So we had Thanksgiving in my site. A bunch of other volunteers came up to Perquín and Ron, the owner of the hotel up here, was nice enough to let us take over the kitchen (a decision which I’m sure he later regretted). Now, domesticity isn’t my strong suit as most of my audience faithful know- I can wash a mean dish, but can’t cook to save my life. However, since T-giving was in my site, I was the default cook (with lots of help from Ron’s mother).
We acquired a turkey from someone’s yard- it had been frozen, so it appeared to be the normal start to a T-giving meal. However, the poor turkey was anorexic and only weighed 7 pounds, so I asked if we could get a chicken to supplement our meal. Sure enough, an hour later, I was handed a still warm chicken from the ladies who had just killed it. UGH, too fresh for me. When I told my mom about the malnourished, emaciated turkey, she suggested I run to the store to get a Butterball popup turkey, which had the other volunteers and me rolling in fits of laughter.
Other things that have happened between Thanksgiving, my trip to the good ole US of A and those that have just happened:
1. I woke up on the bus and found an old lady’s hand in my pocket looking for some cash money. I looked at her like, seriously lady, do you see how I’m dressed? Does my outfit scream “super rich” to you?
2. I saw a lion, cheetah, and lioness on the side of the road (in a cage)
3. I busted up a child crime ring. Back-story is that one of my students stole $20 from me; I told him if he didn’t bring me my money in 2 hours I was going to call his mom and the police. Turns out, I called his mom and my neighbor (from whom he was also stealing) called the police. Well don’t you know it, 4 kids were working the streets of Perquín stealing stuff. Busted.
4. I saw a lady wearing a t-shirt saying “I’m not a b*tch, I’m THE b*tch.” I don’t know why I put the asterisk in, everyone knows it says bitch. (I didn’t say it Mom, I’m just writing about my experiences, see?!)
5. During my town’s patron saint festival, we had a rodeo. I went all the days, not because it was good, I was just testing the gods to see if that stadium thing would actually fall or if I could cheat death. It was the ricketiest bullring thing I’ve ever seen constructed in 4 hours. Insane. Also, during the rodeo, they made this poor monkey ride a bull. Which wasn’t really funny at the time, but at least it makes for some interesting photos. If PETA is reading this, I just want them to know that I was truly appalled by the monkey-bull incident.
6. My trip home was a joyous occasion. I’m seriously blessed with an amazing family. We have a series of games called “Reindeer Games”, which this year included standing in the freezing cold ocean water. The games aren’t really for “fun” as much as to establish superiority and the right to gloat through the year, though through all the cheating (DAD) and the spirited arguments (KATELYN), we manage to have some fun. The Reindeer Games include a Stanley Cup of sorts, with the past years’ winners included.
7. A LOT of gringos were here for an Eye Campaign these past few weeks. I was in charge of the inauguration ceremony and organizing the translators. They did surgery, cataracts, pterigium surgeries (this weird little growth over the eye). I got to see some neat things, some gross things, learned a lot about my eyes and how much I need to take care of them. That being said, 2 nights ago (one night after all the doctors left), I cut my eyelid on this dirty wire inside my bathroom (when you think bathroom, think wooden stall with a gross toilet… although I’m not complaining because it actually does flush). My eye hurts still, but I’m lucky that I don’t see light when I close my eyes, so I’m not complaining about it- I just want sympathy. Cards or emails will do.
8. I should give a shout out to the many many people that helped pull off the eye campaign- I’ve stolen some photos from Gabe Cohen’s blog because I didn’t manage to take any in two weeks.
9. Last night I found out that the nun’s dog got gonorrhea from another dog in town. Hahahahahhahhaah.
Not to be a downer, because it isn’t a downer thing, but my Grandpa would be 90 years young today. Good man. I just listened to “Sweet Caroline” and thought of the cousins’ brilliant performance at the Moose Lodge. Good times.
I’ll have been here a year next month. CRAZY.
