27 February 2013

At the institute, we are often called upon to make cookies, brownies, and use the  kitchen.  Many times I am asked to make popcorn.  We are continually there, wishing we had hot water, for as most of you know, hot water helps cleaning greasy and dirty dishes.  Often while there, we bring the dirty dishes home to wash them.  The other day, we asked our director if there was any way we could get hot water, it would help us out immensely.  He said he would put it on the list to speak with the "officials" and see if it was a possibility.

The institute opened two weeks before we arrived in this country.  We have always been wondering why anyone would build a building without hot water.  It is sort of difficult to get hot water in this country, but in the apartments with hot water there is a small unit in the closet to heat the water.  You must turn on the switch twenty minutes before you need it.  So every day, one must climb out of bed early and wait until the water is heated.  Then we have a limited amount of hot water.  Just another challenge of living in this "third world" country.  (Ever heard of a second world country?)  (I have not.)

In our institute building, we have cabinets in the kitchen where we have put cooking tools, supplies and they are all behind lock and key.  It is interesting how often "things" walk away.  So, we have been shown where the key is, behind lock and key.  So, when we need something, we go and get the key to get the key to get the key, to get the key, to..... (oops I got carried away.) whatever we need.  It is also interesting.

Try to have a kitchen without hot water.  (this is our Institute hot water-less, kitchen)

This morning, Bonnie came in to me and started laughing.  "You will never believe this..."   I replied, "I really don't believe that anything can happen that would surprise me."  I was wrong.  We got the key, went in and checked behind one of the locked cabinets, shelves, and guess what, we found a water heater.  WE DO HAVE HOT WATER!  Even the director didn't know.  We showed him the water heater and he was totally surprised.  He laughed and said he better take that request off his list to talk to those responsible about getting a water heater.

We turned it on, and just laughed when we found hot water coming out of the tap, first time.  It was refreshing and wonderful.  Now we need to go back and make cookies, pop corn, and many other things and clean the dishes there at the institute.  I cleaned one greasy item, and it actually came clean with hot water, first time.  WOW.

Here is the play room.  The kids sure enjoy being there between classes at the University.  I have put together some tournaments, chess, ping pong, pool, and foosball.  We, at times, also play with them, even mom has played a few games of pool, and even won more than she has lost.

Well, gotto go and enjoy the hot water, just washing my hands, if nothing else, and smiling, or should I say laughing.... but enjoying HOT WATER.