Coconuts with Rum and Cuban Cigars for Fun

Back to work! After a week of being a degenerate bum for a week, I was able to be pretty productive this last week. On Monday, like every Monday, I did my hours of Spanish study. I have to admit that I have been pretty diligent about trying to learn this language, but to no avail. I feel like for the effort that I have put in, I have not seen an equally proportional result in language improvement, however I will continue; I am determined this time around to conquer Español.
Tuesday of this past week was another fun day adventure to Wapí. So I take the taxi to the entrance to Wapí like usual and wait there for about 45 minutes until the Ruta, as they call the wagon, comes by. When it does, I get on a little frustrated about my circumstances, and how on a weekly basis I have to deal with this shit and wait and wait only to sit on a covered wagon that takes 2 hours each way to go to a school where I don’t really teach, and my counterpart doesn’t do the reading before I get there. Then about 20 minutes into the ride thinking about the same circumstances I had a little epiphany. I’m sitting on a wooden plank that makes me about a foot higher than the rest of the passengers; I’m also facing the back of the Wagon while they are on side facing benches, and I’m listening to some fun music when it hits me that this is hilarious. I’m being bounced around on this silly little wagon with intermittent sprinkles of rain on my face and an entire Ruta looking at me as the weird Gringo going to some remote community in the middle of Nicaragua. So I just started to smile and enjoy it for what it was.
Wednesday came around rather quickly as it has been lately. The weeks are flying! This is already my 6th week in site. I cant really believe it, and it makes me realize that this 2 years really will pass me by. So the day starts off at 8 in the morning with a planning session with my counterpart at the local Catholic school. I really like this counterpart; she is on top of it. I am then free to do more studying, which I do like a good student of the language would do. At 2 and 3:30 I have 2 more planning sessions with the other 2 schools that are around me. Or that is what I thought. At 12:36 my counterpart from the school right across the street walks over to inform me that we will be reviewing the equilibrium point class to the high school seniors because they are having trouble with the material. Absolutely fine with me, I was excited to be able to impart some knowledge on these youngsters. Then I get to the class only to have them present some equilibrium point project, which was done completely wrong by the whole class. Furthermore, when I tried to correct them, I was informed I had to wait till they had finished presenting before I could share my wisdom. This of course frustrated me because I couldn’t stand sitting in my little seat listening to these kids present improperly the subject material for so long. Well I got through the day, a little more patient. I have been noticing my patience level climb, which I’m sure most of you know is probably a virtue that I was lacking completely before my Peace Corps journey.
The following morning I did what I have been doing for the last 2 weeks now. That is 250 to 300 sit ups and 200 to 250 pushups. I feel a lot better about myself considering I eat mucho fried rice, beans and anything else that can be fried really. I complete my work out routine and you guessed it, I studied. I study on average about 4 to 6 hours daily. I was informed by my fried Sarah Jessamine that our friend Joe from a small site about 4 hours away called Rocky Point, was in El Propio Rama selling coconut products with his Host Family. They found a Nicaraguan NGO in El Rama that set them up for a night, paid for their travel to and from El Rama, and gave them a table at the little vendor market to sell homemade products. Joe´s family didn’t do so well but I imagine it was fun none the less. Joe and I enjoyed a large cup of Joe before I had to head off to a meeting I had at 2. I also gave him my old phone now that Im super flashy with my iPhone.
Fridays are my long days. I had class from 7am till about 4 pm at 2 different schools. Nothing exciting happened, just more 14 year old girls asking for my number. Ohh and when I say no, it doesn’t matter, because someone from the school will give it to them so they can harass me with texts and calls anyway. Que Barbaridad!

Time: 2am. This is the moment when I must wake up to take a bus to Managua for my host brother from Masatepes wedding. I get the bus with no problems, and arrive in Managdad at around 8 am. I had nothing to do, so I walked around the mall trying to find a present, but that didn’t happen, I figure my presence is present enough, right? I drank a beer or 2 while watching the Notre Dame game at a bar to pass the time, then I head to a hostel I had heard about that only costs 8 dollars a night to shower and get ready for what was to become an epic fiesta. After arriving to the Brides families house and conversing for 2 hours, the family heads to the church. WOW, I didn’t know my brother had so much money, because it had to cost a pretty penny to pay for the church, band, candles, and incredible blooming flowers that were engulfing the room. The ceremony was beautiful; however it was way too long, and had way too much praying and singing and religious content for my liking. Then came the Fiesta. The place they rented out was phenomenal. Top notch in all aspects. Flowers were everywhere, silver plates and smoked salmon and cheeses for appetizers. They had all types of liquor you could ask for as well as champagne, and wine. The band-Dj was really great as well. The food was delicious, and it was served at around 10pm, right when you needed it. At 12am there was an announcement, all people put on your straw hats and take a shot of tequila, or a few as most people did. Next thing I know, some waiter is passing out coconuts filled with rum, while his waiter buddy was passing out Cuban cigars. Overall, a spectacular wedding.
The next day was not so fun! I asked the bus company when I arrived what time the buses leave to go back to El Rama. He said 1 and 2pm as well as some other times. I decide to get to the bus station at 1:30 so as not to be late for the 2pm bus. Well I get there and they told me straight up like this ¨No siry bob. ¨ I was like great, next one leaves at 6 what should I do. I see a bus that leaves in 3 minutes to a town an hour and a half south of my town and decide to hop on. Then I realized I only had 160 cordobas, the normal bus to El Rama costs 150. I get on not knowing where I have to get off to catch a second bus to El Rama, and not knowing what the combination of the 2 bus tickets will be. Well the first ticket was 100, Excellent! Then after 4 hours they say if you’re going to El Rama get off here to catch the second bus, I couldn’t believe it, but right in front of us was the second bus, just waiting for us to hop on and go direct to the Rama. Next the guy says, that will be 40 cords please. I was flabbergasted, it all worked out perfect and I had some extra cash to spare. What a great Sunday! To top it all off, when the internet cafes are all but assured to be closed at 7 pm on a Sunday, I passed by one that was still open, and I had the extra cash to enjoy looking at the stories of glory and excellence about the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. Roll Tide.

Hope your all Tip Top. If you get this as an email go to the blog webpage because I will try to have some photos and even a movie clip!