26 January 2013

This last week, we were out driving around the town, probably  going to purchase something we needed, and if I was a swearing man, I  would swear that they were out to kill me.  I was driving down one street, going as fast as traffic, then all of a sudden, on front of me, across two lanes of traffic comes a car, stopping directly in front of us.  We both, me and the car next to me, slammed on the brakes and barely saved our car and life.

Then we were driving, a few minutes later, and a car was coming directly toward us,  same lane,  light ablaze and heading for us, going quite fast.  I didn't know where to go, just panicked, and you can imagine how Bonnie reacted. Finally, like the game of "chicken" they swerved off to the left of us before we "met."

Then this other driver pulled out right in from of us on our way back to our apartment.  This driving  down here is: you have to expect the  unexpected and then prepare for it, for it will probably happen.

As we were talking to our new land lord/lady where we will be moving next week, she is from New York, but is a Dominican.  She was raised up there so has some semblance of sanity about driving.  We were talking about the driving and she explained the way they drive like a demolition derby.  People don't learn to drive down here.  There is no test about driving.  They just go into a place, plop down some money and get a drivers license.

I can just see it now.  Some young kid, or old kid, or anyone is out shopping.  The pick up some candy, put a few apples in their cart, purchase some butter, and even some ice cream, and the run over to the aisle and pick up a drivers license and put it into their cart.  Then he remembers to buy one for little Tommy.  "But mommy, Tommy is only three years old."  "That is OK, if we but his license now, we will save money, for think what the prices will be when he turns ten."  They go to the check out and pay $100 pesos for the privilege of driving, and of course another $100 for little Tommy.  They run down to the corner shop, purchase a 1936 Ford with dents, scrapes, and scratches, and square wheels, and start drive their groceries home.  Of course they have to figure out where the gas pedal is and the brake, but after that, what else is there to learn?  They just go, drive on whatever side of the street they want, what is that green/red light?

That explains a lot about the drivers down here.  That is probably why I often  think someone is out to kill me.  Of course they will kill me and Bonnie would be snatched out of harms way by those angels that are always around her.

 Here is a picture of a cute little girl that just left on her mission.  She is 21 and always came to my and Bonnie's classes.  She cried to realize that we would not be here when she comes home.  Her dad is a regional authority and she is such a wonderful young lady.  Mom borrowed her violin a few times in the past few months.