tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post4882676859138226969..comments2023-10-16T07:54:55.480-03:00Comments on The Misplaced Americans: Do I have a target on my forehead?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-71576416142754630172009-03-12T00:45:00.000-03:002009-03-12T00:45:00.000-03:00Wow! That's terrible. We went camping for the ...Wow! That's terrible. We went camping for the weekend a few years ago & came home to find out our house had been robbed. The worst part (for me) was that my hubby had talked me into making a little video with him um, at night... and it was STOLEN! We never did find out who robbed us, so for a long time I would look funny at just about everyone and wonder if they've "seen" me. Having someone go into your house and help themselves to what's yours leaves you feeling so violated!Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146733661303357665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-64072954670918385542009-03-09T14:48:00.000-03:002009-03-09T14:48:00.000-03:00I know an american family that lived in brasil and...I know an american family that lived in brasil and were robbed under their noses for a couple of years by their beloved housekeeper/nanny. They had trusted her and treated her like family. It was disgusting. And yes, they sought the full measure of justice.<BR/><BR/>Maybe stealing is somehow not as wrong in the brazillian mind. Maybe when they are trusted they feel entitled, instead of obligated. <BR/><BR/>My dad is a college prof and he claims that students from certain countries are pervasive cheaters because in their code of morality, helping a friend is higher than not cheating.<BR/><BR/>I am not sure it justifies anything, but it is interesting to consider that different cultures have different mindsets, even about basic right and wrong.<BR/><BR/>PS, I like your blogAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-56252280355784771792009-02-23T14:40:00.000-03:002009-02-23T14:40:00.000-03:00Holy cow! I had no idea it was so bad. I can't e...Holy cow! I had no idea it was so bad. I can't even imagine how you must feel. All I can say is move...;) I like it here.Momnerdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15210200258895345395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-14211503956750238122009-02-23T04:46:00.000-03:002009-02-23T04:46:00.000-03:00WOW. I can't wait to back read and find out what t...WOW. I can't wait to back read and find out what the heck you're doing there because I certainly didn't think it was all beaches. Brazil is notorious for being crime-ridden.<BR/><BR/>I think your feeling of dirtiness is perfectly expected. I'd feel the same way. And money lost! I'd be so mad, too. We're going through the same thing except that it's our house that's robbing us. (I know, totally not even close. I meant the losing money part was the same.)<BR/><BR/>So, ya, I'm not surprised you didn't write a happy post.<BR/><BR/>I know that when horrible things happen to me, I feel better when I can make some sense of them, when I can understand the WHY. You grew up in an entirely different land where justice and ethics are revered. If you grew up in Brazil, in a culture of violence and immorality, it might not seem like such a big deal to rob someone who is better off than you. You would have a warped idea of what's right and who's in charge, probably?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-45351648110517300452009-02-21T15:28:00.000-03:002009-02-21T15:28:00.000-03:00The lockers in the temple in Guadalajara, Mexico h...The lockers in the temple in Guadalajara, Mexico have signs that say please don't leave your belongings unlocked. It's sad.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for reminding me that every thief has a family. That's a very mature alternative to being the seething mad that you deserve to be.janelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18428923613535036325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-82435252025604904722009-02-21T13:52:00.000-03:002009-02-21T13:52:00.000-03:00Talk about feeling violated in your own home. I'd ...Talk about feeling violated in your own home. I'd be spitting nails.Annette Lyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12493583432919249814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-49384128732158468902009-02-21T13:41:00.000-03:002009-02-21T13:41:00.000-03:00I think you have every right to be mad! That is i...I think you have every right to be mad! That is infuriating.Debbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17480046958714954128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-66167089451045867202009-02-21T13:30:00.000-03:002009-02-21T13:30:00.000-03:00Ugh. I can't even imagine how violated you feel.....Ugh. I can't even imagine how violated you feel.....and have felt so many times in the past. I am so sorry. I totally understand you thinking about his family, and thinking him the "victim," then being LIVID for feeling that way.<BR/><BR/>That really sucks.Wonder Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01286006629537084653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-29411253089588937472009-02-21T04:23:00.000-03:002009-02-21T04:23:00.000-03:00Oh my gosh. That is really, really crappy. I'm s...Oh my gosh. That is really, really crappy. I'm so sorry.elesahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17933840731880198785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-29629447793324673742009-02-21T02:53:00.000-03:002009-02-21T02:53:00.000-03:00you have every right to vent about this one. In f...you have every right to vent about this one. In fact, you have every right to keep on venting for as long as you need to. We don't mind. <BR/><BR/>I am so sorry. I really am. I hope things work out for you. And I hope it doesn't happen again.Rachel Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14426183215612921121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-70181810939200842232009-02-20T22:44:00.000-03:002009-02-20T22:44:00.000-03:00Man, that is rotten. When we lived in LA we were ...Man, that is rotten. When we lived in LA we were robbed multiple times and it is so emotionally exhausting. But we never knew the crook. That would be rough. The guy needs to have some consequences, and I think it can still be handled with the mercy you want to lean toward. Good luck!Kazzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04411131948607000725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-7637542941517464232009-02-20T19:26:00.000-03:002009-02-20T19:26:00.000-03:00I am so sorry! Our house has been broken in to, cr...I am so sorry! Our house has been broken in to, credit cards stolen, checks forged, and I've had items stolen from my desk by students (leather jacket, digital camera, etc.) but it's ALWAYS worse when it's someone you know. And yet I understand your impulse for mercy.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and if it's because you're American, it's not because you're an American living in Brazil because all our craziness happened right here in the good ole thieving US of A.Melanie Jacobsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02489615939726209573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-29304543454036035882009-02-20T18:55:00.000-03:002009-02-20T18:55:00.000-03:00Oh, and maybe you should change your comment state...Oh, and maybe you should change your comment statement to "___ reasons to punch someone in the face."Kristina P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16144488639100871226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-26121976737966788552009-02-20T17:11:00.000-03:002009-02-20T17:11:00.000-03:00I'm so sorry. The worst part has to be that you w...I'm so sorry. The worst part has to be that you were deceived by someone who you knew. It would be easier to take from a total stranger. I don't understand why people feel it is their right to take something that belongs to someone else. It's just Evil! I hope you get your money back...but more important I hope you get your feeling of safety back. I'm so so sorry!nikkicrumpethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06127473424859610429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-2691398729066566572009-02-20T16:49:00.000-03:002009-02-20T16:49:00.000-03:00well, that put the kabash on my "perfect world" th...well, that put the kabash on my "perfect world" theory. i'm with deb - i am so sorry that you are feeling violated and betrayed. hugging you across continents...johnnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09389055072790961312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-49934824823766556092009-02-20T16:30:00.000-03:002009-02-20T16:30:00.000-03:00Just stopping by to say have a great weekend!Just stopping by to say have a great weekend!Shaunahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13780614646408617149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-88886050340126174322009-02-20T16:18:00.000-03:002009-02-20T16:18:00.000-03:00I am so sorry. I know how violated you must feel....I am so sorry. I know how violated you must feel. Please know there are people out here thinking of you and praying for you every day.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05505898243894635217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-32792580611432566382009-02-20T15:20:00.000-03:002009-02-20T15:20:00.000-03:00I am so sorry! I don't know why some people are t...I am so sorry! I don't know why some people are targeted and others are not. That I know of, in the twelve years my family lived internationally, they were only robbed twice. Once was in the first couple months they were outside of the states. At night, with the four small kids in bed, by a guy with a machete. My older brother, who was five at the time, woke up and ran past the guy to get to my parents. Freaky. The other time my mom was robbed at gun point outside of the grocery store. Turned out the guy was actually robbing for someone else who was abusing him. So sad.<BR/><BR/>Life is tough. On both sides.janaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00051039427781716343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-24404769015742577512009-02-20T13:39:00.000-03:002009-02-20T13:39:00.000-03:00Horrible. I tend to feel like you do, though and ...Horrible. I tend to feel like you do, though and worry what pursuing justice will do to his family. So hard.<BR/><BR/>I had about 100 dollars stolen at a church activity in Romania. My companion and I had taken a youth group down to a city that was an hour away by fast train, and it left us stranded there. We ended up scrounging enough money to take the slow train home. Awful. Sometimes I think it's just too great of a temptation for the ones who live with nothing. It probably is because you are a "rich" American.Lara Neveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08351324888724799014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-61285665459003924592009-02-20T13:14:00.000-03:002009-02-20T13:14:00.000-03:00That makes me mad, too. What the heck?!I'm so sor...That makes me mad, too. What the heck?!<BR/><BR/>I'm so sorry - mainly for the loss of you sense of well being. I'd guess it will come back, but it'll never be the same will it.Randihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11851220760568533019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-10600213323665179052009-02-20T13:00:00.000-03:002009-02-20T13:00:00.000-03:00That's awful. I'm so sorry. I can see why you fe...That's awful. I'm so sorry. I can see why you feel bad about it. It would probably be much easier if you could just be livid and not be tortured as well. I hope you feel better soon.Lady of Perpetual Chaoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01434516025772250275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-59275179835587404032009-02-20T12:35:00.000-03:002009-02-20T12:35:00.000-03:00I have been robbed, several times. Mostly when I w...I have been robbed, several times. Mostly when I was younger and we lived in a ghetto neighborhood in California. Our house was broken into while we were sleeping.<BR/><BR/>My purse was stolen at my last job, where I worked with at-risk youth. By a PARENT. <BR/><BR/>It does make you feel angry and victimized. <BR/><BR/>I agree that there is mercy and justice, and you will know how to handle this situation. <BR/><BR/>I hope you have a better weekend!Kristina P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16144488639100871226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-27917806817920025472009-02-20T12:08:00.000-03:002009-02-20T12:08:00.000-03:00Oooooooo, I am mad for you! I would feel the same...Oooooooo, I am mad for you! I would feel the same way, girl. I'm sure your gardener will be shocked and dismayed because "that's just what people do to get by," but you are right about the victim thing. Perhaps he IS a victim of poverty and pressure, but he made a criminal choice, a choice that left you a victim and him a recipient of justice. I'm mostly sorry about the way it will affect your outlook on everyone you meet now. It's too bad. I'm glad you are all safe, though, and some armed creep wasn't crawling through your house while you slept.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11486223394459963669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-15840337558106563272009-02-20T11:48:00.000-03:002009-02-20T11:48:00.000-03:00That is awful. Sorry you are having to go through...That is awful. Sorry you are having to go through this. And you are probably the type of person that if he had come to you with a need, would have given to him anyway. Why can't people understand that? Ask...don't take. Now he and his family will pay the consequences for his actions. Sad.Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14567226474349340416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1486575117120309203.post-1405797227768391732009-02-20T10:58:00.000-03:002009-02-20T10:58:00.000-03:00WHAT THE...? I am so sorry!WHAT THE...? I am so sorry!Vanessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13528051723436947891noreply@blogger.com