Yel Kaye – Travel Blog, Writing and Photography

I have no problem with anyone’s sexual lifestyles. That is, as long as people are consensual, honest and take relatively good precaution to avoid spreading diseases around this not-very-healthy world of ours, I think people should just do whatever makes them happy. The sex lives of others should be their own business.

That said, something does irk me: the stereotype of the easy traveler.

Now, I certainly don’t want to tell any traveling free spirits out there to change their habits. Go forth. Have fun. Try to hit the 7/7.

However, in my day to day life as a foreigner living semi-permanently abroad, the idea that foreign girls are easy gets a bit annoying.

Exhibit one:

Israeli backpacker: “Come to my dorm room… it’s your last night in Panama, don’t you want to make the most of it?”

Right, because making the most of a trip to Panama requires banging a sleazy Israeli guy on a creaky bunkbed surrounded by 7 other strangers. Don’t think so.

Exhibit two:

Mexican waiter: “Come over to my apartment… you’re only in San Cristobal a few days so you should be bad.”

Sigh. Don’t think so either.

Here’s the thing: I’m not on vacation. I’m not off having a wild time abroad before going back to Canada and settling down with a husband, minivan, white-picket fence and 1.8 children.

This is my life, at least for the foreseeable future. I may be somewhat transient, but I basically live in Latin America right now.

Besides, I’ve never really gotten the idea that people should be good at home, but wild abroad. (Yeah, nothing gets me randier than the prospect of getting knocked up anonymously by someone who would then take years to track down.)

Anyways, the reason the stereotype of the easy female foreigner gets annoying is just that: I live here. If I meet someone I like, I’d like to, you know, date them. But often the idea that foreign girls are easy means that people expect a fling, and not someone to get to know. This makes it sometimes difficult to date people (both locals and foreigners) in towns that are so foreigner-heavy.

Maybe this means that I’m just getting old, and jealous of all the free-spirits romping around here right out of college. Whatever, they should have fun before heading back home… I’ll still be here next month.