16387: Laleau: lying

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: NLaleau@aol.com
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Dear Miguel, Lying has cost you a lot... me too. It's like what a Merida
tour
guide said about Americans--"They are nice, big kids," referring to the
naivete
of taking things at face value. Haitians rarely make that mistake. My
husband
taught me when talking to anyone, I should remember all their relatives by
blood or marriage, their friends and enemies,  and what they could do with
what
I said. Needless to say, you don't say much of importance to anybody in
such an
environment. When we moved to NYC in 1968, we found ourselves whispering,
walking up Fifth Avenue...  I have gotten burned in and for Haiti, and now
I
make sure who gets my contributions of money or time. I used to think I
knew,
but would hear later what a fool I was for giving or lending anything to
certain others. -- nancy laleau