I am trying to decide whether or not to return to the US for the Christmas holiday. I don´t know what my plans are. Summer is coming to an end here, thank goodness. The stifling heat has eased off as have the major ant and cockroach infestations. I am up early now because the city is fumigating today. They do that regularly to protect against malaria, yellow fever, etc.
On Sunday I went out to my jungle property. The fruit trees were in bloom so my housekeeper and a few employees went with me. I strung up a hammock and read and relaxed while they picked mangos and bananas. The day was just what the doctor ordered! There is no electricity or plumbing there. I want to overnight there soon, but the thought of venturing into the forest at night to go potty is daunting! It seemed easier a few years back. Funny how a few years can zap some of your adventurous spirit.
My Italian volunteer, Arturo, has started cooking for me more, and also teaching Lady (my housekeeper, and yes, that really is her name) how to cook some different things. She is a great cook, but her meals were starting to get really redundant. Plus, Arturo is Italian, so you can imagine the meals are good. The only dilemna is getting ingredients. No riccotta cheese. Poor quality pasta noodles. Few spices and none of them fresh. Staple foods are rice, potatoes, yucca, plaintains, onions, tomatos, various kinds of catfish, and the ultimate delicacy . . . CHICKEN!! Not much meat that I would dare touch (although Arturo is a vegetarian so not an issue with him anyway).
I just put the finishing touches on a 2007 calendar for Amazon c.a.r.e.s. and I have also been busy with grant apps, as usual. We also just concluded a successful art exhibition with proceeds going to our work! Works that didn't sell will be featured in our calendar and on display at our office.
Arturo is writing an article that he hopes to get published in an Italian magazine. His sister works in Milan for one of their biggest publishing houses. Sounds like a job I would have loved. Arturo can't believe I would live here forever, as Iquitos is very isolated. But for now it is just day to day.
I have been reading voraciously, with my selection limited to what other travelers leave at the book exchange at a local bar. I read one fun romp of a book called Young Wives by Olivia Goldsmith. It was a quick, fun read. Now I am reading Invasion of Privacy by Perri O´Shaughnessy, a legal thriller that is pretty good. I won´t tell you about all the stinkers I´ve read!
My garden is in bloom, with bright orange / red gladiolas. I would like to make some improvements to my home, but it doesn't make sense since I rent.
Today is my first day to check email in a week so I have some catching up to do. A big thanks to Rebecca Portman. She and her husband collect all their spare change and donate it to a different charities! Thank you for thinking of me and the helpless animals here, Rebecca!
We are working on a program with the local orphanage. It is a well-run operation, and we are proposing they adopt and care for several dogs, but we will pay for the dog food and veterinary care. This way, we can provide a better life for some of our less adoptable but loving shelter dogs. I am excited about the prospects of this program!
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Sorry this is so short. More to come! Molly
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