This week has been tremendous. Let’s start with Sunday. So if you remember, I have been working with a group of students from a local high school to make a mango flavored hot sauce and commercialize it. For 5 hours Kate, Amanda (my group partners) and I worked with these kids to get the final labeling, business plan and presentation details finished before our competition that was held this Monday. We cooked our product and bottled it in old beer bottles that came with tops that some lady was selling. This really worked out spectacularly and solved our weeks old problem of not being able to find proper bottles.
Monday morning came around, and we met the kids at the bus station where the Peace Corps drivers came to pick us up to take us to a nice hotel about an hour away to have the competition. To our amazement they showed up decked out in school uniforms, brandishing a large Nicaraguan flag, a school flag, as well as bringing a table cloth and ingredients to help with the table presentation of the product. We set up shop and it looked great, our table was by far the most impressive out of the 13 teams. Each team had to present their product to a 3 person panel of judges for 10-15 minutes. The judges would then ask some relevant questions to see what the kids really know. The criteria for judging was based on, presentation, packaging, labeling, taste or quality, depending on the product, and creativity.
Well the third place team received 86 points out of 100 for their bean sweet treat. The second place team received 89 points for their homemade shampoo as well as winning best overall packaging for their hand crafted bamboo painted containers. Finally, the first place team received an astounding 96 points for their incredible mango hot sauce. Haha, that’s right, we dominated and also won best labeling. Our kids received new backpacks and cell phones. They were so happy!
Then on Tuesday we all left our host families for good to go to Managua for the last few days of training before being sworn in. It was sad to say good bye to a family that has been so kind and generous to me over the last 3 months, but it was equally exciting to start the next phase of this Peace Corps Experience. We are split up into 2 hotels by the Peace Corps office in Managua, the Agriculture volunteers in one, and the business volunteers in the other. It has been phenomenal eating at restaurants and sleeping in a comfortable bed, and taking hot showers for the last 3 nights. Especially because when I get to El Rama, I have no running water, so I have to take bucket showers.
Throughout the last few days, we have had some seriously boring lectures and presentations. However, On Thursday, we went back to the U.S. Embassy to talk with and meet with some interesting and intelligent people. The U.S. Ambassador, Robert J. Callahan spoke to us for a while, and did a Q and A session as well. He was a really great guy – Funny, humble, intelligent, firm, diligent, and detailed, all the things that would make you a good leader. He told us some great stories, including experiences with the current president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega. We also met with some people that worked at USAID, the world’s most preeminent international aid organizations, and people from the Foreign Service. I really thought that Thursday was a pretty cool day. That was a nice lead into today, Friday July 30, 2010.
Today we all woke up around 6 am to get ready for the big day. Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best. I wore a nice light blue tie and a white shirt, the tie was done flawlessly and I must say Donald Trump himself couldn’t have done it with more precision and excellence. We were driven to the Intercontinental Hotel for our swearing in ceremony at 8 am. This has been a very long 11 weeks of highly intensive training, so needless to say, we were all ecstatic to be finally sworn in. 42 of the 45 original aspirants (trainees) were actually sworn in. Throughout this process there is a lot of stress and people looking over your every move so the freedom that comes with this is incredible. The Ambassador came by the hotel for 2 hours to do the swearing in. Our host families, all the language facilitators, and the other Peace Corps workers participated in the ceremony.
Tonight we will have dinner at the director of the Peace Corps house. On Sunday I will leave for good to El Rama to begin Stage numero dos. I’m feeling better but I think I still have some bacteria growing in my stomach so I have had to take round 2 of the antibiotic treatment. I hope I get better.
Take Care.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Bacterial Infection - Round One
Hello,
I just now am getting of a sickness my friends. A really shitty sickness, pun intended. I had a bacterial infection in my stomach. I started feeling a little off wednessday morning, but really i was feeling like i was getting a cold, nothing more. In fact i was kind of scared I was to become the 9th member of Nica 53 to get Dangue Fever. Ohh yea, thats right, 8 peaple in my group have already contracted Dangue fever, aka Bonebreaker disease. Luckily I was not the 9th unlucky person. I woke up wednessday night at about 3 in the morning, and in an instant, I was vomiting and peeing out of my but at the same time. Gross I know, but I thought you should really know one of the very frequent sicknesses we as Peace Corps trainees, and soon to be volunteers go through on a very regular basis.
Speaking of almost volunteers, In 6 short days from now, we will be sworn in finally. Well thats the plan at least. It will be really nice to finally be done with this stuff that we have to do during training, but at the same time I will miss being able to see gringos and speak the occational english language. Im excited to be a ramero however.
Oh mom, rob garrett and cruzer, thanks for the box. It was delicious, I ate all the peanut butter filled pretzles the first day. All of you can follow suit and sent me tasty treats as well.
Love you guys. Adios
I just now am getting of a sickness my friends. A really shitty sickness, pun intended. I had a bacterial infection in my stomach. I started feeling a little off wednessday morning, but really i was feeling like i was getting a cold, nothing more. In fact i was kind of scared I was to become the 9th member of Nica 53 to get Dangue Fever. Ohh yea, thats right, 8 peaple in my group have already contracted Dangue fever, aka Bonebreaker disease. Luckily I was not the 9th unlucky person. I woke up wednessday night at about 3 in the morning, and in an instant, I was vomiting and peeing out of my but at the same time. Gross I know, but I thought you should really know one of the very frequent sicknesses we as Peace Corps trainees, and soon to be volunteers go through on a very regular basis.
Speaking of almost volunteers, In 6 short days from now, we will be sworn in finally. Well thats the plan at least. It will be really nice to finally be done with this stuff that we have to do during training, but at the same time I will miss being able to see gringos and speak the occational english language. Im excited to be a ramero however.
Oh mom, rob garrett and cruzer, thanks for the box. It was delicious, I ate all the peanut butter filled pretzles the first day. All of you can follow suit and sent me tasty treats as well.
Love you guys. Adios
Friday, July 16, 2010
Welcome to the Jungle
Hola Folks,
So I arrived from the Rama Today. Whoohoo, I took a marcopolo Mercedes Bens bus on the way back. For those who are not accustomed to long bus rides, this is as you can imagine from the name, one of the comfortable ones. Now in true Nica fashion they were really cheap about it and would not utilize the air conditioning or the built in tv screens they had, but none the less it was a much improved ride from usual.
So how was it? Tremendo as my counterpart would say. On Monday I met all of the Directors, AKA the principals of the schools I will be working with in Managua for a conference type meet and greet. One of my counterparts is a Nun at the Catholic school. Guess what question was the first to come up in conversation with all the counterparts. What religion are you? Do you believe in god? Well that was semi awkward, but I held my beliefs firm and told them the truth, that I thought it was absolutely ridiculous and that god is fake. Haha, no but I did tell them that I am not religious. This brought on ohhs and awes, and "wow gringo you are lost,” to which I replied, “no, I’m just as sure as you are of where we are at in this world.” Anyway the Nun actually stood up for me and said that she was totally fine with all my beliefs and basically that the other guys hounding me should get off my back. Good job Hermana!
We stayed in a hotel with A.C. internet hot water and nice beds, this was fantastic. The next morning I woke up at 4:45 to get ready to take the 6:00am bus to El Rama. I showed up at literally 5:59 with the bus departing and me jumping on with all my bags. We get to the Rama in about 7 short hours, a nice ride in reality. The first day I meet the chief of police just to get acquainted with him, followed by the visit to my future house for the next 6 weeks at least.
The Peace Corps requires us to live with a host family for 6 weeks. My new host mom is a lovely young lady that happens to be a national police woman. She is tranquillo though so im fine with it. The only problem is there is no running water, and the bathroom faces the kitchen. This is of great concern because there is only a transparent sheet as a door, and constantly people in the kitchen. I like to poop more or less in private. She really wants me to stay the 2 years I think because she told me that she would put a door on and connect an electric pump to the well so we could have a running water shower and not take bucket baths. Now of course I didn’t ask for this, but if she followed through, I would definitely be more inclined to stay longer than the required 6 weeks. My room has a nice big bed and a door to the outside so I don’t have to come through the front door if I come home late; huge plus.
The next day, I visited Wapi. This is the school that I have to travel 2 hours on a dirt road in an ex military canvassed covered wagon each way to teach my class. No big deal. The school is nice and small and my counterpart is really awesome which helps a lot. I then journeyed back to visit my second school which is about 7 km from my house. This is a fine school. The funny story here is that during my introduction to the class, the principal had me write my number on the board for the students. This has led to a constant prank calling and messaging from girls that say “hola mi amor, donde estas?” This by the way is much more acceptable here than in the land of opportunity.
On Thursday I checked out the remaining 2 schools that are write in my town. I found out that 3 of the 4 schools have the entrepreneurship class only on Fridays, so there will be a scheduling conflict with that. Wapi has the class on Mondays, so it looks like Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I will have some hammock time.
I came back today with an overall good vibe from El Rama. It really is like the Wild West. Cowboy hats and machetes galore! That’s all here. 2 weeks from today I will be sworn in – at least I hope, nothing is for sure, so send me money, I mean good thoughts.
Adios
So I arrived from the Rama Today. Whoohoo, I took a marcopolo Mercedes Bens bus on the way back. For those who are not accustomed to long bus rides, this is as you can imagine from the name, one of the comfortable ones. Now in true Nica fashion they were really cheap about it and would not utilize the air conditioning or the built in tv screens they had, but none the less it was a much improved ride from usual.
So how was it? Tremendo as my counterpart would say. On Monday I met all of the Directors, AKA the principals of the schools I will be working with in Managua for a conference type meet and greet. One of my counterparts is a Nun at the Catholic school. Guess what question was the first to come up in conversation with all the counterparts. What religion are you? Do you believe in god? Well that was semi awkward, but I held my beliefs firm and told them the truth, that I thought it was absolutely ridiculous and that god is fake. Haha, no but I did tell them that I am not religious. This brought on ohhs and awes, and "wow gringo you are lost,” to which I replied, “no, I’m just as sure as you are of where we are at in this world.” Anyway the Nun actually stood up for me and said that she was totally fine with all my beliefs and basically that the other guys hounding me should get off my back. Good job Hermana!
We stayed in a hotel with A.C. internet hot water and nice beds, this was fantastic. The next morning I woke up at 4:45 to get ready to take the 6:00am bus to El Rama. I showed up at literally 5:59 with the bus departing and me jumping on with all my bags. We get to the Rama in about 7 short hours, a nice ride in reality. The first day I meet the chief of police just to get acquainted with him, followed by the visit to my future house for the next 6 weeks at least.
The Peace Corps requires us to live with a host family for 6 weeks. My new host mom is a lovely young lady that happens to be a national police woman. She is tranquillo though so im fine with it. The only problem is there is no running water, and the bathroom faces the kitchen. This is of great concern because there is only a transparent sheet as a door, and constantly people in the kitchen. I like to poop more or less in private. She really wants me to stay the 2 years I think because she told me that she would put a door on and connect an electric pump to the well so we could have a running water shower and not take bucket baths. Now of course I didn’t ask for this, but if she followed through, I would definitely be more inclined to stay longer than the required 6 weeks. My room has a nice big bed and a door to the outside so I don’t have to come through the front door if I come home late; huge plus.
The next day, I visited Wapi. This is the school that I have to travel 2 hours on a dirt road in an ex military canvassed covered wagon each way to teach my class. No big deal. The school is nice and small and my counterpart is really awesome which helps a lot. I then journeyed back to visit my second school which is about 7 km from my house. This is a fine school. The funny story here is that during my introduction to the class, the principal had me write my number on the board for the students. This has led to a constant prank calling and messaging from girls that say “hola mi amor, donde estas?” This by the way is much more acceptable here than in the land of opportunity.
On Thursday I checked out the remaining 2 schools that are write in my town. I found out that 3 of the 4 schools have the entrepreneurship class only on Fridays, so there will be a scheduling conflict with that. Wapi has the class on Mondays, so it looks like Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I will have some hammock time.
I came back today with an overall good vibe from El Rama. It really is like the Wild West. Cowboy hats and machetes galore! That’s all here. 2 weeks from today I will be sworn in – at least I hope, nothing is for sure, so send me money, I mean good thoughts.
Adios
Jeff has super cuts
As my family knows I’m not a big fan of getting haircuts. I have a weird fear that they are going to make me look ridiculous. This fear was amplified about 1 year ago when my mother Joanne decided that my stepfather Rob and I had to save 3 dollars apiece to get our hair cut at the Paul Mitchell school for people who obviously need more school to learn how to cut hair. Anyway I left with what looked like a drunken college prank on my head – that is to say I was butchered. So how this plays into today’s blog is very simple; I don’t like getting hair cuts in general. In another country I’m almost guaranteed to get the minimal amount of haircuts I can while still considering myself halfway respectable due to the fact that I can’t effectively tell them how to cut my hair. Moreover, while I’m traveling I don’t really care. Here however I’m a “professional,” so I took the plunge and got one.
I start the day by doing a pretty significant amount of work for a Sunday, when suddenly I look at my greasy - wild – long - lions mop and decide I’m going to go to a barber. No don’t get me wrong, I think my golden locks of love look as good as they ever have, I just thought that I would tame the beast for tomorrow, when I have to meet all my counterparts from El Rama.
So I walk to the family recommended joint which looks really respectable and clean to find that it was packed full. The World Cup was about to start to I walked around the block to where I was positive was another Barber. Sure enough I find Roger in his absolutely filthy shack with hair covered floors and 3 happily waiting clients watching the pregame show for the Cup. I sat down anxiously waiting my turn, noticing the other client’s hair is much more simply cut with a combination 2 to 8 high top fade thing. This kind of freaked me out because not seeing his shearing skills in action before I sat down gave me some reservations. Any way I get in the chair and say please sir give me the same style just a little shorter, but not too short. He said nothing but, “so not with a machine then?” I said you got it buddy and he started my hair cut in a frantic and erratic fashion, I mean this guy was going crazy with the scissors, but when I looked in the mirror I found the half way respectable Jeff that I was looking for. He cut my neck hair and around my ears with a strait blade for good measure. Roger didn’t say much but I respect that as I never like talking to the people that cut my hair anyway.
So I had a pic but I can't find a way to place it so just imagine me even more handsome then ever, I only had to cut a few stragglers, but for the most part I think it looks pretty decent. Anyway I’m watching the game in overtime right now, I hope Holland wins. I don’t know why but I just do.
I start the day by doing a pretty significant amount of work for a Sunday, when suddenly I look at my greasy - wild – long - lions mop and decide I’m going to go to a barber. No don’t get me wrong, I think my golden locks of love look as good as they ever have, I just thought that I would tame the beast for tomorrow, when I have to meet all my counterparts from El Rama.
So I walk to the family recommended joint which looks really respectable and clean to find that it was packed full. The World Cup was about to start to I walked around the block to where I was positive was another Barber. Sure enough I find Roger in his absolutely filthy shack with hair covered floors and 3 happily waiting clients watching the pregame show for the Cup. I sat down anxiously waiting my turn, noticing the other client’s hair is much more simply cut with a combination 2 to 8 high top fade thing. This kind of freaked me out because not seeing his shearing skills in action before I sat down gave me some reservations. Any way I get in the chair and say please sir give me the same style just a little shorter, but not too short. He said nothing but, “so not with a machine then?” I said you got it buddy and he started my hair cut in a frantic and erratic fashion, I mean this guy was going crazy with the scissors, but when I looked in the mirror I found the half way respectable Jeff that I was looking for. He cut my neck hair and around my ears with a strait blade for good measure. Roger didn’t say much but I respect that as I never like talking to the people that cut my hair anyway.
So I had a pic but I can't find a way to place it so just imagine me even more handsome then ever, I only had to cut a few stragglers, but for the most part I think it looks pretty decent. Anyway I’m watching the game in overtime right now, I hope Holland wins. I don’t know why but I just do.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Rama has Monkeys!
IM now really excited about el Rama. we have had another busy week like usuall. we are starting to wrap up all of our projects which is really nice. Today we are cunducting interviews with owners of companies that make dried fruit candies in our town. We will be presenting our findings to the peace corps, this will be focusing on an external analysis of the factors that affect this little industry in our area. we are also wrapping up our youth group. They still need to find bottles to package their hot sauce, but we will be finishing up the business plan with them today. On monday 26th the kids will get driven to a hotel where a competition will be held between them and the kids in the youth groups from all the other peace corps trainies.
So on monday we all go to managua to meet our counterparts, or the principals from the schools that we will be working with. I have four schools that I will be working with in El Rama, and since I'm going to a new site, they invited all the principals from the schools. I don't know how many will come, but i hope all of them so I can get to meet them. I guess the day is very awkward from what i have been told. They make us play games with them before we know who is our counterpart, then we guess who we will be working with. We will then spend monday night in Managua at a hotel, SWEET. I will get hot water for the first time in 3 months. Then in the morning we leave for the Rama on a nice 6 hour bus ride.
Once in El rama I will be visiting all my schools, the teachers I will be working with, and planing my schedule for when I return, like the hours and days that i will help teach and plan with my counterparts. I will also have to go around town and talk with the mayor, police chief other people, all of this will be really awkward as well since im still not fantastic at spanish. Oh and i will be living with a national police woman for the first 6 weeks, but i heard my room has its own entrance so I dont have to go in the house to get to my room which will be really nice.
I have started to like El Rama more and more since learning about it. I will be in a bustling river port town which sounds fun. I will be a 1.5 hour boat ride from bluefields which means i will likely be frequenting the beaches there. i will have access to really good and cheap fish and sea food. It does rain a lot there but I also hear monkeys hang out like cats and dogs, although they might be shit throwing monkeys, so i might have to be carefull. I will likely buy a maskot monkey. I know i will have at least 2 fantastic hammocks so company can hang out as well.
I will return next friday for my final 2 weeks of training. I cannot wait to get that done. Im supposed to teach another class but I dont know if i will be able to.
I hope all Is tremendous.
So on monday we all go to managua to meet our counterparts, or the principals from the schools that we will be working with. I have four schools that I will be working with in El Rama, and since I'm going to a new site, they invited all the principals from the schools. I don't know how many will come, but i hope all of them so I can get to meet them. I guess the day is very awkward from what i have been told. They make us play games with them before we know who is our counterpart, then we guess who we will be working with. We will then spend monday night in Managua at a hotel, SWEET. I will get hot water for the first time in 3 months. Then in the morning we leave for the Rama on a nice 6 hour bus ride.
Once in El rama I will be visiting all my schools, the teachers I will be working with, and planing my schedule for when I return, like the hours and days that i will help teach and plan with my counterparts. I will also have to go around town and talk with the mayor, police chief other people, all of this will be really awkward as well since im still not fantastic at spanish. Oh and i will be living with a national police woman for the first 6 weeks, but i heard my room has its own entrance so I dont have to go in the house to get to my room which will be really nice.
I have started to like El Rama more and more since learning about it. I will be in a bustling river port town which sounds fun. I will be a 1.5 hour boat ride from bluefields which means i will likely be frequenting the beaches there. i will have access to really good and cheap fish and sea food. It does rain a lot there but I also hear monkeys hang out like cats and dogs, although they might be shit throwing monkeys, so i might have to be carefull. I will likely buy a maskot monkey. I know i will have at least 2 fantastic hammocks so company can hang out as well.
I will return next friday for my final 2 weeks of training. I cannot wait to get that done. Im supposed to teach another class but I dont know if i will be able to.
I hope all Is tremendous.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
El Rama - Really - better be some good seafood
Well people,
who ever guessed i would go to a site i didn´t want was right. I am going to none other than El Rama. Jason this is a site you would want me to go to. Good news is im a 2 hour boat ride from Bluefields, bad news is im not in bluefields. Im serously in the middle of nowhere. My town is pretty big - 20,000 people so thats a plus, and its said to be a bustling city which is fun.
I thought when the called me I was going to Bluefields so i was supper excited and gave them a hug, then I read my site and it said El Rama and I almost had a heart attack.
Im going to be positive, but on sunday my camera broke, and i just lost my only rain jacket. Other than that Im great. Its really good to finally know where we are going.
Well happy tuesday.
who ever guessed i would go to a site i didn´t want was right. I am going to none other than El Rama. Jason this is a site you would want me to go to. Good news is im a 2 hour boat ride from Bluefields, bad news is im not in bluefields. Im serously in the middle of nowhere. My town is pretty big - 20,000 people so thats a plus, and its said to be a bustling city which is fun.
I thought when the called me I was going to Bluefields so i was supper excited and gave them a hug, then I read my site and it said El Rama and I almost had a heart attack.
Im going to be positive, but on sunday my camera broke, and i just lost my only rain jacket. Other than that Im great. Its really good to finally know where we are going.
Well happy tuesday.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Tasty little Bonettes
Hay
This week went by really fast considering we have all been constantly thinking about where the hell we´re going to be living for the next 2 years. We find out on Tuesday by the way. We had an interview on Wednesday to help the ladies figure out where they want to send us. Of course everyone had their own strategy to coerce the ladies to send them where ever they wanted to go. I truthfully don´t think I will get one of my top sites, but at the same time I don´t really care. I’m sure it will be fine where ever I go.
We have a Saturday off for once, what a treat that is! I think I might go to the beach for the fourth of July, but I’m not sure about that yet. We only have four more weeks of training left; it has both flown by and crept at a crawl. Next week will go by fast because we have our site selection and other fun activities, the next week we go visit our sites, and then we only have 2 weeks left. The last week is pretty much a chill fest in Managua from what I have been told.
I have been trying to really study my Spanish skills, I know I am learning many new words and phrases but still I struggle with complex sentence structures and tenses. On a positive note, the Netherlands beat Brazil today. I hope Argentina wins.
If you love me you will send me things. I found a better panaderia that sells bonettes which are like the previously described Pico´s only better. Plus this place has great customer service which is nice. I have even got their schedule down so I always know when they are fresh out of the oven.
Speaking of Customer Service, I taught my 3rd class in the Public institute about Servicio al Cliente. I did a good job, and the best part is, I feel better about teaching in Spanish so when I get sent to a site that is completely dominated by classes with no time to advise businesses, I will be better off.
Remember Kids, if your not to big of cheap skates you can call me down here for a few minutes once in a while. Hope all is well.
This week went by really fast considering we have all been constantly thinking about where the hell we´re going to be living for the next 2 years. We find out on Tuesday by the way. We had an interview on Wednesday to help the ladies figure out where they want to send us. Of course everyone had their own strategy to coerce the ladies to send them where ever they wanted to go. I truthfully don´t think I will get one of my top sites, but at the same time I don´t really care. I’m sure it will be fine where ever I go.
We have a Saturday off for once, what a treat that is! I think I might go to the beach for the fourth of July, but I’m not sure about that yet. We only have four more weeks of training left; it has both flown by and crept at a crawl. Next week will go by fast because we have our site selection and other fun activities, the next week we go visit our sites, and then we only have 2 weeks left. The last week is pretty much a chill fest in Managua from what I have been told.
I have been trying to really study my Spanish skills, I know I am learning many new words and phrases but still I struggle with complex sentence structures and tenses. On a positive note, the Netherlands beat Brazil today. I hope Argentina wins.
If you love me you will send me things. I found a better panaderia that sells bonettes which are like the previously described Pico´s only better. Plus this place has great customer service which is nice. I have even got their schedule down so I always know when they are fresh out of the oven.
Speaking of Customer Service, I taught my 3rd class in the Public institute about Servicio al Cliente. I did a good job, and the best part is, I feel better about teaching in Spanish so when I get sent to a site that is completely dominated by classes with no time to advise businesses, I will be better off.
Remember Kids, if your not to big of cheap skates you can call me down here for a few minutes once in a while. Hope all is well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
