This week, I was at home alone while a new room was being built and the handyman helped me set up a new vegetable garden. Men in Guatemala, especially in small villages, tend to display a macho attitude, which makes it difficult for a woman to get her voice heard. On the first day, the handyman vanished on his motorcycle for a couple of hours. When he returned, he initially lied about going home, but later admitted he had gone to the bank to cash his father’s check for some work done on a bowls field. Meanwhile, his father was working on other projects, making money elsewhere. Essentially, I was paying the handyman’s salary to stand in line at the bank while someone else was busy earning. I was furious, but he understood my anger and worked harder the rest of the week.
The week I thought would be restful turned out to be quite busy. I had to keep an eye on the workers to ensure they didn’t magically make building materials disappear and treated the water pump with care while mixing concrete. The workers were not thrilled about being supervised by a gringa, but since I was paying their wages, I expected them to deliver on their promises.
They laid the foundations for the room and set up the iron framework for the walls. Work paused until my boyfriend returned to supervise the construction of the stone walls, as the workers lacked experience in that area.
The handyman and I did what felt like the hundredth deep cleaning of the house to get rid of lime and concrete. Now, the house looks fresh and ready to welcome our Christmas guests.
I also took a trip to town on the handyman’s motorcycle. Considering I usually ride an 800cc bike, it felt odd to ride a 125cc at 40 mph, especially without a helmet or a license plate. And about insurance? Nope.
I managed to complete my Christmas shopping. With just one person on my list, it was easy, and I took advantage of the store’s free gift wrapping to get a lovely box.
I met an architect to plan the development of the 90 acres behind my small plot. He visited the next day but quoted a much higher price than originally discussed, likely after realizing the potential of the land. So, I need to find a new architect.
The handyman also helped me prepare a garden patch where I planted various seeds, separating each type with stones and leaving a little path for watering. Soon we should have basil, parsley, potatoes, jalapeños, bell peppers, melons, spinach, and more. I also have a couple of avocado seeds indoors, getting ready for transplant.
We received a delivery of 2,000 wooden sticks to reinforce the ceiling of the new room while the concrete roof terrace is being poured. Additionally, these sticks will make a nice ceiling for the guest room. Imagine the game Mikado but in giant form in the garden!
Initially, the handyman’s father quoted us 50 cents per stick, which was quite high. Luckily, an employee from my cattle ranch offered to do it for just 12.5 cents. The delivery ended up costing $350 instead of $1,000. The handyman’s father has been losing out on opportunities by overcharging; he already lost the contract to re-thatch the deck roof and to bring in 3,500 stones for the new room. It seems he hasn’t learned his lesson.
With Christmas approaching, we’re considering a small get-together for the workers. Although I’m not keen on preparing food and attending to men who see me as worthless, it’s necessary to keep good relations with the community. Hopefully, their wives and kids will come so I’ll have someone to talk to.
December also brings an extra paycheck here, though not for contract workers like the handyman. We’ll likely have a tense conversation about him not receiving most of it because of his motorcycle payment.
The end of the world is just three days away, and there are many Mayan gatherings. The area is filled with tourists, and most hotels are booked. We have visitors, so I can’t offer out the extra room, but it would have been a great test run during this peak season. I don’t have specific plans for the 21st, but I might visit a Mayan ruin to see the festivities or attend an end-of-the-world party in a nearby village.
It doesn’t feel much like Christmas in the sun, so I Skyped home to get into the holiday spirit. My little niece had just received a letter from Santa, something I arranged during my summer visit to Santa’s village in Finland. It was a charming place with a post office staffed by elves, where you could have letters sent around Christmas. My niece was thrilled when she got the letter, though now she’s more focused on presents, having already received some for Saint Nicholas Day on December 6th. I mailed her a letter with some Guatemalan crafts that I hope she’ll like.
Lastly, the sneaky creature of the week award goes to a poisonous but adorable lizard known locally as “lisas” or “sleepy child.” They get their name because their bite makes you sleepy for an entire day. It breaks my heart to harm such a cute creature, but it’s necessary for safety.
Have a lovely, insect-free day!