Alright so here is a journal entry I wrote on April 24th, and I thought I would stick it in the blog for a little update.
Well, well, well…I now have much more time to write and I think I shall because here I am across the lake living in San Juan (actually it turns out no I do not have more time to write I have less… I am much more busy over here…). It is 7:00, dark out, I am sitting in my rather stuffy little room. I open my window sometimes, but now am a bit afraid since I heard from Francisco that I am living in a brothel (well in so many words.. he said my landlord Mariano rents out these roms for parejas–pairs for ¨sexo¨) …(well actually turns out this I think is false… I have only seen volunteers with fundacion solar here) and now I recently cannot find my camera which I am pretty sure–well almost positive that I left in my room. I even remember hiding it (don´t remember where exactly) but in strange places all over my room along with my money, liscense, ipod, credit card, computer, etc.. in case someone broke into my room while I was gone. But yeah it is p0retty fun living here–kind of like camping– I have to put on my shoes at night to go out to the bathroom which is actually outside–which I share with whoever is living in the rooms next to me at the time (which… contrary to rumor…as of yet has only been volunteers or workers with fundacion solar–a community project which does lots with recycling, trash, community gardens, and eco tourism for San Juan.) And, next to my little bathroom stall is our little shower stalll. And I must say, I have never been so happy that shower has hot water! I thought, oh I don{t need a place with hot water, I don{t need to be a likttle pampered Estados Unidenses… oh but yes I do. It is downright cold some days when I turn off that nice little trickle of hot water and reach for my towel.
On to the kitchen… well Mariano originally told me that he would bring me a stove and putit in my room, then he told me it would be better for me if it was outside. Then he asked if I wouldn{t mind sharing a stove withthe neighbors who live down half a flight of stairs from me. I guess this is their kitchen and pila which I too can use. They have their own bathroom and sleeping rooms circling it. (It is really hard to explain Guatemalan type houses unless you have lived here). This little stove is rather difficult to use… it is gas and as the little bars are set on top to put your pot on… we maybe a combination of these bars and the ridiculously small 1 quart pot I decided to buy and bring down here… every morning, no matter how hard I try, the little pot kind of flips over and spills oatmeal everywhere. Well this just kind of puts me in a bad mood to start off my morning because then I have to clean the stove, counter, rag, pila of oatmeal which is now everywhere. And then of the course the Pila which I believe I have described in great depth where I wash dishes, clothes, and what have you.
My room though is quite a cozy little room with two beds actually wedged together (with actually nice typico woven bedspreads… so I have no graduated from my sleeping bag), a little table for cooking and holding cooking supplies which Dad put on cinder blocks, a little book shelf, my minifridge I splurged and bought, those little hanging shelves which Mom and Dad brought down for my clothes, and the little table and chair I borrowed from the clinic for now. So yeah it is quite cozy in there, but I like it.
