Do I really live here!?!

Warning: I do NOT mean for this post to scare anyone. We are fine, feel safe, and are happy here in Bolivia.

I guess you get used to things after a while. It isn't until you have someone new to share things with that you realize sometimes what a crazy world you live in. Such has been the case with Danielle, Jenny's cousin who has come to stay with us for a while. John and Jenny just got in yesterday, so I had the priveledge of taking Danielle around for the first 2 weeks of her stay here. It hasn't been until I was explaining how things work here that I realized how crazy Bolivia really can be sometimes.

Last night, we were walking home when a policeman rode up on his motorcycle. I found myself hiding from him. I was explaining to Danielle that I am technically illegal right now, although my papers are supposedly being processed in immigration right now. They can pick me up, and I'd be on the next plane to the States. But also, I hide from the police because they can't be trusted. They can pick you up for whatever, then you just bribe them to get out of the situation altogether. But, I'd just rather not find myself in that situation at all, so I avoid the police. Truth is, are many times in on the robberies, and get a slice of the deal. As a matter of fact, after we got our motorcycles stolen, I went to talk to a good friend about whether or not I should make a police report about the stolen bikes. He encouraged me to, but with extreme caution, "Don't let them into your house, don't let them know if you have anything of any value, and don't tell them any other information that isn't pertinent to the bikes being stolen."

Later, Drew met a man (I believe a security guard on his school campus) that told Drew if anything else gets stolen from our house to call him immediately, and he could probably get it back for us, if we pay him off. Apparently, the big ring of robbers is organized, so well, that even the police are in on it, and know where to go to get the stolen loot back. Ironic, right!?! Why don't the police do anything about it!?! It was too late for our bike, but we will remember that for the future I suppose. Its all about knowing people here, politics. Fortunately, we know people in high places here.

I guess I realized last night, isn't that kinda scary!?! If something does happen here, I don't know who to trust. Everyone can be bribed out of whatever situation, for good or bad. As I was beginning school here last August, I was told that if the police picked me up, I immediately call a certain person, and they could "get everything straightened out for me." It sounds like the mafia sometimes. Yikes.

As I was telling Danielle this last night, I realized that these situations are things you read about and never really think you would live in a place like this. But, we haven't had any problems, which I am thankful for. So, moral of the story is: If something were to happen, I've got my phone and my list of important phone numbers, which oddly enough, none of them are for the police.