Guess the Nationality

A guess is as good as a mile

For the last ten months, Bat and John tried to get to know one another, sometimes playing games, sometimes just sitting in a café, drinking coffee.

Now, they were just two men speaking freely about life in Outer Mongolia, how it had changed in just a short period of time, families, and what they would be doing in the future.

Because the capital city had an influx of foreigners, the two liked to play “Guess their nationality” with one another.

Bat was convinced all the non-European looking people were Mongols, but in reality, South Korea and China both had an enormous presence in the country. John had to guess their nationality.

On the other hand, plenty of non-Asians had also flooded the country: people from Russia, Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, England, Canada, United States, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

“Bat, what about that guy over there in the jeans with the two dogs?”

“Hmm. Not Russian because Russians don’t have dogs as pets. Canadian?” Bat said.

“Definitely not Russian. You’re right. The walk and dress aren’t right. Definitely Western European. It’s the walk. I’m saying German.”

“German? Really? Let me think about that.”

“Don’t think too long because he’s about ready to leave.”

“All right. Let me go ask him,” Bat said.

Bat approached the man, though he was cautious of the dogs who stood in front of him. John couldn’t hear the conversation, but because Bat used his hands when he talked, he telegraphed everything he said even if someone was completely deaf. Bat pointed to John, and then Bat and the man came back to John’s table.

“John, how are you?” the man asked.

“Jens. What’s going on, my friend? Bat and I were just playing a game. I told him you were German 100% guaranteed. He never asked how I could tell.”

“Is that right?” Jens said. He chuckled.

“Bat,” said Jens. “Just call John here a Canadian. I’m sure he won’t mind. Canadian, American, same thing. It’s a little game we Europeans play, too, though we can always pinpoint the Americans. Always.”

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