I’m sitting in a little outdoor café that I come to a lot to make use of the free wireless internet they provide. It’s beautiful and sunny today but I have to say that the dumb car alarm that keeps going off every 30 seconds nearby is getting to be a bit much. I’m not sure what the problem is, but it’s been doing that for the past half hour or so. I realize I live in the land of car alarms and most days that’s fine. Today however....
Yep...there it goes again...
I was here the other day and it seems I made some friends (and at least one enemy). As I was working on my computer and eating lunch, I noticed five little shoe-shiner guys come onto the deck area. They were looking to shine shoes of the people in the restaurant. I would have been happy to have my shoes shined, but I wasn’t wearing shinable shoes. I also didn’t have any change or coins on me or I would have given them something. So I smiled at them and told them sorry, but no.
For the rest of the afternoon, I kept seeing them on the corner across the street. It seemed to be home base. They’d disappear for awhile and then show up there again...then disappear...then come back. I decided that, even if I didn’t have shoes to shine, I should do something to help them out. So I grabbed the waiter and ordered five french fries to go. I think the waiter thought I was a bit crazy but whatever. The fries showed up and I ran them across the street and gave them to the guys.
So, yea...that was a nice thing. I had the warm fuzzies and all.
Of course it didn’t last.
A bit later another fellow came up to my table. He was older and I think mentally handicapped. He didn’t look like he was a street person and I found out later that he’s well known in the area and that he actually has a fairly well-off family. Anyhow, I was distracted and honestly...I didn’t have any change. So, I politely said no to his request for money and went back to work.
Well...it seemed I annoyed him! He proceeded to go to every table and as a part of his request for money, he also preached a little mini-sermon on how terrible the gringo in the back was. I couldn’t hear what he was saying but I could see him motioning to me and pointing.
When he finally left the restaurant he stopped again on the street and proceed to (loudly) tell me again what a horrible person I was (I'm pretty sure I was sworn at). Everyone in the restaurant started laughing (I was laughing too...it was kind of funny) and I just gave them a "what can you do" look.
You can’t keep everyone happy all the time. These are the moments that keep you humble.
Today I’m actually back in that same restaurant and my little buddies just finished joining me for another round of papa fritas. I have a feeling this may become a weekly thing. But that’s okay. I’m not sure how the restaurant feels about it exactly, but they’ll get over it. I also need to find a better place to buy the french fries. They’re not exactly cheap here.
At any rate, I found out today that they’re five brothers ranging from age 5 to age 12. At least that’s what they told me. For sure three of them are brothers...I can see the resemblance. I’m not as sure about the other two.
They say they live with their parents (or at least mom) but come down here everyday to work (shine shoes). They’re very cute little guys...especially the youngest. He fell off his chair and was a bit upset about it. So I stuck my head under the table and asked if he was okay or if he was going to die. That got a laugh (that’s funny to the guys at the home too for some reason).
Right now the five of them are "helping" a Mitsubishi SUV parallel park in front of the restaurant. Maybe they’ll get lucky and the driver will give them a Boliviano (20 cents or so). It makes you smile, but it’s also makes you sad. Little guys like that shouldn’t be out here "working" trying to earn enough for supper. Maybe for now they’re going back their house to sleep at night, but it won’t be long before they just stay on the streets. I’ve heard the same story a hundred times.
So please pray for them. The youngest is Fernando and the middle one is Christian. The other three had unpronounceable names from my perspective, but God knows who you’re talking about....
Yep...there it goes again...
I was here the other day and it seems I made some friends (and at least one enemy). As I was working on my computer and eating lunch, I noticed five little shoe-shiner guys come onto the deck area. They were looking to shine shoes of the people in the restaurant. I would have been happy to have my shoes shined, but I wasn’t wearing shinable shoes. I also didn’t have any change or coins on me or I would have given them something. So I smiled at them and told them sorry, but no.
For the rest of the afternoon, I kept seeing them on the corner across the street. It seemed to be home base. They’d disappear for awhile and then show up there again...then disappear...then come back. I decided that, even if I didn’t have shoes to shine, I should do something to help them out. So I grabbed the waiter and ordered five french fries to go. I think the waiter thought I was a bit crazy but whatever. The fries showed up and I ran them across the street and gave them to the guys.
So, yea...that was a nice thing. I had the warm fuzzies and all.
Of course it didn’t last.
A bit later another fellow came up to my table. He was older and I think mentally handicapped. He didn’t look like he was a street person and I found out later that he’s well known in the area and that he actually has a fairly well-off family. Anyhow, I was distracted and honestly...I didn’t have any change. So, I politely said no to his request for money and went back to work.
Well...it seemed I annoyed him! He proceeded to go to every table and as a part of his request for money, he also preached a little mini-sermon on how terrible the gringo in the back was. I couldn’t hear what he was saying but I could see him motioning to me and pointing.
When he finally left the restaurant he stopped again on the street and proceed to (loudly) tell me again what a horrible person I was (I'm pretty sure I was sworn at). Everyone in the restaurant started laughing (I was laughing too...it was kind of funny) and I just gave them a "what can you do" look.
You can’t keep everyone happy all the time. These are the moments that keep you humble.
Today I’m actually back in that same restaurant and my little buddies just finished joining me for another round of papa fritas. I have a feeling this may become a weekly thing. But that’s okay. I’m not sure how the restaurant feels about it exactly, but they’ll get over it. I also need to find a better place to buy the french fries. They’re not exactly cheap here.
At any rate, I found out today that they’re five brothers ranging from age 5 to age 12. At least that’s what they told me. For sure three of them are brothers...I can see the resemblance. I’m not as sure about the other two.
They say they live with their parents (or at least mom) but come down here everyday to work (shine shoes). They’re very cute little guys...especially the youngest. He fell off his chair and was a bit upset about it. So I stuck my head under the table and asked if he was okay or if he was going to die. That got a laugh (that’s funny to the guys at the home too for some reason).
Right now the five of them are "helping" a Mitsubishi SUV parallel park in front of the restaurant. Maybe they’ll get lucky and the driver will give them a Boliviano (20 cents or so). It makes you smile, but it’s also makes you sad. Little guys like that shouldn’t be out here "working" trying to earn enough for supper. Maybe for now they’re going back their house to sleep at night, but it won’t be long before they just stay on the streets. I’ve heard the same story a hundred times.
So please pray for them. The youngest is Fernando and the middle one is Christian. The other three had unpronounceable names from my perspective, but God knows who you’re talking about....
