Not Better. Not Worse. Just Different.

Writing this blog has been a struggle. It’s hard for me to give you all a glimpse of my life here at Amigos. I think the first thing that comes to mind are my living conditions. We have a wonderful two-story volunteer house with a kitchen area, two bathrooms, common spaces and bedrooms. The volunteer house is much, much better than I expected. Contrary to popular belief at home, no, the bathroom is not outside. However, water is usually a problem. Currently, in Honduras we are experiencing a severe drought. So, please pray for water! Some of you can probably guess where I’m going with this. Yes! Bucket showers! It’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s not worse just different. The problem I have run into is my hair. My goodness… SO much hair to shampoo and rinse—seriously considering cutting off 5 inches here myself.  Regardless, the lukewarm water feels amazing after sweating the entire day. Living here, you have to accept that you will start sweating from the moment you wake up until when you “shower” at night. Even with the heat, many Hondurans wear jeans and long pants. I thought I was going to be different and meet them in the middle at Bermuda shorts or skirts, but no. Absolutely not. After being bit for the 20^th time by mosquitoes, you’re going to want to wear pants. I’d rather suffer in heat than wake up at 4 AM because I’m so itchy.

Our beautiful home

Bucket showers and all of it's glory

The bugs are fun. Mosquitos are literally evil blood sucking demons. They do not give up and will bite through clothes, deet, organic bug repellent, everything. The geckos are my favorite. They like to roam the walls and windows but eat the mosquitos. Our community has made a habit of naming these critters on a daily basis. Currently, we have two cockroaches living in our bathroom, which we’ve named Jerome and Jerry. Any additional roaches we find are inducted into the family and receive names as well. In the time it’s taken me to write this blog, a few ants have crawled on my laptop already.  One of the unsaid rules about living in a third world country is to check your bed before you go to sleep. You have no idea what’s been living there until you lift up your covers… 

 

Last but not least, laundry! We wash our clothes by hand in a pila and then set them to dry out in the sun. I usually wake up earlier to wash my clothes from the night before. Whaaaaat? No washing machine? Ironically, it’s a surprising calming chore filled with tranquility and zen. It becomes a mind numbing process that with the right music can turn into a therapy session. Think of it as the difference between vacuuming with Michael Jackson or Beethoven. 

Our pila for washing clothes

Obviously my living conditions are vastly different from my life back in the states. Some of you might be reading this thinking, what in heaven’s name is she doing there when she could have AC and a warm shower? To fully immerse myself in this experience, solidarity with those whom I serve is key. Being here has made me realize just how privileged my life in the states has been. The power goes out at least a few times a week, especially during rough storms. Thank you Gracie Wynne for my headlamp! BEST GIFT EVER. We thank God when we go to bed with BOTH electricity and running water—it’s a good day. But all things considered, I love it here. The pace is slower. Without the bustling of busy city life, I can hear my own thoughts. Armed with a can of bug spray, I cannot wait to see how my experience and relationships blossom further!

…for my next blog, I’ll talk about my jobs and responsibilities!

Hasta pronto amigos y amigas!

Kelly