“Oh… uh…
yeah… uh… okay. I’ll come,” I said.
yeah… uh… okay. I’ll come,” I said.
I was hoping he was
going to just walk past the gate and stand in the road, but when he
kept walking I got nervous. I looked back at the group to see Matt
smiling encouragingly.
going to just walk past the gate and stand in the road, but when he
kept walking I got nervous. I looked back at the group to see Matt
smiling encouragingly.
“Good job, Joe!
Way to make a friend,” said his smile.
Way to make a friend,” said his smile.
“COME WITH ME!”
I mouthed to him.
I mouthed to him.
I wanted to trust
Robi, but who knows where gypsy kids take American tourists. Gypsies
have a horrible reputation, especially Romanian gypsies.
Robi, but who knows where gypsy kids take American tourists. Gypsies
have a horrible reputation, especially Romanian gypsies.
“You are playing
with gypsies, but they are really playing with you,” Stacy’s uncle
had said. “No, it is a good work you are doing, but gypsies have
been raised to lie, cheat, and steal. It is just part of their
culture. And Romanian gypsies are the worst.”
with gypsies, but they are really playing with you,” Stacy’s uncle
had said. “No, it is a good work you are doing, but gypsies have
been raised to lie, cheat, and steal. It is just part of their
culture. And Romanian gypsies are the worst.”
We followed Robi
through the “gypsy village.” As I said before, it wasn’t much.
There were three tiny homes. The courtyards were filled with
clucking chickens. In one I saw a woman taking down laundry. Her
gypsy skirt was bright and pink and red. Her blouse was dark and
stained. In front of another house was an old, wrinkled woman
plucking the feathers off a headless chicken. It still had its feet,
its claws attached. They were long and orange.
through the “gypsy village.” As I said before, it wasn’t much.
There were three tiny homes. The courtyards were filled with
clucking chickens. In one I saw a woman taking down laundry. Her
gypsy skirt was bright and pink and red. Her blouse was dark and
stained. In front of another house was an old, wrinkled woman
plucking the feathers off a headless chicken. It still had its feet,
its claws attached. They were long and orange.
Robi took us past
the houses where there was a river or really just a large stream. It
ran at the bottom of an embankment lined with dry grass. The river
was grey and murky. Just above where we were, there was a log in it,
holding back floating leaves and plastic bottles and trash. There
was brown foam building up.
the houses where there was a river or really just a large stream. It
ran at the bottom of an embankment lined with dry grass. The river
was grey and murky. Just above where we were, there was a log in it,
holding back floating leaves and plastic bottles and trash. There
was brown foam building up.
“Nadyon,” said
Robi again, putting his hands up as he did before.
Robi again, putting his hands up as he did before.
NOTE: This is probably not what he said. Most of the Romanian here is what I remember or what I made up because I couldn’t remember. Don’t say any of the following to a Romanian! They might look at you funny.
“Nadyon. Yes.
River. This is cool,” I said. “Thank you for showing us this.
Mul tsu mesk.”
River. This is cool,” I said. “Thank you for showing us this.
Mul tsu mesk.”
We stood there
uncomfortably, Robi leaning on his back foot, his arms folded. My
hands were in my pockets. Matt and I glanced around and tried to
think of something to say.
uncomfortably, Robi leaning on his back foot, his arms folded. My
hands were in my pockets. Matt and I glanced around and tried to
think of something to say.
I looked down
stream. The clouds were beautiful. It was a sunny day and the
clouds were big and suspended far above like giant billboards, like
nature’s Times Square. I stared at them, trying to be engaged in my
surroundings, trying for the sake of Robi to enjoy what he was
showing me, to show my gratitude for his small act of hospitality.
stream. The clouds were beautiful. It was a sunny day and the
clouds were big and suspended far above like giant billboards, like
nature’s Times Square. I stared at them, trying to be engaged in my
surroundings, trying for the sake of Robi to enjoy what he was
showing me, to show my gratitude for his small act of hospitality.
“Maedia,”
he said, pointing the bridge.
he said, pointing the bridge.
“Yes Maedia.
Bridge… maedia,” we repeated. We stood, feeling awkward.
Bridge… maedia,” we repeated. We stood, feeling awkward.
He motioned, “let’s
go,” and started waling toward the bridge. We followed obediently,
walking in silence. The bridge was a railroad bridge, just wide
enough for one train. I wondered what was beyond it, where he was
taking us.
go,” and started waling toward the bridge. We followed obediently,
walking in silence. The bridge was a railroad bridge, just wide
enough for one train. I wondered what was beyond it, where he was
taking us.
To be continued…
