Sometimes I wake up in the morning and think, "Let's write today." And sometimes I read what someone else has written and realize that I have something I want to remember as well. This morning was both.
Being burnt, electrocuted, and bitten or crawled upon by giant spiders (the spiders aren't doing the burning or electrocuting, though, in case anyone was wondering) are four things I am not particularly keen on. Call me a wimp, but hey, I'm only human and it's not so ridiculous to dislike pain or gross things. It's natural, actually. Anyways, I mention these three things because I've been facing them, bravely, every day. I might be a little proud of myself. ;)
The first thing: burning. Probably at least half of the world does not have the luxury of owning either an electric or self-lighting gas stove, and if they have a gas stove at all, it would be the kind that is easily lit by hand with a match. Well. "Easily lit," for someone who generally doesn't use stoves like that, is a hilarious little phrase. I have two little burners in my room, and each time I decide to cook, I go through a nice little process. You see, timing is key. You can't have the gas running for too long, or you could very well have an itty-bitty explosion that attempts to singe finger hair. At the same time, lighting matches can take a while since the combined efforts of the breeze (which, most of the time hopefully, for coolness' sake, is finding its way into my room through the two windows or the open door) and slightly moist matches keeps a flame from sticking around for more than three seconds in many cases. Here's what I figured out: you light a match (after turning off all fans and closing the door), wait to see if the flame will last, quickly turn the gas on low, and attempt to light the burner. If the first attempt doesn't work, turn off the gas and try again. Once, after I was sufficiently frustrated by repeated failed attempts, I said to God, "All I want is to get this stove lit so I can cook my dinner." And then I tried again. One. Last. Time. I struck the match, turned on the gas, brought the match close, the flame lit perfectly, and I promptly turned off the gas. I'm pretty sure God was saying, "Beautifully done. Now let's try once more for practice." Ha. Ha. VERY funny, God. Very funny. But I did get to successfully practice once more. I did end up eating a good, cooked dinner that night and I still have arm hair.
Then there's being electrocuted. This one's not nearly as dramatic in my mind, but still good to be aware of. In my shower, there are three temperature settings: hot, cold, and half-and-half. The temperature is controlled by a plastic unit at the shower head. I've heard people tell stories about not being able to touch their shower head or they'll be electrocuted, but for me it's different. I can touch the head, but I can only change the temperature when the water's off or I'll be electrocuted with 220 V. Yay. But anyways, I just never change the temperature after the water's been turned on. For obvious reasons.
Lastly, but not leastly, giant spiders. Now, when I say giant, I really mean ones that are a good 3 inches in diameter. I know they're not technically all that big, but to me, any spider bigger than a pea is too big. Anyways, I wash my laundry in a room that is under a row of apartments across from staff housing. It's usually nice and cool in there, since the room is partially underground and it's made of concrete. Perfect little spidey home. I've seen all sizes of arachnids in there. I just stay away from dark corners, do my laundry business, and skiddadle. I'll let you know if I ever end up touching one.
Today, there is a birthday party going on up in Las Flores, a town a ways away up in a mountain. The Aldens and a few other people stopped by staff housing this morning on their way to the party to pick some people up. I went out to say hello to everyone, and I saw Angie, a little girl who goes to the bilingual school. Apparently yesterday was her birthday, and she's having a party today. She just turned eight.
I've noticed Angie at the school. She's quiet and sweet, and I've seen her making lots of dibujos (drawings) for the other kids. She's quite the artist. I always smile at her and say hello, but usually I don't get much of a reaction. I always wonder why, but I also sort of blow it off. Today when I came out, I wasn't sure what she'd do or if she'd remember/acknowledge me, but I smiled and said "hola" anyways. And I said "feliz cumpleanos" since her birthday was yesterday and asked her how she was doing. When I said happy birthday she smiled (that was a first), and then she came over and hugged me around my waist. Miss Penny (the missionary whose grandkids I teach) took a picture of the birthday girl with me. And Angie just stood there, holding my hand and hugging me. Miss Penny said she was amazed that Angie was clinging like that to anyone. Me, too. When they drove away, she was standing in the back of the truck and she smiled and waved. Most of the other kids at the bilingual school are really talkative and will sit on my lap or hold my hand or whatever. But not usually Angie. I always wondered why. I don't know what was so especially different about today, but it made me so happy.
I just finished hanging my laundry out on the line to dry. The sky is pretty cloudy, and in some places even dark, so I hope it doesn't decide to rain on my clothes.
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