Skip to content

Hassan said, "I'm a Kuwaiti exchange student; my dad's an…

“Hassan said, "I'm a Kuwaiti exchange student; my dad's an oil baron." Colin shook his head, "Too obvious. I'm a Spaniard. A refugee. My parents were murdered by Basque separatists." "I don't know if Basque is a thing or a person and neither will they, so no. Okay, I just got to America from…” quote by John Green
Download Open image
““Hassan said, "I'm a Kuwaiti exchange student; my dad's an oil baron." Colin shook his head, "Too obvious. I'm a Spaniard. A refugee. My parents were murdered by Basque separatists." "I don't know if Basque is a thing or a person and neither will they, so no. Okay, I just got to America from Honduras. My name is Miguel. My parents made a fortune in bananas, and you are my bodyguard, because the banana workers' union wants me dead." Colin shot back, "That's good, but you don't speak Spanish. Okay, I was abducted by Eskimos in the Yukon Terr-no, that's crap. We're cousins from France visiting the United States for the first time. It's out high school graduation trip." "That's boring, but we're out of time. I'm the English speaker?" asked Hassan. "Yeah, fine." "Okay, they're coming," said Hassan. "What's your name?" "Pierre." "Okay. I'm Salinger, pronounced SalinZHAY." … "He has Tourette's?" asked Katrina. "MERDE!" (Shit) shouted Colin. "Yes," said Hassan excitedly. "same word both language, like hemorrhoid. That one we learned yesterday because Pierre had the fire in his bottom. He has Toorettes. And the hemorrhoid. But, is good boy. "Ne dis pas que j'ai des hemorroides! Je n'ai pas d'hemorroide," (Don't say I have hemorrhoids! I don't have hemorrhoids.) Colin shouted, at once trying to continue the game and get Hassan on to a different topic. Hassan looked at Colin, nodded knowingly, and then told Katrina, "He just said that your face, it is beautiful like the hemorrhoid.””

John Green

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Characters fabricate absurd identities to impress, revealing insecurity and the desire for acceptance.

In simple terms: People often lie about themselves to fit in.

Key Takeaway

Be authentic; avoid unnecessary deception.

Themes

identity insecurity humor

Mood

playful ironic

Type

dialogue satire

When to use this quote

  • first meetings
  • online dating
  • team introductions
  • role‑playing games

Key Concepts

self‑presentation social dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we feel compelled to embellish?
  • How can honesty improve relationships?
A Different Perspective

Exaggerated stories can backfire and damage trust.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by John Green

Explore all 3,614 John Green quotes

More First time quotes

Browse all 9,309 First time quotes