Laundry Day

I’ve always been pretty self reliant. I am the primary cook at home, and I routinely do my own laundry. I’m not much for ironing, unlike my friend and fraternity brother, Milton, who was nicknamed “iron pants” because he left that note to himself on the door to his dorm room. Besides, if you take your clothes out of the dryer while they are warm, who needs to iron?

I’ve also been spoiled by the modern conveniences that we all take for granted in the US like hot water on demand, washing machines and clothes dryers. Well, I’ve also been spoiled in Ocosingo because Jan or Daria routinely do my laundry, albeit by hand.

For the last several days, I have been staying at the Hebron Foundation house in Villahermosa with Esdres, the caretaker, as we transition from our first work group to the second. I have enjoyed the time to catch up on my writing and email, change the oil in the beast (my 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser) after I finally located the right oil filter, and generally rest after a very hectic 6 weeks.

It is very hot in Villahermosa, even during February, so my clothes required washing frequently. So for 20 to 30 minutes every other day I handwash my clothes, scrubbing them with a soapy brush, rinsing and hanging them up to dry on the clothes line.

No big deal really, just another way our two cultures differ and possibly the reason that the work days seem to last longer here than back home. Without the time saving tools that we consider requirements, we must revert to the time testing way of working…with our hands. Washing everything by hand, collecting fire wood, cutting the grass with a machete, mixing concrete with a shovel on the ground are all examples of labor that is accepted as part of the daily life here.

But so are afternoon naps, leisurely meals filled with lively conversation, daily devotional time and frequent group prayers. I am stuck between two cultures as I communicate and work with my family and US partners and live with my Mexican brothers. I always did like to have my cake and eat it too.