16 de Mayo

Well, its been awhile since I last wrote. I guess thats a good thing, because it means I´m busy.
As you can see from the pictures, my mom and I had a good time on her trip here. Very busy and went by fast with a few problems, mostly related to the car I rented and also damaged. Arriving at my house at night, I tried to drive up my steep, narrow, dirt driveway with a small toyota sedan. Needless to say, that didnt work and I ended up breaking the bumper and hitting a post. This was all after a 6 hour journey from Managua, where I worried constantly about being pulled over by another corrupt cop, like the one in Managua who pulled me over on bogus charges and made me pay to leave. The return trip to managua included a kid puking in the car, hitting a dog, a drunk man throwing himself in front of my car, asking to be hit, as I was speeding along the highway at 60mph. Luckily it all ended (and started) with my mom and I sitting by the pool, relaxing, and enjoying ourselves.

As for life lately, its still an adventure. Nicaragua is now in its 12th day of a transportation strike, with no buses, taxis, or trucks running. After gun fighting, trucks being burned, and road blocks on the main highway outside of managua on tuesday, my friends, Wenonoa and Eric, decided to postpone their trip, in which they were supposed to arrive today. I´m bummed to not be able to see them but am relieved to not have to worry about anyones safety while travelling.

Work goes up and down...slow at times and busy at others. I successfully have started my womens baking group, teaching them how to make mango bread last week and plans set for a chocolate cake recipe the day before Nicaraguas mothers day (May 30th). A garbage clean up activity that I did in the school last week failed when all the kids ran to the dump to fill their bags first for the prize, instead of running around finding garbage to put IN the dump. Since then, I´ve been a little hesitant to return to the school for work. But I´ve crossed the gender bridge for working with cattle when I was handed a needle and syringe to help vaccinate cows of a man I know (my host moms father). This is motivating me to learn a little more and start working more with the ganaderos. I´ve also been asked to give a chicken concentrado charla and am trying to start a chicken vaccination program, however, there is a national shortage of one of the 2 necessary vaccines. My nutrition charla failed after I spent several hours sitting on someones porch eating, chatting, and waiting for women that never showed up.

On the homefront, I´m settled in to my house and have acquired and lost a kitten several times, today being a ¨lost¨day, with her not returning home this morning.

And lastly, the US ambassador graced my community yesterday to inagurate a new well in the community, complete with music, ballons, and a speech. However, no one addresed the fact that the well will only deliver water to the surrounding neighbors who all have a constant supply of water. To really reach the community that needs water (they are hauling water by buckets and bathing in rivers), we need to come up with a few thousand dollars to buy an electric pump to pump water from the well to the community.

Oh, I also took my first river bath, which was actually very lovely, standing in a pine forest in my underwear with another woman, throwing water over our heads, and enjoying the sunshine. But somehow, I dont think I´ll enjoy it in the winter!

As far as health goes, Ive come down with pinkeye, another ear infection, and the relentless stomach bugs that torment me. But none of it is that bad and I find lots of time here to enjoy the company of the people of my community and the fellow peace corps volunteers that live nearby.
Hope everyone is well.

Vacation Pics with Mom

Laguna de Apoyo

Mom baking with the ladies
Firing up the horno

11 de Abril, 2008

Lounging by the beautiful pool in Managua again! My mom just arrived for her visit last night and we're stuffed on the gorgeous breakfast buffet and headed to the pool and then on to Granada for a few days of vacation.
Coming back to this hotel after a few months in my site was a weird change yesterday. Swimming pools, air conditioning, cable TV with American commercials and Will & Grace, surrounded by gringos speaking english, I felt like I have been transported right back to America.
Surprisingly I ran into a couple of Peace Corps friends also awaiting or sending off their families. Small world.
Work has been very productive since Semana Santa. I've conducted lots of meetings and PACA tools, determining community needs. Lots of hiking to see gardens, lots of presentations on nutrition, gardens, organic insecticides, and starting school gardens. Helping distribute world aid food to pregnant and lactating women. Planning for the national vaccination campaign. And of course studying and practicing spanish. And thanks to a care package from Stephanie, studying my newly acquired Merck Vet Manual, which I most likely won't get the chance to use much here, but am devouring for information just the same.
One of my latest meetings was with a government organization that's aim is to reduce hunger of the poor population by giving them animals (a cow, 2 pigs, and some chickens) and the tools they need to raise those animals. I am really excited to be working with this group, doing animal nutrition and mgt presentations and starting a chicken vaccination program.
I've also met a really excited producer who wants to build his farm up into a model farm to show the community soil coservation and better management techniques.
And I'm finally settled into my little house, complete with all plastic walls of the bano and latrine put up. Just in time for my mom's visit. My 3 friends welcomed me into my new house last weekend with a housewarming dinner and sleepover.
Thats all for now.

Semana Santa Fun!

La Poza

Hiking on our way to the poza

Half-Marathon Pics

Peace Corps group before the Half-Marathon

And After...still smiling. The church in the background is of San Rafael del Norte

24 de Marzo, 2008

Hola amigos!
Well, I did it...I completed the half-marathon! Although my goal was to run the whole thing, I ended up walking about 1 or 2 kms of it because of a gut-wrenching stomach cramp that made me want to fall over and puke. But the first 15km were good. I was feeling great, had lots of energy, enjoyed the beautiful views, and was cruising with my music.
The race was surprisingly well organized, with water stops along the way, music, fireworks, and snacks and even lunch afterwards. Although I didn´t win any prizes (the $150 first prize went to a young guy from Managua), the group of Peace Corps women defied the race organizers, whom insisted women should only run the 8km race, and ran the full 23km.
Along with the race, I got a chance to see beautiful Jinotega, a city nestled in a valley of lush, green, cloud-covered mountains. The race started in Jinotega and ended in a small Sandinista town called San Rafeal, full of Sandino and Catholic history, complete with a beautiful chuch and central park.
After 9 days out of my community, I was ready to come home. I was happy to see everyone and motivated to start working again. However, last week was Semana Santa here, thus I spent a good part of the week swimming and picknicking at the river. Although Semana Santa in Antigua, Guatemala last year was amazing, being able to spend the holiday here doing what the locals do, really made me feel like I was experiencing the true holiday, and it was just a whole lot of fun. We hiked and rode in the back of trucks to rivers, swam, did cartwheels in the water, drank wine, ate lots of food, and hung out in the sun. And of course, the women ¨bathed¨ in their underwear, complete with soap and all. (No one wears swimsuits here!)
So this week I´m busy moving into my house and getting some work done.
Happy Easter to all!

Domingo, 9 de Marzo

It's been a busy last few weeks, building gardens and viveros. With my 2 groups, I've helped fill 2,000 plant bags in preparation for our planting of tree seeds in the next few weeks.
I've also got my first Marango seed bank made with my community counterpart. This amazing, nutritional, and versatile tree from India grows extremely fast with little water, giving edible leaves, flowers, and seeds. The leaves are unusually high in protein, calcium, and iron which is great for both animals and us humans. I'm trying to get some of the people in the community, like the anemic and arthritic (so the doctors say) little girl that lives next to me, to use it in their diet.
But for now, I'm happy with the marango bank we're planting in preparation for the dairy goats about to arrive.
The youth group is now up and going and we have lots of plans, including footbal games and field trips to the local library and maybe even the beach! The normal curriculum here doesn't include after school sports, PE class, libraries, or field trips, so the club events can hopefully supplement their education.
My housing plans are solidified and I'll be moving into my new place in a week or so. I have mixed feelings about that. Of course, I'm happy to get my freedom and own place, but I've grown so attached to my "family" that I am a bit sad to leave their home. The little things that used to bother me so much before are now no big deal and I feel like I've definately bonded with them. Luckily I can visit whenever I have free time.
Currently I'm back in Esteli, where I'll be attending a language workshop tomorrow with almost all of the training group. We'll be staying with host families again, but luckily Cuerpo de Paz listened to me and didn't put me back with my training family. Before heading out to the training towns, I got my fix of good (and different) food....roasted chicken, cheesecake (wow...a first here and just as good as home), cafe mocha, whole wheat carrot bread, yoghurt cheese, and of course my fix of ice cream.
And I'll be burning off all those calories with the half-marathon next Saturday!!! I've managed to stay on schedule and hope that I do allright next week. Send me energetic vibes everyone!
I'll let you all know how it goes....