A Good Day of Teaching Makes It All Okay

In training we learn about the ups and downs, the challenges both professional and personal that we will face over the next two years. After a great visit with a volunteer, I returned to a rigorous and demanding schedule as well as the same stressors I felt before I left. Every day I walk out my door and am stared at and hear cat calls as I simply head to class. Most days I ignore the men on the streets, I honestly don’t even notice they’re there, or I respond with a sassy remark under my breath and continue along my way. Other days the same exact comments crawl under my skin and wear me down. This is just one example of a small challenge we face everyday and will continue to face as women in this country.

But no matter how many cat calls, or how many times my three year old host brother tries to fight with me, or how much rice I eat, a successful class makes it all better. Today was one of those days where Spanish class drug on, we have had a lot on our plate with technical and language interviews this week in addition to normal assignments, and the bathroom sink that has been slowly coming out of the wall for two weeks finally fell and shattered while I was in the bathroom (of course that’s just my luck). It was one of those days where I wanted to crawl into bed and escape from the world.

Then I went to give a science lesson on animals to my fourth grade class. Despite a lack of participation in co-planning, my profe (the teacher I’m working with) helped me to organize the students and facilitate the activities so everything ran smoothly. The students remained mostly quiet (again with some help from my profe) and seemed to like the activities. They participated when necessary, enjoyed my silliness when I tried to make them laugh, and got very into trashcan basketball when they were split into teams and had to categorize animals. I was nervous at first, though I didn’t really realize this until I looked down at my shaky hands, but as the class went on I felt more confident. This is what it feels like to get used to being in front of the classroom.

Over the next few years I will face so many challenges big and small, both in and outside of the classroom. It is days like these where I will hold on to this feeling of accomplishment where my students learned and were able to practice the information in a meaningful way. Many people wished me well and told me to change lives before I left, but I know that my life will be forever changed by each and every day spent in the classroom. 

Life in Diri

 Visiting a waterfall with Claudia, my host sister

 The basilica in Diriamba

The Claires

 Out for pizza

Claudio just turned three months (with my host mom in this picture)

Claudio's baptism

Godparents, parents and the priest (Jesús is my other host brother in blue on the right)

My princess bed with the mosquito net!

Escaping the Regiment

After a rough start to my trip, my week was full of eye opening moments and advice that made everything worth it. I stayed with a volunteer who is about to leave around the time that we begin our service. She was so helpful and encouraging.

As I arrived I was greeted by about five pigs in the front yard playing in the mud that covered every inch because of the rain. The volunteer lives in an apartment that she rents next to her “host mom.” It’s a pretty ideal situation because she has her own space to cook and live, but can interact with her host family when she wants to. She has five chickens, her own fridge and stove (not necessarily a given in Nicaragua), a hammock a pretty comfy cot that serves as a couch, and best of all a very plush bed. Most volunteers recommend that with your moving allowance you invest in a good bed. Many of those provided aren’t too comfortable and most volunteers find it a worthwhile investment for two years of peaceful sleeping. Oh the things you learn from current Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs)…

Because of my transportation mishap, I arrived at around three o’clock on Monday afternoon. We mostly chatted, ate a late lunch, went shopping for vegetables at a local shop, and did what all Nicas do, sat around for hours and hours. From the moment I stepped off the bus the beauty and quaint nature of the town captured my attention. It was also wonderful to see that when we walked down the street many community members, including children, greeted the volunteer. That is the feel that I hope to have in my own community.

Her town sits in the northern part of Leon, one of the departments in Nicaragua. It is decently sized, though I have no idea what the actual population is. Nestled in the high hills, it is a warm city with a few farms on the outskirts and a river nearby. When I say warm I mean that Leon is known as one of the two hottest regions in Nicaragua. Luckily, it is the rainy season and I have yet to experience any extreme heat.

We had a lot of fun cooking (I was so happy to eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies!) and I simply enjoyed hearing about life as a volunteer. In the evening two sixth graders showed up at the door asking for help on their English homework. Really they were asking for the volunteer to translate their homework for them. Being a teacher, she sat them down, handed them a dictionary, and said “I will help you but I will not do your homework for you.” I was happy to see that she had become a resource for people within the community even outside of her classroom and traditional role as an Environmental volunteer. There is a lot more overlap between PC sectors than I ever thought before arriving in country. Most volunteers end up teaching or tutoring English somehow simply because it is needed within the community.

Tuesday brought more exploring because there were still no classes due to Independence Day break and even the library was closed so she did not have her normal youth group. We couldn’t even work on the stove project she had originally wanted to show me because she had lent her tools to the high school and it was also locked up for the vacation time. So we walked to her rural school, about a 20-minute walk outside of town getting to see more beautiful landscapes along the way. It is amazing how much time exploring, buying certain products, and simply chatting with a neighbor can take. This is the part of service where the volunteers have all the time in the world. That afternoon we baked and hauled bricks across town to prepare for the stove project we would work on the next day.

Wednesday we woke up early to head to the high school. The volunteer I stayed with works with seven different teachers in addition to other projects in her town. She is an elementary teacher in the U.S., which helped me understand why she was heavily involved with teaching. We are only required to work with four teachers and projects above and beyond that are optional, though I have yet to meet a volunteer who does not do work outside of the classroom.

Back to my visit: We were helping to teach the equivalent of a practical skills class so we taught the high school class to bake bread. I mostly observed for this lesson as I was still trying to get a feel for the class and have little experience baking bread. It was interesting to see how the gender roles played into this class because the girls were participating openly and the boys were very timid, even when they were given a simple task. I think that is probably similar in a home-ec class in the U.S., but here the boys (including the male teacher) are pretty heavily against having to do any type of cooking even though it is included in the curriculum.

Next on our list was a visit to her rural school where she teaches a multi-grade class of 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th graders. There are only 15 students in the class when attendance is full, so it was a very different view of education in Nicaragua from what I have seen so far. We did a basic lesson on animals including two games to get the kids animated on the subject. I helped to teach the class and overall enjoyed that experience.

After having vegetarian lasagna for lunch (so yummy!) we headed out to work on the stove. Many Nicaraguans cook on an outdoor stove and develop lung or breathing problems due to smoke inhalation. Peace Corps volunteers in the Environment sector (as well as other sectors) have the opportunity attend a training in which they learn to build efficient stoves that help to trap the heat so that less wood can be burned in cooking. The stoves also include a chimney to funnel the smoke in order to avoid health problems. When used properly, these stoves have the potential to decrease wood usage, which in turn can help with the deforestation problem in Nicaragua.

The old stove

The base for the stove

The end where I'm working is where the chimney goes as well as the hole for a warming pot. On the bottom end of the picture is where the wood goes in and the little square is where the pot will sit above the fire to cook. 

The bricks are made in her town so that helps to keep the cost low. They also use a clay mud and hay for binding materials between bricks. However, because most people do not want or cannot afford to pay for hay, they acquire horse or cow manure from farmers and that is mixed with the mud to work well for a binding material. I became quite a professional at brick laying, using precise measurements and a level while the volunteer cut some bricks so that they would fit our shape. It is a large rectangular form with two places for cooking, one over the fire and another for warming. We did not have the chance to complete the top because her mold for laying the cement piece was stuck at the high school because she lent it to them and no one could find the key when we asked about it. It was still a great experience to see a project with physical results and feel that accomplishment.

I really wasn’t ready to head back to Diriamba after a week of experiencing volunteer life. Though I know I still have much to learn in terms of technical training, I am not concerned about my Spanish and I think that makes me anticipate life as a volunteer. I can see how being in a town three hours from the nearest city could feel quite isolating and lonely at times, but I am just so excited for the independent lifestyle as well as the connections I will make in the community. Because Diriamba is such a big town I have pretty much given up on making any lasting connections here. However, I am set with the tools and determination to make things work when I head to my actual community. We have also been told that many of us will head to quite rural sites, which I am ok with at this point. My mind is still very open in terms of site placements and it was encouraging to hear from multiple volunteers that whether or not you love your site from the beginning, everyone is very happy with where they are at after a while.

So now it’s back to training and a heavily scheduled lifestyle of intense activities. We’re about halfway through and time feels like it is going pretty fast, so that is definitely encouraging. It is not that I am unhappy in training so much as I think this lifestyle is extremely exhausting. I know the challenges I will face during my service are no less and may in fact be more intense, but they will indeed be different from this life with little free time and minimal freedom. On the bright side, I am very excited about what I will be doing over the next two years!

Week 6 here we come!

Note: I have omitted the volunteer’s name for her privacy; I apologize for the awkward wording.

The Key to PC Service: Flexibility

I continue to learn every day: flexibility is the key to success at life in Nicaragua. 

So PC told you they would give you a ride home on Independence Day? Nope, just be patient and wait an hour in the rain for a bus. At least I was with friends! So youre in the wrong spot waiting for the taxi and confused as to why he doesnt know where you are? Its ok, evenutally he figures out what stop youre at and where to wait next time. So you told the taxi driver the night before that you needed to leave early in the morning and texted him like he told you only to find out his phone is off and no one can give you a ride in time? Just chat with some current PCVs who are calm and tell you this kind of stuff happens all the time, youll just catch a later bus. 

In another country when everything is a first, these things can seem pretty significant. But another thing theyve told us here is that we are a PC family. In general volunteers are super nice and helpful, and like today, they put life into perspective. Catching a bus seems like a big deal when you stayed overnight just to leave early in the morning, but sometimes theres just nothing else to do except wait for the next one. "If at first you dont succeed, try try again." I know Ill be more comfortable with these situations after Ive experienced lots of them, which is why it is truly the best to have a support network of volunteers who can help each other out. Ive only been here for a month, but it does really feel like a PC family. 

So my next adventure is to (hopefully!!) catch the bus to northern Nicaragua to visit a volunteer and see what "real" life is like. Im excited for a break from intense training activities and a chance to chat one on one with another volunteer. We have heard from so many volunteers that life in training is the exact opposite of life as a volunteer. In training you have no free time and little control over your activities, but in service you have all the time in the world in order to make your own schedule and projects. So far Ive met people at all different points in service, some who are 3 months in, some who are a year in, and some who are about to leave in just over two months. Everyone obviously has a different perspective based upon where theyre at, though  most people are positive about their experiences which is encouraging. So heres to hoping the trip goes well and I come back refreshed for more intense training sessions!

A Sense of Community: Sept. 8

I realized that I never took the time to say thank you as I was caught up in leaving, arriving, and the newness of every moment. I kept joking around by telling people that if you want to feel truly loved, just tell people you’re leaving for two years. Before telling people I was leaving I never could’ve imagined the amount of support and love I would receive in the months to come. Yes, in many situations I did not know how to respond when people said they would be sad or would miss me because I was largely excited. But I am so lucky to have a large community of people behind me as I headed out into the world.

Every time I had doubts about leaving for so long or doing something so drastically different, I remembered what my parents continually told us growing up: “Go see the world and have different experiences. Live your life and you can always come back.” So often I think it’s the first step that takes the most courage. I always knew I had a family that supported me embarking on these journeys, though they would obviously miss me, but now I know I have an entire community at home supporting and loving me. That means more than you can know. I keep holding on to that notion that I always have a home to go back to, but right now I need to take the time to explore and discover both the world and my role in it. 

I also only now realize how much I appreciate St. Olaf providing a sense of community for me. Though I didn't love every moment of my time there (I think that would be impossible), I can now look back and say I have a sense of what a tight-knit community feels like. I had the St. Olaf experience, which brought both good and bad aspects, but I'm happy to have grown during my time at St. Olaf and continue to reflect upon my experiences there. I will undoubtedly continue to expand my definition of community during my time in Nicaragua. 

So to everyone at home and at St. Olaf, thank you for supporting me, loving me, and wishing me well. Two years sounds long, 27 months, wow. I’m not going to think about the time, I’m going to measure these years in the love that I felt during all of those hard goodbyes. Coming home is going to feel so much better knowing I’ve got so many people with whom I can share my experiences. 

Found: Coffee!!

First I guess I should start by saying that I made it through my first class this week. Though it wasn't perfect, I'm happy to have the first one under my belt and can only improve from here. I also didn't get to teach the activity that I wanted because we only had half of the block due to Independence Day activities. (A fact I didn't know when I started the class...) But, I now know more about my students and about how teaching goes, so when I teach my second class in two weeks I will fear more prepared.

The exciting news of the week is that we found a café with great coffee and free wifi with a purchase. YES!! My cappuccino even was in the shape of a bear! I'm jealous that their latte art is much better than my own. I needed to practice those skills more when I had the chance! On top of wonderful coffee, the service is great and we can maybe make some new friends. :) Woo!

It's amazing how something so small like a good conversation with a local and a cup of great coffee can  improve your mood. We've had lots of sessions on the challenges we are going to face over the next two years and the support that the Peace Corps offers. They take really great care of us, but just learning about the frustrations and challenges is wearing upon us all. But then a three year old host brother asks you to play with him, your host mom teaches you to make jewelry, or your students give you a hug when they see you and you know it's all worth it. Yes, we are going to be constantly challenged with things that are different, frustrating, difficult, and trying on our patience. Before coming to Nicaragua I met an older volunteer who was on vacation in the U.S. and serving in Africa. She said to me that each day you have to recommit to do your job and make a difference. Every day when you wake up you must remember why you joined the Peace Corps and reaffirm your goals. I have found this so true here even though I've only been here for one month and am still in training.

I know once I'm in site, the kids I teach are going to be the strongest motivator I have. They may also be a large source of frustration, but I am so excited to work with them over the next two years. Until then, I continue to reaffirm my goals each and every day and seek out those worthwhile moments. Lots of times, like a good cup of coffee, they come as a surprise just when you need it.

Mi Casa Nueva

Our bird who loves to chirp every moment, day and night

The orange tree on the patio makes great orange juice!

My door to my room. I love this old lantern!

The view up the roof

Clothes dry so fast in the sun here

My Adventure in Photos

Just a note: Internet connection is spotty here and uploading pictures is difficult so yes, I have more pictures but have not put them up yet. Please be patient! 

Waterfall trip with my host sister

Our own little haven in Managua where we spent our first few days at our retreat. 

The Morning We Went to War

Saturday, September 7th

5:10am: Church bells ringing loudly

5:12am: A sound of gunfire or bombs

5:13am: My phone went off

Under the safety of my mosquito net I thought, this is it. The church bells are a loud warning sign to tell the community that there’s an emergency. Something awful is happening in Diriamba and we’re about to be evacuated.

5:15am: More gunshot sounds, now one firing close to my house and the other far away, as if in retaliation.

5:16am: My phone going off turned out to be a text from one of my friends also wondering what is happening.

5:20am: Still in bed listening carefully. Ok, so my host parents haven’t rushed out of their room, there are no screams, shouts, or strange noises in the streets, and all I can hear are roosters crowing between the bomb sounds.

5:35am: Finally pull myself out of bed luckily only 5 minutes before I had to wake up anyway.

At this point my mind was mostly eased in knowing it had to be something normal since no one else was freaking out. But what in the world could be happening on Saturday morning at 5am!? I walked into the kitchen to find my host mom calmly making breakfast. I asked immediately, what is going on? My host sister commented that she hadn’t even noticed the bomb sounds. My mom calmly said, “Oh you must’ve been scared! Every first Saturday of the month there is a processional of the Virgin throughout the streets of Diriamba at dawn. Basically during every celebration here they throw those bombs. If we went to war no one would ever know because we’re all so used to it!”

Three things came to mind: Saturday, dawn, and bombs to celebrate a religious figure. What an interesting combination. It will definitely take a while to not jump every time I hear a gun shot sound. 

New Flavors!: September 2nd

            In general there are a few Nicaraguan dishes that are a bit famous among volunteers because of their exotic nature. One of them is called Mondongo. It is a soup made with many large pieces of vegetables such as yucca, corn still on the cob (called elote and different from our corn because it is not sweet at all), potatoes, squash, and other root vegetables. But the real ingredient in Mondongo as a dish is the meat because mondongo means “cow’s stomach.” I set out to try everything and as the strong flavor (not my favorite smell) filled the house all morning while it cooked, I was certainly nervous. I could not handle the spongy texture of the meat, but my host family has had enough volunteers to know that we only like to try a little piece. The strong flavor I am unable to describe, but it was not my favorite dish.

            In other news, I did get to eat Nacatamales on Saturday, my favorite dish thus far in Nicaragua. They are much like Mexican tamales and are made fresh on the weekends. I am told that each person who makes them (my family buys them from a relative) has a slightly different twist to the recipe. Some people are notorious for their Nacatamales but sell out quickly on Saturday mornings. Yum!

            I have found that after three weeks here gallo pinto (otherwise known as rice and beans) has become my comfort food. If I have tried something new or have had a long day, it’s nice to know that at night we will have a lighter supper of gallo pinto with eggs or tortillas or cheese. Simple, but somehow it’s nice to know that every night is consistent.

            One thing that is only slightly different here is the oatmeal I have some mornings, complete with real sticks of cinnamon! There is also lots of delicious, fresh bread from the local bakeries or the people selling on the street. Last week I went around raving about the pancakes my host mom had been making for me two or three days per week. They were denser and tasted so delicious that I wanted to learn how to make them, only to discover that they come from an Aunt Jemima box just like back home. They are still yummy! Another food that I could rave about for days is the homemade corn tortillas sold fresh every day by the ladies who walk around with a bowl on their heads. And our frequent ice cream dates with fellow volunteers can never be missed because on a hot day there is nothing you crave more than something cold and sweet. One Saturday we had arroz con leche which was so sabroso (delicious)!

            Overall the food is not spicy, but has some good flavors. My family grows some of their own herbs on the patio and showed me huge oregano leaves they received from a friend. I couldn’t believe they could be so big. I think this week I will venture out to see if I can find some hot sauce for my gallo pinto, just to add a little bit of variety to life! My family makes ice cream and sells it in plastic baggies, a tradition of Nicaraguans. They frequently drink juice from a baggy (a skill I have yet to acquire) and I can’t say that I have mastered eating ice cream from one either. I have to say that I have been eating and living better than I expected. They are treating us well in training, but I have a feeling there will be less diversity in food and fewer ice cream stops once we head to our actual sites. Until then, I will keep trying new foods and eating the things that I love!