This week was quite eventful as I found myself alone at home with a new room being constructed and a handyman assisting me in setting up a vegetable garden. In small Guatemalan villages, men often have a macho attitude, making it challenging for a woman like me to be heard. On the first day, the handyman vanished on his motorcycle for a few hours. When he returned, he initially lied about just going home but later admitted he went to the bank to cash a check for the work his father did. Meanwhile, his father was working on other projects. Essentially, I was paying him to stand in line at the bank! I was quite upset, but he understood and worked harder for the rest of the week.
The week was far from restful as I had hoped. I had to oversee the workers to ensure they did not steal building materials and treated the water pump properly while mixing concrete. The workers were not thrilled about me constantly checking on them, but since I was the one paying their wages, I expected them to deliver what they promised.
They managed to lay the foundations and set up the iron framework for the walls, but they paused the work until my partner comes back to guide them on building the stone walls since they lack experience in that area.
I also spent time doing a thorough cleaning of the house with the handyman, getting rid of lime and concrete residue. Now, the house looks fresh and ready for our Christmas guests.
I took a ride into town on the handyman’s motorcycle, which was a bit of an adjustment since I usually ride an 800cc bike, and this one was only 125cc. Without a helmet or license plate, I managed to do my Christmas shopping. With just one recipient, it was pretty straightforward, and I even got the store to wrap the gift nicely.
I met with an architect to discuss developing the 90 acres of land behind my property. However, he quoted a much higher price than initially mentioned, likely because he saw the potential of the land and wanted a bigger cut. So, I’ll need to find another architect.
The handyman and I prepared a garden patch, planting various seeds like basil, parsley, potatoes, jalapeños, bell peppers, melons, and spinach. I separated each type of crop with stones and left a path for easy watering. I’m also growing some avocado seeds indoors until they are ready to be transplanted.
We received a delivery of 2000 wooden sticks to help support the new room’s ceiling while the concrete roof terrace is being poured. The handyman’s father had quoted us 50 cents per stick, but an employee from the ranch offered to do it for 12.5 cents per stick, reducing the total cost from $1000 to $350. It’s a shame that the handyman’s father doesn’t realize he’s missing out on business by quoting such high prices; he’s already lost other contracts like re-thatching the deck roof and supplying stones for the new room.
As Christmas approaches, we’re considering organizing a small celebration for the workers. Although I’m not enthusiastic about entertaining men who barely acknowledge me, it might be necessary to maintain good relations with the community. I hope their families will join so I’ll have someone to talk to. Additionally, we’re nearing a discussion about the handyman’s extra pay for December, which might be tense since he needs to repay his motorcycle debt.
With the end of the world supposedly coming in three days according to the Mayan calendar, the area is bustling with tourists, and most hotels are fully booked. I have visitors, so renting out an extra room isn’t an option right now. I would have liked to test it out during this peak season. I have no specific plans for the 21st but may visit Mayan ruins to see the festivities or attend an end-of-the-world party in the nearby village.
It doesn’t feel like Christmas with the sunny weather, so I Skyped home to get into the spirit. My little niece received a letter from Santa, which I had arranged during my summer visit to Santa’s home in Finland. Although commercial, it was charming with little elves at the post office. She was thrilled with the letter, though now she’s more excited about presents as she already received a few on December 6th for Saint Nicholas day. I sent her a letter with some Guatemala handicrafts, hoping she’ll enjoy them.
Finally, I had to deal with a cute yet dangerous lizard known locally as “lisas” or “sleepy child” because its bite can make you sleepy for an entire day. Despite its adorable appearance, it had to be taken care of for safety reasons.
Hope you have a lovely, insect-free day!