Females versus males on sense of direction, clearly men come up on top. Although, I have a problem with this. Perhaps “problem” isn’t the best way of putting it. I see wholes here in this stereotype.
I will not deny that my father and uncle both are incredible at knowing where they are, where they going and should a wrong turn or detour become part of their path it never becomes a hurdle and they are always back on track shortly–without asking for directions.
I also cannot deny that my mother and sister, both can get lost no matter where they are. They can be in a mall standing in front of a directory and have no clue where they are, where they are going and place a detour in their way and lord almighty they’ll be gone for days. My mother, having taken over the wheel from my dad on a road trip once drove the family around Washington D.C. for two hours while my father slept in the back of our van. Let’s just say it was not pretty when he woke up.
I am not saying that all men have a great sense of direction although I will say that my boyfriend also is quite good at getting me un-lost. The thing is, I feel like I didn’t used to get as lost until I met him. Now, please don’t get me wrong, I’m saying I had the best sense of direction before. There have been times when my best friend and I have been lost in the newer parts of our hometown; knowing we were close to our destination but stuck in some neighborhood, hearing the Boulevard close by. Before I met my boyfriend I did occasionally find myself wandering Miami, not really knowing where, although I was always able to get myself back on track.
Now, I get lost and I’m a wreck. I loose all sense of where I am, where I’m going. I’m completely confused. I call him and give him coordinates and ask to help me get back on track. What the hell has happened to my sense of direction? Was it even there to begin with?
Here are two conflicting situations: when I went to Europe I was fifteen and had never been before. I was with my cousin who was 19 at the time. She and I went gallivanting around Florence and Rome on our own. We were in Rome one night and the subways were closed and it was late. Well, my cousin, who ironcially lives there now, had no clue how to get back to where we were staying. We must have done circles around the center for about an hour. Finally, I stepped in and pointed us in the right direction, with a simple, “remember we passed this street,” and “I remember this building.” and “we turned right coming so it must be a left now.” Slowly but surely we made our way back. That was ten years ago.
Today, I was driving to a mall I HAD BEEN TO! I knew the area, although it was downtown it’s not as confusing as ROME! Well, I was given directions, written to me neatly, by a native of the city. Off I went to shop away. Fifteen minutes into my drive I was on the other side of town and getting on the highway. I called my boyfriend, who had predicted this would happen and he guided me STREET by STREET to the mall. I felt like a moron.
So I ask you am I just dependent on the boyfriend? Has my sense of direction become victim to lack of use? What has happened to my sense of direction? Has he been sucking my sense of direction out of me?
Tags: boyfriend, Driving, Europe, Florence, lost, males vs. females, men and women, relationships, Rome, sense of direction, sex
