Wow what a long time since my last blog. Much has happened this past month or so. I don’t even really know where to begin as I don’t even remember where I left off. I think I will start with the great American holiday of Thanks Giving; no I will start with a very embarrassing and fulfilling moment.
The women’s group that I worked with was graduating from their program. The president of the microfinance bank that sponsored this program invited me to come to the ceremony at 2pm on Saturday to view the festivities. I arrive at 1:45 to find a room packed with family and friends of the soon to be graduating group of women. 150-200 on-lookers made it impossible for me to grab a seat so I shuffled my way to the back where I was immediately tapped on the shoulder by a man who said ¨that lady is calling you,¨ while pointing to the front. I looked to the front of the auditorium which had a stage with the mayor, the super intendent of the school system, the president of the bank, and 2 other important people sitting on it, to see a lady just to the side motioning me to come up. Naturally I waved her off until her incessant hand motions convinced me to fight the sweaty and stinky crowd. I walked up only to realize that one of these chairs on the stage was mine; the first chair was mine. This was really awkward with the local news videotaping me and a hundred cameras taking pictures. The ceremony started and I had to hand out the diplomas to the women and even a 1st place award to the best performing student as they walked accross the stage.
As if all this wasn’t enough, Samuel, the bank guy goes to say a few words and calls me out, jokingly I hope, about showing up late. Then he rants about my name being easy and just drawing as much attention to me as possible before the jab to the chest. The jab came 1 minute later when he looked at me and gave a ha-ha smile as the announcer said ¨and now a few words from Jeff.¨ Are you kidding me? I have to speak Spanish to all these people with 0 time to even think about what I want to say. Basically I sounded like a complete ass hole, for 20 seconds I rambled. They laughed and clapped at the same time, ohh well. This was the most embarrassing and flattering moment since I arrived to this funny little country. I was so moved that I had a seat with these important people after a very short and unaccomplished work session with these ladies.
I was mandated to Managua for a training session that began on Monday of the week of Thanksgiving; this couldn’t have worked out better for a number of reasons. The first of which was that I was able to reunite with my entire training group in Managua at a relatively nice hotel, well it was more like a run down 1970’s cottage resort. It was old, underused and wonderful with a plethora of little 2 room cottages spread out over a large area. We were the only ones there which meant a little party was to ensue. Fun night!
The next day, Tuesday, about 8 of us went to Leon city. This was my first time to this old colonial city. It feels like a larger more bustling version of Granada. After a nice few hours walking around I received a call from my friend Kevin Crabtree. This tranquilo specimen is on a 12 month adventure that began in Guatemala and will end in Argentina. He flew into Managua from the Corn Islands around 4:40 pm. He went all out and decided to just take a taxi direct from the airport to the bar we were all at about 2 hours away and 75$ later. What a pleasant sight that was, especially since he was traveling with my beautiful baseball glove and seeds for my garden.
Side note, at this moment in my life I had a pretty substantial beard and long curly hair.
We spent that night in Leon, enjoying the wonderful nightlife and relatively cheap entertainment. The highlight of the trip in Leon had to be the Baseball game on Wednesday night. All of us headed over to watch Leon play Granada; a heated rivalry to say the least. There are only 5 teams in Nicaragua’s top tear professional baseball league, including these two teams. For $2.50 we purchased great seats behind the plate where we sipped ice cold beer with the occational shot of rum. The highlights included, a questionable call that led to the 3rd base coach of Granada kicking dirt at the umpire and subsequently getting ejected. Later both benches cleared after another questionable call which made the crowd go nuts. We were freaking out as if we were all die hard Leon fans. The game ended with Leon holding on to a close 5 to 4 lead with bases loaded. My friend Dino Kallas who speaks Spanish fluently immediately went to the press box and started chanting the government in power’s rally chants to illicit a favorable response from most of the crowd.
Thursday morning we took a bus to the beach for a thanksgiving party that will not soon be forgotten. To my surprise when we arrived there were about 30 Peace Corps volunteers already celebrating America with cocktails and beer at this magical beachside love palace. This American owned hostel provided us with a full thanksgiving turkey dinner and a bed for $15, well worth it. We hung out at the beach partying, watching Detroit lose, making bonfires, and playing in the waves till 3am. I didn’t participate but apparently there was a 15-20 person skinny dip extravaganza as well. Ha-ha.
Friday I had to wake up at 6am which as you can imagine was really fun, to drag Kevin to Managua for my first physical therapy session on my shoulder. We made it to Managua in time and feeling great! After which we took a 7 hour but to El Propio Rama.
This friends, is the time that I had to start moving into my new place. That’s right; I found a brand new incredible house that is on the hill providing me with a comfortable breeze throughout the day. I pay less then my last set up, although that included food and laundry, so it all evens out, but now I have a mansion. I have running water in my toilet and sink provided by a pump from a well. Hard wood covers the floors and I’m blessed with a fully screened in front porch where I enjoy my hammock. My host mother was sad, but understanding when I told her about the move, but no worries, I will visit.
Front entrance
View from front door
My favorite place - the big porch where I put my hammack
At this moment I shaved my beard into a mustache and I cut my hair!
Me holding fireworks before a going away party I hosted for my Spanish friend
We enjoyed El Rama, and all that it has to offer for a few days before I had to return to Managua for another round of physical therapy. Kevin stayed in Managua with me before heading off to Granada. I returned to El Rama for a few short days of work. That Saturday, the 4th I went to Bluefields for a conference before heading on a panga to Kukra Hill to advise a small business.
My friend Jessa who lives in Kukra moved into a new house that was built by the government for her Nicaraguan roommate. This sounds nice of them; however they forgot 2 important things, number one, a latrine, and number 2, a shower. While I was there I felt bad for the girls peeing in cups, finding neighbors for usage of their bathrooms, and showering in the living room, so I built an outdoor shower with 4 posts, a wood floor, and thick black plastic walls.
I came back to El Rama at about 5:00 on Monday afternoon. At around 6:00pm my really great friend Adam arrived in El Rama to keep the string of friends coming to visit alive. He came up from Costa Rica to come see me and enjoy a bit of Nicaragua. We slowly but surely started to fill my house with the few things that I could afford. I still don’t have a refrigerator and that triggered a feeling of generosity for Adam or something, because he gave me 100 greenbacks to help fund my refrigerator. How incredible was that?
Once again I had to go back to Managua for a rehab session. These F-ing buses are getting annoying every week, however it gave me a paid way out to meet the last 2 friends that came to visit as well as a paid ride on thurs to meet friend number 3 in a row and 4 total, as Liam from England will arive today to Managua. Adam stayed in a hostel Thursday night so we could go to Granada after my Friday appointment. Thurs night we got a burrito and went our separate ways. My friend Amanda and I walked towards our Peace Corps paid hotel when 2 guys appeared behind us. I became aware at an instant since I have traveled a bunch and heard stories in Managua. As we walked faster and I kept my eye on them, a 3rd guy rushed from in front of us and across the street. They surrounded us in a fury, and I immediately threw one guy from my right to my left while a second guy grabbed me from behind and the third guy stuck a knife right to my neck. At this point I said ok, ok, tranquillo. They took my iphone and turned around, at which point I took out my knife and chased the three guys through traffic across the street and behind a fast food chicken place where they ran into a large, 4 foot diameter sewer system. I waited outside for the police who never showed. I only lost my phone, but it was an iphone! At least they didn’t stab my neck!
The next day we went to the police for a report before heading to Granada. Granada was Granada, Fun, Fun, Fun, Expensive, Expensive, and Expensive. My friend Jessica was there with her parents which was fantastic because they bought Adam and me a few delicious Dinners.
I returned to Rama, broken, financially, physically and somewhat mentally. Although after working for 12 hours yesterday on a 10 page report for my bosses I feel much better and more accomplished.
I still have a mustache! Liam from England arrives to Managua right about now. Liam, Kevin, maybe Adam, all the volunteers on the coast, my brother Jason and his wife Anna, as well as my Nicaraguan friends will enjoy my new house for what will definitely be an incredible Christmas in the tropics.
I apologize for those of you that care, for not writing sooner, but as you can tell
I have had zero time for anything.
I take donations by the way!
