So not sure if I mentioned that my host sister came to visit me in my site. She came for 4 days and we had a blast. The last time I visited my host family I was telling them how I can’t make tortillas, that they always turn out oval shaped and then fall apart in the frying pan. So my mom had bought me a clay comal for cooking tortillas. Then my sister showed me how to use it and how to correctly make tortillas. She showed me the proper way to wash out my mop, and helped me cook! She graduates from the university this Saturday so I am going with my friend Manuel to the ceremony…I’m so proud of her!
I have started some new classes in my town which is pretty exciting. There is a little boy that is the grandson of my land lady who is 5 and doesn’t go to school. They say he is too hyper to send him. It is true that he has an extremely short attention span, but to just let him grow up without any class doesn’t sit well with me. So he has class with me for an hour three days a week. On the first day I did an assessment and realized he doesn’t know his colors, numbers, how to write his name, how to count objects, pretty much nothing. We started with the calendar and colors and he already learned his colors and days of the week, and counting objects up to 10. With his family he can be a handful, but in class he has been an angel (knock on wood) he knows the rules and knows the prizes if he works hard. On Saturdays we don’t have class but he came to the door and said “Profe Karen, dame clase por favor” (teacher Karen, give me class please) haha, he is so sweet. His parents asked me how much I was going to charge and I said they were crazy to even ask, but now on the days I have class with him they show up with a huge plate of food for me! So they are basically paying me in food (not complaining!) The other class I started was English. At first I had no desire to give English class. A lot of other volunteers have attempted and failed because the people think they are going to speak perfectly in a few weeks and get frustrated and quit when they realize it is hard to learn a language. But finally, I decided to give it a shot since people were asking me to do it. As of right now I have 45 people enrolled!! My rules are that they have to learn la hora gringa (American time) and be punctual because at 6:31 the doors will be shut, and that they are not allowed to be embarrassed in class to speak, and to respect everyone. Everyone has difficulty speaking but they need to practice and practice to get better. Well guess what, all my students get there before me (and I show up 15 minutes early!) But of course in Nicaragua there are always bumps in the road. My director called me the other day and said I had to cancel English class because the head of education said we couldn’t use the building…said he would explain it to me later. So Monday I have to go talk to the head guy and explain everything to see what he says. Luckily there is an NGO in my town that said they can most likely lend us their space in a last case scenario…so we will see.
Other activities in my town: Dia de la Raza and Recylcing Fair. October 12th is the Dia de la Raza (race day) when the people celebrate their indigenous heritage. So we had a big activity in my school. All the secondary students made straw huts to sell typical foods. Everyone in the primary and secondary came dressed as Indians, and they had a competition for King and Queen of Race Day. It was basically a pageant and they couples had to present themselves, their outfits, talk about their history, answer questions etc. It was a fun day, and I got to eat a lot of typical foods…yummy!
One of the "chozas" or straw huts that the high schoolers constructed
All my seventh grade girls that I help in English class
Quebrada Honda participants from my 5th grade (we took second place!)
Watching the festivities!
We finally had our recycling fair which turned out pretty good. Next year, I think it will be a lot better with better planning. At our table we had a hands on project to make the bottle flowers and we talked about organic and inorganic trash and they kids then did a sack race to put garbage in the proper container. I was asked to judge all the tables which was fun because I was able to see all the other ideas and listen to their description and explanation of their projects.
Jamie helping kiddos make recycled flowers
Winning school for creativity
Princesa and Diego update.: So it is still a mystery if Princesa is pregnant or not. Before I was convinced that she was but now I don’t think she is. Her nipples started sagging so low like a pregnant dog with milk, but it has already been more than a month and a half and yea she is a little bigger but she is not a fat pregnant dog. Half of the people I talk to say she isn’t, the other half say she is and will only have 3 or 4 puppies…so only only time will tell. Diego is good, he doesn’t love me. He stays outside all day which is fine with me but then only comes in and meows and sits on top of his food bucket waiting to be fed, and then leaves again! Haha, the other day I caught him peeing in my flower pot that I just planted...he is so annoying sometimes but I love him because Princesa loves him. They are best friends and playmates so I guess I will keep him around.
Princesa's new favorite place is under the bed even though she barely fits. The other night I woke up at 3 am to her crying because she was stuck and couldnt get out...she is so loca
See how in love they are!
Auntie Jomarie came to visit! As Sister Miriam said there are always surprises in Nicaragua and something always happens (which is so true) Well our surprise came the first morning. Three of us were sharing a bathroom and shower. Auntie Jomarie were in the same room and while someone else was showering Auntie Jomarie says “boy I sure thought I dried my feet before I came in here, where is this water coming from” Then we realize it wasn’t just a puddle but a LAKE in our room! Turns out some tube came loose while some one was showering and was spraying all over the floor! So we started our day with a good laugh!
Birthday celebration with all the Sisters of St.Agnes (Nicaraguan style!)
Workin with colors and shapes at the special education school!
