Me + Two

Finally the period of solo volunteering has passed, well for now. Last Thursday I was graced with a drop in visit from two volunteers who had been communicating with Totoco for about two months about visiting. They stopped by to check out the farm, and frankly I was really in a torrential mood. What I can only describe as sleep depravation, a strong desire for the creature comforts I have been lusting over, and some sad news from home.

The long and short of it I suppose is that it really was a bad day to be showing two new volunteers the lovely Totoco farm. Partially because I felt my bad temper would infiltrate the attitude and energy of the farm. However, I spent two hours of my day showing them the farm, the lodge, and filling them in on whatever information I could give them. I didn’t sugar coat things, I didn’t lie. I feel like people should know what they are getting into.

Afterwards, we all sat down and they finally gave an affirmative that they would come on board. I would be lying if I said that a wave of relief washed over me. I would no longer have to worry about not fumigating for five days or not watering the beans. I would have more hands to help. And company, a very important benefit to new volunteers.

They arrived Friday night and the weekend was essentially a crash course in Totoco. I taught them the names of the plants, I taught them where some of the garden essentials were, and we got to work. More importantly, I think the best thing was having people again with whom I could share Totoco with. In part because it is nice to have someone who understands how annoying the big pig is or who can help give Donald some love so he doesn’t return to Finca Magdalena. While it is great to share with you part of the experience here, at the same time it is not the same as having someone completely understand just how annoying the squeal of the big pig is.

I also have the opportunity to shoot the breeze with someone again. Talking about such taboo things as politics, religion, history, organics, family, and life. Not to mention different opinions and different realms of experience. And recipes too! It is definitely always more fun to cook with and for more people. This weekend alone we made pesto, gallo pinto (rice and beans--but awesome), and Indian inspired dish with eggplant and potatoes.

There is also the wonderful part of no longer having to listen to Pablo and Tobias say how terrible it is for me to be alone. No more sad little shakes of the head from Tobias. No more offers of them sleeping here to protect me. The strangest part is that nothing has ever happened here before to a solo volunteer, but obviously these parents are just as afraid of the boogeymen, real or imaginary, which chase children in the dark.

All I can say is that while I may not believe in the boogeyman, I am not going to turn down the extra hands and the company.