Round 3 of the out of site chronicles continues with the language taller and the fundraising party!
After a leisurely, stress free and overall inconceivable time at the finca, I returned to normality in a little pueblo called Nandasmo. Nandasmo is located in the pueblos blancos, not more than 5 minutes from where I did my training in Masatepe. Our entire training group minus the 5 or 6 people that were highly advanced at Spanish, returned to the training towns for a 4 day language workshop. We stayed at the houses of the trainees while they were on their site visits. The two sectors in training right now are Tefl and Environment. There are some overlaps with families from our training group, but for the most part these kids have new families. The environment group does their training in communities about 45 minutes away and Tefl is in the pueblos where we did training and thus our group was split between the two sites. The good thing is the Peace Corps mixed agriculture and business volunteers.
I had an incredibly warm welcome from my host family of 4 days. They were super accommodating, nice, and relaxed about rules and regulations. My learning was limited due in part to 2 Managua trips. I was required to go in for an ultrasound and an X-ray on Wednesday. This resulted in some pretty clear pictures of a bankrupt shoulder. The doctor immediately ordered an MRI which resulted in my second half day of training on Friday, what a shame!
As of today, I still don’t know the results. On Saturday after the last class everyone went to Managua to enjoy a night at the Holiday inn. The business sector hosted a fundraiser for the national business competition that will be held in the very same hotel on the 30th of this month. There were volunteers from all over the country and in every sector there. What a treat indeed. I had a nice conversation with the ambassador before parading around the party mingling with as many new people as I could find!
The week went by with a swiftness that could overpower any pessimist. I took a bus back on Sunday afternoon.
Monday thru Wed consisted of a weird unhappiness and drowsiness. All the time away from site really wore me out. I think I was a little depressed that pretty much every other one of the 200 volunteers has a site mate or someone within a day trip away. I am very isolated and it was hard to realize that I will once again be without any American company. Well for a short bit at least. We have to go back to Managua on the 23rd for a re-connect conference.
On a side note I have 11 people coming to visit me between now and April; a pretty astonishing number really. Hailing from 3 different countries to boot. The first visitor, Kevin will be here any day, followed by my friend Adam on the 29th of November.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Finca de Las Nubes by Way of Normal Bus Adventures!
San Juan Del Sur Sunset
Hi!
I get burnt and I peel after extreme sun exposure in the tropics. Fact!
It’s 5:00 on the dot in Managua! I am on a bus that is creeping towards the entrance to leave for Rivas, a truck stop of a town that is mostly frequented by people who can’t wait to leave on their way to San Juan del Sur. For those of you who like survivor, that’s where the current season is taking place.
I am frantically calling on the phone my friend Jessa as she has not yet made it from her incredibly long 13 hour journey from Kukra hill. She entered Managua not 15 minutes previously, the problem however was that she came into another bus stop and had to make a mad dash in a taxi to catch the bus I was waiting on. At 5:01 we pull out and I see Jessa haggling with the taxi driver for a better rate. The bus, which mind you was the very last bus to Rivas that night, was pulling away faster and faster. This sent me into a craze, I was screaming through the window to Jessa to just pay that ass hole and hop on, while simultaneously screaming at the bus driver to stop and let her on.
The situation escalated rapidly! Jessa took her 500 cord bill from the taxi driver because he didn’t have change and started to chase the bus. The taxi naturally followed. The bus driver wouldn’t open the side door for her probably just to be a dick about it! This made my voice raise higher and I screamed until they opened the back hatch. She eventually climbed in through the back of the school bus. The taxi at this point is still following us and is now yelling to a primo who worked on the bus. We drove a bit side by side until i just said F*#$ you and threw his money out of the bus window.
The bus is pretty full and I have my brand new softball bat in hand that I had just purchased in Managua. Picture that situation.
We get to Rivas and pay a $10 taxi to take us to what would turn out to be like the Nicaraguan version of Neverland ranch. A place for all the kids to enjoy! Thanks to Jason, and his wonderful friend Mel, we were able to stay on a 400 acre organic sustainable farm. We show up to the front gates, situated 4K from the beach to check in with the gate workers. There are pet monkeys and sloths hanging around just so you don’t forget where you’re at. Chris, the guy who runs this place picked us up and took us to Mel’s house, or Mediterranean beach villa!
Not until waking up in the morning can we fully appreciate the awesomeness that is Finca de las Nubes! Check it out at fincalasnubes.com really check it out, this place is incredible, there are something like 60 workers, on site American doctors to take care of the staff and a plethora of interesting projects! He even has a wood shop producing top notch furniture on site as well as a fish farm and livestock!
The house is spectacular, but the person chef put it over the top! Waking up to their own home grown fresh delicious coffee, omelets and the infinity pool really does wonders for whatever stress you might have.
This is a pet monkey!
View from the master bedroom private balcony.
View of the city from another house
We went to the beach about 25 minutes north with some surfers to enjoy more seclusion, beauty and larger waves! I also enjoyed some beers and a fruit smoothie. To cap the night off we had a cheap dinner, for 7$ I ordered garlic lobster!
crabs
Fire man
So let’s just say round 2 of this 3 part series was probably the highlight! A phenomenal time rite nea da beech!
the beach
the house
Still no word on my shoulder because in true Nica form the machine broke that prints the films of the MRI’s so who knows what the hell is going to happen. I’m really pushing for surgery now. I figure if the government will pay for it, I might as well suck em dry! Just kidding boss!
I'll put more pics up when I feel like sitting here for 4 hours while they load, so you might have to wait a bit!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Part 1 of 3 in the Out of Site adventure Chronicles
It has been a little bit since my last blog entry and much has happened in the last 2 or 3 weeks! I will break this blog up in to a few entries so as not to bore you too much, as well as to extend the reading pleasure for you, my loyal followers.
The adventure began 2 weeks ago when I decided to help my friend Luis with his regional business competition! This guy likes to live it up, and has the means to do so. This resulted in me blowing many American greenbacks on some pretty delicious and outrageous activities during the process. We ate at Kathie’s frequently; this is an American owned gem in Granada. The western omelet would rival anything I’ve eaten in the states. Food I have come to find is something that I as well as most other volunteers miss the most about the United States of America.
For the competition I was in charge of many operational facets including negotiating for 20 tables, 20 pizzas and making sure the sound system was all in working order. I did my job and more. This competition was much like the one we had during training. There were about 15 teams from all over the departments of Granada, Masaya, Rivas, and Managua. Each team that participated had already competed at the local level and won a spot in this regional competition. The venue for the event was spectacular. We had each team set up a table in the courtyard of a beautiful old building right on the main square of Granada. Art and local photography adorned the surrounding walls, as well as our own balloons and decorations. After the initial showing each team went to the buildings gymnasium type room where they presented a PowerPoint to a panel of 5 judges. 3 of these teams were selected to go to the national competition that will be held on the 30th of November in Managua.
We had a Halloween party to cap off our extremely difficult week of work on Saturday. People from our group came in from all over to join in the absurdities. I was dressed like a jackass. I had a garbage bag on that people could write on and sign their names, with balloons coming off of my severely long hair. I also gelled my hair up in the front for an added twist. After the house party at Luis house the good majority of partygoers continued the night at a club that was featuring an American DJ. This was really fun, and I was dancing up a storm. The only problem is that when you dance in Nicaragua if you are not a Nicaraguan, you tend to sweat through anything you have on at a rapid pace. The party was highly successful to say the least.
Also I found out that I have a torn tendon in my right shoulder. So all my complaining afterall wasn´t for nothing. I had an MRI done and I am now waiting on the results. I might need surgury, so says the Nicaraguan doctor. This would mean a free trip to either Panama or Washington DC. Lets hope for Panama!
The best part about the week was that I was able to see some people that I hadn’t seen in over 3 months. I returned to My site for just a day to get some clothes before heading out on adventure number 2….
Monday, October 18, 2010
Take a Ride With me to Funkytown
Go to this Website http://s860.photobucket.com/home/anderlitej for more pictures!
Friday night was filled with birthday love and Jesus Love. My grandmother here turned 59 years old, relatively young really. This happened to coincide with her weekly cult meeting. That’s right I said cult meeting because that’s what they call it. Although the connotation with the word cult is generally not the same here, I associate it as if I would the word cult in the United States. They sing and chant and pray in the name of Jesus Christo! Well I was a little uncomfortable by the situation but not too much since most of my life here is uncomfortable so I am pretty used to it. It was fun and we ate delicious cake to end the festivities.
Praying season
Speaking of cake, look out! I had my meeting with the women’s group all day Saturday. They split up in to two groups in two rooms in different buildings across the street from each other. The first group was the reposteria group, or the group that makes deserts and baked goods. The second group makes artesenias. I walked back and forth at the beginning of their sessions which consisted of formal class work pertaining to starting and maintaining successful businesses. Needless to say I spent the majority of the day with the reposteria group so I could reap the rewards of their hard work. I received a piece of cake bigger than my head. I ate it all too! They were very nice and at the end of the “school year” in November, they will receive a diploma for the completion of the equivalent of 6th grade. Earlier I ran into Samuel the president of the Microfinance bank that sponsors this program. He told me that he talked to the board of directors and they gave me clearance to officially be able to give consultations to their clients. I thought that was pretty cool!
The ladies hard at work
At roughly 6am on Sunday morning I woke up, a little tired but relatively in good spirits for it being a Sunday morning and all. I refrained from going out that Saturday night so I could be in tip top shape for the upcoming softball games. I was taking it seriously, like I thought all my teammates were. I arrive at the designated meeting place, (a bar next to the bancentro) at 8:15 am, 15 minutes later than I should have. We waited and talked for not longer than 7 minutes before our catcher opens his bag to pull out Nicaragua’s finest clear rum. The team, minus me, proceeded to take a few pulls off the bottle, you know for the pain and what not. I kept hearing in background conversations that some big truck is going to pick us up. Sure, I can dig that, the field we were going to play at is a 20 Córdoba ride away, so I was stoked.
I was way more stoked however when to my pleasant surprise, an enormous cow transport truck pulled up. This is a big wood cage strapped on to a huge truck, not quite a semi, but its no pick up. There were only 2 available seats which meant only one thing. Hop on! Meanwhile we have been receiving non-stop rain since I woke up. While riding to the field, my 6 teammates and I on top of the truck are dodging cable lines, branches and banners, all while navigating blindly through the fierce pellets of rain. 10 minutes down the road we decide to slide through the wood slats to the cargo area, shit covered floors and all. Here the fellas continue their pain reducing medication treatment, doctor ordered of course.
This is one of those moments where I laugh inside and say, this is why I’m in the Peace Corps. Look at these F#c%ing guys I met and what we’re doing right now.
Absolutely hilarious!
We lost our first game in the last inning. We decided we all deserved a beer while waiting for our second game; so that’s exactly what we did. The second game went to extra innings where we decisively blew it for the second straight time. After the game I was recruited to play for a team that was advancing to the playoffs. Due to my swollen quad, my gimp foot, and my useless shoulder, I am going to have to pass and wait for summer league.
The ride chronicles continue as we fit 12 people standing in the back of a pickup truck on the way home. Again I had a huge smile on my face in the midst of my uncomfortable riding position.
Alabama won. Way to lose the Ohio St.
Tomorrow I will take a Panga to one of two aptly named ports in Bluefield’s: port Bloodington or port Garbage pile. Bloodington is named after the murder that took place while we were there a few months ago, and the other one shouts Garbage Pile when you get off your Panga, both the people and the actual trash. We have a security conference there, go figure, in the most dangerous place.
Here are five fun facts of the day!
1) In el Rama there are sword fights! I don’t know how many there are a year but with the amount of drunk people walking around with machetes it’s a guarantee that they occur!
2) No matter how full any form of transportation is here, there is always “room for three more.”
3) The quickest and cheapest way to get high in Nicaragua is to follow the smoke! I mean to say that every one burns their trash and plastic so you have that option or you can follow the fumigation guys that walk around and bombard your house with potent chemicals to kill bugs that will undoubtedly return before 24 hours has passed.
4) The gringo will never know how to cook. My friends and I have realized that if we cook and don’t soak whatever it is we are cooking in oil, we must not know what the hell we are doing.
5) I spell better in Spanish than many people here! This is outrageous considering I don’t even speak the language well nor can I remotely spell words in my mother tongue properly.
Adios!
Friday night was filled with birthday love and Jesus Love. My grandmother here turned 59 years old, relatively young really. This happened to coincide with her weekly cult meeting. That’s right I said cult meeting because that’s what they call it. Although the connotation with the word cult is generally not the same here, I associate it as if I would the word cult in the United States. They sing and chant and pray in the name of Jesus Christo! Well I was a little uncomfortable by the situation but not too much since most of my life here is uncomfortable so I am pretty used to it. It was fun and we ate delicious cake to end the festivities.
Praying season
Speaking of cake, look out! I had my meeting with the women’s group all day Saturday. They split up in to two groups in two rooms in different buildings across the street from each other. The first group was the reposteria group, or the group that makes deserts and baked goods. The second group makes artesenias. I walked back and forth at the beginning of their sessions which consisted of formal class work pertaining to starting and maintaining successful businesses. Needless to say I spent the majority of the day with the reposteria group so I could reap the rewards of their hard work. I received a piece of cake bigger than my head. I ate it all too! They were very nice and at the end of the “school year” in November, they will receive a diploma for the completion of the equivalent of 6th grade. Earlier I ran into Samuel the president of the Microfinance bank that sponsors this program. He told me that he talked to the board of directors and they gave me clearance to officially be able to give consultations to their clients. I thought that was pretty cool!
The ladies hard at work
At roughly 6am on Sunday morning I woke up, a little tired but relatively in good spirits for it being a Sunday morning and all. I refrained from going out that Saturday night so I could be in tip top shape for the upcoming softball games. I was taking it seriously, like I thought all my teammates were. I arrive at the designated meeting place, (a bar next to the bancentro) at 8:15 am, 15 minutes later than I should have. We waited and talked for not longer than 7 minutes before our catcher opens his bag to pull out Nicaragua’s finest clear rum. The team, minus me, proceeded to take a few pulls off the bottle, you know for the pain and what not. I kept hearing in background conversations that some big truck is going to pick us up. Sure, I can dig that, the field we were going to play at is a 20 Córdoba ride away, so I was stoked.
I was way more stoked however when to my pleasant surprise, an enormous cow transport truck pulled up. This is a big wood cage strapped on to a huge truck, not quite a semi, but its no pick up. There were only 2 available seats which meant only one thing. Hop on! Meanwhile we have been receiving non-stop rain since I woke up. While riding to the field, my 6 teammates and I on top of the truck are dodging cable lines, branches and banners, all while navigating blindly through the fierce pellets of rain. 10 minutes down the road we decide to slide through the wood slats to the cargo area, shit covered floors and all. Here the fellas continue their pain reducing medication treatment, doctor ordered of course.
This is one of those moments where I laugh inside and say, this is why I’m in the Peace Corps. Look at these F#c%ing guys I met and what we’re doing right now.
Absolutely hilarious!
We lost our first game in the last inning. We decided we all deserved a beer while waiting for our second game; so that’s exactly what we did. The second game went to extra innings where we decisively blew it for the second straight time. After the game I was recruited to play for a team that was advancing to the playoffs. Due to my swollen quad, my gimp foot, and my useless shoulder, I am going to have to pass and wait for summer league.
The ride chronicles continue as we fit 12 people standing in the back of a pickup truck on the way home. Again I had a huge smile on my face in the midst of my uncomfortable riding position.
Alabama won. Way to lose the Ohio St.
Tomorrow I will take a Panga to one of two aptly named ports in Bluefield’s: port Bloodington or port Garbage pile. Bloodington is named after the murder that took place while we were there a few months ago, and the other one shouts Garbage Pile when you get off your Panga, both the people and the actual trash. We have a security conference there, go figure, in the most dangerous place.
Here are five fun facts of the day!
1) In el Rama there are sword fights! I don’t know how many there are a year but with the amount of drunk people walking around with machetes it’s a guarantee that they occur!
2) No matter how full any form of transportation is here, there is always “room for three more.”
3) The quickest and cheapest way to get high in Nicaragua is to follow the smoke! I mean to say that every one burns their trash and plastic so you have that option or you can follow the fumigation guys that walk around and bombard your house with potent chemicals to kill bugs that will undoubtedly return before 24 hours has passed.
4) The gringo will never know how to cook. My friends and I have realized that if we cook and don’t soak whatever it is we are cooking in oil, we must not know what the hell we are doing.
5) I spell better in Spanish than many people here! This is outrageous considering I don’t even speak the language well nor can I remotely spell words in my mother tongue properly.
Adios!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
How El Rama Obtaines its Rocks: The Story of Bad Ass Rock Crushers.
It’s around 10:30am on a lovely and breezy Wednesday morning. After a comfortable and leisurely stroll I arrive to my intended destination. Just when I peak my head draped with long, flowing, golden locks of love into my favorite Cyber, I realize that the Power had gone out. ¨Damnit¨ I screamed in my head, ¨now what am I going to do until 11:30¨ at which time I am supposed to meet my Dutch friend Patrick to see his NGO in action.
Just when I step out from the drearily dark computer room I hear a ¨aye Jeff what’s going on.¨ Well alright, its Patrick. He was downtown buying some printer ink. He asked if I’d like to just come on by right then. Absolutely, I didn’t have anything else to do except slowly get my t-shirt more wet from sweat. We hiked up the famous hill a bit to reach his haven for children. He came to Nicaragua a number of years ago traveling, met his wife, and realized after seeing such poverty that he wanted to give back. He admirably didn’t want to give his 10 dollars, or Euros or whatever, and call it a day, so in his words he ¨got off his ass¨ and did something about it.
He started an NGO from Holland with a few friends. He has 7 employees here that help out in various functions from cooking, cleaning to teaching. He built a nice new building on the side of the big hill with gorgeous sweeping views of lower El Rama. In this building he helps 65 children in 2 shifts (morning and afternoon) in a variety of ways. He gives lessons, advice, playtime, toothbrushes, but most notably, food.
Since we arrived early before the food was ready, because I was going to dominate some food of his, we went on a tour of his property that encompasses a large portion of the surrounding hill side. After this he asks me if I have seen where they ¨break rocks¨ to which I replied ¨nope.¨
We walked along the hill to a part of town that was completely new to me. Let’s remember folks that this is the hill I have climbed 2 times before with my family, and with my friend Jessa, yet I had never been to this side of the hill. The side we climbed is a relatively gradual grade, making it accessible to hikers. The other side, which is visible from the entering highway and much of the town, is a sheer faced rock wall. We enter a poor, even by El Rama standards community led by one of the students from Patrick´s eatery where we delicately navigated rocks and ferns before emerging into Rock City.
Upon entering this other world I feel slightly overwhelmed by the stark difference from the rest of the town. From town the rock face is visible, but banana trees and other tropical vegetation mask the base of the hill. On this base lies a community of people that have set up meager little shelters for working. It consists of 4 poles and a piece of plastic overhead to protect from rain. Under their own canopy people sit down with a mallet, a small 8 inch diameter tire(where they put the bigger rocks to keep them from flying all over the place) and pound away. They collect fallen rocks that have been blown from the hill with dynamite and crush rocks by hand to produce small enough, and of high enough quality rocks, (because some of the rock is not sufficient) that will be used for concrete and other building applications. They can make about 1.5 cubic yards a week which they can sell for about 600 Cordoba’s, or 30 dollars. Nobody dares interfere with each other’s rocks and everyone respects each other’s space.
I talked with a lady who had been doing this for some years; she was the mother of the little girl who brought Patrick and me there. She said the government was going to bring in a machine to crush rocks. What a conundrum. I love efficiency, but these people will be out of work. The conditions are harsh but uneducated Nicaraguans have little to no chance of finding other work around here. The Government says it will let these people run the machine but let’s be honest; there will be little need for that many people to run a machine. I am thinking of making a machine for them if the big machine doesn’t fall through. I have some simple easy ideas for a gravity and pulley machine that could crush rocks with ease. At least the kids are no longer working there like they had been 3 years previously. Now they get to enjoy Patrick’s hard work at the school, daycare, eatery, fun palace.
What a crazy place, this rock city!
Adios
Just when I step out from the drearily dark computer room I hear a ¨aye Jeff what’s going on.¨ Well alright, its Patrick. He was downtown buying some printer ink. He asked if I’d like to just come on by right then. Absolutely, I didn’t have anything else to do except slowly get my t-shirt more wet from sweat. We hiked up the famous hill a bit to reach his haven for children. He came to Nicaragua a number of years ago traveling, met his wife, and realized after seeing such poverty that he wanted to give back. He admirably didn’t want to give his 10 dollars, or Euros or whatever, and call it a day, so in his words he ¨got off his ass¨ and did something about it.
He started an NGO from Holland with a few friends. He has 7 employees here that help out in various functions from cooking, cleaning to teaching. He built a nice new building on the side of the big hill with gorgeous sweeping views of lower El Rama. In this building he helps 65 children in 2 shifts (morning and afternoon) in a variety of ways. He gives lessons, advice, playtime, toothbrushes, but most notably, food.
Since we arrived early before the food was ready, because I was going to dominate some food of his, we went on a tour of his property that encompasses a large portion of the surrounding hill side. After this he asks me if I have seen where they ¨break rocks¨ to which I replied ¨nope.¨
We walked along the hill to a part of town that was completely new to me. Let’s remember folks that this is the hill I have climbed 2 times before with my family, and with my friend Jessa, yet I had never been to this side of the hill. The side we climbed is a relatively gradual grade, making it accessible to hikers. The other side, which is visible from the entering highway and much of the town, is a sheer faced rock wall. We enter a poor, even by El Rama standards community led by one of the students from Patrick´s eatery where we delicately navigated rocks and ferns before emerging into Rock City.
Upon entering this other world I feel slightly overwhelmed by the stark difference from the rest of the town. From town the rock face is visible, but banana trees and other tropical vegetation mask the base of the hill. On this base lies a community of people that have set up meager little shelters for working. It consists of 4 poles and a piece of plastic overhead to protect from rain. Under their own canopy people sit down with a mallet, a small 8 inch diameter tire(where they put the bigger rocks to keep them from flying all over the place) and pound away. They collect fallen rocks that have been blown from the hill with dynamite and crush rocks by hand to produce small enough, and of high enough quality rocks, (because some of the rock is not sufficient) that will be used for concrete and other building applications. They can make about 1.5 cubic yards a week which they can sell for about 600 Cordoba’s, or 30 dollars. Nobody dares interfere with each other’s rocks and everyone respects each other’s space.
I talked with a lady who had been doing this for some years; she was the mother of the little girl who brought Patrick and me there. She said the government was going to bring in a machine to crush rocks. What a conundrum. I love efficiency, but these people will be out of work. The conditions are harsh but uneducated Nicaraguans have little to no chance of finding other work around here. The Government says it will let these people run the machine but let’s be honest; there will be little need for that many people to run a machine. I am thinking of making a machine for them if the big machine doesn’t fall through. I have some simple easy ideas for a gravity and pulley machine that could crush rocks with ease. At least the kids are no longer working there like they had been 3 years previously. Now they get to enjoy Patrick’s hard work at the school, daycare, eatery, fun palace.
What a crazy place, this rock city!
Adios
Monday, October 11, 2010
Pain Is Temporary, My Phenomenal Performance Will Be Etched Into Their Cerebral Cortex Forever!
We have no rain! usually on this side of the country during October we are inundated with water almost constantly. The west coast on the other hand is far less effected by torrential downpours. Well not this year my friends. I have been luck enough, or unlucky enough to not have rain engulfing my town. I don't like rain, but here with the sweltering heat, it brings a nice refreshing feel to the air. The west coast has had flooding for what seams like months now, taking out road, services, cultivating weird diseases, and generally making problems much more daunting for people who really don't need any more obstacles in their way. So today is hot, no rain.
last week was normal. Round 3 of the softball diaries is still having profound effects on the city of El Rama and the person of El Jeff. After missing last weekends game due to my trip to Kukra Hill, my team was in dire need of winning these 2 games in order to qualify for the next weeks games. Apparently without me they crumbled. Well look out, because I was 7 of 8 with 2 home runs, 0 errors and 3 diving catches. needless to say after such an all star performance, we won both games soundly. I am more physically in pain from these 2 games then i ever was after a football game. I am fully scraped on my arm and side from one diving catch. On another catch over my head I stepped on one of the million rocks the comb our majestic fields which has either bruised a small bone in my food, or given me a stress fracture. I bruised my heal of my other foot on an unknown rock just a few plays later. My right quadriceps is strained from my first home run, I really should stretch first. Then to top it off I cant move my right shoulder that i re-injured after anther outstanding diving catch over the 3rd base line. Oh well, my game will be talked about for months here in little El Rama. haha, but in all seriousness, I am hurting bad, I hope my shoulder isn´t to bad, but if I cant move it in a few days, Ill get a free trip to Managadad!
This week should be a busy work filled adventure as it always is. I was stood up today by doña Blancita, the tortilla lady that I'm supposed to consult. I took a taxi 20 min away to meet her at the time she specified only for her to not be there. Pretty typical Nica style though really. Ohh well.
ALABAMA NEEDS TO GET ITS HEAD OUT OF ITS ASS! That being said, if we win out and don't make it to the national championship game because of Boise state I will be livid!
Adios
last week was normal. Round 3 of the softball diaries is still having profound effects on the city of El Rama and the person of El Jeff. After missing last weekends game due to my trip to Kukra Hill, my team was in dire need of winning these 2 games in order to qualify for the next weeks games. Apparently without me they crumbled. Well look out, because I was 7 of 8 with 2 home runs, 0 errors and 3 diving catches. needless to say after such an all star performance, we won both games soundly. I am more physically in pain from these 2 games then i ever was after a football game. I am fully scraped on my arm and side from one diving catch. On another catch over my head I stepped on one of the million rocks the comb our majestic fields which has either bruised a small bone in my food, or given me a stress fracture. I bruised my heal of my other foot on an unknown rock just a few plays later. My right quadriceps is strained from my first home run, I really should stretch first. Then to top it off I cant move my right shoulder that i re-injured after anther outstanding diving catch over the 3rd base line. Oh well, my game will be talked about for months here in little El Rama. haha, but in all seriousness, I am hurting bad, I hope my shoulder isn´t to bad, but if I cant move it in a few days, Ill get a free trip to Managadad!
This week should be a busy work filled adventure as it always is. I was stood up today by doña Blancita, the tortilla lady that I'm supposed to consult. I took a taxi 20 min away to meet her at the time she specified only for her to not be there. Pretty typical Nica style though really. Ohh well.
ALABAMA NEEDS TO GET ITS HEAD OUT OF ITS ASS! That being said, if we win out and don't make it to the national championship game because of Boise state I will be livid!
Adios
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Are you going to blow that up with your face!?
There are many things that set the Peace Corps experience apart from other international experiences; the most notable of which is the 27 month commitment. When one is faced with such a great and overwhelming decision, all subsequent feelings and experiences are thereby compared to the time that is left in ones service. My colleagues, friends really, and I have had numerous discussions relating to our various situations before entering the Peace Corps. We came from particular and equally fantastic backgrounds and places. I have had the great fortune of meeting some individuals that I can at this moment say will be my dear friends for many years to come; and all this after only about 5 months. This brings me to how I feel during the average day.
We as volunteers have incredibly different experiences even within the same country. We are in different sectors, teaching and working with different people on different subject matter. We live in different communities, with different living conditions and with a varying group of local friends. Every day I wake up here in my “Propio Rama,” with the mindset that I’m going to be happy and do the best I can. I think for the most part I have a good work ethic. I rarely wake up on the wrong side of the bed, as my friends can attest; I usually send a friendly and predictably ridiculous message at the ass crack of dawn just to see what they are thinking at 5:30 in the morning. So what am I talking about?
Well trials and tribulations that we go through can easily break people. I think there is only around a 50-60% rate of full service completion within our country. This means that of all the talented, adventurous, silly, nerdy, athletic, and generally phenomenal pool of people that enter into this commitment only around 50% finish their 27 months to their close of service. All these daily troubles that one faces take tolls on the volunteers. I for one have faced many instances that I know would have sent most of my friends back home packing a long time ago, No offence friends! I have a long time to go before my close of service, but I wanted this long intro to tell you that I’m as happy as ever, and as long as they don’t kick me out, I will be here the full service.
I’m starting to really love it here. For instance, I went to my Wapí school today, only to find out that there was no school. The ruta was overcrowded and I had to sit on top of this huge truck. Really it was one of the best rides of my life. Well best 2 rides since I chose to ride on the top of this ruta on the ride home even though I could have squeezed in. The only downside to this fully wasted day of travel was that at the end, I came away looking like a tomato! So here goes the legacy of the every evolving farmer tan! This would have infuriated me a while ago, but now im just hanging out, smiling at stupid shit that I encounter at all moments. I also went to some farmer down the road and asked if I could take some fresh cow shit for my worms to eat, this was after asking a carpenter to give me free wood so I could build a sifter to make my huerto dirt better. I mean seriously I would have nothing to do with such instances in the states. These situations make me smile, and I love almost all of them.
This last weekend I went to visit my good friend Jessamine in here community of Kukra Hill. I traveled 5 hours in a bus on a dirt road to see what she was doing and what life was like on the coast where a mix of Spanish, black Creole, and natives live in a muddled up, culturally confusing community. People speak English, Spanish and moskito, or a jumbled version of the three. Walking down the streets, this girl is as famous as anyone could be in 2 months. The white and I mean white, blond hair blue eye girl sticks out like a sore thumb, but has the respect of so many people. She does not hesitate to walk up to anyone to say “hi, what are you doing?” She is on a Caribbean booty shake dance team that will participate in a parade, the softball team, aerobics class. She has a craft class and a group of free laborers that make a huerto in the local high school. This has motivated me even more to dominate in my town. I have in the last 2 days since getting back, been on a rampage meeting and talking with people to be an Icon in my city.
While in the hill, we made outrageously delicious homemade chunky peanut butter. This will not be the last time this tasty treat will be made, guaranteed! We ate Pineapple and drank a piñacolada with fresh pineapple and a coconut we cut up from her back yard. I received some advice for my huerto along with some worms to start a worm reproducing/shit converting to perfect dirt factory. I also am the proud recipient of some onion, watermelon, and tomato, chiltoma, and cucumber seeds; let’s hope I can produce some goodness. On Saturday we went swimming in a little watering hole! Overall the company, fun activities and food made this a great trip. On the way back, I was supposed to leave at three on Sunday afternoon, but the bus driver decided he wanted to leave at 2:00 so I had to stay an extra night, but all was copasetic.
On Monday, during my rampage I met with the guy at the microfinance institute to expand my contacts and find meaningful work. It was a success. On Sunday I am going to observe a women’s group that makes arts and crafts as well as food products to someday sell. Since this is set up through the microfinance institute when they get their acts together and have good ideas, they will be able to relatively easily obtain funding. My job for this will be to further their opportunities and develop their ideas regarding their ideas for income generation. I will for sure bring up my peanut butter as an incredible way to make some cash, hell they already have one huge customer. My work will go beyond that. I will also be advising the clients that receive loans from Samuel, the boss. I will be his “Time.” I start slowly with just a tortilla maker this week, but this is just the beginning. I plan on working with the bigger fish as I gain some experience and my Spanish improves.
During football season, I will conclude all my blogs with a little blurp on the beautiful Alabama Crimson Tide. We absolutely annihilated Florida this past weekend 31-6 I believe, for those of you that have been living under a rock. I was not able to watch the game, but Jessa has espn somehow so I got to see Oregon comeback and smash Stanford. Good work Ryan, Jesse and all my other friends that graduated from there. Oregon and Bama in the championship sounds good. I would like to beat a team that has some connection to someone I Know.
My Spanish is improving daily, but I still need to either shoot up ginko baloba or something to get my memory better, because I can’t remember words unless I say them over 50 times. It’s garbage really. Bing bong.
I love hearing from all of you, via email, Anderlitej@gmail.com, facebook, or messages on my blog. I don’t write messages back as often as I should, but don’t let that deter you from writing me because I truly love hearing about what is going on over there in the Land of opportunity. I will try to take more pictures and put them up soon. Take care, love you all!
We as volunteers have incredibly different experiences even within the same country. We are in different sectors, teaching and working with different people on different subject matter. We live in different communities, with different living conditions and with a varying group of local friends. Every day I wake up here in my “Propio Rama,” with the mindset that I’m going to be happy and do the best I can. I think for the most part I have a good work ethic. I rarely wake up on the wrong side of the bed, as my friends can attest; I usually send a friendly and predictably ridiculous message at the ass crack of dawn just to see what they are thinking at 5:30 in the morning. So what am I talking about?
Well trials and tribulations that we go through can easily break people. I think there is only around a 50-60% rate of full service completion within our country. This means that of all the talented, adventurous, silly, nerdy, athletic, and generally phenomenal pool of people that enter into this commitment only around 50% finish their 27 months to their close of service. All these daily troubles that one faces take tolls on the volunteers. I for one have faced many instances that I know would have sent most of my friends back home packing a long time ago, No offence friends! I have a long time to go before my close of service, but I wanted this long intro to tell you that I’m as happy as ever, and as long as they don’t kick me out, I will be here the full service.
I’m starting to really love it here. For instance, I went to my Wapí school today, only to find out that there was no school. The ruta was overcrowded and I had to sit on top of this huge truck. Really it was one of the best rides of my life. Well best 2 rides since I chose to ride on the top of this ruta on the ride home even though I could have squeezed in. The only downside to this fully wasted day of travel was that at the end, I came away looking like a tomato! So here goes the legacy of the every evolving farmer tan! This would have infuriated me a while ago, but now im just hanging out, smiling at stupid shit that I encounter at all moments. I also went to some farmer down the road and asked if I could take some fresh cow shit for my worms to eat, this was after asking a carpenter to give me free wood so I could build a sifter to make my huerto dirt better. I mean seriously I would have nothing to do with such instances in the states. These situations make me smile, and I love almost all of them.
This last weekend I went to visit my good friend Jessamine in here community of Kukra Hill. I traveled 5 hours in a bus on a dirt road to see what she was doing and what life was like on the coast where a mix of Spanish, black Creole, and natives live in a muddled up, culturally confusing community. People speak English, Spanish and moskito, or a jumbled version of the three. Walking down the streets, this girl is as famous as anyone could be in 2 months. The white and I mean white, blond hair blue eye girl sticks out like a sore thumb, but has the respect of so many people. She does not hesitate to walk up to anyone to say “hi, what are you doing?” She is on a Caribbean booty shake dance team that will participate in a parade, the softball team, aerobics class. She has a craft class and a group of free laborers that make a huerto in the local high school. This has motivated me even more to dominate in my town. I have in the last 2 days since getting back, been on a rampage meeting and talking with people to be an Icon in my city.
While in the hill, we made outrageously delicious homemade chunky peanut butter. This will not be the last time this tasty treat will be made, guaranteed! We ate Pineapple and drank a piñacolada with fresh pineapple and a coconut we cut up from her back yard. I received some advice for my huerto along with some worms to start a worm reproducing/shit converting to perfect dirt factory. I also am the proud recipient of some onion, watermelon, and tomato, chiltoma, and cucumber seeds; let’s hope I can produce some goodness. On Saturday we went swimming in a little watering hole! Overall the company, fun activities and food made this a great trip. On the way back, I was supposed to leave at three on Sunday afternoon, but the bus driver decided he wanted to leave at 2:00 so I had to stay an extra night, but all was copasetic.
On Monday, during my rampage I met with the guy at the microfinance institute to expand my contacts and find meaningful work. It was a success. On Sunday I am going to observe a women’s group that makes arts and crafts as well as food products to someday sell. Since this is set up through the microfinance institute when they get their acts together and have good ideas, they will be able to relatively easily obtain funding. My job for this will be to further their opportunities and develop their ideas regarding their ideas for income generation. I will for sure bring up my peanut butter as an incredible way to make some cash, hell they already have one huge customer. My work will go beyond that. I will also be advising the clients that receive loans from Samuel, the boss. I will be his “Time.” I start slowly with just a tortilla maker this week, but this is just the beginning. I plan on working with the bigger fish as I gain some experience and my Spanish improves.
During football season, I will conclude all my blogs with a little blurp on the beautiful Alabama Crimson Tide. We absolutely annihilated Florida this past weekend 31-6 I believe, for those of you that have been living under a rock. I was not able to watch the game, but Jessa has espn somehow so I got to see Oregon comeback and smash Stanford. Good work Ryan, Jesse and all my other friends that graduated from there. Oregon and Bama in the championship sounds good. I would like to beat a team that has some connection to someone I Know.
My Spanish is improving daily, but I still need to either shoot up ginko baloba or something to get my memory better, because I can’t remember words unless I say them over 50 times. It’s garbage really. Bing bong.
I love hearing from all of you, via email, Anderlitej@gmail.com, facebook, or messages on my blog. I don’t write messages back as often as I should, but don’t let that deter you from writing me because I truly love hearing about what is going on over there in the Land of opportunity. I will try to take more pictures and put them up soon. Take care, love you all!
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