Washing Clothes

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Looking back, life in the rural province was still not bad during this time period.  The rampant theft, corruption, pollution, disease, mishaps, cultural and social clashes, complications from more people and lack of money, etc. had not yet reared their ugly heads.  Before all of those complexities, there were simple preoccupations of washing clothes, relaxing and enjoying the countryside and animals around... they were nice times.

If I didn't have enough money to pay for the electricity or water bill, no problem.  I could still gather water from a waterspout.  I was always full of energy and was very strong-willed.  And I only had to worry about myself then, so it was not a major issue.  I was living in the moment and by the day, and though it was physically more work, it really did make my heart smile.

Original post below:

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

I woke up early this morning and went out for a jog. It's just too hot to do it any other time, except perhaps during the evening. I washed clothes today. Washing clothes here involves buying a very long bar of detergent soap and breaking a piece off to use. Then you make somewhat of a fist with both hands and rub the piece of clothing to clean it.

A board also helps. After washing, squeeze the water out and place it in a bucket. And after that you hang it on a line so that it may dry in the midday sun. Do this several times until all the clothes have been washed and you will finish with a satisfied feeling that you have washed all your clothes by hand.

You will also have palms and wrists that are quite sore if you are not used to washing and scrubbing clothes this way and may think to yourself that it would be nice if you had a girlfriend here to help you out or have enough money to buy a washing machine and pay for the water and electricity bills to keep it running. But still, you finish with a satisfied feeling that you did it. And that feeling stays with you when you go out late in the afternoon to get your warm clothes that smell great.

That is, of course, if your clothes are still there. You have to keep an eye on them every once in a while because sometimes they are stolen. After washing clothes today, I cleaned up and just sat around for a while. I usually find myself taking a one or two hour nap during the hot afternoons, but I wasn't sleepy today so I walked around in shady areas of the bukid, or in English, a field or farm setting. I skipped rocks, chased chickens, played with ducks, and whatnot, haha. Sometimes I sit under nipa huts to cool off for a bit.