Today was awesome! First I had TWO English students today. Finally the kids are bringing their homework for me to help them! Then I was invited to join the bible study with my friend Marlin and 3 other ladies Lourdes is mentoring. Lourdes had thought it was too easy for me and would be boring, but I think now it is more about the companionship of the other ladies. They are from Los Pinos, but they are used to me so I don't think they feel intimidated to speak out if I am in the group. That was my concern initially.
Also, Pat went from HORRIBLE last night - Drs from infection control were arguing with Pat's Dr that he needed surgery immediately. Pat's Dr did not want to do another surgery with Pat being so weak. Pat was back on the respirator with the O2 at 100% but still not getting enough O2 last night. This morning his white blood cell count fell so significantly that the Drs all agreed surgery is not necessary. By this afternoon he was completely off the respirator!!!!
Lourdes invited me to get a special hair treatment, with a special conditioner that they leave in for an hour and then a blow out. I was afraid of the blow out since all of my hair is falling out. When the lady put in the conditioner she told Lourdes that she was being really gentle, but my hair was still falling out in handfulls. She asked if I was under stress. I said I don't think so. I am using the same shampoo as in the US and I have been losing hair by the handfull for 6 weeks. Now I can feel the sun on my scalp because my hair is so thin. Later I realized, yes, I am stressed, but only because of my stupid hair falling out! I am taking vitamins and eating eggs and beans, like I read on the internet. Just recently I noticed that my scalp is also tender. It actually hurts. It reminded me of how the grandmothers on the West Side of Chicago used to say the kids were "tender headed" if they complained while getting their hair pulled tight into braids. I am a tender headed white girl at this point.
Lourdes said the water here has a lot of chlorine. That really felt like the answer. If the water has a lot of chemicals, then my head would feel tender and my hair would fall out. All of the other things (washing with warm water, diet, etc.) just didn't feel like the cause. I have washed my hair with hot water all of my life. In fact, the water here is much cooler than what they would use in the US at a salon. That can't be the cause. Also the hair dresser said I should not be putting the conditioner on my roots. I've done that all of my life too. If the conditioner is supposed to have special vitamins to keep my hair from falling out, what good does it do if I don't put it on the roots? Anyway, I know it is so silly, but please pray that my hair stops falling out. I will start using the bottled water tomorrow. Or maybe even tonight because my scalp really hurts.
Apparently I am a delicate gringa. I hate it when I have to do weird things like wash my hair differently from everyone else. And now I will have to chase down the illusive water man even more often. Wish me luck!
The other good thing is that I received the water fountain for Jett today. Mom mailed it way back on August 23. It is finally here! Yay!!! It works fine. Everyone who was there when Walter Z brought it to the church thinks I am insane. They have never heard of a litter box, never mind a water fountain! Hopefully they will find these odd things entertaining and not think that I am a needy gringa.
Today Lourdes and Jairo told me there will be a big "container" coming from the US in January. If I want to have anything sent in the container, just make a list! I am thinking of sending my washer, dryer, and maybe my sofa, depending on how close I am to being fully funded. (Last month somehow I was $400 short!) I don't want to have all of the things I would need to start a home in the US moved here if I might not be able to stay. But don't worry. I am not planning to leave. I am just trying to think realistically. If I have those things sent here, I need to be sure that I'll be here a while. Having those things would sure make it easier to live in the house in the mountains! I would only have to buy a fridge. Everything else I could have shipped from the US! It will be very interesting to see where I am living in a few months. At least I have options and a safe place to stay in the meantime.
They are so sure this delivery is coming from the US that today they paid a man to dig up all of the ground around the entrance of the church with some sort of big backhoe thing. They even dug up the sidewalk, so now it is flat and wide enough for the truck with the container to enter. I think by "container" they mean something that fits on the back of a tractor trailer. They took the dirt they removed from the side of the mountain at the front of the church and moved it to the back to make a flat place for the container to sit. They are talking about making a flat space for the kids to play fútbol too. The kids would LOVE to have a real fútbol field! I'll let you know how things proceed tomorrow with that.
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