World Cup 2010: A short course in flirting
For 25 pounds, a social anthropologist provides a flirting and walking tour of London, to help folks find a date 鈥� even during World Cup 2010.
Flirting can happen anytime, even during the World Cup soccer tournament.
Newscom
London
Does the global focus on the World Cup have to wreck romance? Or prevent you from finding a date?
No and no, says Jean Smith, a social anthropologist and expert on the art of flirting. 鈥淣othing, and I repeat nothing, should stand in the way of flirting,鈥� she emphasizes. And winks.
It鈥檚 evening, there is a pause between World Cup games, and Smith, a bubbly blond Iowan turned Londoner, has gathered a group of 20 odd tourists cum students for her unique tour and lesson.
Welcome to the 鈥淔lirting and Walking Tour of London,鈥� where, for 25 pounds ($38), you too can learn where to pick up the ladies, chat up the guys, and generally flirt your way across the capital city 鈥� even in the middle of the World Cup.
IN PICTURES: Top 2010 World Cup controversies and 10 World Cup players to watch
鈥淚ts all about timing this month,鈥� explains Smith, tossing her blond locks. 鈥淚f you were to try and flirt in middle of an important play that won鈥檛 work. No,鈥� she shakes her head. 鈥淎nd I would not recommend flirting with someone whose team is losing, either. No. Not ideal.鈥�
But, she continues, upbeat, as is her wont, 鈥溾�n the upside, it鈥檚 a month in which many people are in good moods, and feeling passionate, and this can all transfer into their interactions with, well, with you.鈥�
Not to mention, she adds, with everyone talking about the same topic, it鈥檚 easier to start up conversations: 鈥淲hat about those North Koreans?鈥� 鈥淚 feel so sorry for that British goalie,鈥� or, if you really know nothing at all, even 鈥淲ho are you rooting for?鈥� will do.
鈥淚t's not actually important what you say. It鈥檚 not about having an intellectual conversation,鈥� she repeats over and again, like a mantra. 鈥淚t's just to get you communicating.鈥�
The eclectic group, made up of men and women of all ages, hits a mixture of regular tourist spots, like the National Portrait gallery (鈥淲e are not, and I repeat, not, here to see the art,鈥� stresses Smith) to a Tesco鈥檚 supermarket in Covent Gardens (鈥淭ake a basket with you so you don't look like a stalker,鈥� she kindly advises) 鈥� all along practicing, practicing.
鈥淚鈥檓 having a World Cup party, do you think this cheese would be nice?鈥� Daniel, a young lawyer in a tie, asks some unsuspecting shopper in the dairy section. The two 鈥� who would have thought? 鈥� get to discussing gouda. Smith, from a distance, smiles.
鈥淧ut your cue card away,鈥� she gently suggests to Jennifer, a pretty computer programmer in a mini skirt.
鈥淒o you know where the water is?鈥� Dave, a tall black pub bouncer, says to a harried red head. She shrugs in the direction of the water.
鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid of rejection,鈥� councils Smith. 鈥淭here are a million reasons you might get rejected, and most of them have nothing to do with you鈥ust keep going. Keep practicing!鈥� And, she adds, handing out another pearl of wisdom, don鈥檛 make statements or ask "yes or no" questions. 鈥淣ext time, try more open ended questions,鈥� she tells Dave. 鈥淚 mean, where do you go from 鈥榳here are the raspberries?鈥欌��
By the end of the two hour tour, having gone from galleries to supermarkets to book stores, to bus stations to bars, its time for a World Cup match. 鈥淟ets get out of here,鈥� Alex, a consultant suggests to Mindy, a teacher, in the group. 鈥淢aybe go catch the game?鈥�
IN PICTURES: Top 2010 World Cup controversies and 10 World Cup players to watch
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