Archive for: March 2009

It’s a little late for first impressions, but as we’ve had a few requests for an update so here it goes.

This is it. We can hardly fathom that three months has already passed, but this was our last full day. Of course we had over planned for the number of activities we could complete but some things just have to be left to the end.

Today was our last free evening so we decided to have a little going away celebration with the kids that often drop by our home. We knew that pancakes was an easy meal to put together and to prepare large quantities. So for the last two days we had been telling the kids to be sure to come over on Monday evening. We weren’t really sure what to expect for numbers though because information does seem to get around the barrio pretty quickly, especially related to giveaways.

Perhaps one of the most frustrating parts of living here, exascerbated by our poor language skills, is getting access to accurate information. Without TV, radio, or newspapers we rely on a chain of human messengers to find out what activities are happening, when they start, where they are, when stores are open and closed, why the power is out for so long, and more.

I had been warned, “don’t go to a barber shop in the barrio”. But really, could I come all this way and not at least have one such experience? I had to try, I just didn’t realize how scared I would be.

We didn’t actually start the day with a night on the town (go figure), but we did enjoy an evening in one of the nicer parts of town with the kids.