Got nothing but time on our hands

I know that I shouldn't complain. About anything. And I'm not complaining. I'm just sharing...with annoyance and disdain. So, I have adjusted to life here just fine. But food is such a tough task to tackle! Because, let's say for instance, I wanted to make chili. Back in the 1st dimension, I would just grab a can or two of my favorite bean(s), throw it in a pot, stir in some stewed tomatoes, chop up an onion for flavor, add some salt, some chili powder, turn on the stove top, and Voila' .... 20 minutes later you have CHILI! If I was feeling carnivorous, I would brown up some beef and throw that in too! But, that fast 30 minute chili days are over. Let me explain how things work over here in 3rd world....

1. Walk your happy self to the market.
2. Meander through the dirty, crazy, loud market. (I dare not take pictures. Do you want me to be camera-less for the whole 5 months?)
3. Haul my vegetable loot home in black plastic bags.
Its more stealth that way.

4. Take out my handy-dandy vial of potassium wash (it staves off Montezuma's revenge!).
5. Soak my happy loot in purple potassium.
6. Store, cut, or cook them on my glorified hot plate!
7. Assess what I can add to them.... if the bugs haven't gotten to my shelf yet.

The whole process literally takes hours. Beans have to be washed, soaked, washed again, and boiled for a few hours. Veggies have to be washed, soaked, dried, stored, or cut and cooked. Fruits have to be soaked, rinsed, and quickly eaten or they go bad. And all open items on my shelf have to be checked daily to make sure the ants, weavels, and other unidentified bugs haven't found a way through the ziplock!

Its an interesting life over here. I get home from feeding the babies around 6 or 6:30. Then I start the harrowing process of making a meal. No microwaves. No meals in a box, can, crate, or dish. Only me, my vegetables, a bread knife (can't find a paring knife ANYWHERE here!), some random canned goods, and Nutella. Thank God for the Nutella. Anyway, I usually don't eat until 7 or 7:30. And by then I am exhausted. But WAIT! No dishwasher. But plenty of bugs. So to the sink, I will go, and wash dishes.... again. Yay. I'm so glad I have all this time on my hands! :)

Note to self # 4. Always appreciate your appliances. Be nice to them because you will miss them when they are gone.