I noticed the "Live Like a PCV Challenge" posted on another PCV's facebook page and of course had to take a look.
Here's the link: http://www.LiveLikeaPCV.org/
Anyway, the purpose of the site is to raise awareness about Peace Corps and to see what it's like to live like one of us.
Don't get me wrong... we're not trying to be martyrs here, and I embrace any resemblance of our "normality" in the US (aka peanut butter), but Jacob and I have actually adapted pretty well. Up until this point, we've just been accepting the differences, and now they are no longer so foreign to us. So when I read the Honduras Rules, I thought... "Oh, yeah. That is kind of weird, huh." Now, when we go back to the States, please don't yell at us for throwing our toilet paper in the trash.... sorry!
I figured that since Jacob and I never really discuss our daily living situation very often, I thought the Honduran Rules could be a good template for you guys to see how we live and work every day...
(See the website above for explanations to the rules and levels, etc...)
Dátal– Difficulty Level I:
(Choose 2 of the following)
You canʼt use running hot water, you may only use water you boiled (yes, this includes baths): True for now, but the house we are moving into has an "electro-ducha" which is an electric shower head plugged into a socket that heats up water (and somehow doesn't electrocute you), thus a hot shower! No hot water in the sinks, though :(
You canʼt use any microwave: What's a microwave?
No checks, no debit cards or credit cards, cash only all week: True, but we can use a debit card at the larger supermarkets in the state capital... just not at our site.
No washing machine or dish washers - plus you must wash all articles of clothing you wore during the week by hand: Ugh... so true! A hand washing video demonstration will be posted once we move into our house (ample warning for any cursing that may occur during said demonstration).
No flushing your toilet paper: True. For the next 2 years, Jacob and I get to throw our toilet paper in the trash next to the toilet. We then throw it out in the backyard in a burn barrel and burn all trash once a week (food is composted). *Don't judge our burning trash. It's either burn your trash or it sits there creating lawn art. There is no such thing as trash or recycling pick-up in our site.
Manzano - Difficulty Level II
(Choose 2 of the following plus 1 from Dátal)
You cannot watch television, but may watch soap operas and soccer at a neighborʼs house: Somewhat true. We have cable at our host family's house (but won't have a TV when we have our own house), but it's of course all in Spanish. And the soap opera and soccer comment is definitely true!
Must keep all valuables (cash, phone, id) hidden. Some options include bra, socks, hats. Get creative. So true... I'm now a master at hiding all things in my unmentionables. I even have "traveling pants" which have about 10 pockets and a spot for rolled money. I even forget where it all is sometimes, lol.
No sitting on couches for the week: Nah... there's even a couch in our room, which frankly is kind of annoying.
Internet only every other day and for only 1 hour each time: Oh, so False... we have a monthly internet plan. It took some time and pretending not to understand "no" in Spanish.... but we have lots of internets now :) But, other volunteers will say this is on par.
Men and women may not wear shorts in public (only choose this item if you live in a warm climate): True for me, not for Jacob.
Chata- Difficulty Level III:
(Choose 2 of the following plus 1 item from Manzano or 2 items from Dátal)
You can use your toilet but you must manually fill the tank or do a bucket flush. (turn off the water to the toilet): Thank God this is False! It is true for volunteers in hotter parts of the country where water doesn't come everyday. Our site is inundated with water, so no problem there.
Power outage. Have someone else throw a dice every day for how many hours you will be without power between (5a-11p) He/she cannot tell you how long it will be out for. (And he/she must turn off your power breakers): True, but at least it's not every day, only twice a week on average. Sometimes it's only for an hour... sometimes it's almost 24 hours.
You can only use one burner on your stove and no oven: True for now. I've never seen any Honduran use their oven for anything other than storing pots and pans. Most people have a stove/oven combination and only use the stove part (and usually only 1 or 2 burners work). But, Jacob and I plan to buy a gas oven in a few weeks for the house, yay for all things baked!!!
Say hi to everyone (including strangers) and make a comment about the weather to people you know: True, but actually they say "adios" when walking past, so really they are saying bye... odd.
No supermarkets: True. At site there are only the equivalent of convenient stores (think very minimally equipped 7 Elevens.) But, there are 2 supermarkets in the state capital.
Guineo - Difficulty Level IV:
(Choose 2 of the following plus 1 item from Chata or 2 items from Manzano, or 3 items from Dátal)
Reduced living space. You may only use your living room, bathroom and kitchen: OMG, so true... for now at least. We live in a 7x7 room, and I'm surprised Jacob and I haven't tried to kill each other yet. But, our house will actually be bigger than our apartment in NYC... which in reality isn't saying much, but we're definitely happy about it!
No driving. You can use public transportation, bike, or walk: True, but we're very used to this. No car in NYC either.
Cannot leave your house after sunset or before sunrise: Very True. The streets are deserted by sunset. There is no such thing as a night life here, and it is very inappropriate for women to be seen out of the house after dark.
No running water from your house, you must go fetch it from somewhere else. (a neighbors house is fine): False for us. For other volunteers, this is very true, but we're lucky in this regard.
Plátano - Difficulty Level V:
(Choose 1 from each level)
No English for the entire week: Nah, Jacob and I are cheaters... we get to talk all we want to each other in good ole' English.
Lack of temperature control. No heater or air conditioner in your house or car: True, but you'd be amazed at how easily you get used to it... of course this is coming from the coldest region in Honduras where the temperature is never above 80.
You can only use your cell phone for 10 minutes per day: False. Don't really know where this one comes from.
Your diet for the week must include coffee twice a day with 4 tsps of sugar with each cup or drink soda twice a day. Also must eat tortillas, beans, and eggs daily. (absolutely no butter): Sooo freaking True!! I'm rather addicted to sugar with coffee in it now, and I doubt I would consider anything a meal without eggs, tortillas or beans in it, lol. Oh, and the butter thing is true too. You can get all the "mantequilla" you could ever want, but it's not like the butter in the States. For US style butter, you must scour the shelves at every supermarket around for one block!
Anyway, that's a peek into some of the changes and adaptations we've made. It's pretty easy to get used to... but, oh how thankful will we be the next time we lay eyes on a washer and dryer!
Have a great weekend guys, and the next time you have a night out on the town, drink one for us!!!
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