I think the honeymoon period is over. I mean, I have already had several highs and lows, but for some reason it clicked this week that I am really here and it will be two years until I am done. The first week at my site flew by because I was new, it was exciting, and everyday was filled with a promocion or another event. This week was my first real test to stay busy on my own and be self motivated and driven. I had to look for my own things to do while also completely the necessary things that the office says are mandatory.
I consider myself a pretty motivated person, and I think I am able to look for projects, but sometimes it is just so difficult here. I spent the week going around meeting the Centro de Salud, the Alcaldia, and several ONG´s like PCAC and ODESAR. I did get to do one cool project and that was yesterday I went with two doctors from Centro de Salud to a nearby community to give a health charla. To be honest I had no idea what I was getting myself into. A danger of just answering Si when you don´t understand what is happening. Well I met at the office, we took an ambulance to the town and then they were like ¨go get them¨good luck and call us when you are done. So... I ended up making up a 15minute nutrition charla on the spot and got some weird looks. It was fun to just wing it, but I do want to be better prepared for next time, step one is understanding what I am getting into. Well even though it was only 15minutes, I spent the next 4 hours in the town helping out the doctors pass out medicine and weighing babies... a productive day.
Other than the Centro de Salud I am going to be working with the Alcaldia to bring water to another community called Monte Verde. The problem is that it is located way up in the hills where there are no rivers and the only source of water they have are deep wells. Also, due to years of abuse the wells are all polluted and the town is very sick. I am trying to work with another NGO to bring in some water filters and the Alcaldia seems to be backing me up. I´ll see how it goes next week when the NGO comes by and drops off the supplies, but this will be my first real test of implimenting a project and ensuring that it works.
Finally, on a social level I am getting into a pretty solid grove. I am meeting more kids everyday and I suckered myself into forming an infantil soccer league. The kids were just too cute and I couldn´t say no, so my first practice is this Monday at 10am, who knows how many will show. Also, I have been busy practicing baseball every day down at the stadium and through that meeting a lot more chavalos. It is fun hanging around with them and practicing my Spanish and I am definitely learning some words you won´t find in the dictionary. I will try and get some pictures posted soon, but the computers at this ciber don´t recognize my usb drive. Hopefully I´ll have them up for Christmas.
Happy Holidays!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Journal Entry Excerpt
Due to my limited internet use and the huge amount of time it takes me to get to Matagalpa I probably wont be able to update this as much as I want. However, I have been diligantly writing in my journal and figure this last entry pretty much sums up my first week.
What a jampacked day today was. I went to promocion not knowing what to expect. I somehow thought I could bang it out, go to Matagalpa, and be home in time for baseball... silly me. Instead, I boarded a bus for Jicaro II at 8am, met Icia surprisingly and got to the school around 830. I learned Icias is writing a book. Everytime she seems more interesting, I guess she traveled around the world for four years and the book is her memoir. It amazes me to meet people who are so free and have had such experiences. I hope to be half as lucky and interesting and to travel to such new places. The most interesting is that she doesn´t plan it. She travels, falls in love with a place, and spontaneously decides to stay. It works for her but I know I rely on my structure and with my family I couldn´t bear to dissappear for so long. I guess I have to reserve myself to the life of a tourist, but there is nothing wrong seeing the world with a little bit of luxury.
Back on track, I got to Jicaro II and I thought how lucky I am to teach at such a school. It has only 2 rooms, but it is just plopped on top of a hill with a commanding view of the whole valley. Also, the teacher, Benedicto, greeted me eagerly and I am amazed by how nice they always are. Here is where the awkwardness begins. Keep in mind I arrived at 830, the promocion finally started around 1030. Trwo hours of just sitting around. It wasn´t a waste, I talked a lot, but it was weird, I ended up helping blow up balloons. Finallywhen it did start I was seated up front as a guest of honor. Everyone applauded me which I am reluctantly getting used to and then they started handing out diplomas. I thought I was in the clear, but oh no I had to hand deliver them to each student and get my picture taken with them. HOw crazy, they have no idea who I am and are probably wondering who this weird gringo is. I felt like I was ruining their moment since diplomas are so huge here. Well I survived that but it keeps getting better. After more people wanted pictures with me and I got trapped by some man who I couldn´t understand for dirt. Also three girls started following me around and kept asking me which one was more beautiful and that I was the most handsome gringo they ahve ever seen. Don´t get me wrong, I was flatered but I am awkward and I was lost about what to do. Somehow I managed to dodge all their questions, guess there is hope for me as a politician yet and I left with Benedicto for what I thought was our walk back to town... Nope, it was off to three parties. But, I did get to ride his horse which was a secret ream of mine. I acted nervous, but I could barely contain my excitement. I finally got to be a cowboy and now I feel like I earned that cowboy hat. Well we headed to each house and it is weird what they call a party. Basically, we show up, get invited in and we sit and talk about the weather and the kid is no where in sight. Then the mom comes out with a huge plate of food and we get to eat. Now I was excited the first time and made the rookie mistake of eating everything. It was good, I couldn´t help it. It was a chicken soup and I am a sucker for yuca. After we eat we just get up and leave. I felt like I was using them, but everyone acted like this was normal. At least at the second house we stayed and talked for a little. Might have something to do with the fact that the three girls were there and Benedicto seemed to enjoy seeing me uncomfortable. We aslo to another full plate of rice, but I was smart this time and also incapable of eating it all. Finally, off to the final house which was also a comedor. Here the family was more sensible and gave us a smaller plate with salad. I picked at it, but I felt like I was going to burst. Also the man who I couldn´t understand was there and somehow I had a full conversatiion that he seemed to enjoy without understanding a single word. Anyways, I talked with Benedicto some more and the worst was tehy offered me Aguardiente and I spun a web of lies how I don´t drink. I even went so far to make up a story how I gave it up three years after college. I needed some cover because I can at least now say I have tried it. Yet, I kept digging my hole. Benedicto went on about how alike we are and I just kept agreeing. I am going to miss beer for the enxt two years and wine, but I guess that is for when I am out of site... what a double life I lead.
So around 4pm we started our 1 hour trek home. Benedicto showed me a new path and he let me ride his horse halfway. I think the look fits me and he said I can borrow his horse which I am pumped for. Also on our walk I saw monkeys! Mono Congos, they were just chilling in the trees.
You woud think this is enough excitement for one day, but oh no, not for me. For some reason I decided to go for a walk and saw a huge crowd of people in front of the clinic. I, being curious, went to investigate and the kids told me my freinds were inside. Of course, since there were other gringos we had to know each other and of course were friends or family. But I went anyways to introduce myself. They were as shocked to see another American as I was. They are here for a week traveling to clinics with their church doing basical medical work. There was one doctor, four high school kids and a nurse. It was interesting to hear everyones stories and I am impressed how open many people are to volunteering. I have to remember or find programs when I get back to the states. Well I just hung around like a traditional Nica would and said I would like to help in any way that I could. Somehow I talked myself into traveling with them to Terrabona and being a translator, we will see if that actually pans out. I was excited at least to see other Americans and glad to know they come here twice a year. The other good part was I started talking with the people from the town and introducted myself to more people. At least I can say I am getting to know the community.
The proof of this is after I went to la cancha to watch the volleyball game and I have little kids calling my name. Who cares if Jason has turned into Jackson, no reason to get nit picky. Well I said a goal of mine was to meet people my own age and I was slowly making my way up the ranks. Tonight I finally reached that goal and was invited to play some three on three basketball. Best part was I was on fire. I hit layups, fought through fouls, which they don´t call, and fade away jump shots. They loved it and we ended up hanging around talking until 930. They taught me horno is slang for girlfriend and grilled me all night about if I had one, if I was faithful, would I look for one here, and the what not. I had to be careful, it seemed like they were waiting for me to screw up and I know how fast chisme spreads here. Finally the subject changed, but to something much more uncomfortable... religion. Now this is a very religious country and I don´t mind. I am used to people minding their own business, but when I said I didn´t really do the whole religion thing and that I think that other religions are just as important or right about their gods it was like the world was ending. I ended up getting an hour long seminar about how great El Senor was and how I am going to hell. It really threw them through a loop when I said I don´t even think there is a Hell. Also they said how science is just a theory and never mind mentioning that the bible is just another book or that religions have existed for thousands of years before christianity or the fact that most of the stories are borrowed or stolen from other religions. Nope, they are now on a quest to convert me and open my ¨closed¨mind. Luckily I managed to change the subject to learning languages and healthcare,but I know that this religion convo is going to come back and bite me in the ass.
What a jampacked day today was. I went to promocion not knowing what to expect. I somehow thought I could bang it out, go to Matagalpa, and be home in time for baseball... silly me. Instead, I boarded a bus for Jicaro II at 8am, met Icia surprisingly and got to the school around 830. I learned Icias is writing a book. Everytime she seems more interesting, I guess she traveled around the world for four years and the book is her memoir. It amazes me to meet people who are so free and have had such experiences. I hope to be half as lucky and interesting and to travel to such new places. The most interesting is that she doesn´t plan it. She travels, falls in love with a place, and spontaneously decides to stay. It works for her but I know I rely on my structure and with my family I couldn´t bear to dissappear for so long. I guess I have to reserve myself to the life of a tourist, but there is nothing wrong seeing the world with a little bit of luxury.
Back on track, I got to Jicaro II and I thought how lucky I am to teach at such a school. It has only 2 rooms, but it is just plopped on top of a hill with a commanding view of the whole valley. Also, the teacher, Benedicto, greeted me eagerly and I am amazed by how nice they always are. Here is where the awkwardness begins. Keep in mind I arrived at 830, the promocion finally started around 1030. Trwo hours of just sitting around. It wasn´t a waste, I talked a lot, but it was weird, I ended up helping blow up balloons. Finallywhen it did start I was seated up front as a guest of honor. Everyone applauded me which I am reluctantly getting used to and then they started handing out diplomas. I thought I was in the clear, but oh no I had to hand deliver them to each student and get my picture taken with them. HOw crazy, they have no idea who I am and are probably wondering who this weird gringo is. I felt like I was ruining their moment since diplomas are so huge here. Well I survived that but it keeps getting better. After more people wanted pictures with me and I got trapped by some man who I couldn´t understand for dirt. Also three girls started following me around and kept asking me which one was more beautiful and that I was the most handsome gringo they ahve ever seen. Don´t get me wrong, I was flatered but I am awkward and I was lost about what to do. Somehow I managed to dodge all their questions, guess there is hope for me as a politician yet and I left with Benedicto for what I thought was our walk back to town... Nope, it was off to three parties. But, I did get to ride his horse which was a secret ream of mine. I acted nervous, but I could barely contain my excitement. I finally got to be a cowboy and now I feel like I earned that cowboy hat. Well we headed to each house and it is weird what they call a party. Basically, we show up, get invited in and we sit and talk about the weather and the kid is no where in sight. Then the mom comes out with a huge plate of food and we get to eat. Now I was excited the first time and made the rookie mistake of eating everything. It was good, I couldn´t help it. It was a chicken soup and I am a sucker for yuca. After we eat we just get up and leave. I felt like I was using them, but everyone acted like this was normal. At least at the second house we stayed and talked for a little. Might have something to do with the fact that the three girls were there and Benedicto seemed to enjoy seeing me uncomfortable. We aslo to another full plate of rice, but I was smart this time and also incapable of eating it all. Finally, off to the final house which was also a comedor. Here the family was more sensible and gave us a smaller plate with salad. I picked at it, but I felt like I was going to burst. Also the man who I couldn´t understand was there and somehow I had a full conversatiion that he seemed to enjoy without understanding a single word. Anyways, I talked with Benedicto some more and the worst was tehy offered me Aguardiente and I spun a web of lies how I don´t drink. I even went so far to make up a story how I gave it up three years after college. I needed some cover because I can at least now say I have tried it. Yet, I kept digging my hole. Benedicto went on about how alike we are and I just kept agreeing. I am going to miss beer for the enxt two years and wine, but I guess that is for when I am out of site... what a double life I lead.
So around 4pm we started our 1 hour trek home. Benedicto showed me a new path and he let me ride his horse halfway. I think the look fits me and he said I can borrow his horse which I am pumped for. Also on our walk I saw monkeys! Mono Congos, they were just chilling in the trees.
You woud think this is enough excitement for one day, but oh no, not for me. For some reason I decided to go for a walk and saw a huge crowd of people in front of the clinic. I, being curious, went to investigate and the kids told me my freinds were inside. Of course, since there were other gringos we had to know each other and of course were friends or family. But I went anyways to introduce myself. They were as shocked to see another American as I was. They are here for a week traveling to clinics with their church doing basical medical work. There was one doctor, four high school kids and a nurse. It was interesting to hear everyones stories and I am impressed how open many people are to volunteering. I have to remember or find programs when I get back to the states. Well I just hung around like a traditional Nica would and said I would like to help in any way that I could. Somehow I talked myself into traveling with them to Terrabona and being a translator, we will see if that actually pans out. I was excited at least to see other Americans and glad to know they come here twice a year. The other good part was I started talking with the people from the town and introducted myself to more people. At least I can say I am getting to know the community.
The proof of this is after I went to la cancha to watch the volleyball game and I have little kids calling my name. Who cares if Jason has turned into Jackson, no reason to get nit picky. Well I said a goal of mine was to meet people my own age and I was slowly making my way up the ranks. Tonight I finally reached that goal and was invited to play some three on three basketball. Best part was I was on fire. I hit layups, fought through fouls, which they don´t call, and fade away jump shots. They loved it and we ended up hanging around talking until 930. They taught me horno is slang for girlfriend and grilled me all night about if I had one, if I was faithful, would I look for one here, and the what not. I had to be careful, it seemed like they were waiting for me to screw up and I know how fast chisme spreads here. Finally the subject changed, but to something much more uncomfortable... religion. Now this is a very religious country and I don´t mind. I am used to people minding their own business, but when I said I didn´t really do the whole religion thing and that I think that other religions are just as important or right about their gods it was like the world was ending. I ended up getting an hour long seminar about how great El Senor was and how I am going to hell. It really threw them through a loop when I said I don´t even think there is a Hell. Also they said how science is just a theory and never mind mentioning that the bible is just another book or that religions have existed for thousands of years before christianity or the fact that most of the stories are borrowed or stolen from other religions. Nope, they are now on a quest to convert me and open my ¨closed¨mind. Luckily I managed to change the subject to learning languages and healthcare,but I know that this religion convo is going to come back and bite me in the ass.
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