Jan. 4, 1996
Ela and I both decided that today would be spent "arreglar la casa". When we woke up on our tiny bed, with deflated air mattress, we could see all around the room piles of things, partially unpacked, as well as a filthy floor. Inez brought us a large cup of hot coffee, and we had a little breakfast at home of 'Pan Dulce" and coffee and an orange. Then, as Ela unpacked our lockers of gear and neighbor children stood at the windows peering in, I began to read Boat In Our Baggage, by Maria Coffery, a book my sister Kari sent down for Christmas. It's very well written and certainly it is interesting to compare notes with someone this articulate. The experience for us of living in the center of this little barrio of Honduras, on the outskirts of Balgüe is a wholly new experience , both for ourselves and our neighbors. As I was reading another person appear, standing at the window. It was Rudy, who had come to visit from Altagracia and brought two "almohadas"(pillows) since his mom thought our air pillows were too strange. We visited a bit and then the three of us went to work dunning out the place. Inez brought by an escoba that had been made by a neighbor for five cordobas. We were very grateful, since the type they use, just made of brush branches works OK outside, or even on a dirt floor, but it's pretty useless on ours, the only concrete floor in the neighborhood. Rudy and I also broke out the solar cooker, but it was a cloudy day and not likely to cook much. The Morales family, who live across the road are really keeping an eye on our every need, came right over. Julia said with three rocks we could prepare lunch, and suddenly he kids were all there with firewood, as well as the kerosene to start it. She gets the fire going and then has our cooking pot and one of her youngest arrives with a dish of ashes. She smears ashes and a mud around the outside and then our rum is transferred to a smaller vitamin container and another child is sent off for oil. Ela is quite distracted by so many hands, and meanwhile Rudy is washing rice to serve at least 10, not just the three of us. Inez shows up with "chiltomas" (wonderful small green peppers) and Ela dives in to prepare the rice with some of her spices. When it was ready we thanked everyone and set up a table for three with our foot lockers and had a good lunch. Afterward we went for a good dip in the lake and the three of us were really refreshed. It was also a good chance to talk to Rudy and he described how both tia Soledad and his mom have a very had time accepting that is an adult and now has to plan his own life... off island and maybe even out of the country, since jobs are so scarce here. Late afternoon we said good-bye and then Gregorio Rivera came by and we had a good visit. For awhile just with him and then his little kids started showing up at the doors and windows. After he left, in the dark, we thought of warming up leftovers. The Morales were right there to get the fire going, etc. A little quiet time and then off to bed.

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