Daily Life

So, I realized after reading through my last postings that I have neglected to give any notion of the reality of daily life in Bluefields, an oversight I shall attempt to rectify. There are so many little conveniences that simply do not exist here that seemingly simple activities require serious effort and vast amounts of time. Of those elements that impact daily life, water is probably the most evident.

There are 2 sources of water available at the house, a collection tank for rainwater and the well. Neither local offers potable water, so the kitchen is equipped with a series of filtration systems that must be constantly replenished. During the wet season, this is rarely an issue, as the rainwater tank is nearly always full. However, at this point in time we are at the very end of the dry season and the rains have yet to begin, so the tanks are often dry. This means that the showerheads are unusable so we must all become experts at the intricate techniques of bucket-baths, which is always an interesting endeavor as one hand must always be employed for scooping and pouring water while all other actions are completed one-handed. This of course implies that there is water in the bucket to be used in the first place. =)

If there isn't any water in the shower (or you need to flush the toilet), as was the case this morning, one must navigate the intricate network of valves and switches located throughout the grounds in order to fill the large trashcans we utilize for water storage. If the rainwater tank is full, this is a simple matter of turning a single switch. If not, you have to go down to the patio, open the tank valve just slightly, walk out back to the well, reach down and open the valve inside and wait for the very long pipe to fill so you can prime the pump. Once the pipe is full, you close the well valve, walk back to the patio, close the tank valve, go across the patio, turn on the pump, take a leisurely stroll upstairs while the tank starts up, open the valve there and begin to fill your bucket. Since this is such a time-consuming process, anytime you go to fill one bucket, it is worthwhile to fill all the buckets throughout the house as well as those the kitchen and cleaning crew will need for the rest of the day. By this time, the 5min shower you were hoping for has turned into a 2hr endeavor. Welcome to the reality of Nica-time!