Things that go "Boom!" in the night

On our way to school this morning, Max told me about a disturbing dream.  He dreamt he was shot in the stomach.  “I think it was because there were firecrackers exploding outside while I was asleep,” he told me.  He probably is right.  There are loud noises throughout the night.  Many work their way into our dreams. 

In an earlier post, Natalie described the neighborhood chorus of cats and dogs.  We get the full chorus about once a week.  On the other nights, there is just scattered barking and meowing from the cat and dog population.  Here is a list of other noises we hear on any given night:

* Firecrackers (increasing as we head toward Easter)

* Sirens (sometimes eerily similar to night sounds in Oakland)

* Opossum (rooting through our garbage if I forget to take it in before bed)

* Discotheque (actually, a party room in the hotel at the very top of the hill, so the disco beat is interspersed with people making toasts until 4 in the morning)

* Peacocks (I thought they were cats.  Natalie says peacocks. She is confident.)

* Other birds (including parrots, which are loud)

* Helen hitting her head on the wall next to her bed, rolling off the bed, or yelling downstairs that she needs to pee

* Moth trapped in our kitchen light (3 nights and counting)

* Helicopters (only once – on Monday, when they arrested a gang leader who was hiding in Oaxaca.  There are allegations that the local police offered him protection.  It is the only time we have heard anything about gangs here.)

* Garbage truck bell (actually, in the morning, but since it often wakes us up I am counting it as a night sound)

In spite of these noises, we sleep pretty well.  Living in a foreign country and speaking a different language can be exhausting.  Most of Max’s dreams are ok and involve no bullets; Helen falls asleep quickly after a bout with the wall, floor, or bathroom; and Natalie and I usually can fall back asleep with the help of a book or the iPad.  We might even miss the noises when we get home.

Our kitchen shelf, including, on the far right, what is left of our own firecracker supply.  Other items, from left to right:  Plastic horse, paint brushes, bag of paintballs Max collected for his slingshot, tape, chili sauce, vanilla (for pancakes), chili/lime salt (for fruit), more chili sauce (the butcher's homemade blend), soy sauce, Helen's science experiment, driveway gate opener, a heart from Helen's English class, Mezcal, canned tuna, plastic bag with cinnamon, dictionary, hotel soap, firecrackers.

News Flash:  Natalie’s parents arrived last night for a visit.  We are all excited.  Max and I saw them briefly last night, and Natalie and I are on our way to meet them now for breakfast.  Later they will go with me to a science fair in Helen’s class.  It is good timing, since usually nobody is allowed into the classroom.  I signed up to present an experiment so we could go in.  The experiment: something involving oil and water and how they do not mix.  --Harrison