Enjoying the Simple Life - November 10, 2007

I am just sitting here, thinking. It’s one of my latest hobbies. Partially because I live in the middle of nowhere, and partially because I discover a lot about myself when I have time to think things through. So here I am in my thinking spot – the far corner of our couch. Every once in a while a bug will crawl out from the cushions behind me. I know it’s true because I find the design of bites along my shirt line soon after. From here I can feel the draft through the permanently open windows. The falling rain is dancing in the puddles outside and the random bursts of thunder echo from the mountains to our concrete structures. It’s peaceful. Maybe boring is the more accurate adjective, but this week I’ve been choosing to enjoy the simple in life. This is what it allowed me to enjoy:

· I was able to wash my laundry by hand for two hours straight with water that was barely dripping from the faucet. Ya, it was pretty boring, but it allowed me to enjoy clean laundry. A definite improvement!
· I got to take a shower in the rain. I had given up on water coming from the bathroom faucet. So instead I took advantage of the rush of water from the sky to rinse the soap from my hair and arms. You can sing in the “shower” and the rain at the same time that way.
· I got to walk up and down isles of Christmas decorations in a store in Santo Domingo. J They were even playing Christmas music.
· I saw a rainbow and shooting star in the same day. Both reminded me of a creative creator.
· I had three cubes of pinapple with my dinner last night and a slice of cucumber with my lunch today. It may not be much, but after the warning of no fruits or vegetables for two months after the storm, I’ll take what I can get.
· I had my most obnoxious student come up to me, give me an excited hug, and then show me a test with a good score written across the top. I couldn’t have been happier for him, and it was fun that he thought to show me.
· I walked into a classroom with my hair a mess, and my outfit poorly matched. But my students looked up and said, wow teacher, you are beautiful. I don’t know if I enjoyed the compliment or the phrase in English more.
Of course I had my trying moments as well. They are unavoidable in a different language with difficult students. But being able to find the small things to make me happy is a fun treasure hunt with great results. J