Date #9: Dukem Ethiopian

After being dry humped by a late night cat feeder (see Date #8) my enthusiasm for dating had waned dramatically. I spent a few weeks becoming a bitter Betty with a slight prejudice towards cat owners and lumpy middle aged men. A brief love affair with ice cream helped, as well as endless hours of listening to Corrine Bailey Rae. I was almost completely ready to throw in the towel when I met “Super-hot foreign guy.”

I had just finished a meeting when he sat near me at Busboys and Poets. I noticed a dimple, bulging biceps and to my utter surprise…Spanish notes.  After making continuous eye contact and exchanging smiles, I decided to stop staring at him like a serial killer and introduced myself. I learned “Super-hot...” was in town visiting friends but lived abroad teaching English. Sadly, he only had a few more nights in the District, so I boldly invited him out that evening for a VIP tour of D.C. He agreed and after a little flirtatious banter, we parted ways to prepare for our night out on the town.

We started with dinner and drinks at Dukem Ethiopian restaurant on U Street. Since we both were on self-proclaimed health kicks, we opted to share the highly recommended vegetarian platter -- an array of colorful dishes from greens and yellow lentils to a tomato salad sparked with jalapenos. In true Ethiopian tradition, patrons are encouraged to eat with their fingers and to my delight; “Super-hot” took this fact in stride. He grabbed his injera (a crepe like bread served with every meal) and expertly scooped each tantalizing bite with ease. As he licked each morsel from his fingers, I had to remind myself I was a good God-fearing Christian woman as I banished the many naughty thoughts and inappropriate jokes from my mind.

After dinner, we decided to take a stroll as I filled him in on the history of U Street. Conversation was easy and flowed as we talked about life, and future aspirations. As we walked and talked, he shared his philosophy on dating and it really resonated with me. He explained that, “Dating is like a dance with each dancer moving to their own beat. The key was to find a partner willing to dance to your rhythm.” 

I was finding his beat to be hypnotic and exotic as he shared tales of his life in a distant land. We laughed often and  when he flashed that dimple my way…I was sooooo ready to salsa! However, my good girl tendencies prevailed as always.  We ended the night with a quick tour of Chinatown and chicken and mumbo sauce for the journey home. Our time together was brief but it served to remind me that great guys still exist…you just may need a passport to find them!

Lessons Learned

1. Making the first move is a great move. There’s nothing wrong with a girl going for what she wants!

2. International love affairs are fun but fleeting. Be prepared for the inevitable goodbye.

3. Every person you meet is in your life for a reason, season, or lifetime. We never know how long so pay attention to the life lessons each person brings.