In the Jungle
I arrived home at 4:20 and quickly picked up a bit as I waited for my office to come and help me chop down the jungle they call my garden. Five o'clock came and went and they still had not shown. I was a bit surprised that I had been stood up. I decided to call Cristina and tell her that I would go to her house. In all honesty, all I wanted was an excuse to stop by the I-shop (convenience store with bakery) to get some fine baked good. However, as I stepped outside and got in my car, I noticed my section chief's car in the garden next to my house. Apparently he was waiting for the rest of my coworkers to show.
It was now 5:30 and everyone was there -- my section chief, my direct supervisor, the guy underneath him and the office lady. They came armed with two of those electric hand-held trimmers, this scary looking curved machete you only see as part of a grim reaper costume, a rake and a smal shovel. They all wore long sleeves and gloves. I was in shorts, no gloves. I quickly realized that they wore long sleeves because of all the mosquitos. The gloves were because the blades of grass are really sharp (like blades). Now I know the proper attire for gardening. In case I had not realized it, midway through they informed me of it as my section chief slapped me across the face (to kill a mosquito he said).
They quickly got to work at different parts of my "garden". I asked what I should do, since all the tools were being used. They replied that I should relax. So, I just began picking up grass cuttings and throwing them on the large pile of compost at one corner of my yard. My section chief was hacking at the scary side of the house with the old trash, so I took the opportunity to inform him that there was old trash in the bins and it was not mine. He asked me for a trash bag. He wrapped the old trash bag in a new one and WROTE MY NAME ON IT. I informed him again that it was not mine and he said that it did not matter. I told him that if they return it to me, I will not sort it. He reassured me that it will not be returned. I certainly hope not.
As I was looking for trash bags, I took the liberty of inviting my co-workers in one or two at a time to see that I had been giving the house a much needed deep cleaning. They were impressed by the genkan that I had painted lime green. I then took them to the shower room and the kitchen where I pointed to the rotten wood and put my hands together (as if praying) and asked for new wood. They smiled and nodded. (I think this means, "oh, he's so cute, he is thanking us for putting masking tape over the rotten wood.") Let's see what happens.
An hour and a half passed and the yard was all trimmed. They left me with about a quarter inch of grass, which I cannot complain about. They informed me that 3 ALTs ago, they kept a strawberry patch in my yard. I thought maybe, but Cristina told me that she did not think any of the vegetables I grew would be safe to eat.
Afterward, I headed to Cristina's house. By now, she had called Laura of Osaki and informed her that she was bored. We invited ourselves to Laura's house for some Friends and "dinner". Apparently, dinner in the Midwest consists of a hard-boiled egg and several pieces of buttered raisin bread. Just kidding, Laura did offer to cook us dinner but we told her that we were not hungry and just ate what I mentioned above in addition to some pastries I picked up at the bakery. (The pastries were not as good as the day before.) We just watched tv, ate and talked. I would classify it as an enjoyable time. I was most excited about her having Neosporin. I was able to clean my cuts again and put some Neosporin on them.
Oh, about the hunt for Neosporin . . . after Cristina reassured me that my big cut would not heal properly and result in a disgusting scar, we went to the pharmacy again to see if they had something similar to neosporin. We found some Terramycin cream made by Pfizer. Lourdes, you mentioned that Neosporin had three ingredients, this was the only one they found. Do you think it is good enough? What does it do? (please reply)
Vivian, Ramon, thank you for your updates about the hurricanes. I cannot believe all the storms that are passing through. Even here in Japan, they are surprised at the amount of storm activity that is taking place. I think that this may be a reaction by mother nature at our (Cristina and me) drastic move. Perhaps, Cubans aren't meant to be in Japan. In all truthfulness, it is a bit alarming. I have to say that I am a bit relieved that I did not watch that movie that was released this summer about the shifting of the North and South poles causing the world to suffer an unreal amount of natural disasters. With that being said, stay safe. Say hi to the rest of the family for me.
Well, I oughta get going now. Bye.
It was now 5:30 and everyone was there -- my section chief, my direct supervisor, the guy underneath him and the office lady. They came armed with two of those electric hand-held trimmers, this scary looking curved machete you only see as part of a grim reaper costume, a rake and a smal shovel. They all wore long sleeves and gloves. I was in shorts, no gloves. I quickly realized that they wore long sleeves because of all the mosquitos. The gloves were because the blades of grass are really sharp (like blades). Now I know the proper attire for gardening. In case I had not realized it, midway through they informed me of it as my section chief slapped me across the face (to kill a mosquito he said).
They quickly got to work at different parts of my "garden". I asked what I should do, since all the tools were being used. They replied that I should relax. So, I just began picking up grass cuttings and throwing them on the large pile of compost at one corner of my yard. My section chief was hacking at the scary side of the house with the old trash, so I took the opportunity to inform him that there was old trash in the bins and it was not mine. He asked me for a trash bag. He wrapped the old trash bag in a new one and WROTE MY NAME ON IT. I informed him again that it was not mine and he said that it did not matter. I told him that if they return it to me, I will not sort it. He reassured me that it will not be returned. I certainly hope not.
As I was looking for trash bags, I took the liberty of inviting my co-workers in one or two at a time to see that I had been giving the house a much needed deep cleaning. They were impressed by the genkan that I had painted lime green. I then took them to the shower room and the kitchen where I pointed to the rotten wood and put my hands together (as if praying) and asked for new wood. They smiled and nodded. (I think this means, "oh, he's so cute, he is thanking us for putting masking tape over the rotten wood.") Let's see what happens.
An hour and a half passed and the yard was all trimmed. They left me with about a quarter inch of grass, which I cannot complain about. They informed me that 3 ALTs ago, they kept a strawberry patch in my yard. I thought maybe, but Cristina told me that she did not think any of the vegetables I grew would be safe to eat.
Afterward, I headed to Cristina's house. By now, she had called Laura of Osaki and informed her that she was bored. We invited ourselves to Laura's house for some Friends and "dinner". Apparently, dinner in the Midwest consists of a hard-boiled egg and several pieces of buttered raisin bread. Just kidding, Laura did offer to cook us dinner but we told her that we were not hungry and just ate what I mentioned above in addition to some pastries I picked up at the bakery. (The pastries were not as good as the day before.) We just watched tv, ate and talked. I would classify it as an enjoyable time. I was most excited about her having Neosporin. I was able to clean my cuts again and put some Neosporin on them.
Oh, about the hunt for Neosporin . . . after Cristina reassured me that my big cut would not heal properly and result in a disgusting scar, we went to the pharmacy again to see if they had something similar to neosporin. We found some Terramycin cream made by Pfizer. Lourdes, you mentioned that Neosporin had three ingredients, this was the only one they found. Do you think it is good enough? What does it do? (please reply)
Vivian, Ramon, thank you for your updates about the hurricanes. I cannot believe all the storms that are passing through. Even here in Japan, they are surprised at the amount of storm activity that is taking place. I think that this may be a reaction by mother nature at our (Cristina and me) drastic move. Perhaps, Cubans aren't meant to be in Japan. In all truthfulness, it is a bit alarming. I have to say that I am a bit relieved that I did not watch that movie that was released this summer about the shifting of the North and South poles causing the world to suffer an unreal amount of natural disasters. With that being said, stay safe. Say hi to the rest of the family for me.
Well, I oughta get going now. Bye.
posted by Jesse Montano at
8:27 AM
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