Another Beginning

Today was another big day of firsts. We arrived in Evinayong after a visit to the grocery store, a Fang lesson and the long drive through the jungle. It’s Sunday and there was a big partido (soccer game) so the streets were packed with young people and staring people.

The way that some young men even young boys look at me is a practiced glare. There is a palpable hardness in the eyes. Meant to show an unwavering courage maybe. I smile and keep my head up as best I can. Greet people with love, whatever they give to me.

We moved into the place where we will be staying for a spell with a lovely Spanish woman named Rosa who is a missionary that has been in the country for 10 years. She told us that anyone is welcome in the house and that made me feel good. Our room is a medium sized room in the low-ceilinged medium-sized one-story house. It’s pretty moldy smelling, but that’s par for the jungle course. It’s in the back and the one window opens onto the neighbors who are playing loud TV now. There are two twin beds that we pushed together and a small bedside shelf, a cushioned stool and a table in the corner. The doorways are narrow in a way that makes me feel like a giant in a small house. There are cute little numbers on the doors to all of the rooms, 1-6.

When we first arrived, there were about 10 kids outside from maybe 2 to 6. One guy shook my hand and then they all wanted to shake hands, except it’s more like touching hands and looking away. They were watching me. The question of the day is what on earth am I going to do here?

There was a huge rainstorm with thunder and lightning tonight, the power went out and the house started leaking, water pouring in so fast that it flooded the hallway in minutes. I guess this is sort of normal – it’s almost dry now. There is no running water from a faucet but a tap outside and in the bathroom there is a big garbage can of water that you use for flushing the toilet and washing. Same in the kitchen.

The earth is red and when it rains it makes puddles that look like Thai iced tea. The power comes on just as it is starting to hurt my eyes to read and stays on apparently until late, unless it goes out.

Being in this jungle is similar to being in the Costa Rican jungle. It’s loud as heck as the earth around teems with life. Last time it was just us and the jungle. This time it is us in a little town nestled in the green. With nice roads and cars and houses.

Tomorrow Simon is going to work and I’m going with him. In part because I am not ready to be without him, and in part because I’m not sure what to do here yet. After Rosa left this afternoon and we had moved all of our stuff in and I sat down to what I have been waiting for for nearly 4 months, I started to cry. It’s just so much change. The climate, the jetlag, the location, which is seriously just in the middle of the jungle. I can’t believe that we are slated to be here for 2 years. It is totally crazy. Even though it is hard to imagine now, I can also imagine that 2 years is nothing. That if we really start to live here and make a home, if that is possible, then 2 years will be a hard time to go. Not sure about that or anything. I was feeling pretty homesick and cried a bunch this evening. Simon was really good and he just held me and told me that making a routine is a really good thing to do.

We forgot a mosquito net somewhere – so I’m wearing repellant to bed.
Tomorrow I’m going to set up my altar. I hope that doesn’t make Rosa the missionary feel weird. (it did)