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.