A young boy approached me in a back street two days ago asking for money. I had my day pack on and was carrying my purse loosely in my right hand. I had been to the bank and in it was everything. Everything: all my money, my credit card, my debit card, both my passports. I have no idea what he was saying to me, but it very possibly could have been, “Be careful how you carry your valuables, no matter how safe you feel.” And with that he reached out and grabbed my purse. Fortunately it was lightly wrapped around my wrist and there was resistance to his tug. Also, he was young, perhaps 12-14, inexperienced and probably a little nervous about his attempted theft. A few other words were exchanged between us and he ran off. What a lesson for me! I shouldn't be so careless. I was robbed once in Guatemala and it's not a fun experience. Puts a dent in the day that's for sure.
So I came home afterward and worked on a more secure way to carry my money and cards. I stitched a pocket in my bra and pinned a sock which had lost its mate inside my jeans. I also have a travel pouch which is meant to wear around my neck but I usually put it around my waist and tuck both the strap and the pouch under my pants and shirt. The only money I keep in my purse is small amounts for immediate spending – food, taxi, souvenirs, etc.
When my landlady overcharged me for my utilities the 2nd month in a row it was really the final straw for me. I have such a hard time with that. The headaches were bad at that time but became worse afterwards. I decided first to just leave the apartment where I'm living but the stress of trying to find a new place was too much. I knew I didn't have the energy for it, the headaches and ringing ear problem was getting worse, and I just decided to cut to the chase.
Had that not happened I probably would have stayed on. I really don't want my entire experience to be colored by that event though it definitely determined my decision. But just like the purse-snatching incident it was probably meant to be. I was having a difficult time finding happiness here. It had become such hard work and such stress.
But, then there are the children. If only I could overlook all the other stresses and just focus on the kids. Though I felt ineffective and inadequate in Vardenis, my experience in Sodk was very different. Unfortunately, I was paying my own taxi fare there and back ($5) and art materials, perhaps easily another $3 each week. That doesn't sound like much but it starts putting a dent in my Peace Corps allowance and I was only going one day a week. And I didn't really have the energy to go twice a week. 25 kiddoes all vying for my attention and speaking jibberish was great fun and also very tiring.
Well, I hope I left a good mark and not too much disappointment. I know the children of Sodk were wild about me and our time together. I brought them color from the outside world. When I would approach the barren-looking school the doors would burst open and out would flood the children in my club, all trying to hold my hand as we walked to the school. Each week I would cover a different topic: Mother's Day, Spring, color words. After 15 minutes of something like a language lesson I would pull out the art supplies - crayons, markers, glue, pictures to color and blank paper - and off we would go. Like one of those TV commercials suddenly the room would begin to fill with colorful flowers, houses painted red, purple and pink, multi-colored birds, green trees, bright yellow suns. "Look, Ms Lora, Look!" "Oh, that's beautiful, beautiful," I would tell them. I miss them . . . .
Nevertheless, I'm on the road again, for better or for worse. I read Walt Whitman's “The Open Road” this morning and felt revitalized and “okay.” What I love to do is travel, wander, sample, taste, meet, float by, observe, contemplate, not go too deeply. A dilettante as Steven would say.
