It’s Kind of Like…

Sunrise over Santa Ana

We were sitting around discussing how we could accurately describe our daily lives in Santa Ana to our friends and family back home and we’ve come to the conclusion that it’s kind of like being on a really long camping trip.

The amenities, while comfortable and more than we expected, are just not quite the same as home. While we have a flush toilet, it doesn’t really work properly and involves a little jiggling and finagling to get things going. The shower is only warm when the water has been cooking in the pipes all day—Santa Ana’s version of a solar shower. Camp stoves we’ve used back home are more efficient than our teeny gas stove here. Our bed is comparable to a camping pad. Drinking water and conservation - high priorities all day every day. We’re constantly shooing, smooshing, catching and/or swatting bugs of all shapes and sizes. And frogs. And scorpions. Basically, there are animals all around. With the frequent power outages and dirt pathways, we’re putting our Black Diamond headlamps to good use (Thanks Adam). We’re never quite clean between the intense heat and ever-present dirt and sand, which collects on everyone and everything.

Luckily we love camping. Sandals, all the time. There is always music in the background. We can often see or hear kids playing outside. Beyond our tiny town, we’re surrounded by undeveloped wilderness and close to one of the most beautiful beaches. We have good times with good people every day. Nighttime entertainment consists of reading and playing cards. We can see the stars. We fall asleep to the sounds of nature every night. Now if only we could make s’mores… 

Fundación Educativa Instituto Ecológico Barbacoas