The translation project I went to visit was in Yucatan, Mexico. They were facing an orthography change in the language, and they needed a faster and different software to do consistent changes across each Bible chapter. With me was my friend in charge of computers at the Mexico Bible Society.

After arriving at the house where the translation was taking place, our bags was taken to a room with computers, tables and chairs, where the translators were working. I spent some time installing the software, and then went directly to work with the team.

That evening around six p.m. or so the pastor in charge told us that we were going out for dinner. We had a wonderful time learning about the local cuisine. When we finished the after dinner conversation, we went back to the same house. I expected to be taken to a bedroom, but to my surprise, we went back to the translation room. The pastor’s wife opened a closet door, took some big bags out and proceeded to hang hammocks from hooks on the walls. She even installed mosquito nets around them. That night I dreamed about riding a gondola in Venice. After 2 or 3 nights, I felt very comfortable taking my foot out of the hammock and pushing on the nearest wall so the hammock would start rocking me to sleep. It was very comfortable.

However, what was really disconcerting to me was finding an iguana inside the toilet when I had to use the restroom. So I took a tiny light that I used inside the computers, and I went around the house, as quietly as I could, to find another restroom. I had to do this during all the time I was there because I didn’t dare to open the lid of that toilet again!