Day 46

I was on my way to the soccer game when the guys on the motorcycles all gestured to me, pointing towards the Plaza Lusitania. I saw Richard there, waving to me. I went over, meeting him outside his soon-to-open internet and phone shop. He had installed 6 computers on a wall, a main computer for himself or whoever worked the main desk, and several fans and, I guess, a telephone or two. This weekend he was installing a satellite dish, which I was banking on as a possible wireless system to link the laptop to. Richard brought me inside and, in our wonderful language of half-Spanish and half-English - him trying his English out on me and I my Spanish on him – he told me that they had gotten the satellite dish erected this weekend when the owner of the building told him they couldn’t put it on the building. He claimed she wanted $1000US a month to put the dish anywhere on the building. My first thought was to ask Richard why this problem hadn’t been dealt with long before they put all the equipment in the shop, but my half-language skills weren’t that good, and I didn’t want to burst his enthusiasm. He told me that they would have to move the whole shop, and they were moving it to an empty space on our street, next to the French deli we like. I spoke with Mel about it afterwards at Gri-Gri’s, and we were on the same page – we hope he has a wireless signal, and we can sit in Gri-Gri’s (or me at home) and use it. We can only hope.

Soccer was low key tonight – the usual Italians, Me and Mel, and a bunch of local kids. It is frustrating on many levels – I am improving a bit, but still feel like I get in the way of the Europeans; the kids just plain get in the way and, most importantly, Cyril and the Haitians don’t show any more. After the game Mel told me that Cyril had started a Wednesday night game with the Haitians. Jean / Juan had told me earlier in the day that Cyril was very upset with the Italians, so this made sense. I am torn – I am just happy to play with anyone at this point, but I agree with Cyril – even though I don’t understand the language I can tell that the Italians have been treating the Haitians poorly. However, I’ve gotten into the rhythm of the Monday – Friday games, and I don’t want to play on Wednesday also. Plus Cyril will be leaving soon for a month. I think I’ll go looking for a basketball game.