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Since moving to Guatemala in October, my life has seen a lot of unexpected changes. Here’s a glimpse of what’s now part of my daily routine:
**Waking Up at 5 AM**
This early wake-up might not be a shock for those with little ones who jump on the bed at this hour. For me, who used to wake up around 8 AM, it’s now like waking up in the middle of the night. Thanks to jet lag from Europe, getting up early has been quite easy, and it’s something I plan to stick with since my mornings are so much more productive. By 7:30, I’ve usually checked my emails, done some writing, made the bed, and had breakfast. The handyman arrives at 8 AM, and we get to work on the house.
**Early Mornings and Early Nights**
The beauty of early mornings is matched by how early I now go to bed. With the sun setting around 6 PM, I’m often in bed by 7 PM. Back when we had no electricity, my evenings ended with candlelit nights with my BF, playing the guitar and enjoying beers. Now, hitting the bed by 9 PM feels like a late night.
**Packing Valuables Before Leaving**
With no windows, just mosquito nets, it’s easy for anyone to break in. Given that the previous owner’s water pump and most of the wiring were stolen, I make sure to take my laptop, money, and other valuables with me whenever I go to town.
**Checking Clothes and Shoes**
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, I always shake my clothes and check my shoes before putting them on. The scorpion count so far is two and unpleasantly large cockroaches have crawled out of my bags. I also carry a flashlight for nighttime bathroom trips.
**Wearing Repetitive Outfits**
That suitcase I packed? I barely use a tenth of my clothes. My go-to outfit is khaki pants and a gray tank top, which is practical for working and hides dirt and mud well. After a swim in the lake, I hang my washed clothes and switch to sweatpants for the evening. On grocery runs, I put on jeans and feel incredibly fancy!
**Always Accessible Bathing Suit**
My bathing suit never sees the closet since I swim in the lake daily.
**Outdoor Showers**
With no running water yet, I shower in the lake, trying to use minimal soap. It’s quite an experience being out in nature, with fish often popping by when I’m doing the dishes, eager for a bite.
**Dinner for Breakfast**
Without a fridge, food spoils quickly, so everything needs to be eaten fast. This means my breakfasts often consist of dinner leftovers.
**Using a Pit Toilet**
Currently, we have a dry pit toilet about five meters deep, which is convenient until we get running water. One time, there was an odd noise from the bottom, and BF thinks it’s a bat, which has now made me a bit wary of using it.
**Update:**
Since writing this, we’ve got running water (goodbye bats) and electricity (hello blog updates).
Have you ever spent time without the luxuries we usually take for granted? What was your experience like?