Word of the day: gulag

The word of the day is Gulag.  In the Tetun sense, not the Russian one. In Tetun, gulag means crazy. Some think the American election results were gulag. Others think you're gulag to think the results would have been anything other than what they were.  

And speaking of the American election results, I particularly liked the first paragraph of the Craftist Collective newsletter:

I'm writing this on the day that Donald Trump has won the US Presidential Elections. I feels surreal to say that. 2016 has been full of shocking moments: Bowie passing, Brexit happening, out with one UK Prime Minister and swiftly in with another we didn't vote for and now today 's results. I've seen the outpouring of anger, fear and blame online as I'm sure you have. Yes we need to grieve but we can't spend the rest of 2016 (6 weeks) waiting for the year to be over even though that feels so tempting to me at the moment. If we fall into fear and hopelessness, things will only get worse. Casting a vote is one thing, acting every day as though we believe our efforts count is another. I beg that all of you who reading this to dust off your despair, grab some craftivism tools and MAKE our actions count. We need to be our own role models now and the world (and our own lives) will be a more wonderful place for it

My best moment of the day today:  after story time with the five year olds, Adrien came up to tell me that he saw me in the market. Adrien does not speak English. He doesn't speak Tetun (the local language). He speaks an Indonesian language. I asked one of the staff to tell me what he said, then to translate my reply.

This was my best moment because Adrien doesn't appear to listen during story time. He sits in the back and sometimes tries to wander off. Minuk, a Korean boy, on the other hand, pushes his way forward and is often a better door than a window (others can't see through him). I was thrilled that Adrien wanted to tell me that he saw me.

The afternoon was more humbling. I supervised the day care during an all-staff meeting. Not a single one of the afternoon children spoke English.  They were an orderly bunch, generally younger than the morning group, and some wanted stories.  I started with ones that I could sing, thinking that’s a little more universal. However, when I ran out of those (only two books), the kids started bringing me books in Portuguese.  Sorry, you’ll have to find me another book. I don’t read that language.  Which I said in English. Which they didn’t understand. Sigh.

Next snippet: the giant billboard by Nico’s statue has changed three times this week. It started off welcoming World Trade Organization delegates. Then it warned of the dangers of texting while driving. Now it's encouraging people to vote in the municipal run-off elections Sunday.

Remember those crowds we saw on our way to Tutuala, first casting ballots, then watching the count?  Now they’ll be coming back for a second ballot. This time, there are only two names to choose from. The victor must have at least 50% plus one of the votes cast.

I need to report out that I've found the nun’s bakery. It two buildings down from Ba Futuru. I had been looking for it at the corner, 400 metres away. I’m glad I found it. The chocolate doughnuts are amazing.

Continuing with my theme of updates, some words on the Homestay. Things have been quiet, or mostly I have been quiet. I close my room door and turn on the air conditioning. I watch Netflix or listen to a podcast. My internet bill is getting out of hand, but I'm happy.

Three nights ago, when I got up to use the toilet at 5 am, I found the house doors all locked. I haven't been using the toilet accessible from the outside mostly because there is no sink to wash my hands. The first time I tried, the toilet didn't flush. When I asked Meg about it, she said that I needed to turn on the water shut off valve, fill the tank, flush and turn off the valve. A bit too much activity when I didn't want to fully wake, but whatever.

Next thing I know, Meg has started locking the doors to the main house at night. I can take the hint. I use the toilet that's accessible from outside and keep hand sanitizer on my night table.

Then comes last night. The house doors are locked, and she's taken the toilet paper. Grumble grumble grunt groan. I saw Meg this morning, and said something.  Oh, I took it out since you said you weren't using that toilet.  Yet the doors were locked and I couldn't get inside, I said. oh, she said, it's habit to lock the doors.  About the toilet paper, we share that responsibility. You can buy toilet paper at the supermarket.  

Insert picture (mental image) of me fuming and wondering what my US$650/month of rent is for.

It's another hot day. Currently 33. Currently 1:30 pm. I'm dripping. Anita said it went up to 17 in Langley yesterday. That sound really nice right now.