missive of misses

Well, friend, I’m back. Now that I am officially living in California you are no longer obligated to care about my life so I might just have to stop telling you about it in the blog form (I have this thing called a cell phone now). But I’m not ready for that change yet, are you? I think now I will start my series (of at least one) transition updates. This one will focus on things I will miss and things I will not miss about life in Nicaragua.
I will miss December’s warm weather. I will not miss March-June’s miserably humid weather.
I will miss El Coche Café’s cheap lattes. I will not miss the girls who work there and think that is appropriate to pluck their eyebrows while waiting for the milk to steam.
I will miss my Spanish improving. I will not miss sounding like an idiot whenever talking (here that should happen a little less frequently).
I will miss my friends that live there. I will not miss living far away from my family and friends here.
I will miss the cheap restaurants. I will not miss lettuce being a hit or miss item at the grocery stores and cereal never being on sale.
I will miss my job. I will not miss not getting paid for work.
I will miss having a maid. I will not miss not having a dishwasher or trying to dry clothes outside in the 3 solid months of rain.
I will miss walking to work. I will not miss not having a car.
I will miss stoplights being optional. I will not miss potholes that take over the road.
I will miss the excitement of Nicaraguan politics. I will not miss being a communist.
I will miss not being electronically tied to people by having a cell phone. I will not miss cell phone calls costing 10-30 cents a minute.
I will miss the laid back pace of life. I will not miss Nica-Time, everything starting late and ending late.
I will miss living in the land of lakes and volcanoes. I will not miss living in the land of dirty water and burning trash.

Parties and Plumbing and Purisima and Preparation

Parties.

This weekend we had a Christmas party at my house it was fine and dandy. We decided to wrap up presents and put them under the tree so that everyone could get a really cool gift. The gifts in themselves were quite fantastic but then their fantasticness grew when they were taped to firecrackers and lit on fire. I think that also improved our relationship with our neighbors and the digestive track of our dogs. Boxers don’t really know what to do when they find themselves chewing on silly putty.We had some swell decorations

Plumbing.
While my dear brother Jeremy was here our house started to have some plumbing problems. I would go into details but the details are disgusting so I’ll let you use your imagination (or not). The end result is that they are replacing all of our sewage lines, I guess they were concrete cylinders and now they are putting in PVC. This is not an easy process and involves ripping up the floor in 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and hallway and a lot of dust. So during the day we are isolated into my bedroom, bathroom, and the kitchen. My bathroom doesn’t drain properly either (like we’re pretty sure nothing makes it to the septic tank) but it is considered less urgent than the other half of the house. Supposedly they are finishing up soon but last I checked there is a pile of dirt in the hallway so I think it is safe to say there is a fair amount left to be done.

And this was just the beginning

Purisima.
Bonus points if you remember what Purisima is. It is when Mary, mother of Jesus, was immaculately conceived, A.K.A. Dec 8th. It is celebrated by a whole bunch of firecrackers and alcohol, which I’m sure Mary appreciates. Purisma is officially just the 8th but it is celebrated beforehand and really the firecrackers are around all month. I like firecrackers as much as the next person but really enough is enough. And enough was when I was walking across the street on the night of Dec. 1st and one hit me in the leg. It hurt but didn’t leave a hole, which was fortunate since I was on the way to a Church service and didn’t have a change of pants on me.
Preparation.
I am leaving Managua a week from tomorrow morning so I am trying to prepare for that. I sent some stuff home with my recent houseguests and now am bequeathing things to my friends here. I mean most things I’ll just leave to the maid or my roommates or the trash but some things really need to be passed on to specific people so I am trying to make those tough decisions. I am also still working in the biblioteca. Things are progressing well with my replacement Rosmery but obviously we still have some things work out. Today I am going to a baby shower so she is completely on her own. It will be interesting to discuss that with her tomorrow. I still think life would be easier if everyone thought like I did, but I realize that isn’t a realistic solution. My other step in preparing to leave is meeting with people to say one final adios. The good thing with this is people are guilted into taking me to nice restaurants the bad thing is it is depressing. Half the things people say make me think I’m at my own memorial service, but at least I know I’ll be appreciated after my passing.

not much longer now

I haven’t written in a while mostly because I am going crazy but right now I am at the coffee shop relaxing with an iced latte and things are looking up.
From last Sunday until this morning my brother Jeremy, his wife Cristina and their two kids, Elijah and Arielle, were visiting. Two of my roommates were in the states so the whole family got to stay with me very comfortably. It was tons of fun and very exhausting. I am very blessed to not have biological children coming into my life any time soon.
Since I have less than three weeks left here I figured I can get by with fewer than twenty pairs of shoes and I was able to send home two bags worth of stuff with them. That means I should have more space to buy you gifts.
In order to keep the excitement going for my last 18 days here, tonight two of my college friends, Keiz and Salena, are coming. They will be here until next Monday and Keiz made an itinerary so I’m sure it will be an adventure.
Last week I hired my replacement for the library, her name is Rosemery and her training officially started last Thursday. She is very nice and very talkative, lots of her talking is unrelated to the task on hand so I think I need to work on channeling her enthusiasm into more relevant topics. Today we are going to buy books together.
I think things are more stable here politically now. And by that I mean that democracy is losing so the socialists stopped burning tires in the streets.
I hope you are all enjoying listening to Christmas carols, I am.
Love, Joy

Brought to you by the letter L

Library
OK this week I actually have some pictures of the library.

For Some Reason I Only Have Boys

Some Completed Work

Our Fall Tree

Today we made turkeys in honor of American Thanksgiving. I explained that in a few weeks there is a holiday called Thanksgiving in the United States and we eat turkey. They got to use scissors and glue so even if the activity had no significance to them it wasn’t a waste.
This week people are supposed to be turning in applications for librarian. So far I have two, but neither are looking very promising. It is hard when you know the people applying aren’t very qualified but you also know they are desperate for work because their families don’t have food. I don’t know how to resolve this discrepancy.

Literacy
Last week I took a class on how to teach Spanish literacy and ESL. The classes were from 8-4 Monday to Friday and the knowledge I gained could have been condensed into 45 minutes tops. But it did open my eyes to what I might be facing in the states in five weeks if I get a job. Eight hours every day, shoot me now. Jobs aren’t all terrible, are they? Besides that reality check, I also worked on my ability to write with my left hand. It is a slow process but I am confident that if I lose my right hand I won’t be completely debilitated.

Liberty
Sunday were nation-wide mayoral elections. Friday, Saturday and Monday were last minute legal holidays in honor of voting. Actually I have no idea why Friday and Saturday were off and Monday was off because it is unsafe to leave your house the day after elections because of rioting. During Monday’s riots two people were killed but that wasn’t going to keep me home, I went to Quiznos. I think people riot either because they are upset at how unfair the election process is or they are overly excited that their team won. In Managua the Sandinista party won, this wasn’t a big surprise since the president gave away stoves with propane tanks and 400 new houses in exchange for votes. There was also some suspicious behavior the day of voting. A friend of mine went to the poles at 5pm to vote and they told him that he was too late even though they were supposed to be open until 6, he is from the liberal party. He also told me that his cousin is Sandinista and her husband is liberal so his cousin took her husband’s ID so that he couldn’t vote. And I have a strong hunch that these were not isolated incidents.

Get ready, it's a poem

Happy November 3, there are 58 days remaining this year, 46 of those I am planning on spending in Nicaragua. After December 19th I am planning on staying in the United States for an indefinite amount of time. But enough of plans and scary future talk, I will now tell you about the library and anything else that I think of, I’ll try to keep it short and entertaining and I’ll add some pictures.

At the library I have about 30 members a day,
And for the most part I like it that way.
A normal day visitors read, color, return and check out books, or play a game.
Other days I’ll read out loud or plan a special craft, I try to mix it up so it’s not all the same.
Although in Nicaragua fall is not marked by harvest or colorful trees,
In October we still painted pumpkins and decorated leaves.
Sometimes I get a little annoyed with “Cristina! Cristina!” repeatedly,
But I guess it is good to know that they need me.
There are a few people that come over the age of fourteen,
They like to bring me CD’s to teach me about the Nicaraguan music scene
Now that my time in Nicaragua is almost at the fin,
I’m supposed to be finding a replacement to be the new librarian.
This week we’re passing out the applications,
And by the 24th I am supposed to be training someone in the details of my position.
That will give me three weeks to catch them up to speed,
To make sure everything is in order before I am freed.
I don’t think I’m ready to pass it of physically or emotionally quite yet,
But I can always come finish after Christmas if not all my goals are met.
Other things are going on in my life too.
This weekend we had a Halloween party, boo.
I am taking a literacy training class, all week from eight to four,
Just one day and I am reminded why I am glad I’m not is school anymore.
I am super exhausted and maybe I can go to bed soon,
It is really early but there is a waxing crescent moon.

So I attached one picture but I can't find the rest,
I think posting library pictures on Wednesday will be best.

On elections and electricity

As you probably know the United States presidential elections are coming up, what you may not know is that Managua’s mayoral elections are next month as well.  

I don’t claim to very politically minded but I’ve really been trying this election.   I might not have watched any of the debates but I did see SNL Weekend Thursday update last week.  I wonder what candidate they support. I also have spent some time looking at the propositions that are up in California.  Good thing, because now I know that my vote could count towards farmers putting their animals in larger cages before the slaughter them.  I still don’t know if I will actually be able to vote because my absentee ballot has yet to arrive, but at least I’ll know how I’m supposed to feel when the results start coming in.

Nicaraguan politics, on the other hand, are a completely different ball game.  Technically there are two candidates running, Alexis Arguello and Eduardo Montealegre.  Both of them have a star studded past, Montealegre was the runner up for Nicaraguan presidency in 2006 and Alexis is three-time boxing world champion.  Alexis is running on the Sandinista ticket and thus is backed by the current president, Ortega, and Socialist leaders worldwide.  Montealegre is running the opposition so his slogan, used on billboards, is Todos contra Ortega (All against Ortega). 

Last week I asked two Nicaraguan friends who would win and they both said Alexis.  They also clarified that his win wouldn’t be because he had more votes but just because of the corrupt power of his political party.  So it will be interesting to see how that plays out, I suspect it will involve lots of firecrackers and red and black flags.

Enough of politics, the weather has been loco lately.  Thursday and Friday it rained constantly and with constant rain comes power outages, nationally and more specifically in our house.  On Friday I think everyone lost power for at least a little bit but then ours never came back on.  Finally Saturday morning it did, and then Sunday an electrician spent the day at our house trying to make that not happen again.  I guess with a lot of rain our wires would get wet and stop working and then they needed sun to dry out.  Is that a normal problem?

A new maid, Claudia, started working last week at our house and she is amazing.  Chilo, who worked for Jeremy and Cristina when they lived here, recommended her to us.   She has only been here three days and already our house is cleaner than it ever was before. She only works for us part time and for her other job she is a cook, so we are reaping the benefits of that as well.  We now get hot lunches the days she is here, usually some form of beans and rice and fresh juice.

I could write about the library but that will be next time.

Love, Joy

PS I’m moving home in two months (or so the calendar says, things could change)

Happy Finnish Literature Day

Last weekend I participated in a 11km “fun run” in the mountainous region of Matagalpa. The gringo group from Mangua pre-race
I tied my friend Amira for last place. We obviously had a different opinion of what a “fun run” was than the other participants. Regardless of us losing it was still an enjoyable time. Matagalpa is a higher altitude than Managua which made the running temperature nice, and the trail led us through coffee plantations so it was gorgeous. Since we were going at a slower pace than everyone else I really got to take in the beauty of the surroundings and we got to know red-cross van well.

Amira and me post-race

Group post-race

Post robbery life has still continued to be an inconvenience. We had to establish what I call “the house arrest schedule,” not just for security but because workers are in and out of the house all day fixing things. Yesterday, this morning, and Monday are my assigned days. It basically means I have to stay at home in case someone comes over to do something. This morning welders are here putting in a new, more secure back door. They are very nice but their work is extremely noisy.

During my house arrest time this week I’ve been trying to do my own laundry. The washing part has been pretty basic but drying is quite annoying. Nicaragua is extremely humid and it is the rainy season and we don’t have a dryer and our dogs like to attack the laundry line. So this is the chain of frustration, first you find moldy clothes in your closet that you decide you should wash. Then you realize you need to dry it somewhere (hopefully thoroughly so that it doesn’t just mold right away again). Then you can’t hang it outside because it is rainy, so you hang it in the garage for 15 hours, then the next morning you have to lock the dogs in the garage so people can go in the yard but it is still raining so you drape it over all the furniture in the house for another 15 hours. Then you see a little sun so you hang it outside to kill that last bit of mold and you get ready to move it inside as soon as you see the dark clouds moving closer. I am writing this at 11:30 am and it has been sunny all morning so I think the clothes from yesterday’s wash are going to be genuinely dry (and they’ve only been moved 3 times).

I’ve been trying to just schedule my house arrests for the morning so that I can still open the library in the afternoon and that has been working out well but I haven’t been able to do follow-up cleaning from when my mom was here. And also I had to take the week off from Matthew’s school. This morning we had a house meeting to set up a schedule for next week so that we can be more prepared for the inconveniences that may come our way.

And on a more upbeat final note, thank you so much for your prayers, encouragement, and generosity this past week (and 2 years). I am blown away, once again by God’s grace and provision in all ways. So thank you for being available to be used by Him to show and pour His (and your) love to me. Really I don’t deserve it but do appreciate it.

good bye mom and some other things

As I start this blog there is so much that I have to say, some of which I don't want to say because I know, in part, what your response will be. But I can't keep secrets (as you probably have figured out) so here it comes.

On Monday of this week my mom left after coming down with my aunt and our neighbor for ten days. I can't even begin to express how wonderful it was to have them here but it was a busy ten days. Besides one day trip we spent most of the time working in Managua especially in the library. It is now organized and all of the books are in a database. Not only did they help out physically it was encouraging to have tangible moral support that I haven't been feeling with this job. I know by admitting that I appreciate moral support may totally alter your perspective of me but that's a risk I'm willing to take. Also since they came prepared to survive in the jungle for about a year I am now well stocked with snack foods, toothpaste, oil of olay face wipes, DVD's and all sorts of other things that I didn't know I was missing. Side note on the snacks, Trader Joe's makes some amazing gorgonzola flavored oven crisp crackers, you should check them out. If you want to know more about this trip I'm sure all of the participants would be willing to give you a very detailed account of the happenings from three very different perspectives.

Yesterday morning I went to the dentist, I was extremely nervous because dental problems freak me out and I haven't had a cleaning since December of 06. But have no fear, I am cavity free and the lady was really nice and it only cost $10. She made me chew a red pill for first graders to highlight my problematic plaque areas and she thinks it is very cute that I still have baby teeth (dientes de leche). She also answered her cell phone twice during the cleaning, but that's Nicaragua for you.

Now the part I don't want to write. When we got home from our appointments we couldn't find our little dog then when we went into our house we saw that our back door had been opened and our house robbed. So finally came the advantage of me living in the maid's room, they didn't even glance in my room where they would have seen my laptop and iPod. Unfortunately the rest of the house, especially Lori's room, was picked clean of all things electronic and cash. Needless to say, Wednesday was a rough day with concerned friends and neighbors and unconcerned police. Now we can ask the Lord to give back what was taken, not only the tangible things that were lost but also the peace of mind and sense of security. The timing of it is all so overwhelming, I hear of so much falling apart finically in the states and am very removed, but this hit close to home and made me realize how real this global economic crisis is. And how futile our security measures are and how important it is to invest in the things that rust and moths can't destroy and thieves can't steal.

Really the whole robbery thing is just a huge inconvenience so now I'm at my old apartment using their interntet (ours was stolen) and talking with the maid that I trust like my mother. And on top of all that I missed another training day for the run this weekend so I'm off to do that now.

Happy Independence Days

The 14^th and 15^th of September are Nicaraguan independence days.  My school has Tuesday and Wednesday off (neither the 14^th or 15^th) which is pretty exciting since usually holidays don’t fall on Tuesdays.  Unfortunately it also means that our maid isn’t coming until Thursday.  To support my patriotism I had kids in the library and at school make Nicaraguan flags last week.  I feel less pressure doing crafts at the library than at school because I don’t have to pretend there is an English lesson they should be learning.

Also to celebrate, on Saturday I went to the beach.  I didn’t actually go near the water or sand but I could see the ocean from my hammock.   

I signed up for a 15km “fun run” on October 5^th.  I didn’t realize that 15km is equivalent to 9.3 miles, now this run doesn’t sound as “fun.”  Someone already sponsored me for the $15 entry fee so now I can’t back down and officially had to start training.  There are two things I have to train for, one the distance and the other waking up at 6am.  I have a long way to go in both these departments.  I feel like I run fairly regularly, but this morning I realized that I don’t.  I now understand how those people that are fine one day and then the next they have to get a crane to get them out of their house because they weigh two tons. 

If you are bummed that you didn’t get to sponsor me for my first (and probably only) 1/3 marathon, don’t worry.  I am still looking for someone to sponsor my hotel for the night and meals.

My house has two dogs, a Boxer and a Rottweiler.  I am not their biggest fan.  Last week when I was opening the gate to let my roommate leave they both ran away.  I had to run around our street trying to catch them and bring them back before a neighbor loaned me a rope to tie up the little one and helped me drag her home.  Then on Saturday night I got home at 10:30 and they ran away on me again.  In the dark.  I was going to leave them but I think the Rottweiler scares our neighbors so I felt bad.  Fortunately, the night guard from across the street helped me bring them back.  On Sunday morning I locked up the house and was reading on the porch while waiting for my ride to pick me up.  Then when they came I left my book on a little table we have and locked up the gate.  When I came back my book was chewed up.  I think I can still read it, just the corners are missing.  I guess they miss their mom Lori, she is the only one who doesn’t think they are gross.  She is coming back tonight.

Thursday my mom, Aunt Mana, and Becky Tobin are coming to visit for ten days.  I am really looking forward to that adventure.

TTFN

Joy

Trocitos of information

Today I have officially lived in Nicaragua for two years.  I had big plans to write a 2 year anniversary poem for you but it is not coming along very well so I quit.  Instead you can write one for me (prizes will be awarded)...  

For the past two years I've lived in Nicaragua

The land of volcanoes and lakes of dirty agua

I slept  wearing thick socks last night (sorry jenny).  I stole them from my dad last time he was here.  What can you deduce from these two statements.  Firstly, you should have me do your laundry, and secondly it is cold.  Yesterday when I was walking home it was drizzling, usually that just means it is really humid but no, I wasn't even sweating.  Then I got picked up by a man who has a horse camp, he was nice.  

Yesterday morning I went to the sports center again with Michelle.  Because of the cold weather, only five students came with their moms.  Since this caused a surplus of adults we got to play volleyball.  I know I am usually not one to judge other's athletic abilities and all in to having uncompetitive sports, but look at  my team. 

 Two pregnant ladies and a lady in purple heels.  I would say that we lost but I don't think what we were playing was close enough to the real game to even attempt to keep score.  

At the library I've been lending out books and they have been coming back, that's a good thing. 

(proof)  

Right now they take them home in zip-lock bags but I just commissioned some ladies to make canvas books bags.  I was going to start making them myself but I have better things to do with my time (in theory) and the ladies need to make money (a fact).  

Also at the library I've started opening up early to give reading help ten and eleven year old brothers in second grade, Jose and Luis.  They are extremely sweet and always filthy and are good at doing puzzles and playing games.  They just can't read.  If you know the spanish alphabet, in theory you can pretty much sound out any word, but for them it is still a struggle.  And then there is the next step after  sounding out syllable by syllable, repeating what you read with confidence and understanding.  The older of the two can do this sometimes, the younger one can't.  So in summary, in this country you can get to second grade with no ability to read.

Today I am substituting for Basic Art at the NCA.  They finished their assignment and it is a Friday.  In college they would be sent home but this is middle school, I have to make sure they don't hurt themselves.  One kid was just doing one-armed pushups, that could have been dangerous.  I have another class after lunch and I don't know where the paper is that says what class it is.  Rumor has it that it is Advanced Art.  Even if I don't have a lesson plan that should be easy.  I can just use the time to demonstrate my advanced art skills.  

Speaking of lunch, we have no bread at my house.  I found some bagels but they were rock hard so had to be thrown away.  I did find crackers and cheese so I will be having a very Jackie Eklund road trip meal.  If only I had Trader Joe's yogurt.  

I've taken up playing Ticket to Ride again.  I've played three nights this week.  I haven't played speed Scrabble all month.  

As for my future, who knows what it holds,

I'm here until December and then my plan folds.

Schedule

Sometimes people ask me what I do down here.  Obviously for the most part I just sit around all day but this past week I’ve actually been on the productive side so I’ll write about that and then you can have a completely skewed perspective of what I do.  I’ll start with last Thursday and leave out reading, taking showers, brushing teeth, and such.

Thursday:  Wake up sick.   Call Amanda to get the names of the schools that are reached by our library.  Give list of names to Lori to type.  Go to bookstore.  Spend $400 out of $5000 on new library books.  Go home.  Take nap.  Walk to library.  Get picked up and driven the rest of the way.   Open library.  Check out books.  Ride home on motorcycle.  Make enchiladas for dinner. Set alarm to sleep while oven is preheating and again while cooking.  Have dinner with two roommates.  Watch a movie.  Go to sleep.

Friday:  Wake up early again.  Go to NCA at 8:30 to help organize and price books for Book Fair.  Come home.  Eat lunch. Change.  Walk to library.  Walk home.   Talk to roommates.  Take a nap.  Wake up.  Finish setting up for party.  Have Mexican Taco party. 

Saturday:  Sleep late.  Bake a cake for church on Sunday.  Clean leaves off of pool.  Go Swimming.  Friend comes over.  Go to coffee to work on computer. Go to American church’s Bunco night.

Sunday:  Church.  Lunch.  Nap.  Dinner and closing Olympic ceremonies at old apartment.

Monday:  Help Michelle with her school for kids with disabilities.  Plan on working at library but take four-hour nap instead.  Take dog to vet.  Eat dinner.  Help Lori pack for the States.  Watch “West Wing.”  Go to bed.

Tuesday:  Teach English using colored chalk.  Come home.  Eat lunch.  Work at library.  Have a visit from a snake.  Come home.  Cut fabric for new library curtains.   Eat dinner.  Start sewing curtains.  Watch movie.  Go to bed.

Wednesday:  Sleep in.  Finish Curtains.  Talk to sister on phone.  Go to lunch.  Go to library.  Come home.  Bible Study.  Watch “Everybody Loves Raymond.”  Go to bed.

Thursday:  Wake up.  Go to grocery store.  Look at possible hotel for my mom and crew to stay.  Have maid cut pineapple.  Write E-mail. TBD.

 

Greetings from Nicaragua

It has been quite a while since my last update and I’m not sure how to get back into the groove of things.
N – This week the beginning of the first NORMAL week I’ve had since, I don’t know, the beginning of June. I am settled into my new room and am not planning on leaving anytime soon. I spent a solid four hours organizing things at the library today and there were no people helping.
I – We finally INVESTED the $2000 to get more books for the library. This week a few of us are going to the bookstore to start the shopping process. I’ve been realizing that our selection is skewed towards younger kids and then pretty much drops off once we hit chapter books. Give or take six copies of Charlotte’s Web.
C – On Saturday night Lori and I went to the CIRCUS. It is visiting here from Guatamala and a lot more professional than I was expecting but still no Cirque Du Soleil.
A – The end of July beginning of August Jeff Bishop was here visiting. That was quite an ADVENTURE. I could say more but I won’t.
R – Don’t worry I’ve still been READING a ton. I just got a new bookshelf yesterday for my room and it is packed full of books. I’ve been reading more than normal since my new house doesn’t have cable, so I’m probably at two or three books a week.
A – Last week for a few days I went to Los Angeles for a wedding and family time. I had a really good trip but it made me not want to come back here. I just got back last Tuesday and now I am feeling more ADJUSTED but still want to sleep until 11 every day. It isn’t that I don’t like living here but most things are much more convenient in the States, and I kind of miss that.
G – I’m still teaching English one day a week. That is another thing that will go back to my normal schedule starting tomorrow. I think we are going to review the colors and do an activity involving chalk. I still need to put in the extra effort to make the difficulty levels different for the different GRADES, maybe with questions and answers and grammar with the older kids.
U - I really don’t want to fill this with USELESS information but I really can’t think of anything to say.
A – I hope you have an AMAZING week.

F.A.Q. #2

Hola to all!  I made it back from California on Thursday and am getting back into the groove of things in Nicaragua.  My trip home was very short and busy but wonderful.  Since I’ve now been living here for almost two years and things are always changing I decided to clear up some misconceptions by providing you with F.A.Q. #2, F.A.Q #1 was posted February 1, 2007 if you’re interested.

Where do you live?  I live in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.  I live in house at Km. 12 ¾ the old road to Leon.  You go down to the Km. 13 market and turn right where the labritorios sign is, I’m in the last house on the right.  Yes, this a change from where I was living before.  I now have my own bedroom, it is the maid’s quarters but I have fixed it up quite nicely.

Who do you live with? Although we have only all been home one night since I moved in, I technically live with three North American girls, Carey, Lori, and Mary.  We also have two dogs, Chaco and Maya. 

When was the last time you took a shower?  Well, we haven’t had water since Saturday…you do the math.  I think it is about time to go swimming.

What do you mean by having no water?  Yesterday there was at least some coming out slowly and pressureless from our tank but today it is down to a drizzle.  Purell and baby wipes are quickly becoming my best friends.

Why no water?  I don’t know for sure but I think the huge hole in the middle of the road by us may have something to do with it.

Besides not bathing, what do you do down there?  Since February my main task has been starting a community library about one mile from where I live.  Currently we are open three afternoons a week, I am there for those times and then extra time still getting organized.  I started teaching English again on Tuesday mornings.  I teach two first grade classes, one huge second grade class, and one third grade class.  So schedule-wise I don’t have a ton of work but unscheduled things are always coming up.

Who are you working for?   I am technically down here independently. The financial responsibility for the library is shared between Manna Project International and Alongside Ministries en Nicaragua.  For my job at the school, I consider Matthew Jun my boss, he laughs when I call him that.    

How’s the library?  I think it’s going well, we have more books than shelves and there are lots of kids that come every day, those things are both very encouraging. We leant our first batch of books and are waiting for them to be returned.  I still have a lot of work to do.

So, you like it there?  It’s life.  And I guess for the most part I like life.  I don’t think I am enjoying it more than I would enjoy living in the states, but I don’t really know how to compare the two.  I do know that for now I am where I am supposed to be and doing what I am supposed to be doing.   At least for the big things, there are still plenty of disciplines that I have yet to master.

When are you coming back?  Short term, August 6^th for a wedding in LA, then possibly longer term in December.  Hopefully by November I will know whether or not my December trip is for Christmas or for my foreseen future. 

After Nicaragua, then what?  Ahhhhhh.  I don’t know.  Get some type of job doing something.  I’m not really worried about it, God has clearly guided and provided this far I don’t think He’s just going to quit on me now.

And your Spanish, it’s fluent now?  This answer is conditional.  If you speak Spanish, no, it is not fluent.  If you don’t speak Spanish, yes, it is. 

Is it safe there?  Really, what is “safe”?  I don’t feel that my safety has ever been jeopardized.  But a lot more precautions are taken here then in the states.  We lock our doors.

What is your favorite Nicaraguan food?  Fried cheese with pretty much anything, especially fried plantains.  Yes, they eat healthy here.  But for the most part I just eat normal food like peanut butter and jelly

god bless america

Hello All!  How are you?  I am writing this from somewhere between Managua and Houston, I see water so that narrows things down.  I am on my way to California for two weeks and am really excited.

Yesterday I finished moving and organizing my new bedroom.  It looks surprisingly large now that there is furniture in it and I really like it.  I’ll attach a picture but it was hard to really get the whole room.  If we hang out while I’m home I can give you an amazing virtual tour or you can just come visit me in Nicaragua and see it for yourself.  Lori pointed out that there is still plenty of room for dancing, something very important.

On Saturday night we had a birthday party/fundraiser with all proceeds going to the library.  I don’t know yet how much money we raised but I think somewhere between $500 and $1000.  There is a picture of me standing next to a picture of myself.  

The party itself was very interesting, quite different from the normal 4 options of things to do in Managua.  Lori and I were the ones collecting money and my job was swiping the credit cards if people didn’t bring cash.  This is a seemingly easy task and I have previous experience thanks to my days at the Candy Bouquet.  The only difficulty was that we had to hook up the machine down a hallway where there was a phone line, so I had to keep walking back in forth in my new gold heels, I’m sure I looked like a natural.  It did get less awkward once I realized that it wasn’t necessary for the credit card holder walk down the hallway with me.

Friday was the forth of July.  Not a big holiday in Managua but I still was able to pull out my patriotic wear.  

The rest of the week was just wrapping up loose ends, cleaning the library, going to the beach, playing speed scrabble, seeing “Kung Fu Panda,” cleaning battery acid using Coca Cola, packing, etc.

I’ll back until the 24^th and starting tomorrow I can probably steal my cell phone number back from my mom so give me a call.  I hope to see you soon.

Love, joy

PS Now I’m in Houston, my layover was supposed to be just enough time to walk to my terminal but my connection was delayed.  Sad, but it will give me some time to adjust to things in the US of A like it being OK to flush toilet paper.  Maybe I’ll buy myself a coffee soon.

7 more days

I was fairly confident that this summer I was going to be basking in my free time and boredom but somehow my time has been filling up. 

Yesterday was my last day of house sitting, so now I am back in my apartment packing both for my visit to the states and for moving to my new house.    I am really excited about both of these things, coming to the states I get to see people that I have been missing a lot lately, and my new house has a newly painted bedroom.  Thanks to my distaste for painting second coats, and the quality of local paint we have named it “the aquarium.” It’s turquoise and fades in and out a lot but I love it and it’s all mine.

Working for Matthew again has been great.  I am just teaching one day a week but he has been in the states so has given me extra responsibility.  Three girls were here from Florida and for two days I got to chaperone their visits to the school and the feeding program.  Also last week there were two men from Colorado that I met with at the feeding program to show the work that is being done currently and our goals of expansion.  Right now I like the variety of things he is having me do, plus I get a driver that is really nice about running errands with me.

Things at the library are progressing quite nicely as well.  Today I am establishing new rules, such as a minimum age limit.  No more 2 year olds coming in unsupervised and peeing in my chairs. 

This morning I met with a representative from the organization Trees For Life.  If we have two thousand dollars to pay they will pay an additional $3,000 towards purchasing more books and will give us two computers and two printers.  Isn’t that exciting. I’m excited.

But don’t worry in spite of all this work I’ve gotten to play some too.  When deciding what to do here on a normal weekend night there are four options: make dinner in, go out to dinner, watch a movie in, watch a movie out.  Friday night I went out to dinner and watched a movie in.  Saturday night I ate dinner at home and then went to the movies.  Sunday night I ate dinner in and watched a movie in.  Sometimes there is a fifth option of Game Night. That is usually paired with eating in unless you chose to eat out at a place that is casual enough to play a game at.  We haven’t had game night in a few weeks, I like to play speed scrabble during them because card games stress me out. 

During the days there is more variety of things to do but they usually require more preparation.  Often these activities involve volcanoes, the Saturday before last I went to Volcan Mombacho for canopy tours.  Canopy tours are when you strap into a harness and then have someone push you off of a platform and you glide from tree to tree on wire. 

normal

supermujer.   

See a lot of you next week, Joy  

life.

"We should all aspire to live like bananas.  They are on permanent vacation, living in lush, tropical rainforests.  From high above, a canopy of trees provides the perfect balance of sun and shade" -Banana Nut Crunch

I can’t remember where I left off in telling this saga, but frequently I have thought of things I would like to share with you over the past few weeks.  Now finally I am taking a breath and sitting down to write. 

I started teaching again, just Tuesdays.  Classes are from 8:30 to 12:30 and include two 1^st grade classes, one 2^nd grade, and one 3^rd grade.  The first day we learned a little song “my name is joy, my name is joy, what’s your name, what’s your name?”  Catchy and original.  Then I had them draw a picture of them meeting a friend and introducing themselves.  This week we talked about fruit.  In preparation I made fruits out of colored paper: Watermelon, apple, orange, strawberry, grapes, pineapple, and banana.  After we went over names I walked around with a marker and asked each kid what their favorite fruit was, I drew it for them and then they had to color it.  This worked well for first grade and for third grade I just gave them paper and they had to draw it themselves.  In second grade I ran into a slight problem.  The problem is that our two 1^st grade classes fed into one 2^nd grade class, which means there are 40 students in one room.  It is hard to give attention to 40 kids in 45 minutes and teach anything.  I need to learn how to be more prepared for that.  Overall I am really enjoying being back at the school, kids are really funny, and one day a week is about all I want to prep for. 

Things at the library are going well too, yesterday we got air conditioning!  It really cools things off.  Today was the last day of the current set of volunteers working with me.  Now I know more what I need to establish before new volunteers come.  It is so much easier to communicate with co-workers when you work by yourself. 

Another good thing at the library is that really feel that I am starting to connect and get to know the regulars.  Today I read with a little boy for about an hour.  He is ten years old and can only read by sounding words out.  Fortunately Spanish is very phonetic so we were able to go through four books together.  Our first three books were very basic picture books with labels, and then Brown Bear, Brown Bear to finish it off.  It was exciting to see how after every book we finished he wanted to go pick off another one from the shelf.  A teenage boy, Moises, also comes in the library a lot to do puzzles, his homework, or read.  Since most of our patrons are younger he has just been choosing children’s books to flip through.  Today I gave him Bridge to Terabithia and a bookmark so that he can come in everyday and continue where he left off. 

I have been house sitting for two weeks now.  For about half that time my friend Morgan was here staying with me.  We played a lot of Boggle and both enjoyed reading 4^th grade books.  I’m reading The Twenty-one Balloons right now. The house is nice and a change of scenery.  The first weekend here we had a fruit party, “bring a fruit and dress like a fruit.” I was a kiwi.  This weekend we grilled hamburgers and played Bible trivia, I think my fourth grade Bible knowledge would make you more proud than my Boggle skills, however, I am better at both of those things than cooking Nica food, which Morgan I attempted on Monday. 

One bad thing about house sitting is that things are different.  One night last week I slept with my keys dangling in the lock.  Nappy was confused by the jingling and shared that by barking, which I ignored.  Also here I don’t have a maid, this shouldn’t really be a problem but I am terrible at mopping.  I attempted this morning and maybe things look a little better, but not much.  I think before the Ferrer’s come home I going to have to get Leo to come help me. 

Just a few things more to say…This weekend I re-hiked that volcano Cerro Negro, it was one of the first things I did when I came to Nicargua but last time I quit half way through.  This time we went on the trail and discovered that it is very easy and relaxing if you do it the standard way.  

It was windy.

Last week I got hit in the face with a soccer ball.  It was fuerte and direct, but caused minimal bleeding and my sunglasses didn’t break.   I’m coming home in less than three weeks. I love you.

  

lots of information you've been dying to know

Sometimes I wish I could figure out a new way to write these.  I feel that I’ve used up all of my creative writing styles and you’re probably sick of reading.  But, pay attention! I have a lot to say.

Ay, Ay, Ay un gran tormenta…

Last week there was some type of hurricane/tropical storm.  If I wasn’t an atmospheric science dropout I might have been able to give you a more technical description of what happened but I am; so, I’ll just tell you that it rained a lot.   I do remember something about the length of time between thunder and lightening mattering.  I think if there is no time it means you were just struck by lightening, that has happened a lot lately.  On Thursday I was walking home and when I left school it was just a little misty, things change fast in a hurricane.  By the time I got home, fifteen minutes later, I was completely soaked with my jeans plastered to my legs and my shoes ruined.  At least I wasn’t sweating and I’m pretty sure I saw a partial smile on our guard Hector, and he never smiles.

Besides tearing apart my most rain-worthy shoes, the storm didn’t really have a negative effect on my life, I even got a day less of Domestic Arts out of it.  But, really why would rain matter?  The dirt roads may have turned into rivers but that just makes them more exciting to run in, and I can come home and take a warm shower and then put on clean dry clothes and drink tea.  I have walls, and floors, and a roof, and even a dryer.  Unfortunately many (maybe even most) Nicaraguans do not live in such weather resistant conditions.  The river roads aren’t much fun to walk to work or school in.   And it is really hard for people to dry their clothes even inside, because the houses are always damp since they aren’t built quite up to code.  And then there is this family I know who’s outhouse caved in during the storm.  Yes, their outhouse.  Poor me with my broken shoes.    

El fin/mi retiro

Last Thursday night we had our Domestic Arts’ banquet.  Here is a picture of me directing to prove that I actually do something.  

I think the event was a success. 

On Monday I gave my class their final exam.   School policy is that seniors with over a 90% are exempt and other students need above a 93%.  I gave the exam to three students, all boys.  So, as of 12:30 on Monday I am retired from teaching, or so I think.

Un otra vez

A few months ago I told my faithful Korean ex-boss that maybe in June I would consider helping him out again.  On Saturday May 30^th, he called me to ask what I had been thinking.  I told him that I could see myself helping out one day a week, he asked me if I had a ride to school on Monday.  Hold up, Monday!  I guess he took that beginning of June thing seriously.  I had to give my exam on Monday so he said he would come get me at 7:30 Tuesday morning, I had to clarify whether Tuesday morning he expected me to work or just to see things, he said the latter.  So Tuesday he sent me into the office to set my schedule with the directora.  Can we rewind to September 11, 2006 my first day on the job?  Similarly, on this day in history, Matthew threw me into the work world with little direction.   Fortunately, my relationship with the directora and with the Spanish language has greatly improved in the past 21 months.  Back to present day, I told her I could come one day week, she picked Tuesdays.  So next Tuesday I am starting again with my 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd graders.  Maybe the third time is a charm and someone will actually learn something.  Oddly enough, I am really excited.  I missed the school (not so much the teaching), and am looking forward to being there again.  I’ve been feeling very bubbled in lately so I think this is away to pop out and regain some perspective.  By saying that I guess now I have to let you hold me accountable.  

Mateo and I also went to see his ministry center at the Oriental Market.  It has grown a lot since I’ve been here and within the next week he’ll be opening a clinic.  In a few weeks he is going back to the states and I’ll be the on-call tour guide of the market if supporters come down during his absence.  That’s me, great at making up facts on the fly.

Los grupos y mi sello nuevo

I got my stamp.  I know, you’re excited, me too. 

 I’m trying to get the books all labeled quickly because lately it has become increasingly difficult to keep finished and unfinished books separate. You may wonder why.   I’ll tell you.  It’s because there are a lot of people helping lately.  But today I’m going to lay down the law: put things back where you found them, don’t sit on the arms of the chairs, don’t ask me to take your picture, clean up after yourselves and encourage students to do likewise.  You know, basics.  But short-term, it is great having people entertain the kids, and recently there have been a lot of them. 

Vigilancia

Tomorrow I am starting to housesit for Grant and Kandy Ferrer.  They will be gone for a month and have a dog named nappy that they are leaving behind.  They live a housing complex right next to where I live. I think I’ll still be spending a lot of time in my apartment because I don’t want to be bored out of my mind.  Yay for summer. 

Nine things about my life, written, but not posted, Tuesday night

1. I am completely exhausted.  I should go to bed soon, maybe I will.  I am fighting change-in-weather-sickness, yes that is the official name.   Then there is the level of tiredness that comes with exhaustion but is more mental.  Like “I’m sick and tired of…”  Right now those three little dots can be applied to a lot of things.
   
2. I just made muffins because I had two mealy apples that I couldn’t just throw away because apples are expensive.   The muffins are good.
   
3. It has been raining a lot lately and actually cool out most of the time.  Except in the mornings and early afternoons when it is mostly humid.  Yesterday I was tricked into wearing jeans by the massive rain on Sunday.  I finally caught on at 1 when I was walking home from school and all my clothes were sticking to my body.
   
4. This is my last week with domestic arts, they are completing their two final projects.  For one project we broke the class up into three groups and then they had to prepare us a meal outside of class.  It was a great assignment; we got three well-prepared meals.  Thursday is their other final project.  They are throwing a semi-formal banquet for selected classmates and teachers. The food should be good there too but a lot more work overall and I have to dress up.
   
5. I’ve decided to move.  I don’t know when but I do know where.  Three friends just moved into a house with an unused maid’s quarters.  It is a nice size but doesn’t have a closet, I guess maids never change out of their baby blue and white checkered dresses and white aprons.  I still need to work out a solution for that dilemma.
   
6. Living in a maid’s quarters does not necessarily make me the maid.
   
7. I designed a stamp so that we can mark all of our library books as ours.  I ordered it today and get to pick it up tomorrow.  So stay tuned for next week’s update with a picture of that.
   
8. Today I also went to the market and bought 29 plastic boxes to organize our storage cabinets with.  Then, a summer volunteer group came and did the organizing for me.  
9. This same group is coming in all month to do activities with the kids and help the program get established overall.  Right now we are open for two hours, three days a week and it has been (except for today) quite the popular hang out.  Hopefully with this new group we’ll be able to get more structured activities.    
   

Animals, rain and liquid assets

Animals: 

            There are these little beetle/grasshopper things here that sound like helicopters.  I never remember what they are called but for the most part we have a fine relationship.  Last Thursday in the library a kid was sitting down on the mats and pulled some out of his pocket, alive, to show me.  He was really excited but I can’t really encourage that, right.  He then left them in a little hole in the dirt outside of the door.

On Friday morning I was waiting in the library for furniture to get delivered and I had opened the property’s main gate so the delivery truck could pull in.  Finally the truck showed up (I won’t get into how long that took) and as I was directing the men where to put the things, five cows that were grazing on the street decided that the grass was looking greener on the other side.  And but the other side I mean the inside.  So then I found myself chasing cows back out of the gate.  All in the duty of me as a librarian I guess.

Rain:

            On Saturday night the long awaited rain came.  It was paired with no electricity, but there was a lot of lightening so it wasn’t that dark.  Monday morning around 2am the rain came back, I was immensely happy that I didn’t have any thing to do early so I could just lie in my bed listening to the sky pour out all it had been storing for the last five months.  When it is actually raining it is cooler, but the rest of the day is still miserably hot, but things will probably be green soon and green is pretty. 

Liquid Assets:

            On Tuesday I didn’t have time to walk to the library so I decided to take one of these three-wheeled taxi things.  I have a little change purse in my backpack and I know they are cheep so I figured I’d be fine.  I got one right away and told him where I needed to go then counted my change and asked him how much it would be.  He said it would be 30 Cords, since I only had 7 Cords I thanked him and asked him politely to let me off where we were, I could walk the rest of the way.  He was very nice I drove me the whole way.  I was trying to think of what else I could offer him to make up at least part of the difference but although I had my laptop, ipod, digital camera, cell phone, and lunch there wasn’t really anything I could give.  I considered the lunch but I get a little testy if I don’t have food.  I think this story signifies it is time for me to go to the bank.

oh, how i've missed you

So it’s been a little stretch since my last update.  You can deduce that I have a lot to say but right now I am really just thinking about how the power is out.  Since my return in February the power has been on very faithfully (just out a few hours here or there) but I was just informed that today is the start of rationing again.  So we’re on the blackout from 5pm to 10pm, or so it seems.  I’m writing this at 7:45 so I’m right about in the middle.  Normally on Wednesday nights I have Bible study but that was cancelled because of the darkness, all of my roommates had a meeting to go to.  So this power outage is hitting me hard.  On the other hand, this is part of the adventure of being down here.  What is the point of living in the third world if there aren’t any inconveniences.

 There is another energy crisis going on here too, with gasoline/diesel.  This week public transportation (that used by the masses) went on strike demanding the government help subsidize their fuel costs.  Because of the multi-step conversion rate I often over look the fact that fuel is expensive, what does 23 cords a liter really mean? Well cords to dollar is 19 so that takes us to $1.20 a liter and then liter to gallon is 3.79 so that brings us up to 4.59 a gallon.  When I used to get paid I made $95 a month, if fuel was my only cost for the month I would only be able to buy 20 gallons worth.  So yes, the busses and taxis are legitimately distressed. 

But enough on things I don’t understand.  Out of the past five weekends I have been traveling four of them.  This is fun but draining, and leaves me feeling a little disconnected.  I am a homebody, or at least wish I were. 

This past weekend I went to a women’s retreat for the English speaking church here in Managua (ICF).  It went from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon and was a great time of fellowship, and learning, and lying by the pool, and playing speed scrabble, and getting beat up by the waves.  Now I have a nice tan and am better equipped to be a “strong woman of God.” 

One side story, in our folders for the week there was a list of all the names of the women and something quirky or embarrassing about them.  My fact was that I don’t own a comb or brush (no surprise there).  My friend Morgan was also there and she has dread-locks so this lady walked up to her and asked if she was Joy and offered her a comb from the gift table.  Morgan clarified that no that wasn’t her fact, and then pointed me out as the scrub, once she was redirected she gifted me the comb.  Someone else gave me conditioner (another thing I don’t use).

The weekend before that I went with my co-workers Lori and Amanda (and Amanda’s seven-month-old, Samantha) to San Juan del Sur to check out the library system they have.  Our meetings with the founder, Jane, were extremely informative and encouraging.  We were able to see how she has things running and ask a lot of questions about processes she has previously tested.  Also we bought a “library in a box” from her that had lots of stuff like books and registration cards so that I no longer feel as if I’m starting from scratch.  Another good thing on the trip is that we were able to stay at the good hotel both nights, and we got a 20% discount.  The actual beaches in San Juan are not very clean but the hotel is up on a hotel with gorgeous pools overlooking the bay there.  And you know what they say about how things look “from a distance.” 

Now I think my traveling schedule has calmed down and that is exciting and also it is exciting to see progress in my work here.  Today the library was officially opened.  We’re not having our grand opening yet and still have quite a bit of preparation before kids can actually check out books but today was a start.  We wanted kids to get used to the idea of having a educational place to hang out so today I put out books to read at one table, puzzles at another, and coloring books at a third.  It is fun to finally have my job require interaction with others (even though they are dirty kids) and I am looking forward to the library developing more.

The coloring table

Lori reading to some smaller kids

Seeing the kids in action really just reaffirmed to me the need this country has for libraries or places to supplement their educational journey. Wow that came out cheesy.  After a little bit of time a two of the boys that were inside we starting to get bored with the books so I decided to get out a puzzle for them to do.  They were both around ten years old so I brought out a really simple maybe thirty-piece puzzle.  They were completely lost as to what to do.  They didn’t know how to separate out the edges or corners, or to match colors, or even the whole in/out concept.   After about twenty minuets together we got the border put together, I told them to come back tomorrow and we can fill in the middle.  Then there were other boys about six and eight that I gave a wooden board puzzle to, the kind where the design of the puzzle is painted onto the base, even that was taking them a substantial amount of time.  In how many other areas are they lacking from what we consider basic skills?  For now I am going to be open Tuesday-Thursday from 2:30 to 4:30 and we’ll see how to expand later        

And other news...

-One of my friends is moving back to the states tomorrow so today we went to coffee and on a picnic. 

-It has been grossly hot this week so just the six-minute walk to the picnic location left me literally dripping with sweat, or glistening.

-My roommates are thinking of moving, my rent is extremely cheap right now and I can only commit to living with them until December so I don’t really have a say in the matter.  There is a chance that in June I’ll be homeless, but not really because the library is pretty big and has    wi-fi and I semi-own my own bed. 

-I took the plunge and bought a ticket to come to California in July from the 8^th to 24^th.  I am already looking forward to it. 

-It’s 9:14 and the power is back on, why was I complaining.