Visitors…Not As I Had Imagined…

When I was moving into this apartment, I thought it would be a nice place to have visitors. My thinking was, “As soon as I’m settled, I’ll start inviting people over! I’ve got a kitchen table & chairs to eat around. I’ve got living room furniture to sit & visit. I’ve even got a spare bed, in case someone wanted to stay the night.” I was glad to have my own space. But I was also excited to catch up with the people I had met during my time here last spring. On my moving day, I told a few of the ladies that they were welcome to stop by anytime. I was also looking forward to getting to know the other new missionaries at OCS & having them over.

Well, I have been in this apartment for 9 days now ~ & let me just say ~ My “Visitors” have not been what I had imagined… Here is the story of my landlord & her brother, a student in need, & some unwelcome visitors:

1. My landlord and/or her brother have stopped by several times.

Once, he was here to help me with the cable salesman. Later that day, he went to the cable office for me, & signed me up so that I could get internet. He returned to explain the paperwork to me. (They say they’ll come install it in 10-12 days.)

Once, he brought me the gift of 2 trash cans. I didn’t have a place to put my trash bags, so there were 2 tied up, outside my door. Apparently, there is a free trash truck that comes through the neighborhood twice a week. But, it is during the time that I’m in school. Then, there is a “private” trash truck that comes both when I’m in school & once on Saturdays. Yesterday, I heard their bell & took them the trashcan that my visitor had given me, with the 2 bags stuffed inside. It was 5 pesos (less than 50 cents) for them to dump it in the back of their pick-up truck & stomp it down.

Once, they brought me a 30-year old tv & a stand & hooked it up for me.

After they had left, I discovered that even though I paid for 38 channels, the tv only gets like 5. A few days later, when he brought the trash cans over, he asked what I was doing & I told him I was reading another book. He said, “You always reading, Jennifer. You teach & read & is all?” I laughed & said that when the internet comes, I will not read so much because I will be on the internet. He then asked me about watching tv. I had been dreading that question! Since it had been a gift, I was embarrassed to tell him that I thought it wasn’t able to get the cable channels. He flipped the channels to find shows (in Spanish) from the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, & the Food Network. So, he sat on the arm of the chair & I sat on the loveseat & we watched 10 minutes of Bobby Flay on the Iron Chef as I explained to him what the show was about & he told me about the many uses for corn, here in Oaxaca. Then, he left.

2. Last night, I was reading my evening away, when I got a call from the father of one of my students. She had been absent for 2 days & had missed several math lessons. Since we have a test scheduled for Tuesday & she was so far behind, I had given the parents my cell phone number, in case they wanted me to help over the weekend. So, he asked if I was available & after giving him my address, he said he’d bring her right over. While I waited, I did the day’s dishes. Then, my visitor arrived & for the next hour & a half, I taught her everything she had missed. I still don’t have the internet, so I couldn’t use all the cool video clips & games that I used to teach it to the other 3rd grade boy in our class ~ but, God gave me the words to say & the illustrations to draw for her to get it. While we were working, I gave her a yummy, chewy granola bar that I’d brought from the states & a cup of lemonade. By the time her daddy picked her up, she was all smiles, saying that she understood everything now! Her dad asked if I was available Monday after school too, just to make sure she was ready for the test. So, I just might have the privilege of that visitor once again!

3. THEN, there are my VERY UNWELCOME visitors = THE ANTS!!! I have been squashing about a dozen of these big guys a day. YES, I said “squashing” ~ I have no qualms whatsoever killing them ~ they skeeve me out!! They are in my kitchen, while I’m doing dishes. They are in my bathroom, while I’m… They are in my bedroom, while I’m trying to fall asleep. One morning this week, I woke up with 3 really big red areas on my leg. I don’t know what bit me, but my leg had a bad reaction to it. I haven’t been sleeping well in this apartment yet & I think part of it is because I fall asleep each night after killing a few ants ~ I think they invade my dreams!

In the states, I am a big fan of air conditioning! So, all summer long, both in my bedroom & in the car, my windows don’t open one bit. But, here, with no air conditioning available, I am a person who prefers to have the windows wide open ~ to let out the stuffiness, to see the curtains rippling, to feel the refreshing breeze coming through! As soon as I walk into the apartment from school, I open several windows. It was pure delight, until the other day when I realized that my unwelcome visitors, the ANTS, are coming in through my open windows!


Here’s what happened: I heard some loud, disturbing noises, so I looked out my open bedroom window, down into the washroom area of the apartment below me, & saw that the noise was from their washing machine. As I was pulling my head back IN the window, movement caught my eye…there were like 10 of these big ants crawling towards me! I QUICKLY closed the window & grabbed my camera. Here are some pictures.

So, now, for the past couple days, I’m not opening the windows in the bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom! Even though it got up to 78 degrees in my bedroom last night, I didn’t want to invite those critters in! I don’t think I need to elaborate any more, other than to say, Please, Brothers & Sisters in Christ, pray that I can figure out the right spray to buy & where to spray it, so that I can once again feel free to open my windows.