Waiting for Elaine

I’m standing in front of the Bank of Saint Lucia, grateful that my bank errand is complete. Banking is an activity much like what we experienced pre-ATM. They have ATM machines, although they are not always working – and when they are, many times there are lines twenty persons deep. The grocery store, Super J, is the only place I’ve found that honors ATM cards for purchases. This has made budgeting a challenge for me. It’s not, “do I have enough in my account?” Although my boys call me “cheap”, I prefer to think of myself as frugile – I know how to save money. No, it isn’t about how much money is in my account, it’s “how much cash will I need until the next time I get to either Castries or Vieux Fort?” Getting cash is at least a half day chore, so planning is critical.

The lines inside the bank? Are you old enough to remember when we used to do our banking exclusively at the bank? If not, use your imagination – banks were always busy. Fridays? One never went to the bank on Friday unless it was an absolute necessity. There were two reasons: First, Friday is payday, second, everyone needed enough cash to get through the weekend. Take that visual memory and times it by a factor of two. Why? Well, because the bank is not only where you keep your money, but where people pay their bills. . . the electric bill, the cell phone bill, the water bill. They are all paid at the bank. So, bring a good book, pull up a seat, and prepare to settle in. They will call you when it’s your turn. So, needless to say, I was more than grateful to see Naomi, Bea’s daughter there. She works at the bank and allowed me to bypass the system. I was in and out so quickly it put a smile on my face.

Now I’m waiting for Elaine, one of the EC78 volunteers. She called this morning to see how I am. I told her I was on my way to Castries. She explained she is meeting a few of the volunteers for lunch near the cinema. We are going to take the bus together to a place called Rituals. I can use a couple of relaxing hours with fellow PCVs.

As I wait, I hear a whisper in my ear, “you are so beautiful”. I look over and there is a man with dirty clothes, rotting teeth and emitting an unpleasant odor. Lovely. I’m polite and say “thank you”. He says, “I’ve never had a white woman before.” I respond, “and you aren’t going to have one now either”. He asks me if I’m married and I tell him I’m waiting for my husband. That doesn’t discourage him. I move a few inches away from him. The order coming from him is disturbing. He moves in closer and says, “Do you cheat?” I don’t answer. This banter goes on for two or three minutes until I finally say, “You are annoying me, please move on”. He moves back and says, “God will reward you in heaven because you don’t cheat.” He was persistent, but my rudeness is what was needed for him to get the message and move on.

Yuck! Is this it? This is what is attracted to me? It can’t get worse than this . . . I hope. There is Elaine. What a welcome sight.