I Stand Out Here Like I Did in India

 Well, so does my mom.

I think we're the only 2 blondes I've actually seen here (we can get into the fact that I am not technically a real blonde later. What's important is that's how I look).

We look like this:

                

And since most everyone else here look like these beautiful people:

We tend to out ourselves as Americans. Which, unfortunately, is not a sensation that I get to experience often. Being the only "Westerner." Because it is good for you to feel at times like the odd man out, to get to understand that feeling, and realize that there is a great big world out there that doesn't revolve around you or your culture. So yes, good....but at the same time, you're a target for all the scams.

Yesterday we were in this pretty little plaza, and a guy speaking great English (which is unusual here--because the lack of American/European influence means it's been wonderfully untouched) approached us, because--hair, hat, we're tourists, and asked if we wanted a photo.

He then went on to give us the history of the plaza, oldest church, 375 years old, old convent, etc...and then worked his way into explaining that he had an emerald shop, and that emeralds were THE thing to buy in Colombia. He had taken a great photo of us, so I played along and went to his shop. 

And I mean, the emeralds were beautiful. But the first thing he had me put on cost $1,600 US dollars, which is WAY out of this girl's budget. I'm like, I'm sorry, I don't have that kind of money.

At which point he looked me with disbelief and disgust and took off to find other blonde tourists, if possible.

So yeah. I get that being from the US means I must be rich. And in comparative terms, I suppose I am. 

But I still can't buy his emeralds.

And he did take a good photo.

The difference in the cost of things is staggering here...I haven't had a meal that cost me more than $15 and the best cocktail hasn't been more than $5. My dad bought a bottle of Glenfiddich for $30! You could get so used to it. And it's hard to distance yourself from what you think things ought to cost to what they actually do.

So there was, in fact, some discussion at breakfast this morning over what the driver we hired to take us to beaches today ought to actually be paid, with some in the "we should pay him more because it's still cheap for us as Americans and it's great for him" camp and some in the "yes but we're actually screwing ourselves because paying less is still a lot for him" camp, and both are valid.

Either way, I'm just happy to be spending a lot less than for a week in Colombia than I will for 2 days in New York next week.