Otro Dia

So, kids are a huge part of my life here, to say the very least. They come visit me all the time to color, or read, or just play. Sometimes they decide my house is too messy and do my dishes. I’ve shown some the joys of the internet, about a jillion pictures from my life, and how to cook various foods. I made pancakes for one of my favorite families last week. I’ve become so used to just cooking for myself that it was much more of a to-do than I expected. On top of that, the kids kept asking if I thought they’d “know how to eat pancakes”, which is an expression that I love and that has repeatedly gotten me out of eating kidney, liver, intestines, stomach, and other innards. I told the kids that I’m sure they’d have no problem figuring out how to eat pancakes, and I was right, except for one kid, Guillermo age 5, who for some God-forsaken reason apparently doesn’t like pancakes.

A few days ago I was bucket bathing, another part of my life that I had completely forgotten to mention in my last blog about things that’ll be different in the US. Here’s the thing—I like bucket bathing. When it’s cold and I have to heat up water and then jump around to keep myself quasi-warm while bathing is not enjoyable, I must admit. But with the hot weather that we have now (February is the hottest month here), I actually enjoy it. I think of it as jumping into a pool over and over again—it is that refreshing. Anyway, the other day I was bucket bathing at around 6:30pm before heading to a meeting on the other side of my barrio. I heard someone clapping outside of my house, which is the Paraguayan equivalent to ringing the doorbell. “Quien?” I yelled, knowing whoever was at the other side of my door could hear me thanks to the half-wall that makes up my bathroom. It was a few kids who live a few blocks away, wanting to “study”, which really means color/play. I shouted that I had a meeting, so I didn’t have time to study, and they said they’d come back after, at 9pm to play. I said it was too late, but suggested “otro dia” we could play. This is essentially a total brush off. Saying “another day” is a passive way of being sure that no other date is set for play time with them. Here I say it to random people trying to sell things on the street, and we both pretend I’ll find them the next time I’m in town to buy their handicrafts. These particular kids get the brush-off because of the last time they came to visit. They’re nice enough kids, but brought their toddler cousin. The family very simply does not have the money to buy diapers, so they let the toddler urinate and defecate wherever she so pleases. Generally, I have no real problem with this, though I don’t like to be around for it. Last time the kids visited, the kid pissed all over my chair and floor. It wasn’t really a problem, though I had them leave about ten minutes later. My floor is made up of big bricks and is easy to clean. I actually spit on my floor with some frequency—this may be another habit I need to change when I’m stateside again, huh?

On a totally different note, we’re still fundraising for the public library project in site. I adore my library group—it is a small group, but everyone is so dedicated and hard working. Also, they’re hilarious, which makes it a lot more fun to have 3 meetings a week with them. At the moment, they’re obsessed with the idea of putting a huge framed picture of me on the wall of the library. I’m quietly hoping someone suggests again that the library is named after me, but for now I’ll settle for a huge picture of me with glasses on and a finger to my mouth, forever shushing the room.