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Saquito

 Jan 22nd
Before we moved in with our host families the Peace Corps explained to us what household tasks we should expect our families to take care of, and what our responsibilities are around the house.  For example they told us that our moms will wash our “big clothes” but we are responsible for washing our ropa interior (underwear). 

When I got from Panama City today Mama confronted me with my with my laundry bag.  She asked me why I had been hiding my “saquito” of dirty underwear from her.  I explained to her that the Peace Corps had told us that we should wash our on underwear, so I was planning to wash the clothes in my laundry bag once I was running low on underwear.  My mom refused to believe that I had not been trying to hide the saquito of dirty underwear from her.  She kept telling me that she knew I was hiding it because I was embarrassed to show it to her.  I kept telling her that wasn’t the case, I was just trying to be polite. In the end I decided it was easier to give in and tell her I she was right. 

I wasn’t embarrassed to have her wash my underwear, I was embarrassed that she thought I was stowing away my dirty underwear.  But on the bright side I don’t have to wash my underwear anymore.
Location: Los Mortales, Panama

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