Giving Thanks

I'm thankful for...

...a sturdy house I can feel safe in.
...a well, pump and tank that allow me to have water when I want it.
...insurance that covers all my medical needs.
...several pairs of underwear.
...the freedom to leave if I really want to.
...a washsink and a place to hang clothes indoors.
...two legs that make getting around easy.
...two ears that let me hear life.
...two eyes the let me see life.
...bananas and peanut butter. Together or separate.
...a supportive family.
...first-hand clothing.
...contact lenses.
...a job.
...a refrigerator.
...literacy.
...people whose point of view differs from mine.
...diversity.
...Christmas music.
...and the ability to download it.
...family game night.
...grade schoolers and high schoolers.
...clouds and rain.
...oscillating fans.
...electricity, especially when we have it.
...a gas stove.
...the internet.
...laughter.
...shampoo for washing long hair.
...health.

The Wachi

The Wachi - That's NicaSpanish for watchguard. It's one of a handful of jobs that quickly come to mind that does not get taken into account as employment, and thus results in Port having an 80% unemployment rate. Along with teacher and vendor (street or market), I would put it up there as one of the more common jobs here.

I try to go out of my way to be social with the wachi's, even if it's a simple "Manin'" when passing by in the street on the way to school. Some wachis have the fortune of working with or near other wachis, which gives them a little bit of social interaction, at least. But a lot of them spend a long time doing nothing and making sure nothing happens (break-ins, robberies, etc.).

It'a kind of a thankless job. In many cases, you're not really noticed or talked to unless there's some sort of problem. For most wachis, there's not a whole ton of job security either. Being a wachi does not require a specific skillset. It's mainly about trust. Can the people who hired you trust you to do your job? If the answer is no, you're out.

That's the upside and the downside, of course. You don't need much of an education to do the job. But if you're a wachi, you're not considered to have much education, and you'll get treated accordingly by many people. For a lot of people, the wachis are almost invisible, just there to lock and unlock the gate. You'd almost think Wachi is a common name here in Port. Most wachis are not addressed by their name, but rather simply as "wachi."

Some people would be bored out of their mind as a wachi. Shifts are typically 10-12 hours long, six to seven days a week. The nightshift, I imagine, can be incredibly uninteresting. I've done nightshifts before where I've actually had to do work, and it's hard to not fall asleep. Just imagine sitting in a chair, or a hammock if you're lucky, all night. Try not to doze off. Of course, the evening chill might be enough to keep you awake. It's actually been cool enough that I've considered putting on long sleeves to stay warm if I'm walking around at night.

The wachi's that work for the Sisters actually have it fairly well off. They get the equivalent of a teacher's salary and a couple weeks of vacation every six months or so. They get lunch on a fairly regular basis, which is a perk I don't think a lot of wachis get to experience. Don Trinales has worked for the Sisters for 25 years now, so there's obviously something worth sticking around for. I don't see him as much because he's often out on the bike running errands or working on some project in the bowels of the convent.

Benedicto watches the gate that leads into the big playground that Niño Jesús and Escuela Maureen share. I talk to him pretty much everyday. Usually just about the weather and random other tidbits, but he said recently that he'll be sad when I go because I always stop to talk to him. I don't think he gets that from too many other people, and I think he genuinely appreciates it.

The Wachi culture would actually be a really interesting anthropologic study for any aspiring research anthropologists. I think there's a lot more to the norms and other intricacies of the wachis of Port than I've been able to get to know. I'm almost positive that most of them would be more than happy to do an interview. They don't get much attention otherwise, you know.