This is my new word for the phobia I am diagnosing myself with. Some of you may be familiar with my fear of mannequins (alright, probably just my sister knows about it), but I have the urge to publicize this fear now because here in Cartagena it is only growing. I mean, the mannequins here are terrifying! Walking down the street to the university I have to pass by many clothing stores whose windows are jam-packed with as many mannequins as they can fit. And they are scary! Take a look:
Here you can see the facial features and elvish appearance that the general mannequin here always has. I mean, what is they guy doing with his mouth? And the poor woman desperately needs a haircut, or at least a wig straightening. But they all have faces and hair like this. Since I walk this street nearly everyday, I am getting used to their penetrating stares and confusing facial expressions, but it still makes me uncomfortable.
Another strange thing I have noticed is the breast size. There are many mannequins here with boobs larger than I have ever seen on a mannequin (or most women for that matter) in my life. I have to question how they do not topple over... I mean really:
There are many other interesting mannequins I have seen wandering the streets of Cartagena including one dressed in a joutfit (sorry Justine and Leigh, I did not have my camera with me for that one) and this pregnant mannequin. (I think she needs a birth control lesson because it looks like she already has two little mannequin children. Plus the straps to her top are falling off and it makes her look a little like a garden tool... Maybe I should talk to someone in the store about it. It is not sending a very good message.)
So anyway, I just want to put it out there that if you have a fear of mannequins like I do, the best way to overcome it, is to make fun of the dumb things until they stop spooking you. Every once in a while I still turn a corner and my heart jumps because some creeper is staring right at me, wearing studded jeans and a tight shirt with his arm pointing at me, but then I realize that I can push him over with one finger and I laugh at him.