Oooh this is a good one. Most prominently, I've given up my independence, but not without a fight. Living as a single (blonde, attractive) woman in El Salvador (and in other parts of Latin America) is not easy. I'm headstrong, stubborn, and impatient. I don't like to wait for other people to be ready to hang out with me, or find time to hang out with me, or just merely accompany me to the market. ...But have found it's sometimes necessary to do things that way.
I've grown more bold in the last few months, venturing out on my own downtown to run errands, taking the bus to the other side of the city to see friends, rather than waiting for someone else to help me do these things. But, this odesn't come without a price. I run the risk of assaults, robberies, etc. when I try to be as independent as is possible in the US.
I'm working on finding a balance. I do still sometimes ask for a (male) friend to accompany me downtown or elsewhere, but have also decided that if I'm to live in solidarity, I must run the same risks as everyone else ...
I also don't get to drive very much anymore. I love driving.
No comments:
Post a Comment