Immersed in the World
“White wo-man!”
“White wo-man!”
I cringed. It could only be me the voice from behind was calling. The last time a man jogged to catch up with me on my walk from the white house to our dinghy in Clare Valley, not the presence of my toddler riding on my shoulders nor my declaration of love and commitment for my husband did anything to quell his lengthy proposition to please me like no other man could.
“White wo-man!”
The eyes of nearby villagers were on me and my two children, waiting to see what would unfold. The slap of feet pounding pavement grew louder. Goats bleated. Chickens pecked at bugs. I stopped walking and turned around.
The eyes of a dreadlocked man, barefoot and in a raggedy t-shirt and shorts, lit up when he saw my acknowledgment.
He stopped inside my invisible comfort bubble, panting, and smiled. “Good morning,” he said.
I steeled myself. “Good morning.”
“You have solar panels. I need a solar panel. Can you get me one?”
“A solar panel?” The surprise in my face and voice must have been something to see.
“Yeah, I live on the mountain,” he gestured behind him. The villagers came closer. “We have no power. You have solar panels, yeah? I have money. I can pay for it.”
My shock turned to instant admiration. He wanted to talk business! My heart swelled. He would be my ally.
This post has been entered in the Grantourismo Home-Away Holiday Rentals travel blogging competition hosted by Grantourismo Travel and Home-Away Holiday Rentals.
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Having spent some time on St Vincent as a white woman…..your post made me smile and visualize beautiful days on black sand beaches!
Thanks Patty, I’m glad you enjoyed it! I’d love to hear more about your time on St. Vincent! If you care to share, email me at njdurbin (at) gmail (dot) com.
Great post. I can’t even imagine packing up the kids and going somewhere so remote and different. Hawaii’s great fun, but of course, within the comfort zone of most Americans. Good luck with the contest and your book sounds fascinating! – Aida
P.S. – thanks you for your comment on my blog!
Hi Aida, I’ve found it’s almost easier to travel with kids at my side. *Almost* always, people have great affection and respect for children.
Loved this story! Absolutely loved it! Of course you read our Diani Beach story… how it would have been nice if someone there just wanted to chat or wanted to talk any kind of business, instead of selling souvenirs, massages and hookers. So did you sell him a solar panel?!
Thanks for your entry and best of luck in this month’s competition!
You really had me at ‘lengthy proposition’!
Did you end up selling him a solar panel?
Good luck with the comp!
Happy to hear you liked it, Lara and Corinne! Unfortunately, we never did get him a solar panel. We needed all of ours and they were too expensive to buy from overseas.
Cute story! It’s funny how as travelers we often learn to expect the worst of people, and so great when the people prove us wrong!
Hi Laura! Yes, I love it when a negative first impression is proven wrong! Many, many good people in the world.
Wow, you definitely know how to hook someone in with your words. Awesome post. I’m intrigued and fascinated as to where this leads. And I’m really glad I stumbled onto your blog.
- Anthony
http://www.vincentbakery.wordpress.com
Hi Anthony, Thank you, I’m so glad you liked the post and were hooked! I enjoyed the photos on your blog. We shopped at the same markets on St Vincent and even bought fish from the same gentleman in the fish market! He looks just the same.