Not the end, but all that's happened so far.
Mike I.
I think I'm getting most of what you wrote in Spanish (but I'd love a clearer translation). I won't debate with anyone my honesty. If you don't believe it, it's because you don't want to. I'm totally fine with that.
Like anything in life you really have to experience "it" before making any judgments on "it". But here on a message board where courage is created by keystroke, even the littlest mouse can squeak loud ? ones that would be crushed-like-grape in a sit down.
You can characterize what I did as stupid, and I wouldn't argue that point, I?d debate it, but not argue. However, I think one of the benefits in treating everyone with respect is that I'm afforded the luxury of not ever having to look over my shoulder.
There are exceptions to all rules of course, but I've found that Dominicans in particular, when they are shown respect (especially from someone who outwardly has no gain in doing so) will return that respect many times over. I'd rather live my life believing that, right or wrong. I'm not afraid of making mistakes.
If I smile and say hello to someone in Boston, it will normally go ignored, and more often returned with a scowl (eventually there will be an entire chapter dedicated to the #504 from Watertown to Boston that I begrudgingly rode on heavy snow or rain days). When I do that same ?hello? here, a return greeting and a smile are knee-jerk reactions, and I could have their entire life story inside of 20 minutes if I so please. The reality is that inside of an hour I could be at their house eating dinner and meeting three generations of the family if I really wanted to. The people make the country; the country doesn?t make the people.
That in essence is my belief in the spirit of the people in this country. I've been living "it" long enough to sincerely believe it to be true. If I'm wrong perhaps I'll be taught so, but until such time I'll be richer living the way I do. Again, I'm not afraid of making mistakes - calculated that is.
I made some stupid mistakes on Sunday, but going into the barrio wasn?t one of them.
You can debate my approach, and that?s precisely why it?s being written the way it is. Believe me, none of you have come up with anything I haven?t thought through 10 times over. Last night was my first good night sleep ? thank you batting cages and grande?s.
Tony C, the paying for justice idea is enticing, but I don?t have that Policia friend, and although a valuable asset I?m sure, I?d prefer to keep it that way. And pray tell what does ?honor? have to do with this? ?Honor? thy neighbor?s possessions? You lost me on that one. If you still feel I?m the same scum as him (in your book as you say), keep it to yourself and I?ll get the message that way - or I?ll pick up your book when it comes out.
John S. The Policia horse brigade is still ?active?. They sleep in the shaded part, smack dab in the middle of the high traffic area, near the beer stand.
Back to Mike I ? You?re right on. This one was certainly planned ? or at least cased out beforehand, perhaps months in advance if my hunch is right.
Again, I?ve done the park thing 25 times minimum. Half of those times I?ve brought my camera. I?m sure this scum has seen me before, even I recognize familiar faces climbing up the stairs and over to the park on occasion.
I normally ride up and down the length of the park 5 or 6 times (or after I?ve collected 5 or 6 kites in my spokes, gears or around my neck ? whichever comes first) before I stop to read and catch a breeze. I look for a good spot with some sun and shade. I rarely sit in the same place twice. I don?t do this for safety purposes; I just bike until I want a break.
My hunch and the camera: I have a long zoom lens that is certainly an eye-catcher for scum. I?m far more deliberate in my presence with the camera. I?m cognizant of every movement around me. I assume I?m getting lined up at all times.
Trust me when I tell you that I?m not an orphaned fawn in the woods; I?m street smart, and now so more than ever. I also have a history of catching bike thieves - 2 for 3 ? so I?ve never hesitated to give chase (the only miss I wasn?t there for).
In the case from Sunday, I noticed the scum in my peripheral, but I foolishly kept my head down assuming he was trying to sell me something (?No thanks, I have a bunch of knives at home already?). NOT a calculated mistake at all, dumb, dumb, dumb.
One of the small advantages of playing the ?no comprende? gringo is that when you are able to understand more than you can speak, you get information that ?they? don?t think you?re getting. My students are beginning to catch on now as some of their Reporte de Deficiencia?s quote them verbatim in Spanish.
On Sunday at the ?gringo-with-the-nice-bike-at-the-colmado? fiesta, there were some references to a ?maquina, machina? combined with the theatrics of taking a picture. It then popped into my head that my previous photographic exploits in the park had not only been noticed, but also gauged and remembered. I photographed a wedding party in this barrio from my perch in the park many months ago.
Back to the Barrio
Timex, you?re right on Time! #3, then #1.
I return home after my relatively successful recovery mission and gear up; money and regalos (8x12 photos of Pedro from my own personal collection) and hop a cab back to the jungle. I said I?d be back at 4, but I decided against that and went straight back, it?s either now or never.
I tell my cabbie ? someone I?m friendly with and have known for about 5 months ? the story. He?s adamant about telling the Policia. I?m telling him no, no, no. As we get to the beginning of the park off of Churchill, he stops to talk to a cop, I yell at him repeatedly to keep going, he relents. When we get to the entrance of the barrio I tell him to wait 10 or 15 minutes and if I?m not back by then, go get the cop, he agrees and I bound off into the jungle.
The crowd is gone now, and so are most of the smiles ? now replaced with some uneasy disbelief. That?s fine; I?ve polished the needed Spanish on the ride over and I?m not here to hang around and play with kids anymore. I just want Tony to hold up his end of the deal, and everyone gets what they want.
La jefa is now running a card game in an alley (the whole place is alleys really) and wants me to play. I?m not feeling as confident (nor the love [sic]) as I was before, so I say I?ll just watch thanks and back into a position where I can see everyone.
By now Tony?s been alerted that the ?loco gringo? is back. Clearly he?s been sleeping off the morning?s excitement and is in an indifferent mood. I cut to the chase and tell him if you return everything I?ll give you $500 now, and $500 later, or you get nothing. His reaction gives me no clear indication, and I?m not confident. I get the hint that this isn?t going to be as easy as I?d wished. He leaves and I?m unsure what to think next.
I?m back to reasoning with the old women playing cards, relentlessly explaining that the $ is far more valuable than what?s left in my bag. I?ve seemingly got them on my side for what it?s worth (not much really) but I feel a little safer asking questions about the card game, joking with them, showing them and one very curious kid the Pedro pictures.
In about 20 minutes time Tony returns with a bag containing my backpack (almost forgotten in all of this but a huge score ? if for only memento purposes ? this thing has been everywhere with me) and my hat.
No tools, no pump, no watch. Basically nothing shiny ? who the hell stuck me up, a raccoon?
I?m pissed and I get right into his face (I have 20 pounds and 5 inches on him, he's got his shirt off so nothing to hide - no cuchillo) and tell him about it in probably the worst Spanish I?ve attempted since ?Co?o? the neighbors dog; ?You just lost a thousand pesos dipshit, you get nothing now? and I begin to walk out.
The older women start yelling at him and he?s dazed from what just happened. I look over my shoulder and give him a disgusted look, stop, turn around and head back to try and leave on a good note. I slip the little curious one two pictures of Pedro and exchange the Dominican handshake ? the fist smash. He?s ear to ear and I?m out of here. I then relent and give Tony $200 and the hands start coming out like I?m a change machine. ?Adios?.
When I get near the top of the barrio (the part by the road, near the park) I realize the cabby has been waiting for me and it?s way past 10 minutes. Luckily ? for whom I don?t know ? he?s found some shade and is sound asleep. ?Diablo co?o!?
Ok, last time:
Now that we are completely caught up to today, what would you do?
1.) Get that stiff drink (did that) and get over it (clearly having trouble with this part).
2.) Go to the policia and go through that retarded verbal gymnastics routine.
3.) ?
p.s. Pretend this is algebra, no answers without showing your work.
