I met a 'new local' out on the town.

One afternoon for happy hour I 

went to the Bonanza bar and met Fidel.  

Fidel was born in Cuba, but he came to Ajijic from Georgia USA.  He arrived, homeless, penniless, shoeless and sleeping in the local park.  He was sitting at the bar having a beer when I arrived.  Note, he is wearing a shirt with the logo of the restaurant/bar.  Said he's been working at the restaurant for 3 months now.  They hired him as a dishwasher.  The bartender - Trino - bought him his pair of shoes.  The owner of the restaurant found him an apartment and also pays for it.  (I would be very curious to see his lodgings)  He says he is very happy, gets paid well, and has no plans to leave.  Ever.  He is now a Cook and got a raise.  (he did mention "it sucks being in that hot kitchen for 11 hrs each day.")  I tell you this because everyone loves a good human interest story.  I bought him a beer, and me 3 rums.  Then I paid my tab with a massive tip added for Trino.  (to help cover shoe costs)  Lastly I wandered down the Malecon to enjoy the breeze and cool evening temps.  I sat and visited with Fidel about an hour and wish now that I had listened more and asked better questions.  Because as I write this I’m wondering so much about Fidel and his story.  IF I see him again in the next three months I’ll buy him another beer and ask better questions, take better notes and pass along what I learn.  *What questions do YOU have for Fidel?

Note: Fidel’s English is perfect. He is very soft spoken and fluent in both languages.  I was recently asked how is my Spanish?  Well, my Spanish is weak and halting kind of like how Tarzan talked in the movies.  (Me Skip, where bank, got milk?)  It's about like my English.  I never know the right word in either language.  But in Spanish i get the gender wrong, the time wrong, and pronounce it so poorly that I get lots of blank stares.  It's OK though.  I never allow anyone's inability to understand interfere with my ability to talk.  As for asking directions, forget about it, I cant ever understand their answer.  My Spanish is a lot like how my mom Lill talked to foreigners.  If they dont understand, say it again SLOWER.  If that does not solve it, say it a third time much S.L.O.W.E.R and LOUDER.  When inevitably that also does not work, you smile a lot and wave your hands in the universal sign for "forget about it."  Fortunately most people here speak better English than my Spanish.  So i get by. Barely.

My questions:  

-where were your shoes?  Did you 'lose' them, or throw them away?

-how did you get here?  -why here?   

Fidel carefully studies his email.

Update: I ran into Fidel yesterday on his day off.  I asked about the why here, how questions and got some answers.  Apparently being Cuban born to Mexican parents does not get you US citizenship or a green card for Georgia?  Fidel explained that he had an 'incident' involving a DUI and some police that took his papers and deported him to Guadalajara.  He spent three months homeless in Guadalajara looking for work and living in a park.  He managed to get a bus ride to Ajijic and then lived here in another second park, shoeless, jobless, and homeless.  Then he got his break as a dishwasher.  I was so spellbound I forgot to ask about the shoes.  (Imagine being the manager of the restaurant and interviewing Fidel after his being homeless six months, and no shoes.)

I guess I'll have to go back and hang out at the bar drinking every damn day till I see Fidel again to ask about the shoes.  

It's a dirty job, but I'm gonna do it.       -Skip