Since being back at the hostel I've had it pretty sweet. 7 days, my shared dorm room only once shared with a Ukrainian traveler, and he only here from 12:00 Noon until midnight when he left.
So I'm being spoiled.
But the common area's come under siege. An older Mexican man, perhaps 45 (?? I'm no judge of age) has taken to partying there every night. He travels with his Bluetooth speaker around his neck, playing "Vogue" by Madonna and "Like a Virgin", and a ton of other camp favorites from the late 90's and turn of the century. He's drunk on Mojitos and Daiquiris, It's loud and I'm unable to pay attention to anything but this, the worst of all possible 90's club "muzak".
We take turns picking songs, and I pick "Gay Bar" by Electric Six. It's a great song. He listens a moment - then looks at me, his face all lit up: "Are you Gay?"
I nip this in the bud. "NO". It's a hard no, I used to feel that I was offending people by being straight and so I'd be all coy, wishy-washy, but I know better now - fuck that - I'm fine with you being gay - you be fine with me being straight. I'm only gay if it's an older woman asking.
He doesn't like this, finds other company, a poor young Greek man with his girlfriend, and - I have to say - in this shared dorm-style housing - well - things could get awfully uncomfortable. And I'm grateful for the long spell of no shared roomies...