At 8 we went to get the electricity turned on. Handyman guy met us at the electricity place at 8 am sicne he was going to pay his bill anyway. Turns out the guy we are sharing a meter with hasn’t paid his bill in at least 3 months. The money I was giving him to go toward the bill simply wasn’t going toward the bill. The bill was about $400. U.S., which here can put you in a nice apartment for 2-3 months. We paid the bill because quite simply, we want to flush our toilet and use our computers.
The guys there said they wouldn’t turn it on until tomorrow. We begged, they said we should have paid our bill. We told them we paid money to the “landlord” and we were paying his bill off, have three kids, plead, plead, plead. They said they could turn it on in an hour. This turned out to be true, they could turn it on in an hour. They just needed some good old fashioned groveling, which luckily, I’m not above doing.
I met my friend on the street. She said the same thing happened to her when she was paying someone to pay a bill. That you should never pay a middle person because you’ll almost always get burned that way here. I told her how much of a runaround we were getting regarding reconnection. She said that used to happen to them and most people reconnect their electricity themselves when they get fed up waiting. Don’t have that in my skillset, reconnecting the electricty to my house, even if it is “easy.”
The house was already a bit smelly from the toilets not flushing. Paul hung out at the coffee shop most of the morning, charging our phones and laptop. He took a shower at the gym.
My friend and I had plans to go back up the mountain to check on the malnourished baby we saw last week. The process took the entire day. Step 1. We priced baby formula. Step 2. Got money for the milk from the people who agreed to fund this little project. Step 3. We went to visit a woman who has a hairlip/cleff palet baby to see if she would come with us. My friend wanted to see how bit the opening was in the nipple of the bottle to see if we should be adjusting the one the malnourished baby was using. Step 4. Went to buy the family a phone so that they can call them to check on the baby’s progress. They can also call when they are out of formula. Step 5. Find another guy to see if he wanted to go with us to split the cost of the trip in to the mountains. He said he doesn’t want to have anything to do with another baby who might die. He wants to distance himself from further pain. Step 6. See if we could borrow her friend’s car to drive up the mountain. She said we could borrow her friend’s car, but she herself doesn’t have a license. She asked if I have one, which I do. She was all excited about that, but I don’t want to drive someone elses’s car up into the highlands. Although if she had asked me one more time I probably would have done it. We tracked down her friend, but she clearly didn’t want to loan her car for the trip. My friend–disappointed. Me–relieved I won’t have to consider driving. Step 7. Find a van to take us up there. Let my friend settle on a price without me there. Step 8. Go up to the mountain and meet with the family. The baby was doing better. But they are often feeding him water. We emphasized that he needs to be eating formula so that he will grow. If he isn’t strong, he can’t have the operation for his lip. As we were emphasizing how often they need to feed baby Bartolo and how they shouldn’t give him water or water down his formula, all they could do was ask if we could buy them another phone. I don’t know if they get it, or if they simply aren’t concerned about losing him. Oh it makes me sad. Step 9. Return to Pana, turn in receipts. We started the excursion planning at 10 a.m. and got home around 4pm. I’m amazed how much effort even one good deed often takes.
We got invited to a bombaros (firefighter) leg of lamb and keg party. I asked if you could actually get kegs here, the guy wasn’t sure, but he was going to try. Decided to pass on that one, not for that reason.
When we got home I opened the door, and there was light!! Hallelujah. Then the girls told me our neighbor, who didn’t pay the bill had gotten home an hour before. I went next door to tell him what had happened and he said he didn’t have the money to pay us back. I now know he has a bit of a reputation for owing many people money in this town. We’ve simply joined that group. I’m hoping he will make an effort to make it right, but have been told not to count on it.
Then there was a knock on the door. My friend’s husband came with his knapsack of tools. He was going to climb up somewhere and reconnect our electricity. He says he has done it many times before, in Mexico, here. Says they take too long reconnecting it an sometimes you have to take things into your own hands. Actually makes me feel good that people are looking out for us here. There is a tight sense of community here, once you’re in.
Our family went to Circus Room for supper since we had to celebrate having our electricity reconnected. It started pouring while we were there. We could hear angry wet cats sliding down the roof and they fell into the little courtyard, wet and bothered. Literally it was raining wet cats into the restaurant next to our table. Another first.
Cali was excited to go to bed with her nightlight on (which stays on until her big sisters come up to sleep.)
Cali handed out her invitations at school today for her party on Friday. She has been counting down to her birthday for over 11 1/2 months.
Kier came home and we watched a movie she’d rented last Saturday, since we now have power!
Paul had to get prepared for his big man trek up the volcano tomorrow. They have been many days of preparation for the trip, many phone calls back and forth. I don’t know, just seems wrong that a man-trek would include a detailed menu. Nonetheless, gormet food is being prepared and appropriate hiking booze purchased. They are spending the night at the top in sleeping bags with a couple of tarps. The aren’t taking a guide (afterall, you just have to go up until you reach the top). An adventure they will get. Have fun stormin’ the castle.