engineering around the world

Making a house a home

Think a mosquito net and utensils could change your life? 

Ok, that might be a bit dramatic. But its amazing what a difference having those belongings makes for Dinachi and me. We finally have acquired mosquito nets and pillows for our beds, a fan for our workspace, and bowls, cutlery, cutting boards, and a hot water kettle for our kitchen. I can’t believe what a difference it makes for our quality of life. I now look forward to sitting in my bed and reading, feeling like a princess under a canopy.

My new and improved bed.

I used to dread the morning breakfasts of beans and a tortilla. But now I can run down to the gas station, pick up yogurt, bananas and cereal, and put together a delicious parfait. And instant lunches might seem disgusting to those who are used to delicious dinners in the US, but we look forward to our nightly dinners of hot noodle soup. 

Breakfast! 

Compare that breakfast to this:

Typical breakfast: beans, cheese, tortilla.

I should have tried to find these belongings weeks ago. They have made a huge difference in our ability to feel comfortable in our homes and enjoy our free time. I’m looking forward to leaving them behind for next weeks students, so that they can start their month off in the conditions that we are currently enjoying. 

Sidenote: Before the mosquito net, our only option for protection against the bugs was this fashionable space suit:

So maybe now you can understand my intense enthusiasm for the net. You’ll also understand why, when I return to the US, I’ll be covered with enough bug bites to make you think I have the chicken pox.