First Days in Nicaragua

The first days in our mountain location of Ocotal have been busy and going well. It is mildly hot here, and quite windy most days. Today is a typical day: we awake with the roosters at 4 am, then sleep-doze until 6 am. Washing up is done at the outdoors sink beside the toilet room. Peter and I have separate homes, beside one another, houses owned by 2 retired professional ladies and their extended families. We eat one day at one place, next day at the other. Both places are quite clean and well furnished, though from the street it does not show.



The streets are paved and clean but dusty in the dry season. The food is plentiful. LOTS of fruit and juices, gallo pinto and shredded chicken. Half the day we have individual class, with separate young, female teachers; the other half of the day we go on a tour or do work at a seniors' home. There most are not able to read or speak much, but one lady speaks English and is mentally alert. They love to have us there.



Today we had a private driver take us to the northern border town where coffee is graded and bagged for processing. It is also a location of a shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe and a site of many miracles as shown by statements of people. Along the way we discussed the local coffee economy and the climate of the region with the director of the Spanish school.

Our programme has lots included at no extra cost. We will go to another coffee farm on Sunday. Last Sunday we attended Mass in the local church built in the mid 1700s. It was full with young families and old alike. We end each day by 9 pm. People here love to watch TV. It is hard to get much from it, but they put on CNN in Espanol. Our heads are VERY tired with so much new vocabulary, but we are talking lots, and people help us with great patience.

We met a woman from Berkeley on the weekend who was here for research on life after the Contra war. She interpreted my questions to the school director. She also knew of NPH through her California plumber!!! She has visited at Ometepe also.

Just now, a car drove by blasting ads from the large speaker on his car. This is quite common--even at 6 am. Blasting ads, and constant dog barking!!! Oh yes, coffee is drunk with loads of sugar, if at all. I am having withdrawal!!

I can´t imagine how my head will be bursting after 3 weeks. They love the knitting I brought, and the old lady we visited really wants some knitting needles, but they are not available here. I bought her some yarn. But she is nearly blind anyway. The land is very dry and insect free, but a few still found me. No cockroaches, thank God. No Montezuma´s revenge. We are careful to drink purified water.
Love to all. More when we can. Must not be late for "cena".Mary Jo (Maria Jose) and Pedro.",0]