This week I want to do something sort of unique, but I think it will give you a picture of what life is like for me in Maria Auxiliadora. A day in the barrio:

I awake to the blast of the radio- Spanish voices announcing hurriedly what must be something very important- hard to say. Here, people will go overboard when expressing something or
telling a story. The annoucements and news and music and commercials all begin to blend in with my dreams. I am finally roused by the noise of the telephone and the smell of eggs cooking.
I roll lazily off my matress, slipping into my flip-flops and splashing some water from my face using a cup and a bucket. A refreshing way to wake oneself, I have found.

'Deri,' calls Maria (for this is how she pronounces my name), 'Ven a desayunar.' Come eat breakfast. I sit down in an upright wooden chair, resting my elbows wearily on the table, and begin to enjoy the bread and cheese set out for me in a bowl. Nearby is a glass full orange juice- well, it's more like Tang really. This is my typical meal.

Next: off to school, passing the bright pink corner store, lugging my black backpack with my laptop and work materials, greeting my neighbors. The sun beats down even at this time of day, so I try to stick to the shade- if only for a minute. The street is rocky and it is important to watch one's step; I'm amazed more women don't roll their ankles here- especially since
many wear platforms or heels.

Entering the main hallway is like passing into a different environment. It is cool, somewhat dark, and echoing with the voices of children in their classes. My office is at the very end, so I normally get a chance to say good morning to all the teachers, giving a customary kiss on the cheek- a display of friendship. The rest of my day is spent at the computer, working on writing up stories, web updates, managing photos, troubleshooting internet problems or whatever
needs to be done. Every so often I will get up and help with various tasks around the school: carrying water or gas tanks, moving furniture, decorating classrooms, cleaning, organizing, etc. In this way, my current position is really journalist/ support staff.

Mornings tend to fly by and before long it is time for lunch. Now the second meal of the day is much more of a communal experience. Often the tv will be tuned to comedy or soap operas, nine or ten of us spread between the dining table, patio chairs, and the floor. Antonio, animated as he is, will excitedly invite me to sit down and share, tossing some more avocado into my rice bowl with a boyish grin. He's nearly sixty but his spirit is as vital as any youth.

He enjoys entertaining people, I think, for he will often call everyone to attention so they can watch him shovel an enormous spoonful of food into his mouth, closing his eyes in satisfaction, beans dribbling down his chin. Attention! Check this out! Observe! Look! See! he will happily shout, in any particular order, placing a cap on his head and causing it to nod with the movement of his eyebrows. This will evoke laughter from nearly everbody in the room. Timeless.Helen tends to juggle eating and talking on her cell phone, while the children tend to make a game of it, trading plantanes for lettuce leafs and scoops of rice for spaghetti. Maria will sit in the rocking chair, tranquil and satisfied. It will not be long before she takes up the task of washing the dishes and preparing another meal. She would not have anybody else doing it, choosing to take on far more burdens than are healthy, I would say.

In my afternoons I do any range of things. Sometimes I will read scripture or a good book, listen to an audio sermon or sit down and do some painting and sketching. For the most part, though, I visit people. Arrangements are made at the last minute here- or not at all. I may walk over to a friend's house and say: 'Who do you want to visit? Lets share the good news with them.' Or I may be invited in by someone sitting out front in their salon as I walk by and end up passing the better part of the afternoon in conversation. Other days I will deliberately visit people from the church, spending time in the scriptures, learning and growing in faith. Thank God for community!

Around five or six, as the heat subsides, I will go for a jog or head to the field and play some football. It doesn't take long to work up a sweat here. Taking a bucket-shower afterwards
is refreshing beyond description. Ah... A humble supper of salami and plantanes or yuca, by candlelight, and it's time to enjoy the evening. There are often church meetings/ services, but
if not it's fun to hang out with my friends who go to school during the day. Street corners pump out the bachata, and many people dance to wind down and end the day off right.

My nights end off in reflection, contemplation and prayer. Sometimes I will read a book until my eyes are too heavy to go on, letting the fan lull me to sleep and letting the world of dreams wash over me.