I never complain about laundry. Well, hardly ever but today as I started to complain in my head about it I remembered why I told myself almost ten years ago that I would never complain about laundry. I think the following pictures describe it better than any words I could come up with. . .
Hermana Klein and I doing our weekly laundry on p-day. In the first picture you can see her filling the "washing machine" up with water for the cycle. Then in the next one I'm wringing out the clothes as best as I can to put into that silver cylinder which spun the clothes and discarded the water into the white bowl. Mind you, it was freezing cold that day and my hands almost froze wringing out those clothes! Lovely process, don't you think?Then, if you're lucky and it's a sunny day and one in which the neighbors have not decided to burn their trash then your clothes will dry nicely hanging outside. Otherwise, we would string them up all over inside to dry (burned trash never smells good on your clothing).
If you had done laundry for a year and a half this way, then maybe you would also have told yourself you would never complain again. I was glad of this reminder today because I often forget about the little conveniences that we have to make our lives easier and yet we still don't appreciate them unless they are taken away from us.
So for all of you who have never done laundry "the Chilean way" -- just be grateful that you have a washer and dryer. And remember -- it IS a blessing!
10 comments:
Today is laundry day so thank you for the reminder that it could be worse.
And it could be worse than "the Chilean way", I suppose! We do have it very easy. Go watch the little video on Kelly's blog...it certainly puts our lives into perspective.
Holy cow and amen! My new mantra: I love my on-the-fritz-tempermental-non-cycling washer, I love my on-the-fritz-tempermental-non-cycling washer, I love my on-the-fritz-tempermental-non-cycling washer.
Wow, does that bring back memories! I am soooo glad I don't have to do laundry like that now that I have a hubby and a baby. Thanks for the reminder to be grateful for what I have!
It can always be worse! And I loved the experience you shared on my blog. Classic and totally something I would do.
Wow, that looks filthy! Yeah, yesterday was laundry day and I was cursing walking down stairs and carrying the loads up two flights of stairs, but I'll never complain again. We are blessed, plus my weekly stair workout has probably helped me stay somewhat in shape this pregnancy.
You were so cute on your mission too!
I agree with Meg you were so cute on your mission.... BOY, how time flies so quickly.... Keep hoping Shauny will NOT mission out on the adventures of a mission!
Hey - I remember that washer and spinner thing - wait, I don't remember the spinner thing. I think they got that after I left Progreso! You lucky dog! Ha ha! Good 'ol Chile! I think I should also mention that we had to keep reusing the water that we already used to wash our first, second, third load of washing in! At least that's what the mamita made us do when I was there! It was NASTY!
Sara - I don't remember reusing the water but we probably did (I probably just blocked that part out), but I do remember that mamita was NOT the nicest I had. She had a normal washer and dryer in her house (one of the only sets I saw in Chile) and she would not let us go near it! So instead we washed outside. Did she have the washer/dryer when you were there?
I don't remember a washer and dryer!!!! It would not surprise me though. I vaguely remember the spinner thing now. I believe we would ask her to use it and sometimes she would let us but usually she would just ignore us. I have a great picture of the water of what it looked like after we were done w/ our washing. It was NASTY! No wonder I had fleas in Progreso - nothing got cleaned! EWWWWW!!!!!
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