1st time on a laptop=patience:
Arrived about 4 pm after a very long day on buses. all successful, though Ihad to scream SHUT UP to the throng of taxi guys trying to get us on the bus toRivas. Memories of arrival at Haiti. It worked!No one here knew we were coming--at all. But very happy to have us..and thefunds we raised. They really need the funds for their occupational program.Tomorrow we go back to Managua to see the new student house and their needs.Marlon Velasquez is very understanding and has great English.So many new experiences.The NPH orpahanage is like a piece of heaven in such a poor land.We may not email again, as I am using Marlon's office now.Looking forward to some calmer days, but eager to return home too (Feb 15 Ithink )
Love Mom and Dad/ Mary Jo and Peter
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Canyon Hikers
Peter writes:
I wanted to tell you what an amazing day we had. Mary Jo could not walk to the Cyber Cafe because of a muscle injury as we explored the Somoto Canyon.
You would have been proud of her as we made our way through a very narrow canyon, on the river bank, in the river and up short but diffficult canyon walls, all on foot to find amazing sights that few have seen as it was discovered again only in 2003.
We have good photos and our new friend Tara from Seattle probably has a priceless one of Mary Jo being transported on an inner tube when she could no longer climb a wall. There were ten of us and we saw wondrous caves and pools, orcids, cactus and succulents on the canyon walls.
Monday, January 29, 2007
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]
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]
Letters from Nicaragua, 4th Epistle
My class español. the instructors can understand me well..though they correct my form about 3 times per "orracion". But the housemother for Peter..a teacher of special education finds me hard to comprehend. But I keep chattering away during lessons, adding commentaries about Canada and about contrasting uses of terms. Peter finds it harder to converse, but he retains the correct "palabras" more than me. Some days I wake up with "español" in my head. It will be fun to converse with you and see also if TJ recalls enough "español" to join in. I think he would like this town, based on his descriptions of Mexico.
The "ancienes" really love to hear us read the children's books. They are quite interested in the info about "NPH" and the life of the orphans. Most of them cannot read or write, but they love to hear us read...and they laugh at our pronunciation. They are really dears. One lady made crocheted tassels for the braids of the girls at NPH, using yarn I bought her.The families here are so curious about my knitting. My housemother crochets quite well. But knitting here is difficult due to such dim lights at night. I really can't knit without daylight.
The days are so dry that the floors have dust all the time, even when it can't be seen. I have been washing my clothes in the traditional "lavandero", and my sheets too. The maid is so sweet and willing, but she has plenty other work to do.
Peter got a bout of sour stomach and indigestion that put him out for a day and a half. It worried his housemother to death. She is a wonderful cook and could not bear to have him not eating. Today he is better, and eating about a half portion. We all have so much fried food I can imagine it is hard on him. His housemother is very skilled with soups, which she prepares for lunch..the main meal.
I am taking lots of photos, and trying to not spend too much on souvenirs. But the economy here is so poor. Tomorrow I hope to see a coffee "finca" up close. Another small town excursion. They love their central parks. The one here in Ocotal has espalier and trimmed trees, labeled trees, and is quite large.
Letters from Nicaragua, 3rd Epistle
Our time at "cybernet" is limited, and these keyboards are a bit different.
Our classes are long: 4 hr a day, and we have homework too. Then we have out of town trips 3 x a week, and 2 mornings with the elderly.
The afternoon classes are pretty hot. The house where I stay has a nice garden, so it is more cool. Peter' s house is closed in with very small corridor garden, but he has the advantage of an in room bath. Interesting how the homes of 2 sisters next door are quite different.
Our classes are long: 4 hr a day, and we have homework too. Then we have out of town trips 3 x a week, and 2 mornings with the elderly.
The afternoon classes are pretty hot. The house where I stay has a nice garden, so it is more cool. Peter' s house is closed in with very small corridor garden, but he has the advantage of an in room bath. Interesting how the homes of 2 sisters next door are quite different.
Letters from Nicaragua, 2nd Epistle - postscript
Forgot to tell you that yes, our box of medical supplies came along without a hitch. No one questioned it a bit.
Also, we have locks on our rooms so our things are quite safe. Homes are locked even in the daytime. At night there is a bar on the outside doors.
Also, we have locks on our rooms so our things are quite safe. Homes are locked even in the daytime. At night there is a bar on the outside doors.
Letters from Nicaragua, 2nd Epistle
We keep finding new interesting sights. The bus ride from Managua was tiring but very interesting. The hotel by the airport is a haven of peace. Then we got a taxi for $5 to the bus and a bus conductor (hustler) grabbed our things and got us on his bus--a local bus that stops EVERYWHERE, and ended in Estelli. It was packed.
During the ride, 3 times some preacher or seller was standing and expounding a long time. Then they would take up a collection. Once a young handicapped boy did this also. Peter gave him some money. In Estelli we got an express bus to
Ocotal but it was about the same. The families where we stay--side by side, have lovely homes. But we now have seen others that are even nicer, by glimpsing through the doors. From the streetyou would think this is a dirty dusty town. But people are wonderful.
The language programme is intense. We each have separate young teachers for a full 4 hrs/day. Same lessons. It is quite tiring. We are fully immersed, so we are understanding what you and TJ went through in Ecole Ste Sacrement, and the experience of foreign students at Carney. The ladies of our homes are very eager to help us practice, and to correct our normal errors. Peter´s "Madam" is a retired special education teacher- district director, so she is still a "teacher"; the other lady owns a small bookstore "tienda".
For a few things, I am actually thinking in "Espanol". I feel we have learned so much already, what more could there be for 2 more weeks? I will have fun conversing with you in "Espanol" and see if we use the same "palabras". Given we are only 2 students, we are amazed at the personal tours, etc. built into our week. Tomorrow we go to a small mountain town, Cuidad Antigua, for a celebration at a shrine of miracles. There will also be a mass. Don´t know about next week.
We really enjoy the visits to "los ancienes", the "hogar" for the elderly. Last time I took some small package of yarn and a crochet hook. The one alert lady was overwhelmed, but also asked for good scissors. She fears her things are pilfered, so she wears her scissors around her neck on a cord. Their room is an open dorm, with no real cupboards for possessions. There are few there who are alert. But some of the guys have such a light in their eyes.
Peter printed out the lyric to a Stan Rogers song, "Barrett's Privateers", and sang it to them. They loved it, even without knowing English. We also had time to read to them from the magazine "Selecciones", Readers' Digest, which I had brought from home. The one alert lady loved it. She's also is a consummate teacher, and would correct my pronunciation and explain it to me. Too bad she has glaucoma. It makes her even more paranoid as she is not sure of who is doing what.
There are "cyber cafes" all over the place. Apparently few people have their own computers. Another thing that is hard for me is the dim lights in the homes. My bedroom has one bare fluorescent bulb in a high ceiling, and no windows. So knitting is nearly impossible, unless it is outdoors in the daytime. They also have one incandescent bulb high in the kitchen. Very dim light. But this area is so prime for wind and solar power. An entrepreneur could make a killing here by setting up small generators so people could have cheap power. The wind blows constantly, and often sounds ominous at night.
But the greatest night sound is the dogs that seem to never sleep. One dog barked last night for what seemed like hours.
The food is wonderful. It is not spicy, but often sweet. Today we had soup at noon with vegetables, plus slices of plantain, and that does taste like banana. Try soup with carrots, zucchini, onions and bananas. It was delicious.
We also have often a drink made from oatmeal,
Aveno, and it looks like milk and tastes very sweet. They don't have our type of oatmeal. Water is scarce, so about every other day, there is no water in the taps or toilets. At my house, I always have to take a bowl to flush the toilet. My laundry was done by hand by the house maid, a young woman who is very sweet.
During the ride, 3 times some preacher or seller was standing and expounding a long time. Then they would take up a collection. Once a young handicapped boy did this also. Peter gave him some money. In Estelli we got an express bus to
Ocotal but it was about the same. The families where we stay--side by side, have lovely homes. But we now have seen others that are even nicer, by glimpsing through the doors. From the streetyou would think this is a dirty dusty town. But people are wonderful.
The language programme is intense. We each have separate young teachers for a full 4 hrs/day. Same lessons. It is quite tiring. We are fully immersed, so we are understanding what you and TJ went through in Ecole Ste Sacrement, and the experience of foreign students at Carney. The ladies of our homes are very eager to help us practice, and to correct our normal errors. Peter´s "Madam" is a retired special education teacher- district director, so she is still a "teacher"; the other lady owns a small bookstore "tienda".
For a few things, I am actually thinking in "Espanol". I feel we have learned so much already, what more could there be for 2 more weeks? I will have fun conversing with you in "Espanol" and see if we use the same "palabras". Given we are only 2 students, we are amazed at the personal tours, etc. built into our week. Tomorrow we go to a small mountain town, Cuidad Antigua, for a celebration at a shrine of miracles. There will also be a mass. Don´t know about next week.
We really enjoy the visits to "los ancienes", the "hogar" for the elderly. Last time I took some small package of yarn and a crochet hook. The one alert lady was overwhelmed, but also asked for good scissors. She fears her things are pilfered, so she wears her scissors around her neck on a cord. Their room is an open dorm, with no real cupboards for possessions. There are few there who are alert. But some of the guys have such a light in their eyes.
Peter printed out the lyric to a Stan Rogers song, "Barrett's Privateers", and sang it to them. They loved it, even without knowing English. We also had time to read to them from the magazine "Selecciones", Readers' Digest, which I had brought from home. The one alert lady loved it. She's also is a consummate teacher, and would correct my pronunciation and explain it to me. Too bad she has glaucoma. It makes her even more paranoid as she is not sure of who is doing what.
There are "cyber cafes" all over the place. Apparently few people have their own computers. Another thing that is hard for me is the dim lights in the homes. My bedroom has one bare fluorescent bulb in a high ceiling, and no windows. So knitting is nearly impossible, unless it is outdoors in the daytime. They also have one incandescent bulb high in the kitchen. Very dim light. But this area is so prime for wind and solar power. An entrepreneur could make a killing here by setting up small generators so people could have cheap power. The wind blows constantly, and often sounds ominous at night.
But the greatest night sound is the dogs that seem to never sleep. One dog barked last night for what seemed like hours.
The food is wonderful. It is not spicy, but often sweet. Today we had soup at noon with vegetables, plus slices of plantain, and that does taste like banana. Try soup with carrots, zucchini, onions and bananas. It was delicious.
We also have often a drink made from oatmeal,
Aveno, and it looks like milk and tastes very sweet. They don't have our type of oatmeal. Water is scarce, so about every other day, there is no water in the taps or toilets. At my house, I always have to take a bowl to flush the toilet. My laundry was done by hand by the house maid, a young woman who is very sweet.
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