Gypsies

Gypsies annoy me. They are not nearly as cool as was depicted by animated cartoon THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTREDAME, where esmerelda is this pretty 20-something with a really cool outfit who dances around.

Most of them are 40 or older, larger, worn, hair-in-not-ok-places on their faces, and they can be MEAN when you either walk past them or nicely tell them you are not interested in their rosemary. Believe me, the snappy comments running through my mind in English would make their heads spin, but alas, I am not nearly as witty in Spanish as I am in English. Sarcasm does not translate well. When continually accosted in Granada (Yes, I will update about that later, promise) by the same three gypsies who had each tried to seduce me to their wizardry at least twice, I just figured out a very simple saying --- NO. SIEMPRE NO. which equates to NO ALWAYS NO. I probaly sound like I have no brain, but oh well. They left me alone for roughly 5 minutes. I do NOT want this false REGALO (gift) of rosemary you try to give me and then you grab my hand in an iron grip and try to tell me my fortune and my attempt to wriggle out of your witch-like grasp usually ends in you yelling at me, demanding money for NOTHING, or me fracturing a bone.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT TO ACTUALLY MAKE A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO LIVE OFF OF DOING THIS? I watch them STAND there and get denied time after time and I don't see the productivity or even the LOGIC behind thinking this is a good idea.

Granted, I realize I say these things while temporarily studying and living in one of the countries with the roughest economy at the present time, but COME ON. There is a difference between your everyday paro (unemployed) and your gypsy. The gypsy doesn't TRY to find a job or work. They are in their same corner every day shoving rosemary or their child at you, going OH WE NEED HELP. I'm sorry, but I see that giant package of foodstuffs or diapers or whatnot you just bought and are currently hiding under a pile of clothes and are monitoring out of the corner of your eye while harassing people on the street saying you need clothes and food. Stop teaching your crying child to use the plaza or a tree as a restroom and then use it as a display so people give you money.

I think that is what frustrates me more. It frustrated me in China too. DO NOT HAVE A CHILD if you cannot take care of him or her in a safe and decent manner. A child is not a prop in your giant con or scheme. Why is your child not in SCHOOL and instead sitting on the corner with you doing NOTHING but staring and holding her hand out? Again, perhaps there is absolutely no place your child can get an education for free. You may not have paperwork or the ability to sign your child up for shcool. But I feel like that should be a goal. Not a swanky job or a fabulous car or anything, but to support your child so they can go to school and be more than a drifter on the streets. There is so much potential to cultivate in a child, and I feel like its being wasted on rosemary and begging.

It is a lifestyle, and I realize that. You grow up in it, just like I grow up thinking that if you have put no effort towards bettering your life, than I will put no effort into helping you further that lifepath. I probably sound heinous now, and family, I want you to know I do have a heart and I am not a bad person. I just wish these people would help THEMSELVES more when they appear capable, just unwilling.

Who knows.