European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 8, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Pedestrians step off a ferry and into the sales pitches of persistent Shoeshine boys in Izmir Turkey. Day in the life of Shoeshine survivor a boys hands Are stained from a Day of labor. Ten hours into his workday Ramazan Aydin is still at it. Carrying a hand Rush in one hand and a cracked wooden Box in the other the 13->ear-nd targets another potential customer and Breaks into a Trot. Quot Shoeshine Quot he asks looking up at the american airman dressed in civilian clothes. Quot Mon Man $ 10. Your shoes no look the Man keeps walking along the Boulevard that runs in front of the american run Kordon hotel in Izmir Turkey not bothering to look Down at the turkish youth peddling backward and straining to keep Pace. Quot of $5,&Quot says Ramazan who prefers the name Ramo. Quot you have $5. For $5, i give Good Shine. Cd Mon but the Young airman keeps walking and Ramo finally stops lowering his wooden Box filed with Shoeshine supplies onto the pavement. Ramo is used to such Atu Sals. In his line of work rejections arc Parton the Trade. Today they re As steady As the sea Breeze blowing in from the Izmir Bay. Quot some Day Good bigness he is Day no Good bigness. Today no or Ramo glances to his left where s arc forming. Aegean sea Waves Poi the break Wall covering Ramos so Grimy Wool sweater and Tan Slacks he grabs his Shoebox before a she Boulevard to a backdrop of blaring and shouting cab Drivers. He joins four other boys his age dominated by a statue of kernal a horseback. His friends All carry Thi Ramirio s Trade. The impending downpour Threa an Early end to the workday for it friends. It s almost 8 . They Rel knowledge that tourists usually str upscale Izmir Boulevard at least i but they know that tourists done to rain. The boys working turf extends eight City blocks in the City a Alsan a tourist dominated shopping Are eludes the 500-person air Force o Manenty assigned to Izmir Alsan Cak features six Large hot the Kordon which Cater to Weste and american tourists. Ramo Pas entrances daily noting who Check Quot Good bigness a he says Ramo s Enterprise savvy stems on the Job training. A i went to sch years Quot he said. Quot but no More. I is ago. Everybody have to according to Adil Ersa Muk a 1 serves As the Community relations the american contingent in Izmir vision to abort his formal Educ Atit among poor turkish families such Quot we have child labor Laws and Dattory education until the age of a we have Many such Laws. But v few people to enforce Ramo said his family moved f Turkey to Izmir a when i was ver father he says Sells fruit from a cart in the City a main Bazaar Are stays Home with his 7-year-old b live in a Small apartment in one areas. He prefers to talk about his be culled from three years of 16-hoi streets. He has Learned to spot w towers from afar by noting How a walk different from turks Ramo is an a student when ii Money conversion. He needs on convert varying amounts of Ore belgian francs or american doll lira without Benefit of knowing Tiona Exchange rates. A i m too Young for Bank Quot he know a he says pointing to his h can German swedish greek n bigness. Russian Money is no i Ramo converts foreign Currie lira at a jewelry shop in the City area a 20-Minuie walk from the which Ramo and his friends by sitting on their wooden the Bazaar shopkeepers some Ramo with a secondary source c take tourists to Bazaar and the Gold. I take to shop and they so me but Ramos primary Job is so his initial asking Price is always stupid Guy gave me $20 once Quot f Bottom Price is $5. Less than the no Good Ramo bums a cigarette from i turning it Over in his polish stain fore lighting it. A Marlboro Good says inhaling deeply. Quot american Good Ramo said he Learned his eng american servicemen whom he he says he Speaks Frencl Page 6 c sunday
