7:30 a.m. church service next door, check.
Last night El Norte was blowing fiercely once again. Perhaps living here for five months will eventually cure me of my light-sleeping. But right now I’m simply awake most nights with all the unfamiliar sounds. Last night even the girls woke up from a loud object that landed on our roof. Sounded like a small boulder, but then immediately following we could hear cats fighting. I wasn’t sure if a ball of cats could make that noise hitting the roof, but I’m clearly a rookie at identifying roof noises. Each girl had a theory. Madi thought it sounded like a meteor. Cali thought a brick had hit a cat in the shoulder, which then made it mad and they rolled around on the roof together. We checked for meteors and dead cats in the morning, nada.
First thing this morning I managed to latch the window closed upstairs. I know this sounds like a minor thing, but here and now, it was a major accomplishment. Since we have no ladder, I put a chair on a trunk that Madi held, and I climbed on top. It was sturdy. I considered putting Cali on my shoulders if I needed further height, but luckily didn’t have to. Perhaps I should join the Guate Cirque-du-soleil myself.
Today I wanted to sort out the school situation for the older two girls. I thought I’d made a decision, but then I got additional information, and the decision is up in the air again. Argh. Over the course of the day I talked to directors from both schools, at great lengths, talked to them again, skyped home three times. It’s an important decision for Kie because of her high school credits. We have to get it right. It’s the closest thing I’ve had to stress since being here. I am able to get information faster now that I’m down here, and Paul is able to connect with her school up there. So in that way we should be able to make a sound decision. The good news is that there are two good options in my opinion. We still have some things to sort through.
El Norte hasn’t let up, which it often will during the day. Even walking around town was difficult because dirt was contantly being blown into my eyes, even with sunglasses. I didn’t take the girls out unnecessarily, simply too windy. The backyard is sheltered by the huge wall, so we can hear all the rustling of the leaves above.
Mary’s bug update. The ants. Ever since I sprayed bug killer under the counter in the kitchen, the ants have stayed away. That was too easy. The girls were complaining about the toilet water smell (the water probably comes straight from the lake), so I bought a puck cleaner to put in the back of the toilet. It makes the toilet smell so good, that the ants are now drawn to IT. Not the tiny kitchen black ants, these must be the bathroom toilet ants. They are big. Go figure. So I had to do bug spray behind the toilet. Madi wouldn’t brush her teeth in there, but did so in our ant-free kitchen. See, it all works out somehow. Lessons in flexibility. Ironic that we watched a Bug’s Life the other day. Wonder when they’ll come out with the Central American version, taking over a household, holding families hostage.
Cali went to get an ice cream at a different neighborhood store today. This fellow wasn’t as helpful as the guy in her usual store. But her other store doesn’t have a freezer, thus no frozen goodies. I had to go back down with her to help her make the purchase. She was a bit miffed that she needed assistance. I was infringing on her corner of independence. This is probably the only thing she is allowed to do on her own here and she’s a bit protective of it.
In the afternoon we went to visit some other friends. They’d had a little girl since we last saw them. She is adorable. The four kids all played outside in the hammock. those hammocks are like mini playgrounds for kids. Their puppy jumped up on Cali’s face and scratched her over the eye. It wasn’t deep so shouldn’t leave a mark. Don’t worry dad, her eye is fine. She was upset about it. She finally understands that the stray dogs are off limits, but when it’s someone’s pet, and she’s asked the owner’s permission, she assumes they’re well trained. He was just a pup. She’ll be more careful from now on. With that exception, a good visit.
The kids sure do get more scraped up here. We are still trying to figure out the rash on Madi’s stomach. A tube of hydrocortizone creme lasts forever at home. Here we are half way through a tube. Her rash is fine bumps and itches. We aren’t sure where it is coming from.
I got stuff for lunches. Tomorrow Madi will go to one school and we will register Cali at her school. Cali will then start on Tuesday. School starts at 7:30 and goes until 1:00 pm. I’ve arranged her tuk tuk to and from school. The tuk tuk is yellow and so Cali says it’s like a small school bus of her own but without boys on it who say dumb things and show the bad finger. Ok. Can’t argue with that, I suppose. I can’t help but feel the grandparents’ concern from here. She won’t go with any random tuk tuk teen boy. Only the dad or older brother from the family we known here for years will drive her. They will take good care of her, and I’ll remind her to hang on tight (yikes). I guess it would look a bit psycho to bungie chord her into the tuk tuk everyday.
After we had supper, there was a knock on the door. The entire family came for a visit, except for the dad. All six kids came with their mom. They stayed for about two hours. We played Uno and introduced them to Dutch Blitz, the boys played on the ipods. The oldest boy came this time, too. The last time we visited they came fairly regularly on Sunday. Sometimes it was inconvenient and the girls needed to do homework. I value the girls getting to know other kids here, so I don’t want to discourage the interaction. Last time Kier would just do homework if she needed to and I’d put Cali to bed when her bedtime came. They would usually get the hint by then. I have no idea when they usually go to bed.
We skyped home a little later than usual. I talked to Kier for over an hour. The younger two talked to both K and Paul for a while before going to bed. When all the girls were in bed Paul and I talked for another hour about school choices. He is going to check in with K’s guidance counsellor to confirm what we are doing is on track. Both Madi and Kier know where they want to go. But the decision is not a done deal.
The wind is still incredibly strong. I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep again. But sleep deprivation is a good cure for insomnia, after a certain point. It was late when the girls finally got to bed, so you won’t get their perspective on the day. Tomorrow will likely be a bit of a rush to get off to school.
Skype is a wonderful thing. The sound is much better than it was 3 years ago when we did this. The picture is better and we also don’t get cut off as often with my current internet arrangement.
The day was full, two visits with other families, lots of meetings with school directors, lots of talking with Kier and Paul.