when life is less convenient...

when life is less convenient... what do you learn? patience and improvisation! let me fill you in on ways that life is less convenient here for me in Venezuela, and the lessons this has taught me...

what do you do...
1. when the power goes out and all your clothes are dirty? you wash your jeans by hand and hope they come out clean! (i started to wash my jeans by hand the other day, by the way, and when i was half way through the power came back... also, the majority of houses here don't have washing machines, anyway, so this is inapplicable for them - they always wash by hand)
2. when the power goes out and there's no hot water? you wash your hair in the sink and heat water on the gas stove to bathe other necessary body parts.
3. when the power goes out and you have to study? you light some candles and study until they go out.
4. when you're on the public bus and sweating like a pig, and asking the driver to turn on the air conditioning would make everyone laugh out loud? you plan ahead, wear as little clothes as possible, tie your hair up, and try not to think about it.
5. when you're at home in the andes and it's freezing cold? you put on lots of sweaters since the only heater is the sun, or you find a cobija con orejas, as the saying here goes, a blanket with ears to cuddle up with.
6. when you're really hungry and there's no food cooked at home and mcdonald's is really far away and way too expensive? you roll up your sleeves and get cooking, and forget that your stomach is growling because you know when the food is done it will taste really great.
7. when you've got an important phone call to make and no money left on your phone? you go to the nearest phone-renting-table in town
8. when you get back late from class and the last car has already gone up the mountain, leaving you stranded in town? you keep your eyes peeled for a ride and hope to hitchhike with someone going near good ole carorita.
9. when you don't have the 50 cents on you for the bus ride? see number 8...
10. when you don't have enough money for cheese? you milk your cow and make your own.
11. when you take the two-hour trip into the city and your professor doesn't show? you turn around and head back up the mountain, for two hours more of a ride...
12. when the bus driver wont take you home because there aren't enough passengers yet? you wait for more passengers.
13. when it's pouring down rain and you forgot your jacket/don't own one? you borrow a plastic bag for your head or your baby and make a run for it.
14. when you need to visit the town doctor and don't have money to pay him? you go out into your field and pick some strawberries to give him.
15. when you're visiting someone's house and they offer you a plate of food after you just ate and are stuffed? you eat it anyway because you don't want to hurt their feelings. (turning down food in venezuelan culture is incredibly rude in almost all circumstances, so be prepared to get stuffed!)

i will be gradually adding to this list as i have new experiences!

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