I have recently engaged in a relationship with my neighbors that benefits us both. My neighbors’ benefit is more concrete while mine is an ease of conscience. I get to feel good about myself. First, some background information about the ways of life here. In Talanga, there is running water twice a week. In my neighborhood Monday mornings and Friday mornings the faucets start working, often around 6 or 6:30 although it could be anytime. Water generally runs for the majority of the morning, sometimes into early afternoon. You never really know when it will come and go. Since the other 5 days there is no water, everyone spends these mornings filling every container and barrel they can find, hence the pila. A pila is essentially a concrete holding tank for water. The pila needs to be emptied and cleaned every so often. I have algae problems therefore my pila needs cleaning almost every week.
So, water comes every Monday and Friday, except when it doesn’t. Some days the water just doesn’t come. This usually does not cause problems for me. I am one person living in a small house with a rather large pila and a barrel in the bathroom which I use to bathe, wash hands and flush the toilet. I generally only use the pila water to wash clothes and dishes. Some times laundry misses the to-do list between water coming. Therefore, I have a huge pila full of water. When it comes time to clean the pila I must drain it completely. Occasionally, I see my neighbor kids walking to the river with buckets. A family with three adolescents and a toddler uses a lot of water. Just the laundry dirtied by a two year old probably uses more wash water than I use all week. When water inexplicably does not come, it causes stress and problems for many families. The wealthier families can buy extra water but that isn’t a realistic option for everyone.
I caught my neighbors walking to the river with buckets on a day I sat with a full pila. I invited the kids to bring water from my house to theirs instead of from the river. I think they felt a little guilty the first time, worried I would run out of water because I gave it to them. The water has been surprisingly reliable the last few months, until last week. Last Monday, water did not come, by Tuesday they were scraping the last drops from the bottom of their pila. The mom poked her head in my door (which is always standing wide open). She hesitantly asked if I could give them a bucket of water. When she saw my pila was full and I stressed that there is no way I could use it all, to take as much as they needed, she sent the kids back for a few more buckets. Thursday the son popped his head in, “Laura, regaleme agua por favor.” Of course I will give you water! The family benefits by receiving free water from across the street instead of hauling it several blocks (slightly up hill). Talanga water is considered potable but I would not call it “clean” by any means. Some days it comes through the tap brown and muddy, especially after heavy rainstorms. That is just what you can see, I have not had my water quality checked for bacteria, parasites and other problems, I am afraid of the findings. Still, I believe the pila water is cleaner than the visibly polluted river (again, I don’t even want to speculate about what I can’t see!) How do I benefit from this arrangement? I feel better that my neighbors aren’t using river water (both for their own health and what is left of the health of the small river.) I also don’t feel guilty when I clean the pila and waste gallons and gallons of water. I realize this is not a sustainable solution but it works for now. In two months they will have to return to the river. Until then, they can keep laughing at me each time I buy 1 Lempira (about 6 cents) of tortillas. They understand that I am just one gringa and don’t eat tortillas with every meal but they still get a kick out of my 1 Lempira. Most people buy many, EVERY day. My host mom makes 60-70 tortillas daily. I enjoy my 3-5 (depending who fetches them for me) maybe once a week.
Yes, the "coup" continues but I don't really have any news for you. Life in Talanga still hasn't changed much.
Photos: 3rd grade dramas about hygiene and tooth brushing, my pila
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