The "Faces of Strangers: #18" Story

Radomir

It was an ordinary day.  Just bought the breakfast croissants, place them in the car and headed to Orient Village to take some photos for my slide show of my latest vacation to St. Martin.  As I rounded the corner I saw a red security car parked closeby with a rather large man sitting in the driver's seat.  Started to walk past the car when someone asked, "Good day for photos?"  I walked over to the car and saw some of the biggest and most muscular arms I had ever seen.  This fellow was built to be a security guard I thought.  We began a conversation and I found out his name was Radomir.  At first I didn't quite understand what he had said and asked if he would write it down for me.  Guy has the biggest smile to go along with his huge tattooed arms.  Wrote his name in my English and in his Russian.  Radomir, or Rado as he said his friends call him and I was welcome to call him that also, had been on St. Martin for four years now.  He was originally from Serbia and had been a member of the Serbian Army when he became old enough.  No way would I want to have to fight against this guy.  

Radomir wrote his name in my English and in his Russian.

After several skirmishes and battles, Rado decided to leave the army and join the French Foreign Legion so he would have a chance to travel.  It was during this time that he obtained a French Visa and was able eventually to travel to St. Martin for a visit.  He enjoyed it so much that he has decided never to return.  Rado is about the age of my oldest son and lives at the Mont Vernon estates he told me.  He said that he wishes he had bought one of the studio units when he came when they were selling for 8,000 Euros.  Today they go for more than 100,000 Euros and tough for him to afford.  He told me he has a daughter now and wishes his parents in Serbia would be able to visit them so they could see their granddaughter, but since they don't have Visas, they are not able to travel outside the country.  Rado speaks fluent English as well as French and Russian.  Interesting young man who enjoyed talking with me and learning about myself and why I enjoy my visits to St. Martin.  Just then he got a call and said he was needed at the guard house.  I thanked him for his time and asked if I could take his photo.  Gave me a big thumb's up and off he went to guard the village.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.