Living Through a Historic Venezuelan Exodus

Editor’s Note: There are few places as chaotic or dangerous as Venezuela. “Life in Caracas” is a series of short stories that seeks to capture the surreal quality of living in a land in total disarray.

Joel Jr. was the first one to go in the latest wave; he gave up driving a cab and hopped a bus to Peru. David, my mechanic, soon followed suit. Anelkis, who rang up my morning coffees, decided she’d had enough and headed to Colombia. Our office manager, Tamara, quit and left for Ecuador. Miguel, the window washer, went, too.