Hi! Watch Your Back!
September 23, 2007
Venezuela is a land of contradictions. Nearly every person we have met has told us how friendly the people are. Venezuelans are unmatched for their outgoing nature and willingness to make new friends. In the same breath they will then proceed to tell us not to trust anyone because we are likely to be robbed, mugged, carjacked, or worse. We have been told not to talk to strangers, not to hail cabs from the street corner, and not to go out after dark. If the people are so friendly, why must we be so paranoid?
We have been told by the school that our building was selected because it is secure; there is an armed guard on duty twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. Everyone we talk to however, warns us that these guards are not to be trusted. If they know you are on vacation, they will tell their friends who will come and clean you out. Of course no one actually seems to know anyone to whom this has happened, but everyone is convinced that it is the truth.
The people are friendly, but we shouldn’t talk to them; the guards will protect us, but we can’t trust them. Is it just me, or is that logic just a little twisted? I’ve been trying to get my head around it and I can’t quite make it happen.
For our part we have listened to no one and have done things as we like. We took a trip to the beach two weeks ago. We rode a cab to the bus station (we found it on the corner and climbed in), located the bus to Puerto Cabello and climbed aboard (buses are dangerous things filled with dangerous people). After about an hour we left the bus and found another cab for a thirty minute ride to the beach.
Once at the beach we met a British ex-pat and spent the day with him (he’s not a stranger anymore). Zachary took to him like glue so he couldn’t be all bad. We had a great time playing in the waves, soaking up the sun, and drinking beer. Our new friend, Robert, cooked us dinner and loaded us into a car with his friend Manual for the hour long trip back to Valencia (what, are we crazy?). It was an extraordinary day. We look forward to going back to that beach to hang out with our new friends.
Having traveled to just about every major city in North America and a few elsewhere, I think I can say that Valencia and Venezuela are not as bad as people think. So why are they so paranoid? This seems to be a recurring theme. The South Africans seemed paranoid, except that everyone we met actually knew at least one person who had been beaten, mugged, robbed, or murdered. That makes it more real. In Valencia, it is always an aunt’s friend or a cousin’s ex-boyfriend’s sister or some other non-connection that probably doesn’t even exist. If we listened, we would stay home a lot.
In the meantime, we have convinced the school to give us a new apartment. No, that’s not quite right; Carrie has convinced the school to give us a new apartment. It is actually two apartments put together. That means we will have four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living areas, two kitchens, and two balconies. It is on the seventh floor (the top floor) along with two other units, both of which are occupied by teachers at our school. It is a five minute walk to work rather than a thirty minute walk. We are pretty stoked and are now awaiting the good word to move in.
In other news; we have just returned from Miami where we spent five fun filled days at the Hyatt (on the school’s dime) while we put our visas in order. The actual visa work took only about four hours spread over three days so we spent some quality time at the beach and shopping. We bought a bunch of things we need, but that are really expensive to get here. It was fun even if it was exhausting. Carrie’s mom came down as well so Zman got to hang with Grandma for long stretches. It was a great sabbatical. Coming back here was hard when I realized that we do not plan on being back in the States for another ten months.
Not much else to say really; still waiting on a car, working every day, trying to stay out of trouble. It sounds a lot like any other time of my life.
MJR
Venezuela is a land of contradictions. Nearly every person we have met has told us how friendly the people are. Venezuelans are unmatched for their outgoing nature and willingness to make new friends. In the same breath they will then proceed to tell us not to trust anyone because we are likely to be robbed, mugged, carjacked, or worse. We have been told not to talk to strangers, not to hail cabs from the street corner, and not to go out after dark. If the people are so friendly, why must we be so paranoid?
We have been told by the school that our building was selected because it is secure; there is an armed guard on duty twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. Everyone we talk to however, warns us that these guards are not to be trusted. If they know you are on vacation, they will tell their friends who will come and clean you out. Of course no one actually seems to know anyone to whom this has happened, but everyone is convinced that it is the truth.
The people are friendly, but we shouldn’t talk to them; the guards will protect us, but we can’t trust them. Is it just me, or is that logic just a little twisted? I’ve been trying to get my head around it and I can’t quite make it happen.
For our part we have listened to no one and have done things as we like. We took a trip to the beach two weeks ago. We rode a cab to the bus station (we found it on the corner and climbed in), located the bus to Puerto Cabello and climbed aboard (buses are dangerous things filled with dangerous people). After about an hour we left the bus and found another cab for a thirty minute ride to the beach.
Once at the beach we met a British ex-pat and spent the day with him (he’s not a stranger anymore). Zachary took to him like glue so he couldn’t be all bad. We had a great time playing in the waves, soaking up the sun, and drinking beer. Our new friend, Robert, cooked us dinner and loaded us into a car with his friend Manual for the hour long trip back to Valencia (what, are we crazy?). It was an extraordinary day. We look forward to going back to that beach to hang out with our new friends.
Having traveled to just about every major city in North America and a few elsewhere, I think I can say that Valencia and Venezuela are not as bad as people think. So why are they so paranoid? This seems to be a recurring theme. The South Africans seemed paranoid, except that everyone we met actually knew at least one person who had been beaten, mugged, robbed, or murdered. That makes it more real. In Valencia, it is always an aunt’s friend or a cousin’s ex-boyfriend’s sister or some other non-connection that probably doesn’t even exist. If we listened, we would stay home a lot.
In the meantime, we have convinced the school to give us a new apartment. No, that’s not quite right; Carrie has convinced the school to give us a new apartment. It is actually two apartments put together. That means we will have four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two living areas, two kitchens, and two balconies. It is on the seventh floor (the top floor) along with two other units, both of which are occupied by teachers at our school. It is a five minute walk to work rather than a thirty minute walk. We are pretty stoked and are now awaiting the good word to move in.
In other news; we have just returned from Miami where we spent five fun filled days at the Hyatt (on the school’s dime) while we put our visas in order. The actual visa work took only about four hours spread over three days so we spent some quality time at the beach and shopping. We bought a bunch of things we need, but that are really expensive to get here. It was fun even if it was exhausting. Carrie’s mom came down as well so Zman got to hang with Grandma for long stretches. It was a great sabbatical. Coming back here was hard when I realized that we do not plan on being back in the States for another ten months.
Not much else to say really; still waiting on a car, working every day, trying to stay out of trouble. It sounds a lot like any other time of my life.
MJR
posted by Bronx to Timbuktu at 1:04 AM
1 Comments:
Dear Ones,
Seems to me you listen to everyone and then make your own choices! And more power and enjoyment to you all.
I had a great time in Miami. I loved being with the three of you and meeting your co-workers, I loved sharing breakfast with Zachary and riding lots of public transportation and finding the back staircase in the Hyatt -- eleven floors down! As for Miami itself, it was truly an experience, a bit of a modern new but foreign country. I must go back some era just to see how the future turns out.
Good luck with the new apartment, sure sounds like fun and an invitation to all you can arrive!
Take care,
Love,
Linda/Mom
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