Saturday, October 20, 2012

Unwanted Guests

I have had a number of unwelcome visitors lately.  Mice, spiders, a tarantula, and massive grasshoppers.  It first started with these two crickets that lived behind the boards of my latrine.  I frequently saw their antennas peaking out.  One day, I decided to take care of them.  There is an spray here called Baygon, it is an all-purpose killing spray, very potent stuff.  I sprayed where they were hiding.  When I was finished, there were 7 dead grasshoppers!  They are big and disgusting.  I happily watched the chickens eat them.

A few nights later, there wasn't electricity, so I was sitting in candle light.  I saw a small shadow under the stove.  I shined my flashlight and saw a mouse.  I went directly to the colmado and bought a sticky trap.  You peel off the top paper to reveal a extremely sticky surface.  I set it up with a bit of cheese.  The next day there were 2 little mice stuck to it.  Ramon disgustingly folded the trap in two and threw it out.

After the grasshopper and the mice were gone, I felt good.  Cleaner.  Until I was going out the the latrine the other night.  I had on my stylish head lamp and bam a massive tarantula is sitting feet from my house.  I screamed like a little girl.  It scurried under a boulder that is in my yard.  For the next half and hour Ramon and I try to kill it.  I was basically standing back shining the light on it's cave.  We utilized Baygon, flushed out the space with water, and poked a stick around.  I haven't seen it since, so I am going to assume, for my own comfort, that it is dead.

Just as I was getting over the tarantula sighting, I see something scurry over the stove.  I obviously yell out.  Two muchacos (young men) are visiting, and say I'm crazy because they didn't see anything.  I see another shadow and shout again.  They get out the broom and search for the mouse.  After attacking the wall with the broom, the mouse leaves.  I will definitely be setting up a sticky trap tonight.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Brrrr.....

It rains just about every afternoon.  Sometimes it just sprinkles and other days it down pours.  Before it rains it is super hot.  Then the clouds come over the mountains and hide the sun.  Then comes the water.  

I like when it rains.  I usually past the time in my house on the computer or reading or taking a little nap.  I like that I can close up all my doors and be alone.  If it isn't raining you can't really shut up your house during the day.  One, because it would be too hot, and two, the neighbors would think your weird.  

After the rain I am freezing.  I heat up water on the stove, hobble out to the latrine with my steaming bucket, and soap up real fast.  I throw on something cozy, put on my crocs and go out to visit someone (by now I am sick of reading, my computer is dead and I'm well rested).

When I get in at night I make some tea or hot chocolate and curl up in my hammock with a blanket.  The cold nights have just begun, it gets colder December-February.  I have been brainstorming about ways to make my house warmer.  Ironically it is usually warmer outside my house than inside.  I talked before about insulating the walls with cardboard, but that still leaves a large gap between the top of the walls and the zinc roof.  I might splurge and buy another comforter too.  I go back and fourth though because I only have 7 months left.  

I did plant some lemongrass and ginger this week.  Both are great for making tea.  Here they make te de hojas, or leaf tea.  They forage for leaves from cherry trees, lime trees, chamomile, cinnamon leaves or bark, and passion fruit.  They boil everything together in a large pot with water.  When it's finished the smell makes your mouth water.  It's served super sweet, of course.  

Next Friday, Patronales, a week long community festival starts.  That means super loud music and a lot of drunk men.  

Today I might wash some clothes, if the electricity comes in the next couple of hours.  Then I am headed to Olga's house to eat some habichuelas con dulce or sweet beans.  A dish I disliked at first, and now love.  

Friday, October 5, 2012

Food and Eating

I am craving delicious food.  I want to cook and bake and shop at the grocery store.  More importantly, I want to be able to afford food at the grocery store.

Give me greek yogurt, a good loaf of bread (they sell water bread here, wtf is that?) fruit besides bananas (I heard they make you fat), a pizza!  The lack of variety is killing me.

And I'm sure you can relate, that sometimes you just don't feel like cooking.  That really isn't an option here.  All you can do is wander to the neighbors house and inquire about what they are cooking.  Or if you're lucky and it is Saturday-Monday you can eat fried chicken and toastones.

I was thinking about extending, but I would choose not to solely based on food availability.

There is this hilarious website about PC experiences.  This is me.