All Those Little Things

Indeed, all those little things we have in the U.S., that we take for granted, and don't even think about, that can add up to some of the most dramatic differences between countries.

I've mentioned that there is no running water at my house. I've also mentioned that the electricity goes out every night (and most of the days as well). We've all gone a few hours (or days) without those things before and been able to handle it just fine. They handle it just fine here too. But there are other things that when added up show in detail the differences between my life in the U.S. and my life here. And I'm just visiting.

For example, the streets are about half and half paved and unpaved. Those that are paved are not paved well (again, I'm sure a lot of you have had experience with that). The problem though is that there is no sewer system so when rain comes, it does a lot of damage.

There are stray dogs, and dogs whose owners don't pick up after them. There are children whose parents can't afford to buy them shoes, and who play with and in whatever sits on the street in front of their houses. There are places where there are constantly puddles of substances foul to smell that sit for days. There is some, unreliable garbage pick up, but littering is a way of life. The cars, buses, and motorcycles are old and produce a lot of pollution. There are hardly any rules of the road, and the idea that a pedestrian has the right of way simply does not exist. And of course, it is hot, all the time.

There is a notion here that everything is for the pueblo (pueblo means village). So, if you leave some candy out, anyone can have some because, for lack of a better term, we're all in this together. But its not bad. In fact, the driving situation I mentioned before would be a nightmare if every driver didn't have every other driver's back. A bus might be driving 55 mph down the side of the road looking for people to hop on, and if some gutsy motorcycle rider pulls out in front of him, the bus will stop or slow down, and there won't be a problem. The other day some friends of mine were on a bus that ran out of gas. Another bus came up from behind and pushed their bus into a gas station. And they actually didn't even have to wait that long. When I walk down the street with my host family, they push me a bit, but they do it because they want me to avoid the trash in my way, or they can see a motorcycle zipping around a corner and are looking out for me. It's all for the pueblo.

And, I get the feeling that I haven't seen anything yet ,because I'm not really even in a pueblo.

On that note, I am going to visit a health volunteer soon. To get there I will take a coach bus to a small city. From there I will get on the back of a taxi motorcycle and go to her town. I knew she was in the middle of nowhere, that I am easily made motion sick, and I know that I am petrified of motorcycles, let alone riding them in this country, with a complete stranger. I looked at a huge map of the country today and to my surprise, I will get to ride on a one of these motoconchos for a good 10 miles, and it will be through the mountains.

I'm talking myself out of being worried, at least for now. The flip side to this potentially petrifying situation is that I will probably get some of the prettiest views that exist in this hemisphere from those mountains. And, you wouldn't believe the skies here. Every night I look out the window, or rock in a rocking chair on the patio, and watch the incredible colors above. And what is really amazing are the lightning storms. Huge streaks of lightning fly through the sky against a background of the best colors. Someday you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about when I'm able to upload photos. But even then, even with my awesome camera, it won't be quite like it. So instead, you'll have to come see for yourself.

I don't miss most of those little things though. It's incredible to me that in Chile I missed central heating, and warm water, and some of those great comforts of life that we have in the U.S. and here, I don't at all. I'm not really sure why, but I'm glad I don't!