Ten cultural items

I was allowed to bring ten cultural items, or books from the store. I had thought and thought what would be needed and light enough for the trip. This trip would not be easy. I already had a recorder in my bag and didn't bother with their cheap version. 

Here are my ten cultural items;

1. World history atlas

2. Farmers Almanac (current)

3. Cookbook for die cast pots/pans and stove (small, thin)

4. Anthology book fables, fairy tales,

5. 1 Ream of paper 

6. Pencil box with: pens, pencils, erasers, sharpener, 1 box crayons, tape, glue

7. 1st-5th grade textbook: McGuffey Reader and Math combo

8. 12 piece bowling game. Ball and pins 

9.  Dominoes 

10. Puzzles 2 for 1 unit 

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So why did I choose these items? I'll leave that for my next entry. 

My homemade, waterproof, reference journal

The homemade, water proof, reference journal I made had to be thin enough and small enough to fit in my backpack. A glossy folder was used to protect the journal. Sheet protectors were used to place the pages in. Smaller fonts were used to fit more information in. Information had to be weeded through as to what to accept and what to omit. 

• How to make a solar oven. One sided. 

• How to thresh wheat followed by how to turn wheat into flour. 

• A two sided reference guide for knitting was included. That's my primary skill and I need it. 

• A two sided reference for sewing was included. Likewise a primary skill. 

• Four sewing pattern were included. Very basic and generic. Short sleeve tunic and pants for adults, heavy set, and children (scrubs). Also included as the fourth was a pattern to sew feminine napkins. 

• When to plant/harvest produce. Table for produce planting buddies. How much is needed per person. 

• Directions on how to preserve the harvest were included. Dehydrating and canning. 

• First aide directions were included on a two sided sheet as well. It came from a Red Cross pamphlet that was already water proof. 

• Photocopies of all my pertinent identification and a family tree were included. Pictures of family and friends. I got a smaller copy for my wrist/ankle wallet. 

• Recipes on baking and cooking from scratch. Measurement equivalencies, substitution lists. Three pages long, both sides; small print (pica) 

• Directions on morse code and semaphore. That's one page two-sided.  I could give a class on that.   

• Important prayers and biblical verses and parables. 

• Maps of my previous local area cities. They have no meaning here. I did include an atlas map of the nation. Still worthless because I don't know where we are. Three pages- both sides. 

• Short stories to entertain and educate. A lot of fairy tale poems. They are two pages-- both sides; pica.  

I'm planning to put all if this to good use for myself and the community. 

Winter Wash

It's been a full season since we've all become refugees. The temperature is dropping. It's about time to wash the winter clothes. I aim to do it today!

I'm planning to wash the clothes I was wearing when I was transported here. My navy blue long sleeved polo shirt, my dark pants, my long johns, and the two famous socks I wore that day. One set mismatched!  I was wearing them as the first set hidden from the world. The left foot was yellow and pink polka dots, while the right foot was red plaid! Couldn't clash anymore than those two! And yet I would wear them when I wanted people to believe I was crazy and leave me alone. 

Of course those socks don't make me look crazy; but a whole getup does.  If I wear mismatched clothes and accessories and don't brush my thick, curly hair then people think I'm strange and want to avoid me. If I add strange singing at odd hours that usually helps clinch the illusion of my weirdness. 

But now, back to my laundry. A group of us have gotten together to launder and save soap. I've brought my winter clothes to wash while I wear my tankini. As a group we went to collect water to wash our clothes. Just going to get the water is a chore...pun intended. 

I secured my belongings and left my old roommate in charge of our belongings. I took my wash bucket and wash bag with me. It took half an hour to walk to our water source. Then it took half an hour for our turn to get the water. We four ladies dragged out buckets back to our site. They would not let us wash at the source!!! Assholes. I was able to transfer water from the bucket to the bag. When it comes time to wash I'll either transfer half to the bucket and wash in it; or I'll transfer half to the bucket and wash in the bag.  Either way the left over water is for rinsing. 

Tbc 

Bucket 

Soap