Almost Killed

No, not me.

But, the title got your attention, didn't it?

I know it did.

I took off this afternoon on my motorcycle, heading back to Rebo Cafe to get some work done on the computer.  I had trouble starting it at the orphanage, so I was a bit nervous leaving, not sure whether I could get it to go.

I couldn't.

I tried to kick start it, but I'm pathetically weak, so that didn't work.  On one try my foot slipped, and I now have a small cut and a massive bruise on my right ankle.  Fortunately, the kind guard helped me out by setting the choke in the right spot.

I headed right out of the parking lot, which is the normal way home.  But, when I got the big intersection, I had to turn left and cross traffic.  I drove slightly into traffic, ready to turn left, but I got nervous (and no, this is not when people almost died), and turned back around.  I get nervous partly because I'm never confident I won't stall it in the middle of traffic with a big ol' truck coming at me.  I also get nervous because everyone--literally everyone--is staring at the white woman on the motorcycle.  If I goof up, I get laughed at.  Lots.  And I don't like that.

I now had to take a different way home.  I pretty much knew where to go--keep driving north and west until I hit Rte. National #1.  Got there no problem.  Traffic was heavy, but not HEAVY.  Nothing I hadn't driven in before.

I approached my turn (left--crossing traffic again).  In the middle of the road (I'd say the left lane, but lanes don't exist).  Ready to turn.  I timed it almost perfectly.  Almost.  At the last minute a truck approached.  I panicked.

When I panic I forget where the brakes are.  I was only in 1st gear, but I rev the motor, 1st gear sounds dangerous!  Instead of braking, I revved the engine.  I was terrified of stalling, but instead I shot out towards three innocent ladies trying to cross the road.  They scattered.  I apologized profusely as I flew through them. One helpful guy yelled out, "Slowly!  Slowly!"  Yea, like I didn't know that.

Those poor ladies almost lost their lives to me today.  Okay.  Not really.  But, it makes for a good story, eh?

I adverted disaster on that road crossing, but I was not home yet.  Not by a long shot.

I needed air in my rear tire.  I knew this before I left, but I waited until on the way back.  I didn't really understand the directions that Gabriel--the tutor at the orphanage--gave me on where to find some guys who could fill up the tire, but I thought I could find some help on my own.  I did.  But, I was apprehensive much of the time.

I stopped by some guys who had helped me yesterday, and I made it known that I needed air in my tire.  One guy offered to show me where, so I let him drive me (I admit to being shook up after the earlier incident).  He was a horrible driver!  He seriously scared me.

He took me to the one place I didn't want to be--some guys not far away who always shout horrible things at me in English.  They scare me a bit.  We arrived, and I felt as if they were pretty much laughing at me, but I didn't know why.

My concern grew when they took the tube out of the back tire.  They pumped it up and kept washing it in water.  Then they'd deflate it, pump it up, and wash it again.  I worried that they were going to charge me an arm and a leg for this.  Whatever "this" was.

It finally dawned on me that they were looking for a hole.  I explained that there wasn't a hole.  I just needed air.  There were able to finish in minutes once I could communicate clearly what I needed.  Then came time to pay.  $2!  That's it--$2 American.  Relief.

I then drove the other guy back toward his friends and paid him $2 for his help.  For all my worry, it only cost me $4.  Thank God.

Since I am typing this tonight, you all know I arrived home safely.

Guess I just need to keep practicing!