The End. "Is this Real?"

God Bless America! Matt and I have been back on US soil for almost two full days--one being Thanksgiving--and I find myself constantly asking out loud "Is this real?" I am filled with wonder every time I use the bathroom or sit on a comfortable chair or couch. Beds and pillows are nothing short of amazing. The highway is glorious and TV is strange. Food is amazing--absolutely amazing--at every bite--and I find myself overwhelmed by the options and choices each new day brings along. Showers-with their running hot water are just about my favorite part of each day--and I have found that tears come to eyes easily over the simple things. Seeing family is by far and away the very best part of any homecoming and this is no exception--saying "good-bye" and knowing that it is just until tomorrow or maybe next month is a refreshing change from the teary eyed exchanges over the past 2 years and 3 months. There is an opposite side to all of this, I know, and of course, it weighs heavy in my heart---and that is the thought of Nicaraguan friends and family. Thanks to technology--it will be easier than ever before to stay in touch with everyone--but it is simply not the same. My host mom has been appearing in my dreams-and I awake with her on my mind often...perhaps it is time to buy a calling card. Every now and then, as I am lying on an amazing soft bed, or brushing my teeth with clean, running water at a bathroom sink--I get flashes of my everyday life in Nicaragua--standing outside to brush my teeth--awaking to the tickle of our mosquito net and squealing pigs and crowing roosters-- The last few weeks in the country were intense--and exhausting. I feel somewhat emotionally drained. We had 4-5 "despedidas" or going away parties. My eighth graders and seventh graders each threw me a party and gave me gifts--some of them grabbing things from their homes at the last minute--teachers were taking earrings out of their own ears to give me as they said good-bye---we were fed and fed and fed in true hospitable Nica-style--and the night before we left our little pueblo--we had a dinner and all night long dance party at our host family's house. I cried during a few especially difficult good-byes--never knowing if I could fully express how much the sincere friendship of a few especially close Nica friends, family members, and co-workers meant to me. Hugging my host nieces and nephews--my little kid friends---well, after 2 years, it's just hard.... We left our little town and our host sister, husband, and one of their kids drove us to Managua--and then stayed with our training host family nearby. It was so neat to see our one family meet our other family--we got a snapshot of us all together and I will treasure it forever. I know in my heart that we will return to visit---I just don't know when. Peace Corps is truly a one of a kind experience. And although there are parts I wish I could erase or change--I don't think I would ever take it back.

AND THEN

At the end of your typical non typical medical visit--you are invited to stay one more day in order to judge the National English Singing Competition. Gotta love Peace Corps (-: Now, to make sure our clothes are in good enough shape to appear on tv.

PILLOWS. and your "typical" medical check up

Pillows...mmmmm So we are in Managua for our close of service medical check up. This means we do get to stay in a pretty luxurious hotel for a night or two--you know, running hot water and AC (Whhhhaaatttt?!) and PILLOWS! I woke up this morning thinking "why is this so amazing? i mean besides the obvious factors of sleeping with a blanket and the welcome anticipation of a hot shower---the answer--PILLOWS! I slept with TWO of them last night and feel like a queen! Maybe I should explain a bit about pillows here in Nica-land: they are tough to come by....and usually consist of lumpy balls tossed inside a bag of sorts--think sleeping on rolled up socks or something--in fact, i have many a Nica friend that don't even use pillows. It's weird to think that back home people have pillows everywhere they don't even use--they are "decorative"---that's gonnna be strange....people throw their pillows onto the ground at night (why are you treating your pillows like that!?) and then pile them on the next day....anyways, sleeping with two, firm, pillows last night was a thrilling experience! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Typical PC medical check up...is there such a thing? Is anything typical during PC service? maybe just that nothing is typical---that's typical... Ok, so your end of service med stuff is a whirlwind of --general physical exam, getting stuck with 2 needles--one a blood test the other a test for Tubercuculosis (sp?), you go to the dentist, the girl doctor, provide a urine sample and everyone's favorite--good 'ol poo in a cup three days in a row.....you do all of this in TWO DAYS and a morning. In addition, you are expected to squeeze in every administrative task you may need to get done while in the big city= a little hectic. This time in particular, the taxis in the big city decided to go on strike--resulting in mild protests in the street/street closures etc. So for safety reasons, I had to be carted around by private PC vehicles which is pretty luxurious in and of itself--but crummy in that because there are so few drivers you just have to arrive maybe 2.5 hours early to some appointments and stay an hour or two late at others waiting for the drivers...meaning you miss administrative appointments back at the office and constantly juggling to reschedule them all whilst thinking about those fecal samples you have to turn in at some point in the next two days....note: supposedly these samples are only good for an hour-hour and a half--so even if i wanted to carry them around while being carted from doctor to doctor--I couldn't be sure they would still be acceptable....hmmm many of you may be saying "ew" right now. I do apologize if this is too much information! Being desensitized to this kind of conversation is a result of my time here and possibly should be a requirement for joining! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nearing the End.

Wow, I cannot believe September is coming to a close! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Very important things that happened since last post: MY MOM CAME TO QUILALI!!! That's right, she took 5 days out of her life--3 of them pretty much purely dedicated travel days, to spend about 36 hours in Quilali. Ok, so I invited her to the Bottle Classroom Inauguration and she came! It was so amazing to have my Mom here--to see her see my life--and hug all my Nica friends and family. She met almost everyone in her short visit-the language barrier didn't matter--she was received like a rock star everywhere we went and was fed a lot (pretty common in Nica Land). She saw both of my high schools and met fellow professors, principals, the mayor of Quilali, my project construction foreman, most of my students, my best friends, my counterparts, fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and bosses, and my Nica family. She sat in my living room furniture (hammock) and slept under our mosquito net--she bathed using a bucket and cold water--made coffee using a cheese cloth and washed the dishes outside with the mountains as her backdrop. Mom, you are so awesome. It was sad to see her go, and more than a month later, people are still talking about her!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Luckily, we went straight into a Close of Service Conference so I was distracted! It was great to see all the other volunteers that arrived 2 years ago--it is very rare indeed that we are all together. We evaluated and made suggestions for our sector specific programs and also talked about DUHN DUHN DUHN THE FUTURE!!! Including the job search and grad school---resumes, interviews, etc... One thing I really liked hearing was that as well intentioned as loved ones may be upon your arrival---you do not have to accept an immediate job offer that your heart isn't in---our boss did a great impression of a mom running to meet you at the plane, giving you maybe 2 days to relax and then waving a bunch of job applications in your face...This is NOT to say that if you really and truly think you know of a great job opportunity for me Not to tell me about it!!! Just know that I am on top of my future! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Which is----applying for Graduate School. I admit it, I am sort of intimidated at the prospect of school after a long hiatus, but feel pretty strongly it's the right choice. I won't go on too much, but it has been challenging applying from Nicaragua, especially Quilali. The frequent power outages, hot weather (no AC), no post office for hours, and tricky transportation situations combined with trying to stay at least somewhat present in my life here add up to a somewhat stressful situation. I feel like every time I sit down at a computer to work on a resume or aspiration statement the power decides to go out...or the free time I have in the day is during the absolute hottest part---when it's tough to be motivated to do much of anything....I also have this fear that due to our crummy roads and the rainy season--I might not even physically be able to get to Managua to take the GRE when the date arrives.....*sigh* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I had a great morning today. The owner of the little store by our house gave me a hand made bracelet and my neighbor gave me challa--a vegetable that grows in her yard. Friends are coming over for dinner at our house--if it doesnt rain and the power stays on---and time is flying. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I expect a more reflective entry is on its way, as the end is so so very near (flying to USA on Nov. 21/leaving Quilali November 12). The weight of insurance, jobs, school, rent, bills, and all the additional responsibilities of being a privileged citizen of the us of a is growing....... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I already get teary eyed talking of our departure with so many Nica family and friends...I am proud, very proud, of my time here as a volunteer, teacher, friend, and community member--part of my heart will stay here... But i REALLY CANT wait to hug so many people and see so many faces back home! Less than 2 months. Pretty crazy.

A long, but EXCITING ramble!

ok so it feels exciting to me... AUGUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unbelievable! Let me say Happy Birthday to so many family and friends in August—both American and Nicaraguan!!! I just watched a movie and within it “it’s a Wonderful Life” was mentioned and a few scenes shown—it made me teary eyed for home. No one in my entire town has ever heard of it, that’s for sure. No matter how much I have adapted to being here, there remain some things that just hit so close to home. Home. We will be home in about 3 months and a week or so! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The other volunteer who lives in our town, Nishant, had his family come visit from the USA this past wknd.—his parents, aunt and uncle and their two kids along with another lovely PC Volunteer, Lauren. It was an incredible thing to view my town and life through their new, fresh eyes. Things I see every day and don’t even notice anymore are worthy of a picture and exclamation…We all went out to our host family’s farm which required a ride on one of the infamous chicken busses (and not to disappoint there was indeed a live chicken on the bus), walking on foot, crossing the river via long boat, and a 45 minute horseback ride. Our host family’ extended family that lives out in this community managed to find 9 horses from neighbors and other family so that each of us had our own horse. Once at the farm, we ate and ate and ate---almost all the food freshly picked or killed right there on the property. We shucked and grilled the corn growing there---ate the fresh beans and cheese produced—and watched as 2 chickens were picked out, killed, and cooked for our afternoon soup. I was so impressed with Nishant’s family—they remained in good spirits all day and thoroughly enjoyed themselves---the kids jumped right in and played with all the Nicaraguan kids—despite the language barrier. At the end of their visit, his family gave some gifts to our host family and we translated a bit—about how our host mom cares for all of us like her own children…Of course, this also made me teary-eyed. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx It is events like these that I hold dear to my heart. To me, it is the essence of Peace Corps-especially the second and third goals of the program. (Have I mentioned these? Well, basically Peace Corps in general in every country in the world where we have a presence has 3 main goals: 1- Provide technical, professional training in an area where it is needed and requested 2- share USA Culture with our foreign counterparts/communities 3- share the culture of our host country with everyone back home) Of course, watching Nishant with his family made me a bit envious and I wished my family had been there too! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Not much new news to report. I am still waiting to see if the Principal and other folks will confirm the official date for the Bottle Classroom Inauguration. But, it is out of my hands. The science fair is this week—and the group of kids that built a model house using the bottle method will be presenting. They were also invited to a competition in a larger city via “INTUR”, Nicaragua’s tourism office—in order to share their project. The professor who is helping these students also wants to build fence of sorts using the eco-ladrillos (bottles!) around one of the oldest trees at my other school. They used our project proposal and budget to help with their project. All of this also fills my heart with happiness! Matt and I ate dinner in the park last night and as we sat down to the table, a man I didn’t recognize asked me if the Bottle Classroom was finished---I finally got to smile and say “YES, YES IT IS!” xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx SIDE STORY: Everything was going SO WELL this week (ok it was only Tuesday night)—and by this I mean: The water came on Sunday morning—we got a full tank so I could do my laundry and clean my house, the power finally seemed to be on and be somewhat stable, we managed to get 2 new jugs of filtered drinking water---basic living needs CHECK!! Then yesterday we went to start cooking dinner on our gas stove---and surprise-GAS ALL OUT finally….all the stores that sell propane tanks were closed for the night-so we climbed the hill from our house up to the park (one of two places you can eat at night in town) and while we were there a HUGE storm rolled in….I mean HUGE! We got stuck at the park for about an hour and a half…waiting for the rain to pass….it never did…there are 3 taxis in our town and it seems that by 8pm they are all finished working for the day….so at about 8:10, we decided to just walk home in the rain and lightning…would have been fine, except the power was out (of course—happens almost every time it rains…) So we ran/walked home in a huge thunder/lightning storm using the light from the rays of lightning to guide our way….we had to stop between lightning bursts because we could no longer see anything….I definitely fell climbing down the small dirt path that leads to our neighborhood….but once we got to our “road” a neighbor came to their window and shined a light for us until we were safe inside our house….Really though, we laughed all the way home and enjoyed getting drenched! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Peace Corps gives us this sheet that breaks our time here down into chunks and lists things we may be experiencing and the feeling that may accompany them---currently these things include: TRAUMA OF DEPARTURE, BRIDGING THE IDENTITY OF YOUR POST PEACE CORPS SELF WITH NEW SELF ONCE HOME, REDEFINING CAREER GOALS, Hmmm what does this mean? The feelings that may accompany this: anxiety, fright, panic, obsessive planning and scheduling. CHECK CHECKCHECKCHECKCHECK How can it be traumatizing to go home? Oh the endless cultural differences—the expectations other people have for you—the lack of understanding or interest in what you just did with 2 years and 3 months of your life—the impossible task of fully explaining what just happened to you over the past 2 years and 3 months—putting toilet paper in the toilet—flush toilets everywhere—CARS, highways…driving…etc. But more than anything, the common and never-ending question—“So, what’s your plan now?” Almost as if the past 2 years and three months didn’t happen—or happened without consequence. Maybe I would like to take a moment to process, to readjust. I understand it is just a logical, appropriate question---but I still have 3 months to go here and I am already sort of weary of answering it….Matt and I sometimes joke about seeing who can give the most outrageous answer every time we get this question---lion tamer, underwater aerobics instructor, etc. The truth is, we will have a transition phase, and then use all the skills and knowledge acquired during this experience to seek out fulfilling job and or educational opportunities. *sigh* I have more specifics, but I feel like I have prattled on long enough. Underwater aerobics instructor does sound pretty cool though, right?

"Normal" Day

Another One of Those Days… xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxThat sort of leaves you breathless at the end…in slight awe of the day you just experienced even though it was “normal”. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Quick summary up to said day (which was yesterday): matt with dengue fever-recovered-friend from AK came to visit-vacation-julie fell ill with parasite/amoeba combo-return to our town-work on classroom—they finished putting in the floor-only missing the paint!-dinner party with Nica friends in our house-a couple days of class-practicing singing “The Rivers of Babylon” with some students for an English singing competition and then vacation again (sort of like a Spring Break this week in Nicaragua). xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Yesterday: we left town in order to visit matt’s old host family from training—about a ten hour trek normally involving 4 busses..our host brother in law offered us a ride in a truck for the first leg—which would normally last about 5 hours in an old school bus—we took the offer of course (-: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx We left at 5 am. The roads are dirt and winding through the mountains that are covered with the morning fog—everything is green now—we also dodge herds of cattle, ox-driven carts,pigs, packs of dogs and straying chickens. Matt gets car sick. We pause about an hour into our trip to have breakfast with more family members that live along the way---fresh cheese, beans, cream and tortillas and hot mountain coffee. After about an hour, we continue in the truck—matt is now riding the in the bed of the truck with a young boy on his way to the clinic—it rains-matt gets wet. Inside the truck, the passengers include myself, a young woman, our host brother in law, his mom, another older woman, and a little girl. We talk all the way into town—I listen to stories about how the rainy season has changed and how it used to be that in order to dry your clothes you had to hang them over open fires… xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWe arrive to the next big town about 3.5 hours after we left our town—this including an hour stop for breakfast. Our host brother in law refuses to accept gas money. Matt feels better. At the bus station we see another volunteer—he is finished with his service and heading back to the United States—we are getting on the same bus. On the bus we meet a man who asks if we are peace corps volunteers (it’s pretty obvious as you listen the 3 us ramble on…) Turns out, he was a volunteer in Nicaragua back in 1998—when Hurricane Mitch hit. He is also the author of the guidebook I have for Nicaragua—the book that almost all volunteers use…I had read his bio several times over and seen his smiling face in the back of my book for almost 2 years…he is heading in the same direction as us, and we change busses together. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx On the next bus, there is a flat screen TV connected to a DVD player, though it is a very old school bus. “Little Rascals” is playing in Spanish. The author continues his conversation with us until the bus is too full to chat across the aisle (people have filled all the seats and all the aisle space—elbows and feet pressing into my skin). He is super down to earth and fascinating to talk to—he returns to Nicaragua every year and still visits his old host family—though he is passing his guide book responsibilities on to fresh blood. I begin to talk to the woman next to me—turns out, she is a friend of matt’s old host family-where we are headed. Nicaragua is a small place. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx We arrive at 1pm to the old host family’s host. This is about 2 hours earlier than usual—only an 8 hour trip! And one hour was for breakfast (-: I immediately feel right at home—we are fed a huge lunch of gallo pinto, chicken, tomatoes, rice, and banana slices along with fresh juice. We talk and talk and talk—it has been awhile since our last visit. The kids are so different. People have new jobs—there is new news. I sleep a little but it’s hot. Matt stays awake. We don’t leave the house all day—different family members pass through-we sit in rocking chairs and stay up until 10 or so talking. Thursday is a holiday here—celebrating the Revolution—when the Somoza dictatorship was overthrown finally. Our host mom and aunt talk some about the civil war here—it is intense. They tell of times when there were gunshots fired next door and they had to lie on mattresses on their floor in the house where we sit in talking…they tell a story about a woman and her two children decapitated with machetes…they tell us about bullet holes we can still see in a hotel in the town center about lost family members and 6pm curfews….we listen. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The conversation eventually changes…onto the future—and the possibility, narrow as it may be, of some of them visiting us in the United States one day…my heart fills up with emotions as we hug and kiss each of them goodnight and fall into the bed in the room they always give to us when we visit…Sometimes I wonder if they could ever know how much they mean to me…. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx And it’s days like these I absolutely love being a peace corps volunteer. Exhausted but content. A day filled with meeting new people and listening. Less than 4 months. I think the end will be intense.

Baggies for Horse Poop?

Bet that one got your attention! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX I wrote a blog entry for June already. It was boring. Now there is this one. Just about today and some conversations. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Today I went paseando, or just to hang out, in the communities by my school out in the middle of nowhere. I also went to my school to check out the progress of the Bottle Classroom—slow going. One man working---not even the Foreman was present….but that could be a whole other boring entry in and of itself. The project will get finished, although it will probably take twice as long, at least, as we thought. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX So my Nica friend and I were traveling along the winding dirt road in the mountains so she could do her job—basically collect money people owe a bank of sorts that exists in our town (bill collector!) Needless to say, she wasn’t 100% successful. But we also stopped at 3 or 4 houses along the way to visit friends in the countryside. I drank 4 cups of coffee, ate 5 baked goods, drank a glass of Mango juice, and was fed a huge plate of beans, eggs, fresh cuajada (local cheese) and tortillas. I held a 15 day old baby for 20 minutes and met some of the parents of some of my students (spread out among various houses). I was gone for 7 hours. I had wanted to get some surveys for my project filled out at the school, but there wasn’t really class today---even though teachers would tell you that of course, of course there was school today---the students just left after 2 hours. But that is really not the point, and well, frankly, happens all the time. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX One of the best conversations I had was about the difference in how we treat animals in the US and how they are treated here. They think we are absolutely insane and indulgent—while any one of you reading this (unless you too are living here) would probably think all Nicas are animal abusers. I mean, in this country, I have seen perhaps 2 dogs ever walked---on a leash—and not in my town. There are 0 rules about animal droppings—and the streets often turn into rivers of the brown stuff after a good rain---coming from dogs, pigs, horses, donkeys, ox, etc. If a dog or cat gets sick, they die. Or maybe they are shot. People do not buy pet food. Dogs are hissed at and often hit with brooms, sticks or rocks when they enter a “people” room. And certainly, certainly, no one here has ever heard of a boarding house for animals! (*note some of these generalizations may not be true in the larger, more tourist cities). Now, considering all that, imagine Nicaraguans learning for the first time today about animals in the USA---that dogs and cats often sleep IN A BED or on a SOFA!!!?? (Items many of them do not own themselves…). Imagine their eyes as they hear for the first time that in the USA you can be fined MONEY and expected to pay if you do not pick up your animal’s poop??!!! This is followed by an account of a friend of friend who paid 1,000USD to take their sick pet to the vet—more money than they have probably spent on a doctor for themselves or their children in their entire lives…Top if off with the idea that Doggie hotels and Daycares exist---some people put sweaters on their dogs and they ride INSIDE the cars----well, they were slapping their knees and nearly rolling on the ground laughing. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Hold back judgment. That is a big, big part of all of this. Are we better because we put our animals in people clothes and let them sleep inside? I just can’t believe that. But we are different. Our situations are different, our environments are different, so many things are different that to judge without putting in the time or effort to understand the differences just feels wrong. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Another difference we discussed—being married with kids in the US usually means that particular man won’t have children with a different woman outside of his marriage, or if he does, it is met with some backlash. I learned today that while some people sort of frown upon that here, it is widely accepted and does indeed happen (ok I already knew that but this time I am closer to the situation). It could be that the man and his previous “wife” were actually never officially married, or they were, but paying for a divorce is too expensive (actually, come to think of it, I have never heard of ANYONE getting divorced here—they just leave and start a new family…) That is to say that, before we judge, it is important to at least try and understand why things are as widely accepted here as they are. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX This is advice I am trying to take from myself all the time. It is working a little. But I think it is pretty important. Tolerance. A willingness to consider a perspective that may make you uncomfortable at first. Yup, I am working on it. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Ok that’s it. School feels sort of over, even though the first semester doesn’t end until next month. The Bottle Classroom is slowing down, but will probably be finished before I leave. We started an adult English class—it is cancelled almost every week due to rain or power outages. I still play basketball with kids on Saturday mornings. We have a bunch of formal reports due soon. I am hot and tired often, though today was a good day. I am overwhelmed just a bit, thinking about GRAD school, and due dates, and references and resumes and the GRE etc. while trying to be present in my life here. And I kind of like streets without animal droppings in them—does that make me a snob? (-: But really, have you ever seen horse poop? And can you imagine bagging it?

and LA LOCURA continues...but it's all good (-:

It’s the day after Mother’s Day. Monday…Middle of MAY 2012 Hard to believe we got here in 2010…. Big News I suppose as of late is that we moved—we lived in our old place in this town for just over a year….oddly enough, longer than Matt and I have every lived anywhere together in our 6 + years of knowing each other. The owners wanted to make repairs to the place –like all the holes and leaks where it flooded our house during rainy season last year. They gave us about 3 weeks’ notice, and had another house lined up for us already—so it wasn’t so bad. Plus they helped us move with a truck and found a refrigerator to loan us for the next 6 months. We were really dreading the move for a while, being comfortable where we were and all—knowing the neighborhood and people already etc…. BUT our new house is INFINITELY BETTER, though further from the town center and in what is a somewhat poorer barrio called the “Campo” literally, the country. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The house itself is GORGEOUS with beautiful tiled floors, living room, 3 bedrooms, and a kitchen that looks like one from home (cabinets and drawers!) We have a real toilet versus latrine (rare for our neighborhood where I can see many families from different houses share the same latrine). And shower head; though only seem to get water once or twice a week for a couple hours. Fortunately, we have a big pila—or cement water tank—inside our bathroom and a smaller one for dishes outside that also catches the rain water. The best feature for me is the WINDOW we have in the living room—I realize now how much LIGHT makes such a big difference. In our place before we had no windows---and had to open up the giant garage door we had to let light in—inviting in any passerby from the street. Also, since all the roads are dirt and more like trails in our new neighborhood, there is hardly any traffic—meaning ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The sounds have changed. And in a good way. I don’t hear busses and huge trucks blaring music, motorcycles etc., but instead pigs, chickens, moms yelling for their kids, kids laughing, dogs barking etc. We also have a small outside area now (another thing we didn’t have before)—with a mango tree and place to hang our clothes to dry. Perhaps the biggest change of all is the privacy. Sitting in my kitchen right now, backdoor open, light streaming in, slight breeze, quiet except for the pigs---and no one else is here. Recall we shared our last place with a store, and an employee and/or the owner’s family members were always in and out—walking up and down our hallway (guess it’s really theirs’ anyhow), sharing the same water source etc. They had keys to the store and we never knew when someone would be popping in or unloading inventory etc. It is so strange. We couldn’t put our finger on it for a while, but we realized this is the first time in over a year and a half that we have REALLY AND TRULY had our very own space….first 7 or so months spent living with families (incredible and wouldn’t change for the world) and year or so in a house pegado or stuck to a store on the main road. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, my concern of not knowing the neighbors was silly. Town isn’t that big. Turns out, we already know most of the new hood. And it’s only a couple blocks from the basketball court where I like to play with my kids on Saturdays. I was worried they would be over all the time, but it’s really simple—if I open our window people pass by and call out “Buenas!” or Hello are you in there?—but if I don’t it is an accepted sign that we’re occupied. All in all, WE LOVE our new house and neighborhood, though it is a little further and uphill to center of town. Daily happiness increased tenfold, even though we have to watch where we step a bit more (more animals=more animal droppings) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Project Ahhh the Bottle Classroom. How you have occupied my life. The best news—we have enough bottles full of trash!!!!! Woo HOO!!!! I no longer dream about bottles. The frame is in place—the roof, three layers of bricks, and one row of bottles…everything was going so fast and really well and then BOOM --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NADA. CONSTRUCTION AT A STANDSTILL. My foreman says it is bc the welder we had, left, maybe got a better gig (he did already finish the roof)—so we need a new one to finish the window we are putting in…but I’m not sure what’s going on— --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -Also, now I dream of sand. We spent an entire day with 10 students shoveling sand from the river banks (the one little machine they have here to do that job has been broken for months and months…apparently needs a part from Germany to work or something….—everything takes longer…) anyhow, we got 2 giant dump truck loads full of sand (to mix with the cement). The mayor loaned us his truck and 2 guys for the day, just as promised. Now our foreman says we need double-another trip—challenge—mayor says can’t loan us the truck anymore. There is only one dump truck. It is used for trash pick-up and right now, to fix the roads before rainy season really hits. He felt bad, but what can he do? 3 or so other people were in line to see him ahead of me, also wanting to use the one and only truck….we all got the same answer…SO now it is time to scour the town searching for someone willing to loan us their dump truck for the day…..wish us luck. All in all, after all we’ve been through during this process, I have faith everything will work out. The Nica community is pretty resilient and will help us come up with something. Other really cool news: Many kids here and in towns further away are using this model of construction as their science fair projects. Also, teachers and the principal from a town about an hour and a half away have requested training on the process. AND apparently, people from a large city 3 hours away are also requesting training on the process. Looks like some seminars could be in our near future, though I would like to finish the project before we start that kind of endeavor (-: And all of the sudden, 6 months almost doesn’t feel like enough….They said it would happen…I just didn’t believe them! That is quite enough rambling for today. Time to pour on a bucket and go teach. And search for that dump truck. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ***Quick shout out and congrats to Matt’s uncle who recently got married!!!! We are so happy for him and the whole family—looking forward to many a meal and hangout time when we get back (-:

April update...well, it was April...

Where to start? I think a shout out to my Nana who passed away recently is most definitely in order. We had the great fortune to be able and be there during her last week or so and be with my ginormous family (is that a word -ginormous?). She was an incredibly unique and strong willed woman who really always spoke her mind. I believe the family and friends honored her and her life very well…some of the things she was passionate about included TRAVEL and EDUCATION—things I feel blessed to have in common with her, even if we didn’t share all interests or personality traits. And lately, I don’t know, I feel like she has been around in my Nicaraguan daily life—I know it sounds a little odd, but I can’t help but feel it. So thank you Nana, for giving me this amazing life and opportunity—I hope you and all my grandparents are watching from a better place and are proud of the little things we are doing. I have been a small bundle of emotions thinking about my own set of parents and really missing, well, missing THINGS. But there are things to finish here. We have been welcomed back into our little community here with hugs and coffee and meals and sincere condolences. I hope I never forget the amazing folks of Quilali. I don’t think I will or ever could. *today my host uncle who is sometimes pretty drunk and sleeps on the street but is generally a super kind soul, kicked horse in it’s rear and the horse nailed him. Just one of those little moments. Things that struck me when we were home—some people were surprised to learn we don’t have air conditioning in our house—FUNNY! There is only ONE air conditioned room in my entire little town—and it is the mayor’s office (-: Not even the hospital—which we are lucky to have one in our town. Other surprise—I kept commenting on how I sort of miss furniture, you know couches, soft pillows, recliners, chairs that aren’t plastic etc—and someone was pretty surprised about that. They automatically assumed I live with a couch. I assure you, we do not own much in the way of furniture—wayyyyy too expensive. We have a plastic table, two plastic chairs, some buckets, a real bed-thank goodness---and the pocket chair we won at the Christmas party (thanks Lyndsey and Dave). Said person asked me, “well, then where to people eat?” hmmm, they sit on the ground-grab a tortilla and eat with their hands—or on a bucket or stool or whatever box or thing is available. Funny how I didn’t think about the difference until this time around….Also, another person was shocked to learn that we went over one year without riding in a CAR. Um, it’s the Peace Corps folks! But I have to not be a snob bc of course, not everyone knows what exactly that means. My 8 year old brother seems to have a pretty good grasp on it now. He knows that we are given a stipend equal to that of what a teacher earns here—roughly 200 USD a month and expected to live on that—just like EVERYONE else in our community. So, we take the local school busses that were donated from the 70’s or 80’s pretty much every time we need to get anywhere or maybe ride a horse WALK or ride a bike. Peace Corps is not like being in the military at all from what I gather—it is referred to as “service” not “tour” maybe because we don’t earn much moolah and are NOT part of the military or any type of religious or missionary group- we don’t live within a community of other white folks from the states, but instead are completely integrated into a small town where I AM THE ONLY WHITE WOMAN. Our office and bosses and staff are NINE hours away by school bus and visit us ONCE/TWICE a year, more if we ask for or need it. We have no grocery store, bank, or post office—all of these are 3.5 hours away on bus—and bus is the ONLY method of transportation out of town, unless you hitchhike. We don’t live on a base or an enclosed community—but in the same neighborhoods as everyone else—though our house/garage type thing is pretty nice by Nica standards. Many Many of my students, friends and neighbors have dirt floors and tin roofs—and almost no one’s walls connect to their ceilings. Even most other volunteers have pretty basic letrines or outhouses that fill with critters and took some getting used to at first. Power outages are frequent and running water used to be consistent—well one hour in the morning and one in the evening, but has become a bit more sporadic as of late (recall the month and a half we had with NO running water ever) Bathrooms with sinks and mirrors and storage are pretty much non-existent—except in hotels---people just have a small square room with a big bucket of water and keep a mirror in their room or they have four wooden posts with big black plastic sheets nailed to them in their backyard where they put their bucket of water or shower. I appreciated doing the dishes every time when we were home---sinks with running HOT water—and DISH WASHERS. Doing my laundry brought small tears to my eyes, ok not really, but it was awesome not washing by hand. In short, I realized how little many of my friends and family understand what the daily life of a Peace Corps volunteer entails….maybe I have been doing a bad job of communicating? I hate to mention that Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere after HAITI, because it seems to be a sensitive fact to many of my friends and colleagues here and they are professional hard working folks—but that’s what the numbers say. I just have a hard time swallowing it I guess when folks try to compare living here to a study abroad experience in Europe or Asia—um, not quite the same, actually not the same at all, but living outside one’s own comfort zone whether it be here or somewhere a bit more developed is still something to be respected for sure. Just as being an accountant in an office is something I don’t think is or will ever be for me, being a PC Volunteer is probably not for everyone either. I get that. Heck, sometimes I wonder what the heck we signed ourselves up for myself! All that being said, only 7 months left to go, and feeling pretty attached all the sudden to many people and my town (even though sometimes I feel totally insane and want to run away…) One of my bosses says it is sort of masochistic what we do---we move in, become close like family in these really small communities and then up and leave after two years…it’s gonna be harder than I thought. Even with my recent trip home, and how I am growing tired of missing family and friends back home….home…I think we will feel like we have a few by the time we go….. In work related news—funding for our bottle classroom came through !!!! It’s go time—demolition and initial preparation scheduled to start MONDAY! And today we bought 90 bags of cement---though it was WAY more complicated than you can possibly imagine as is every task that would be so simple at home. (there is currently NO, AS IN 0, Bags of cement in our entire town at any hardware store –but we were fortunate enough to meet an owner of one who has a truck on the way and sold to us before it even arrived—even gave us a discount and had it dropped off at the school!) It is been one heck of a rollercoaster ride trying to coordinate with the mayor’s people and the PTA like organization of said community to begin the whole process---and I imagine we will only encounter more and more and more hiccups—like there being NO cement anywhere, along the way….but I think I’m ready. I also spent about 6 hours recruiting guys we know around town and going house to house asking to borrow shovels in order to dig out 15 meters CUBED of sand that we will need for the project—we almost left 2 times to do the job, but each time the representative from the Mayor’s office said we didn’t have enough helpers…..yup, that was my day. It ended up working out well, because, well, oddly enough, after we decided not to go the SECOND time, it POURED rain for an hour and a half…..very odd for this time of year….SIGH. Miss my parents, brothers, sister, B, Bug and so so so many people. Love my big beautiful family as nuts as we may be (hey, who’s family isn’t?) Wish us luck, and let’s hope we can stay flexible and finish this crazy thing! BOTTLE CLASSROOM WELL UNDERWAY NOW! I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER OR MORE IMPRESSED WITH THE PARENTS FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT SHOW UP EVERY DAY TO WORK A FULL DAY FOR FREE. IT’S BEEN A BIT CRAZY AT TIMES AND WE HAVENT STARTED ATTACHING THE BOTTLES, BUT OVERALL, JUST AWESOME. MORE LATER.

BOTTLES BOTTLES BOTTLES and more, always more

did i already write about the awesome nica family we met a few weeks ago when we were doing our bank run? well , they stayed at the same hotel and bought me a birthday cake and treated us to a really nice night and made us feel part of the family,,,, a group of people we met that day and shared the evening with, you really have to love Nica Hospitality.

Things have been crazy busy wonderful lately,,,,Craig, our friend from Alaska and his friend April randomly came to visit over my birthday weekend, they are riding bicycles through central america. So that was great! We hadnt seen him in about 3 years!

I received dozen or so cards from family and friends! You guys are amazing!

Our small grant proposal was approved!!!! YES! I rode about 20 hours on a bus to have a one hour meeting to obtain funding to build the classroom out of bottles! A huge thank you to my Nica counterpart, the principal of the school, who made the big trip with me! We got to see Matts old host family and spend the night with them in Catarina the night before the big meeting. So that was a huge plus!

Our boss , one of them, came to see us last week, and we had a great visit. It was neat to see him in Quilali.

AND the first recycling contest ended, and I couldnt be more proud of our community, the kids made about 1500 bottles full of inorganic trash, or eco-bricks, to help build the classroom in a different community! We are half way there!

School is FLYING by, as is time.

oh oh oh! AND OUR WATER CAME BACK ON! After 2 months w no water ever arriving to our house, it is back! Does life get any better=?

Now, to do a second round of contests and get started with some construction in about a month!

LOVE TO EVERYONE! Must ride out Peace Corps High!!!!

School? Projects, madness and more

Ok, so February 2012 is FLYING BY! The second year really is going to fly by-- I believe it now...I was suspicious about this rumor at first, you know, back when we had 27 months to go...

School "started" this week, but there is still no class schedule at either of my schools..hmmm Well, I can most certainly say at any job interview a skill I have is FLEXIBILITY and give 19 million plus examples from my time as a high school English Teacher here....The teachers look for a room with no teacher in it, and they just go in to teach class....and no one really seemed to be dismissing students at the same time...it's an interesting plan of sorts...I am hoping to have a schedule during week 2 of school, but am fully aware this year that even if I do--it is probably going to change again in week 3. As a person who secretly needs routine, this is making me a little crazy, but not like year one.

In other news--one of my high school principals and I turned in our small grant proposal to build a classroom out of plastic bottles (google pura vida from Guatemala)--and we are headed to Managua on March 2nd to present it to a commitee of people who will decide whether or not to hand over the money to carry out the project. I think it may just actually happen....NOW, just to get those 3 thousand bottles stuffed with plastic....Let's just say there has been (literally) blood, sweat, and a whole lot of tears involved in the process---and we haven't even been officially approved or started construction! Besides writing the darn proposal, making the budget which required 2 quotes for everything (walking long distances to find the guy who makes the concrete blocks or the guy that makes rebar for the windows here), there were a MOUNTAIN of letters to get signed--by the mayor, principals, teachers, the minister of education, etc. Hours and hours and hours and hours spent WAITING (surprise) along with hours and hours and hours of meeting with a construction foreman to come up with the budget and make a tentative work plan/contract...Along with planning and coordinating a 5 school-wide recycling contest to get our hands on *GULP* 3 thousand plastic bottles of a specific size--and speaking with all the teachers/principals from all those schools about the contest...which happens to start this week...

Let's just say....it's been a strange sort of madness...I don't think I would have ever had this experience if it wasn't for PC...

In other random news: still no running water/water at all coming to our house, matt and I have been riding bikes to or from our schools out in the country sides, and I am tired of pasta and rice and beans...and would really like to hold my baby neice again soon (-:

No hay Agua--There is no water and More

Welllll! It is January of 2012! I remember thinking at this time last year how super FAR AWAY this felt and now it's here! YES!

Ok, so I have been back to the USA, met my AMAZING new baby niece, Amelia, spent lots of time with family, enjoyed hot showers and good food and drink and am now back in Nicaragua and have been for about a month (guess I got pretty lazy in regards to my blog as of late...) The trip home was more amazing than I even thought it would be and while it was super hard to leave and indeed more tears were shed, it has been pretty good being back in Nicaragua.

Our host family has been spoiling us rotten, as usual, and school is still out for break. So what have we been up to if school isnt in session? Well matt taught another week long English camp--a tough one this time with high school kids in Managua--one of those start at 7 am dont finish til 10pm kind of camps....but they did some cool things like take the kids to an actual movie theater---a first for many of them in their lives...We taught a one week summer camp of Basic English to the kids in our town, and I have been running around like an insane person working on the classroom project that still may or may not happen....talking to construction workers and going to hardware stores, creating budgets and recycling contests... etc. Then we just had an IST or inservice training event in a cloudforest called Selva Negra. It was great to see the other volunteers and staff--and was jam packed as always with sessions but we had a little down time to stroll the forest and check out the place which is almost completely self sustainable....

We just got back to our town a couple days ago to discover that there has been no water for the past week and a half or so and it may be off for another month or two....no one seems to know...
So we hauled all our laundry down to the river today---luckily we got a ride with a truck because it is actually a pretty decent hike and then we washed all our clothes and took our "showers" in the river. It;s too bad this is so bad for the water/river because i actually really enjoyed it---we made some new friends and saw lots of our other ones at the river (everyone is down there!) However after a few more weeks of it, and especially when school starts, I may not like it as much (-:

We have also been enjoying catching up with our sitemate, Nishant, who Matt hasnt seen in almost 2 months due to vacation and different work related events! que loco!

I am still missing my friends and family so very much especially Amelia Bug, but we only have 10 months to go! And lots to do/accomplish!

One Year Down

Wow. 15 months later. 2 weeks away from a USA visit and still really wanting it. I must say, time has been flying by lately, except for waiting for the arrival of my new baby niece!!!

A friend recently posted this article on facebook and it explains how I feel a lot of the time here in regards to sometimes feeling like a failure
What The Peace Corp Taught Me About Failure
www.huffingtonpost.com

So elections went off with no disruption in our town, except we lost a few days-week of class....currently the kids are still in school for another week, though the teachers are all gathered in the office, adding the grades which are due soon....so the kids just run around free and keep asking if they can leave, and no one seems to know the answer....eerily similar to the beginning of the school year.

I am off in a few short days to do a tech exchange and meet the volunteer who made her house out of bottles and is currently working on another project using the same method. I am struggling to cope with the fact that I have to let go of control and depend on many different people here for this project to work....and I am scared out of my mind at times it won´t. But then in other moments feel so sure that it will....only time will tell.

I am still tired. But busy. And generally happy. Matt is currently in Managua working at a camp for University English Teachers through the US Embassy, so I am experiencey the Q as a solo girl volunteer would....so far so good though it is only day 2 (-:

Really thinking about lots of people at home etc lately....Probably bc that is where we are headed so soon for a little break....

Much love to everyone!

Truth be Told

I am tired, and a little burnt out. October went by really fast. We colloborated with our sitemate on his big health project---teaching people that work for various coop´s/farms about HIV/AID´s...then giving them a pre-made mini-charla, or mini-presentation- that they in turn promise to take out to their fincas and give to all their workers....pretty cool.
Then we had a big fancy dinner at a fancy hotel in Managua in order to fundraise money for the small business volunteers who are working with kids here to start their own small businesses.
Then we had a wedding in our old host town of Catarina, it was really beautiful and fun....except we got robbed on the bus on the way home...nothing crazy...lost the computer and the camera...on an almost empty very nice bus...very strange indeed...

I have been playing catch up on the small grant proposal we had started and had saved on that computer, also lost my memory stick, and it is going ok.

we WERE hoping to present the project to the committee that has final say over the project in December before we go home, but our boss just recently came to visit us, and readjusted my expectations...which is a good thing because i was running around like a crazy insane woman trying to get done QUICK, which in this culture, can be pretty close to impossible.....we are thinking now we will be presenting the project proposal closer to my birthday in March of next year....

I´m not gonna lie, pretty much all i can think about right now, besides the project, is going home for a break, and taking a real break...and seeing all our family and friends and especially my new little niece!!!!!!!

I am mentally and physically exhausted.....but i hope you guys are all great!!! oh yeah, small detail, presidential elections are here this wknd....could be pretty interesting....but no worries, we are all safe!

Random Bits and Pieces, half way there...almost

Patience in the Peace Corps….
Takes on a whole new level of meaning…
WAITING. I don’t think I have ever spent as much time WAITING in my life as I have here…
WAITING for the school year to start…which it eventually did 2 weeks late…
WAITING for people to show up to meetings…typically 30-45 minutes late…sometimes an hour or two…
WAITING for class to begin—which meetings often cut into or completely cancel without any notice…
WAITING for someone to schedule your big meeting so you can work on a big project/great opportunity for the community….currently still WAITING…been waiting 3 weeks….
WAITING for one person to sign a form for a friend’s project…I have been every day this week—sometimes twice a day--- to pick up a piece of paper for another volunteer…every day I am told it is not there but to come back tomorrow at a different time..WAITING now for 4 days…
WAITING WAITING WAITING….let’s just say, I read a lot. And am slowly learning to not get so frustrated about these things, but it’s hard. I would like to plan other activities, DO things with my time, but how can you make new plans when you already have plans even though you know the plans you already have probably aren’t really going to happen? Welcome to the life of a PCV!
MY 5 DOLLAR PILLOW
So, we recently had our MID SERVICE—that’s right! MID SERVICE Medical appointment. It went smoothly, no big issues, no cavities etc. I told the nurse that my neck has been bothering me for a couple months on one side. She felt it for a few seconds and declared it safe—suggested I buy a real pillow from the fancy grocery store near the office. For those of you who don’t live here, pillows are pretty dang hard to come by—especially out in our little town. If they exist, they are usually pillow cases stuffed with balls of sorts etc. So, I followed her advice. I bought my close to five dollar pillow in Managua—and I AM SO ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH MY PILLOW. I can’t believe I haven’t done this sooner…We’ll see if it helps the neck joint or not, but man oh man, I have never loved a pillow so much!
The Maternity Ward
As many of you know, our host sister here just had her little baby girl, Nicole or Nicolita. Well, before she arrived, I spent a Saturday night in the maternity ward at the hospital here in our little town. It was a small room with about 6 or 7 cots in it. A few little fans…which when the power goes out here, of course, they don’t work. There were about 7 women in there, all looking ready to pop. And it was so hot! But, I don’t know how to explain it, there was just this overwhelming feeling of happiness in that room despite what many of us at home would consider “tough conditions”. Despite the fact that the women were discussing whether or not the doctor would actually arrive to deliver because there was a holiday that week----so maybe they have to wait a few more days---no one knew…. But as we sat around and chatted and shared food and coffee, I got that awesome feeling again…the feeling that this is something special…that my being welcomed into such a personal part of these women’s lives so openly and warmly is pretty incredible. And the smile spreads wide across my face, and I think, yes, this is what life is all about.
WORK
Haven’t had much of it lately…No class for a variety of reasons…sort of makes me crazy…and lazy…and out of practice with having good practices. Now I am a little nervous about our next “site visit” or when one of our bosses comes allllll the way out here to watch our classes and see how we’re doing.
On the plus, Matt got a gig working a camp at the US Embassy in December. He will be teaching Nicaraguans who are studying to be English teachers. Pretty cool.
RAIN
Still not as rainy as I expected rainy season to be…but we hear October is the worst. Recently it has started raining HARDER. So hard that the gutters on our tin roof can’t handle the flow and our house pretty much floods. Well, just the hallway so it’s all good. We almost have enough buckets to catch it—and then we just sweep the few inches left over on out to the street.

Things You Don´t Write Home to Mom about...

Hmmm let’s start this one with a small disclaimer. Moms—don’t worry, we are in good health and good spirits and all is well!
Of course, illness is something that virtually every Peace Corps Volunteer eventually experiences..or maybe experiences constantly. The most common illness, at least it seems to me so far, is that of the tummy bug type. This means cramps and diarrhea--occasionally accompanied by vomiting. This is usually caused by a bacterial infection or a parasite, OR maybe the glorious combination of both. What happens? You poop in a cup or plastic jar or bag or whatever appropriate item you have handy…carry it to a lab or nearest hospital and have it tested. You call the Peace Corps medical office and read them your results once you have them (usually within an hour or two). They tell you what medicine to buy…usually a strong dose of antibiotics….you’re then laid up for a few days…exhausted and dehydrated—typically in a hot hot place with no AC, and sometimes no fan if there happens to be no power that day…it’s awesome!
Other illnesses include but aren’t limited to…all kinds of strange itchy rashes and bug bites…the glorious Dengue Fever which 3 out of 21 of us came down with during training…(they call it the Bone Breaking disease or something like that because your bones supposedly literally feel like they are breaking….), staff infections…etc.
All that being said, oddly enough, overall-- I think I have been healthier in Nicaragua than in the US of A…weird huh? And I think I am going to knock on some wood now….I can’t say the same for many other volunteers I happen to know….who encounter stomach infections what seems like once a month or more….
THE OTHER THING—WOW, the buses. Especially as of late. With the rainy season—the roads have become monstrous. At least, all the dirt roads…and to get out of and into our town, the road is dirt…for an hour and a half..or longer…Twice now the bus we’ve been on has not made it up one of the last hills to our town the first try..or the 7th…The tires start spinning and then comes the smell and the smoke…usually a few guys hop off and find some branches around and place them in the deep, muddy ruts that keep us from moving forward—then the bus backs up and we gun it and make it up over the hill. Recently though, after the 6th or so attempt, allll the men were ordered off the bus to help patch up the deeeeeep muddy ruts and then push from the back of the bus….Matt and our site mate included. I had the good fortune to be on the bus and be recognized by some students of mine—so we watched the guys do their thing as we flew over the ruts and bounced up on down on our school bus…I think after the 2nd or 3rd time we made it….then my student gave us some tamales and corn on the cob….oddly, it was kind of fun….
Last week, on my way to my high school in a nearby community, the bus hit one of these so called muddy ruts and leaned pretty dang hard to the left….so that the tires on the right were almost off the ground…Yup, I thought we were going to fall on our side…of course, there were about 30 people standing in the aisle and myself and my counterpart were part of this bunch….someone screamed “SALIMOS!” or “let’s get out of here”! Basically, and people started shoving and running to get off the bus….good times! We made it off the bus, which the driver had shut off, but not without almost toppling a few 3 year olds on the way out….we passengers walked probably about half a mile down the road and waited for the bus to catch up…they had to take a lot of the stuff off the top of the bus and re-load further on down the road…we were simply over-loaded with people on the inside and stuff on the top….Unfortunately, materials my counterpart and I had spent some time making for class the day before, got dropped and trampled on during the mad rush to exit the bus….and we arrived late to school so didn’t have the chance to re-make said materials…..ummmm I was pretty happy just to be in class that day though…..materials or no….
Sometimes, the buses are now running with tire chains on them---I think it should be a must this time of year….but who knows?
Anyways, that’s just some little stuff that happens from time to time. Are you ready to sign up!?
On the super plus, the bats have left our house. One of the girls that works in the store that connects with our house says that she killed one with a broom and then left it around for a day for the other bats to see….more power to her…I haven’t seen a bat in about 4 or 5 days…weird…\----------------------------------------

For soon to be Volunteers or anyone interested...

Take note this might bore you if you aren´t that interested in the questions posed below....it´s kind of long...But possibly more interesting are the random tid bits posted in the blog just before this one (-:

Well, the first week of August did fly….Happy Birthday Mom! And grandmother, Sister, aunt, and multiple friends—popular Birthday month (-:
This little tidbit is for all those considering the Peace Corps that scour the internet blog stalking these entries, especially when they find out their assignment…and are looking for information on subjects such as Teaching in Nicaragua, Being a TEFL Volunteer in Nicaragua, typical day of a volunteer in Nicaragua, being a married couple in the Peace Corps, etc. Ummm because maybe I did this? And am inspired to write this because the new group of volunteers is arriving in less than 2 weeks….which means in less than 2 weeks, we will have been in Nicaragua for a year! (future perfect continuous! Check that out!)
So in that order,
Teaching in Nicaragua….I’m not gonna lie, in my opinion, it’s hard! It depends on many factors though, such as your counterpart, your particular school’s atmosphere, location of the school and class size etc. Considering the students don’t have books, supplies can be limited, and sometimes there aren’t enough chairs for students, being creative and dedicated really pays off. You also shouldn’t be surprised to find 16 or 17 year olds in seventh grade---I have a 26 year old in 10th grade….For me, personally, discipline is a pretty tough area. Especially because Spanish isn’t my first language and when several kids are screaming stuff at the same time, I often cannot understand them---I am not sure if they are just trying to participate in the class, or if they are yelling obscenities…..ahhh I could get into the school system at large, but you future volunteers will find out about that soon enough (-: Let’s just say that classes are cancelled and cancelled often for a variety of reasons….and that school started 2 weeks late this year….Students are not accustomed to many communicative activities either…their main form of learning has been copying and memorizing over and over and over…..so they are excited to do new things---but sometimes they don’t view it seriously and get out of control easily because we aren’t copying….
TEFL volunteer in Nicaragua—I guess the above covers many of the same themes. Again, so much just depends on where you end up and who you end up working with…and course, it depends on you! Many volunteers like being part of TEFL because we have an automatic sense of identity in our communities—ie. professors, and a set schedule in the schools. On the other hand, some folks don’t like having such a set, routine schedule…

Typical Day of a TEFL volunteer-- who knows exactly?? Let’s just say that during training, you will be BUSY every second of every day…exhausted, and soaking up soooo much you may feel like your head will explode….then everything changes when you swear in. In my case, now, I don’t really have any typical day….I only teach 16 classroom hours a week…have one community class…play basketball with little kids, and read story time to first graders at my elementary school. The biggest part of my week is co-planning with 2 different counterparts. Co-planning takes HOURS and I am pretty sure any TEFL volunteer will tell you it is the most exhausting part of our jobs, and maybe the most important….So my typical week: Monday, teach from 7-9:30am at my main high school, hop on a bus to my other high school out in a community at 10:15, teach 1230-500, get back to my house at 5:30-6. Yes, Mondays are looonnnnggg. Tuesday: 9:30-10:30 meet with counterpart1, practice English in her free hour or she practices using the computer. Teach 12:30-2. Maybe meet with counterpart2 to plan extra. Wednesday: Teach 10:30-1:15, Offer extra tutoring to English students from 1:15-2:15, Maybe plan with Matt for our adult community class. Thursday: 8-8:45 meet with counterpart1, teach 840-10:30. Friday: 9:20-10:30 story time at elementary school with first graders to encourage reading for fun. Co-plan with counterpart1 12-4pm. Saturday: 10-12 basketball with kids in nearby barrio, or neighborhood. Generally a good day for the market and/or laundry Sunday: Coplan with counterpart2,1-4 or 5-9pm. Or help with community class that just switched to Sunday 6-8 pm.
Sometimes it doesn’t sound/look like much, but throw in functioning every day in a foreign language, buying all your food from the market, finding time to visit Nicaraguan friends/host family, washing all your clothes by hand etc….and your week can fill up pretty fast!
Being a married couple serving in the Peace Corps, is, for the most part, WONDERFUL, and I highly recommend it. Though not as strong as in other countries, gender stereotypes DEFINITELY exist here and do get on my nerves from time to time….I think maybe in the bigger cities it is different, but in our medium sized agricultural town up in the mountains in the middle of nowhere, it is somewhat shocking that my husband cooks and cleans. I think we are so lucky to be going through all this together, even though it can be challenging at times…especially when one of you is going through a rough time and the other is pretty happy.
I could go on and on and on….but this probably isn’t that interesting for those of you that read this that aren’t coming to Nicaragua any time soon….for anyone blog stalking that wants more information, feel free to email me at jcwesterman@yahoo.com
PEACE.

August Tid Bits

Yesterday I felt somewhat Nica-nized. At least, my wardrobe if nothing else….
I was sitting in the yard at my host family’s house, just “platicando” or chatting, and my host mom asked me if my shoes were from the USA. (A common question for me). I said, “Actually no, I bought them here in Nicaragua but in another town.” She said “Oh, well they are pretty. Your blouse is really pretty too.” I smiled and said thank you, then looked down at my blouse---and realized it was bought in Nicaragua too….then my eyes traveled down to my plain black skirt and I realized this too came from a second hand shop in Nicaragua….then I realized the purse I had in my lap was a gift from my host mom and host sister….and to top it off, as I played with one of the yellow butterfly earrings I had on that day, I realized these too were a gift from one of my Nicaraguan counterparts…..I have been Nica-nized!
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DIFFERENCES…
Some of ‘em smack you across the face….others are more subtle….
Anyhow, I was just thinking about my last conversation with my counterpart…she asked if my mom and dad and little brother were the only ones that lived in their house---“yes” I said. Then she asked if my sister and her husband were the only ones that lived in their house---“yes” again….Then she asked if my other brother and his girlfriend lived alone in their house too---“Yes” again….I watched her as she thought this over, her eyebrows raising a little with every “yes”. It seemed shocking, I think, to her that so few people could occupy one house---if she only knew how big these houses were compared to any that I have seen here her eyebrows would probably fly right off her face….It made me realize that folks here probably think it is pretty luxurious that Matt and I share a place with 2 rooms AND a tiny kitchen AND a garage-type area….Just the concept of space has been occupying my mind all morning…I have yet to meet a Nica here that sleeps alone in their own bed----no matter their age….I think the norm is more 3-4 people in a bed….
At the end of the conversation with her, which included lots of discussion about boyfriends and girlfriends, how much college costs and how you can pay etc, all I could say was, “Yeah, it’s different.” I don’t know if I could ever accurately explain just HOW different….
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UP and Down and Up and Down…Randoms….
That is vida, or life, in the peace corps, for sure! Still sweating bullets here in The Q, as I now refer to my town….IT IS SO HOT!!! STILL!!! Even though some days it does POUR rain…last week they had to stop my bus that goes to my school out on the mountain to put tire chains on it to combat the dirt road that had turned to mud and small ponds….I also found out one of my favorite students out there (though I don’t have favorites (: ) is 26 years old and in the 10th grade….Now I know why she is so mature! I admire her so much for going back to school after a 9 year gap---for as much as I whine and moan at times about this or that (which is probably too much), it’s moments like those when I have to stop, and remember where I am….and just sort of, revel in gratitude for so many things….I also found out that my school out there didn’t offer high school until 4 years ago….Many of my students already walk an hour or so just to get to the road where our school is…..so this means before they offered high school there, my kids would have had to walk an hour on trails on mountainous terrain to get to the road and then get on a bus for another hour or so just to get to class…..wow. Perhaps I can always have more patience and understanding…
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I wonder if I will find it odd that not almost EVERY business is operated out of someone’s living room….or that no one just walks by the house yelling that they are selling anything from ice cream, beans, corn, remote controls, guitars, shoes etc….I have to admit, it is pretty convenient.
Our new boss says one of the things that struck him the most when he returned from his previous peace corps service was that in the US, you put toilet paper in the toilet….something I haven’t done in almost a year!
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Happy Moment: at all teacher conference, taught English teachers how to make a type of material I have already been using with my counterparts, the glorious “mini-board”…anndddd Matt reported the next day that he and his counterpart used the material in their class and the kids loved it! Something accomplished….

JULY breaks, bats and cockroaches

July July….What happened in and to July??
Well, let’s see…there was my counterpart’s birthday—happy birthday Melbita! And she came to our house and cooked US lunch…seems to be pretty norm that if it is YOUR party or event YOU do everything for everyone else---a little different than at home eh? I gave her a watch and a Snickers Bar. It was a really nice day. Then we had a week of school as normal, then it was off to a training conference in Esteli which included some of our counterparts. It was pretty intense but great to see everyone and hopefully my counterpart and I will start to apply some of the things we learned back in our site. We also got to meet our new boss and he seems wonderful, but it was sad to say goodbye to our old boss. Really it was great to see all the other volunteers---many many of whom we haven’t seen since January….but we didn’t sign up to hang out with each other all the time (-:
We then had the pleasure of a quick visit with some friends from the USA that happened to be in Granada, Nicaragua with their film project “Actuality Media” for about a month. They take students or anyone interested really, to different parts of the world and they learn how to shoot and edit and create a documentary of sorts---they tell the story of people working towards change in their site location. I am sure their website explains it better! You should check it out! It was pretty strange to hang out with a group of gringos for a bit and just sort of, well, hang out…it was actually a sort of culture shock experience in and of itself….it was almost like going home for a quick visit….i cant imagine what actually going home will be like….
Upon returning to the Q, as I now like to refer to Quilali, we found a few surprises in our house. Our pila, or our source of water for laundry, bathing, dishes, and flushing the toilet, was full of 30 plus dead, floating cockroaches…well a few were still sort of alive…and the one or two bats we had living with us have multiplied to about 20…So….matt emptied our tank and scrubbed it clean with just a touch of bleach…It’s quite a process and I can’t tell you how much I love him for doing it---Look for a pic of process on facebook soon. And the bats, well the bats, are still hanging around, pun intended…I am slightly embarrassed to say we tried garlic and then a Nica friend suggested we hang a red cloth up in our entry way….again look for pics of hanging bats and our attempt to combat the on facebook. Also fun times, was the search for bread…and how there was none….I forgot that often times in the Q, simply “no hay” or there is none of what you so desperately had your heart set on, you know, like bread. I suppose I had gotten used to having options for bread on our mini out of the Q adventure in July….but I remember now….and the good news, the bread man made it to the Q a couple days later (-:
We haven’t had class since our return to the Q, but start up again on Monday. We did have an all teacher meeting—Matt and I prepared a small workshop to give, but it never happened…I still couldn’t tell you the point of the 5 hour meeting…but it was good to reconnect with the other teachers and practice Spanish. I spent many hours lesson planning—one hour which was spent explaining how stoplights at intersections work (ie. when pedestrians can cross the street etc). Needless to say, there are no stoplights or intersections in the Q, in fact, I don’t think there are even any traffic signs of any sort----makes it awesome to teach a class on traffic and warning signs(-; But the best thing has been reconnecting with our adult English class---we couldn’t have class at our normal spot because our friend had an event in his house where we normally have it—so I decided to invite everyone to our house—though it is smaller and has less space and classroom amenities. I was so excited to see most of our group! And we had the opportunity to chat for a bit with the principal of one of my school’s (she is in our class) about a project idea we have. We are thinking about constructing a classroom out of bottles out there for the seventh graders who have a classroom with wood boards and dirt floors at the moment. I think I mentioned this before so I won’t repeat. It is still just an idea, and we have to see how the community feels about it etc. before we can even begin with the process of writing a proposal etc….So I am trying not to get to excited until we see what the actual interest level is….if you are interested in this crazy concept of bottle buildings I encourage you to google something like “bottle classrooms” or “bottle houses”—there are quite a few projects going on all over the world of a similar nature.
I feel tired but motivated. We have almost been in Nicaragua for one year now and that surprises me. I think it still surprises me more that we have over a year to go…
Ready to get back in the swing of things, but I would be a huge liar if I didn’t mention how excited we are to be making a visit home in December!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pigeons, Power Outages, Fun stuff and not so fun stuff....

Pigeons Power Outages and more fun stuff…
Always hard to remember where I left off…
Anyways, most recently there was a giant pigeon in my house…the space between the walls and the roof make it easy access and in our garage/house, there is the corrugated tin roof then a large space and then a layer of cardboard-like tiles. We have discovered the space makes a great home for all sorts of critters….like the pigeon. So my young, cute tiny counterpart is over working with me—and I am screaming about the pigeon and calling matt to come and get it out of the house….she laughs at me like I am the most ridiculous person on the planet and starts chasing the thing all over our house…in our bedroom, down the hall, there are feathers everywhere, before she finally catches it with her hands. She strokes it for awhile and talks to it, and enjoys shoving it in my face before I convince her to put it outside, where I firmly believe it belongs (-: So I didn’t exactly grow up on the farm…but I am SUPER grateful my counterpart, as all other Nicas I know, is so down to earth and comfortable with all things we like to classify as critters. Did I mention that while I was pointing my finger at the pigeon perched on our ‘fridge 2 small bats came flying out of the same space into my face!? It was a fun moment. Really, I am actually serious here; it was really fun and funny!
On another note, the power has been out SUPER SUPER frequently this month. Pretty much every other day for hours at a time. Now, I feel like a big brat of a PC Volunteer, because there are plenty of peace corps volunteers living in the world that NEVER have the good ‘ol “luz” or light (electricity)…but I am sort of accustomed to life here with it. Maybe I should try just never using it for a whole week to get some additional perspective? It really only bothers me when it goes out in the middle of the night and it is like 90 something degrees out still….and you wake up…sweating…thinking…why am I awake? Oh….then you hear the whir of your fan as it goes out….Usually I go throw some cold water from our bucket bath on me and try to go back to sleep in one of the hammocks when this happens….I mean, it is rainy season, sort of, and it is cooler, sort of. Meaning that it rains SOMETIMES but not always…and as soon as it STOPS raining I think it is actually HOTTER than it was before! In any case, the rain is welcome and needed to produce everything we depend on around here….
So work! The workshop, or “taller”, we gave at our last teacher conference went pretty well. That isn’t to say it didn’t start an hour late, teachers didn’t talk or text on cell phones during, and no one came and went from the room (hmmmm the students are oddly similar….), but we felt super happy with it at the end. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to do everything we had planned (recall we started an hour late) but the written, anonymous feedback we got from the English teachers was awesome…we heard things like “I didn’t even feel the time. I wasn’t bored and I actually learned something!” Yeah, so that might give you a picture of what these monthly or so teacher days are like…Everyone seems excited at the prospect of us giving more workshops during every conference=more work for us, but we are SOOO happy to do it…and ultimately, of course, we want to include our counterparts in the presentations and have them doing it on their own before we leave…..moments like these 2 years almost doesn’t seem long enough (;

Things at my high schools are sort of the same…I still struggle with the unpredictability of whether or not there will actually BE class every day….and it kills me that when my students ask me “Hey teacher, when is our exam?” I know I can’t really answer because that is subject to change on a whim too….makes it sort of easy to see why some kids lose faith in the system and simply stop showing up…Also, out in my community (means outside of city limits in Nica terms), the 7th graders are losing TONS of class time because of the rain—all the other grades have the normal classrooms made out of bricks —but the 7th graders (the youngest in the high school), have a classroom made out of wooden boards, the corrugated tin roof, and a dirt floor. When it pours, which it does a lot out there, their floor turns to mud….so they usually just go home instead of getting dirty---which if I haven’t mentioned before is pretty much a crime here. I constantly have students out there patting dust and chalk off me and fixing my shirt collar etc. I just got wind that a group called Builders without Borders is going to be working with Peace Corps in Nicaragua the next two years---they build things such as CLASSROOMS, letrines, etc. I was super excited thinking I might be able to work with them to get my 7th graders a classroom of their own out there….BUT one of their requirements is to be 4 hours from Managua on a direct bus……so yea…have I mentioned we live kind of far out there? Like 7 and half hours minimum from the capital of Managua---IF you catch all the right busses? Sigh, I can certainly understand their desire to be near good medical facilities etc. And they sound like a really neat organization if anyone cares to check them out---they are based in Connecticut. I will just have to look elsewhere to get the kids a room….if they really want one! (Peace Corps always warns, and it is good to think about, NOT to start projects WE think people need/want, but first find out what THEY NEED/WANT). There are zillions of examples of people just barging into a place, taking a look around, and deciding what people need for them---and then as soon as the project is complete, it fails. Because the idea wasn’t homegrown. (-:
Ok, lots of rambling! I know! Excited about training that is coming up in a few weeks…also have a friend from the States who is IN Nica-land already and we might get to see here in July too! I have been in site for a very long time without a break and it will be a few more weeks before I get one….let’s hope I don’t get the Q La Li Crazies. (That’s what I call it anyways…)
Love you guys….Miss you guys….SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!! XOXOX
THE VERY NEXT DAY
On a personal level, a good friend of ours’ lost her dad this morning—well she is the wife of one of my principal’s..and she is in our adult English class. I still cant get over how quickly people form friendships with us here, well some of them, and how you are immediately considered family. I spent my hour break between classes at her house sitting with the rest of the community, and then sitting on her bed holding her hand and just talking. She insisted on feeding me and making me coffee before allowing me to go back to work…..matt and I refer to her as our fairy godmother, because she really is like the fairy godmothers from Cinderella. We talked about how when someone dies, we have similar traditions in the States, ie. the whole family usually comes together etc., but of course, how some things are different. I talked about my grandparents---living and deceased--- and what it was like when they passed away and about various friends and family members whom have suffered losses recently and in the past….It was kind of a sad moment, but one of those human moments, where you know that people feel the same things no matter where you are in the world….It really made me miss my family…..and friends….I really can’t wait to hug all of you.