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.