Water

Sept 19    Last night was cold – in our tent inside the straw hut, we slept in our clothes under three blankets. I remember such nights here in the middle of winter – late June thru mid-August – but by September the nights were always warmer and the days were hot. People around here are saying that it’s hotter than usual – high 80’s, even 90. I suspect this is our version of climate change. As long as it keeps raining we’ll be fine, but we’re on the edge of the region where desertification is likely to occur with advancing global warming. This is why we plan to build cisterns and rain catchment systems despite the fact that the local people consider it unnecessary.

We have no piped water yet – all our water is brought up from the stream in buckets.

 We’ve been drinking straight from the stream as there are no houses upstream and the spring is within sight, about a mile west of our homestead. However, two or three times a day cattle comes down to drink and muddies the water. The best time to draw water is early in the morning. And we will buy a water filter in the next few days. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we’re not already full of parasites or other disease. No tummy aches so far. We took our cues from the local workers who drink straight from the stream.

Today the workers are treating us to a “galinhada” – a big pot of rice, chicken and corn. On the last day, hopefully day-after-tomorrow, we’ll treat them to a festive meal. They’re a good bunch – friendly, they tell stories and jokes, and ask hundreds of questions about the States, the English language, our former occupations, relationships, etc. They know that we’re environmentalists and make endless comments – both serious and humorous – about our food, our systems, and our attitudes. They talk about religion a lot, debating creationism versus evolution – were the first people Adam and Eve or were they monkeys, and creationism versus the big bang; and the true nature of Jesus, and of so-called prophets such as Muhammed. They ask me if I believe in God, if humans come from monkeys, if homosexuality is a sin against God. I answer honestly – no, yes, no – and all is well. 

One of them is the typical evangelical believer, so common currently in Brazil, replacing the complacent and easy-going Roman Catholics. They think that the world’s greatest preachers are American, starting with Billy Graham. It scares me.

Spring here begins officially this weekend, while for our friends in the northern hemisphere it will be the Autumn Equinox. Each holds its own beauty and promise.