While living in a corrupt city like Cartagena, I make a daily decision whether I am going to perpetuate, ignore, or call out normalized bribery and fraud. I consider myself a good foreign resident. I pay my real estate, vehicle, and income taxes. I pick up my dogs’ poop and garbage in my neighborhood park and most of the time, I stop my car for pedestrians. However, somedays I am tested more than others, and all my civic duty and good-neighbor etiquette just go out the window. Recently, I was stopped by the traffic police or DATT ( Departamento Administrativo de Tránsito y Transportes ). I was in violation of the pico y placa law which states that cars with specific license plate numbers can only travel through the city on certain days and times. It is designed to help with traffic. As I drove to work, I completely forgot it was my car’s turn to stay home, so I was rightfully stopped. Here is when I had to make a decision: should I bribe the possibly corrupt officer,
Thanksgiving: DÃa de Acción de Gracias Cartagena is a chaotic city. It feels like the Wild West set in a cement jungle along the Caribbean Sea. The shoot- outs over education, infrastructure, environmental protection, water and waste management, safety, and fraud are normally won by both the outlaws and the sheriff. They are one and the same. Despite the opportunistic injustice, inequality, and greed, I still feel Cartagena’s grace and I am thankful. Here is a piece I wrote in 2012 that still rings true today: Giving Gracias In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are the top ten things I am thankful for while living in Cartagena… 10. Skin Cancer- Even though my skin is turning into leather and white spots are forming on my skin, I still love the happiness and energy the sun gives me. 9. My Students- Despite their erratic work ethic, they always have a smile on their faces and never complain if I forget something or have to cancel class. 8. The Ex-Pats- There is a good gr