Adjustment measured in latrine comforts and biting bitters

Hello all!

Long time, no post!

I think it is a good sign that I have not written a blog post in longer than forever! Yes, friends and family take it as a good sign that you have hardly heard from me at all! It means that not only have I been a busy volunteer bee, but that less things surprise and shock me…I am finally adapting to it all, and no longer feel the need to share these oddities with all of you. But I know you miss them so, my new found comfort level with latrines and bugs will serve as perfect token examples to make up for my absence.

A consequence of my new found adaptation is that I no longer dread using my latrine, I actually rather like my latrine, and sometimes wonder why we need flushing toilets inside the house. I never thought the day would come! Truth is, it is rather relaxing to a stroll outdoors on the way to do "your business". I walk up the three rather quaint cement steps covered in moss, careful not to slip, and I crack the latrine door made of zinc, without fear of what I my find or smell there, I know longer examine the makeshift walls of wood and plastic for biting insects or holes, I calmly lift the wood tablet cover off and fan the seat for awhile allowing any flies to escape so they will not fly up my bum (which they do tend to enjoy doing ( I even have a friend who said one time she un-zipped her pants and several flies flew out…)

Anyway I do not worry about this, because I have a system. I calmly sit down, not closing the door completely so that I have a nice view and a nice breeze, I place myself on the low cement seat, and do my thing. 

My latrine ettiquete has come a long way. I have learned that NO ONE bothers to use the latrine for peeing. With good reason, it is a pointless process. You stroll there, with toilet paper in hand and fly swatter in the other and listen as my pee went down the pee tube, making a satisfied slurping sound, it took me months to realize that, because, my latrine is a dry composting latrine, the liquid pee is separated and just comes right out of a tube on the ground next to the latrine, you literally can see the little puddle at the end of the tube as you walk back to my casita. This phenomenon would explain why sometimes my back patio smells of urine. I have now learned to not bother- my chamber pot gets a lot of use and in the morning I unbolt my door take a breath of fresh air, and chuck my pee into the neighboring plot! 'When in Rome'...

My point of telling you all this is not only, imagining you all being amused, shocked, a bit disgusted, and making my mother want to visit me even less, but to say that this is all my new normal, and it doesn’t bother me at all, not even when I am sick, in fact I am so well adjusted to my house and my latrine, I do not want to stay in hotels when I am sick but rather be at home, and I do not like using any other latrine, but will sprint back to my house if at all possible in order to use my own “creature comforts”.

As for the bugs.. Those of you who know me, know I am not the biggest fan of bugs…especially biting biters; such as; mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, anything that makes you itch really. Well I have had it all here, and I know from volunteer stories that I have not had the worst of it. I have not gotten Dengue (knock on wood) nor have I had lice, which I thought I had this week and made my neighbor girl do a careful hair examination…she did not find anything but dirt, so apparently I was being paranoid, but for good reason. I have had fleas, lots of mosquito bites, scabies, rashes, and all sorts of itchy things. I have found so many weird bugs, and killed so many cockroaches and spiders, and searched out more than my fair share of mice.  (I know you all can’t wait to book your tickets right now!)

Point being I used to freak out way more when I found a spider or cock roach, and now I am adjusted, I just slip off my sandle and kill is quickly and efficiently, with only a slight cringe… There are also these little white bugs that only come out at night, and swarm for like an hour around the light and then they die and the pigs come around and eat them up. They do not bite or anything but they used to drive me insane! Now I just site there, and let them live their short lives and enjoy watching the pigs incorporate them into their diet, recycling at it's best!

 My life here is not really about bugs or latrine, even though they are daily occurrences, and a rather popular topic among volunteer circles. Just like most of you I spend a good deal of my worry and anxiety on my work. Am I doing a good job? Is it sustainable? Will I be an effective volunteer? At this time last year I was freaking out about packing and listening to Spanish tapes in my car, and reading people’s blogs trying to guess what life would be like. On May 11^th I will have one year in country here… and be welcoming the new trainees arriving into the Managua airport. I have been chosen to be a “Greeter” which means my views and opinions will be some of the first real life experiences they will hear. I am really happy to be doing this, I remember our “volunteer Greeters” as incredibly impressive and interesting people. I hope I can fill their shoes. I asked my boss why he chose me and he said because the new volunteers are scared they know it is going to be hard, but they need examples of how it will be worth it!  So, most likely, my opening story will not be about bugs nor latrines, but I know they will ask- because that is always a big concern about both. And despite all those discomforts it is worth it! The adjustment period can be difficult but you really can get used to anything! 

Like I said, it is a good thing I have not written I have been busy and happy. This entry is by no means a good representative of what I do daily, but it does show you that even the 'famed' discomforts are becoming easier. As for work, 6 out of 7 days a week I love what I do, I feel like I am finally doing what I want to be doing, helping people improve their lives and making a difference, even if it is a drop in the bucket. There is always an off day where I feel underappreciated and underpaid! But doesn’t everyone?

 

Next entry will highlight some of my progress as far as projects go...but I am waiting on some funding right now and don't want to jinx myself!

I would like to add as a side note! I am living in the countryside of Nicaragua- not all of the country is like what I am describing- as I edit this blog post i am sitting in an air conditioned hotel room in the city, after a nice hot shower! I don't want to deceive you, there is plenty of luxury, it is just expensive, so you should visit, and perhaps you can pay for it as well! :)
Here are some of my bigger bug friends!

Love to all!