Familiar Faces

My days are always brightened by coming across someone who recognizes me as I run from place to place in my daily activities. I'm not talking about friends or classmates (although that, of course, is always nice); I'm talking about those who would have otherwise been "strangers," yet have somehow taken an interest in me. I'm talking about the men who work in the "panaderías" (bakeries) which I never seem to be able to resist as I walk to the bus stop; the woman who works in the coffee shop where I like to study; the people serving food in the university cafeteria; the man who sold me two electric adapters once and continues to greet me daily as I walk past his shop; and even this homeless man whom I see sporadically and always shouts in English (no matter what time of day), "Good morning, Teacher!" ["Good morning, Teacher!" seems to be an English phrase that everyone here knows, although very few people know its true meaning]. I think that being a foreigner (especially in Colombia) makes me seem interesting and vulnerable at the same time, and I've realized how much people have taken to me when they've made comments like, "It seemed so long since you'd been here that I was worried you had left for your country!" or "I saved you some of the fresh potato bread because I know how much you love it!" or "I didn't see you yesterday; where were you?" I feel safer walking down my usual routes knowing that these locals are looking out for me.

This is one of those "friendly faces" (although she didn't want to look directly at the camera, so you get a profile shot of her face!). I don't even know her name, but she always puts down her knitting to smile and wave at me as I walk past the spot where she sells fruits, plants, bracelets, and hats.