30th
Abril, 2014
7:21pm
Proof that there is never a dull moment…we started the work
this morning and things were going fairly well, the workers were great and the
one knew a little English, so communicating with them wasn’t too
complicated. After a little while of
working, I started to get really warm (in the sick kind of way), so I decided
to sit down for a minute or two. After a
few minutes, there was something for me to help with, so I stood up to lend a
hand, and that is when I felt it…my “great” low blood
pressure-light-headed-dizzy feeling. I
asked Liz for the key to our room and on my way off the site, I tripped on a
piece of gabion basket we had just put together – “great, my vision is starting
to go” I realized. I made it back to the room and ripped off my pants, wetted
down my face and arms (thank God the water was working today) and I sprawled
across my bed, on my back, and waited for the heat exhaustion to go away.
Lunch was shortly after (about a half hour), so I figured I
would just have some salt-water there to restore my electrolytes. I could eat very little and ended up going
back into my room for a two hour or so nap/resting period. I woke up around 3 and
realized that I hadn’t gone to the bathroom since this morning – a pretty good
indicator that I was dehydrated, even though I had drank several water bottles
during that period. I re-filled my water bottle and changed into shorts and by
4pm was feeling great so headed out to help with the gabions, but everyone had
already finished. Since I was out just
after they finished, they all made fun of my timing saying, “Jessi was probably
watching us, waiting and came out when we finished.” Haha boys. They were happy that I was feeling better
though – and I guess I should point out that they only made fun of me after
making sure I was OK. They care. J
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| One of our friends standing next to a finished (not filled) gabion basket. |
Unfortunately Jimmy didn’t have my luck. He was sick in his room all day today - sick
and lethargic - and by the end of the day had a temperature of 101°F. Orlando said he could get a doctor (this was
before taking his temperature), so we got one as soon as it stopped raining –
it had started pouring around 4:30pm, and when it rains so hard, the whole town
has to stop….but in a really social way.
People duck into shops to get out of the rain and they socialize for
however long the rain lasts, which is usually around a couple hours.
 |
| Part of town in the afternoon rain. |
But back
to Jimmy…
The doctor took a look and with fever, sickness and finding
that he had swollen tonsils, he said Jimmy had tonsillitis and took him to the
clinic for treatment with Luis. In his condition, we all assumed that he would be there overnight for treatment and observation, especially with the rain. But within the past few minutes, there was a knock on our door and
“SHAGGY!!” (Jimmy was standing there looking a lot better – the
light in his eyes was coming back and he looked like he had more energy, though
he said he is still feeling tired and is looking forward to getting a good
night’s sleep. He was given antibiotics
and is on an ibuprofen regimen, so hopefully he is feeling a lot better in the
morning.
 |
| Luis and Liz trying to contact EWB and our insurance company via satellite phone. Location (distance from large towns and the mountains) and the rain complicated things. |
After our work for the day was done, and while it was still
raining and Liz, Nick and Luis were trying to get the satellite phone to work
so they could contact the insurance company, Gus and I hung out with the kids.
The power had been out since 1pm or so, so everyone was pushed outside while
there was still light, but the rain kept people under shelters. The kids, of course, sought us out. They wanted to use my camera again, so I
obliged and lost track of it several times, but the pictures they took with
them are absolutely priceless! I happened to have my dad’s camera (he loaned it
to me for higher quality photos) and the kids kept asking to use both my cameras,
going so far as to try to snatch the other camera (my dad’s) away from me. The one girl, Carina, went so far as to try
to get the camera and when that didn’t work, she tickled my arm pit when I was
pouring the tamarind juice – sneaky girl!
 |
| Gus and me hanging out with our new friends. |
There has yet to be a dull moment yet here! WE were lucky
enough to have the electricity turn back on shortly before I started writing
this – I thought I would have to write this all by candle-light and just as I
was about to do something else, the power turned back on. It has been on ever
since, but I won’t hold my breath for consistency – it’s gone off every day we
have been here. At least we are prepared
though if it turns off again.
I think that this is also a good point to reflect on things
thus far….
Other than the short lived sickness, I have been having a
lot of fun in the working-hard-and-seeing-some-results kind of way. I have also been living much more in the
moment, which has also been helping me with some issues I was dealing with
before coming here. I have been reminded
of the simple things in life and how you don’t need much to be happy. Any time
I think about how complicated our lives back home can be, and how stressful we
make things for ourselves, I think of the toothless smiles of the kids we hang
out with and how insanely happy they are to see pictures of themselves, or take
pictures of each other, or to swing from one of our arms. And it’s just absurd the things we stress
over back home.
It’s interesting exploring different human experiences and
perspectives. The kids were also going
through my phone and found the picture I have of Freddie Mercury in his white
shorts from “Live at Wembley” and they thought it was hysterical [which I love
him, but he was very “unique”, which is probably why I love him]. The found photos of some of my family and
friends and were asking about them. It
was really nice to share part of my life from back home with them – even if
they weren't super impressed - as Carina wasn't when looking at pictures of the
Slovak Easter eggs I make with my family every year. She got to them and just casually scrolled
through them without any hesitation at the ornate patterns that took me hours
to do with wax and different dyes, saying “huevos, huevos, huevos”, with the
least bit of interest. It was very
humbling, that’s for damn sure.
I should shower now, as it is late and Liz and I have been
talking as I have been writing this.
Buenos Noches
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| Sharing photos in the dark. |
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