Movin' Forward

I won't go into the specifics of the various parasites and bacteria that have been our companions these last couple months, but suffice to say, there has been little actual "work" accomplished. That is, unless you count reading books as work. Kris has topped 44, now, and Jason over 20. But that's not as bad as it sounds, since people generally don't like to work outside during the hot months of March, April, and May.

However, the first rains of the year seemed to signal to everyone that they should get back to work, so we're starting to see less and less reluctance to get things done. First, there was President Bolaños. He's definitely getting things done. Apparently, he didn't hear all the grumbling the last time he enacted Daylight Savings Time, so he went ahead and changed all our clocks again. Of course, with the exception of the buses, nobody actually changes when they do things, they only change what time they call it.

The next strange thing that started happening was our local community leaders started coming up to us and expressing their desires to get working on some projects that we've been promoting. Our next-door neighbors just started a home garden and worm compost pit, with little prompting from us. Soon, they'll be starting an intensive Marango production garden and building a goat house with a non-Profit ranch called Rancho Ebenezer (pronounced, Eh-ben-eh-sayr) that promotes integrated yard agriculture. Our host mom has taken over a nursery of Marango trees for transplanting, and is now investigating how to raise ducks for food. Our host dad is organizing a campaign to plant live barriers on various agricultural hillsides in the community in order to prevent erosion and conserve water by preventing surface runoff. Our INTA counterpart technician is all over the community encouraging people to plant trees to combat deforestation.

Meanwhile, just as everyone else is ready to start working with us, we’re planning a little vacation to the land where time means what the clock says, hot water showers come standard, and the people can usually understand exactly what we’re saying. Yes, we’re visiting the good old U.S. of A., and soon, we’ll be navigating the wonderfully overpopulated and fully-paved highways of the northwest Chicago suburbs! In one week’s time, we’ll be enjoying scenic vistas of those chain store facades they have to build three stories tall in order to be seen over the bountiful acres of four-wheel drive SUVs and outlet restaurants. Despite this unfortunate fact, we can hardly wait! We’re so homesick that we could just burst!

Just try to imagine. Nine months since we last looked into the eyes of any family member or non-Peace Corps, American friend. Nine months since tasting barbeque sauce, root beer floats, apple pie, chicken egg foo yung, or reuben sandwiches. Nine months since surfing a wireless internet network or even typing on a laptop. Nine months since driving anything except for a bicycle. Nine months since feeling carpet beneath our bare toes. All that is about to change, my friends!

The plan is to get home and immediately dig into a peanut butter silk pie from Baker’s Square with Kris’s parents. Then, we’ll get the packing our bags for the return trip out of the way, since we’re bringing back a ton of books, gadgets, and art supplies, now that we have a better idea of the sorts of things we could use. We’re going to get some computer maintenance done for the family and then go shopping for food and more supplies. You should see our list of restaurants and food items we’re dying to eat. Wednesday, we’re all going out for German food in Milwaukee, and then Jason’s parents and sister are coming down to stay with the rest of us in the Chicago suburbs. Thursday is a birthday party for Kris’s brother’s fiancée, complete with stuffed Chicago-style deep dish pizza! Friday, we cram in as much of the Chicago botanical gardens as we can. Then the next few days, we just hang out and eat, eat and hang out! Cook out, baby! USDA certified beef! Bacon! Cheese! Oh, bliss! Oh, heaven! OH, WE CANNOT WAIT!