laugh now.