International Women's Day

On my college campus, International Women’s Day was highlighted, but it came and went like any other day of recognition without much hype. In Brainerd, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as International Women’s Day. Ironically, I moved to a country with grave gender inequalities and a heavy machismo culture where International Women’s Day is not only recognized, but truly celebrated.

On Friday teachers attended a meeting about International Women’s Day and the importance of women in the workforce as well as having good female role models in the classroom. On Saturday morning my day began with a text from a teacher saying “Happy International Women’s Day, it’s a very special day.” There was a march in town to celebrate and most surprisingly, nearly everyone from the general population knows that it’s International Women’s Day. That is something I cannot say of the U.S. today.

Like I have mentioned, Nicaragua has a ways to go in terms of gender equality and that does not change by simply celebrating International Women’s Day and hearing messages about women’s accomplishments and contributions to society. However, it definitely makes me question our commitment to women’s rights in the U.S. Even progressive college students surprised me in their views on women’s issues. “We are past those issues…” they would say. “Women are already being educated and have equal rights…” With all of the health reforms attempting to strip us of many rights you would think that we would put more of an emphasis on fighting toward equality instead of failing to recognize these stark inequalities.

Do I think Nicaraguans have a good appreciation for what International Women’s Day is really about? No. But at least leaders are beginning to put an emphasis on inequality in Nicaragua and focusing on these issues. At the end of the day you can compare the rates of education, the economic status, and other statistics between the countries, but we don’t have it all figured out in the U.S. Even with a larger educated population in the U.S. than in Nicaragua, I guarantee that few people could tell you when International Women’s Day is celebrated and why it is so important to celebrate it.

Happy International Women’s Day to all. Let’s all put an effort into creating a world of true gender equality instead of ignoring the issues in our own backyard.

Capturing my Weeks in Photos

Elizabeth received a gift from Minnesota...

 

And has not put down her Brown Bear Brown Bear book (in Spanish of course) since she got it. If you take it from her, she cries. She sits staring at the pictures, kissing them, and gasping in surprise with each page turn.

Finally learning how to make enchiladas with the family

There actually is a technique to pressing the tortillas.

Throwing the tortillas in oil to be fried, of course I'm scared of burning myself!

Jaime, a cousin of my host siblings wanted to help

She's two years old and calls me tia (in English meaning aunt)

My host mom's mother-in-law comes to help every time because she has many years of practice

Happy little Elizabeth...the house is so quiet, sad, and boring when she's not around screaming, laughing, and stealing random items from my room.

At school we already got to pick the radishes (though the chickens did not leave many behind when they dug them up).

These girls are from the Environmental Club that I worked with this summer.

Digging a hole for a giant compost pile at my larger school.

I have to explain numerous times that both girls and boys will be working on this project and everyone will receive a grade. It's a big goal of mine to get them to erase from their minds the idea that only the bigger boys will be doing hard labor. Some of the little girls are the best workers!

 

Otherwise things are going well and I'm still getting used to my new schedule with teachers. These projects are keeping me busy but it's been a great start to the school year so far!

A Thirst for More

I have now been in Nicaragua for six months which to me feels extremely surreal. When I compare time I have spent traveling or even in school with the time I’ve spent here it seems as though time has flown by. I spent five months in Chile and yet I felt that it was five full months (though I wasn’t necessarily ready to go home by the end). A semester of classes was full of ups and downs, difficulties and celebrations, enveloped in an academic community where life never slowed down. I am six months into my service and feel as though I’m just beginning. With classes starting and attempting to enter the classroom in a respectful way life still feels very slow and the work has yet to begin. Yet I can already declare that when I boarded that first plane in Brainerd, MN I had a very different perspective of my service than I carry today. It is incredible to think about how much I have changed in six months and what my thoughts will be after two years.

I attribute my success here so far to my host family, to my ability to slowly move into the community, and to a bit of luck that I got a great site for me. Everyone in the U.S. talks about how fast time passes, how busy everyone is with school or work or family commitments, how we never slow down and time seems to escape from us. Six months flies, one year is gone, and before you know it the kids are grown and you’re old (or so they tell me). What’s interesting is that I have passed the past three months at a slower pace, enjoying each day of summer vacation, teaching classes here and there, but mostly sitting in the porch and getting to know people. I cannot say that I never had a moment to think or to sit down, I cannot say I was working extra hard or my classes took so much energy, but I can say that time flew. This goes to show me how important time is because no matter how you spend it, it will pass quickly through your fingers. Nicaragua has taught me to enjoy the moments, the little things, how to not work myself into the ground like I am so used to in the U.S.

Here I appreciate people’s different perspectives, I take into account cultural differences, and I put a lot of effort into not judging before analyzing opinions. Becoming a teacher here has definitely made me appreciate the value of education even more than I had before, however. I thirst to know more, to learn another language, to contribute to the community and to society. I have spent time researching teaching methods and considering how I can improve my contribution to Nicaraguan schools. But this is not common here. People in general do not thirst to know more, parents do not want or have time to participate in school activities and committees. Education here is not for the sake of learning, it is for the sake of creating a literate society. Students do not know how to think but instead are taught what to think. At times I have been taken aback when I ask a question that requires more thinking than regurgitation to the class and all I receive in response are blank stares.

Realizing this makes me thankful for the education I have had and the support of parents who value education. Parents here value their childrens’ education on a level that they know it is important, yet any support more than that is difficult to find. It is time in Nicaragua to foster childrens’ natural curiosity, to help them think for themselves, and use their own strengths to be successful in school.

Back to School...in February

Though there are so many differences that I notice on a daily basis, there are some experiences that are so similar to the U.S. it makes me feel as if I'm there. Back to school shopping is one of them. Whether or not a parent has money for new supplies the child wants a new brand-named backpack, cool shoes (that fit the uniform), and all new materials to be successful. I participated in back to school shopping with some family members and I was taken aback when I walked into a packed Payless store and felt as though I was in the U.S.

Teachers always talk about those students who aren't coming to class because of a lack of money for a uniform, rundown shoes, and a lack of materials. But there are also those who receive a new backpack every year like in the U.S. Kids enter the school year excited and with energy, teachers feel a bit rundown but are also full of new ideas for this coming year. After finishing almost a full week of school I'm exhausted but energized, excited to have started this year and have four new teachers to work with.

Working in two schools is also difficult because I'm always running from one school to the next and I feel like I'm missing out when I am in one place and not the other. Despite this, I believe I have chosen four great teachers who are excited to work with me and have set a tentative schedule that will keep me busy this year, just the way I'm used to in the U.S. We will have gardens at each school, science classes, working with student clubs, and much more over the span of the year. Though some days I feel nervous and unsure of myself, I feel lucky to be learning so much about this culture, life, and teaching. Here's to the academic school year of 2014!

The beans never fail us

As summer rolls to an end and I am preparing to start my first week at the school next week, I am reflecting upon this time I have had to integrate and really get to know my community. Many volunteers have told me how many books they have read, how many hikes they have been on, and how they watch a good American TV show when bored or if they just need a break. Simply by chance, my summer experience has not been the same. While I have good books to read, the ability to travel to go hiking, and my own stash of good movies, I am simply content sitting around chatting with my host family and neighbors. I feel as though I blend in well with Nicaraguan culture because I enjoy people’s company and the tranquil lifestyle of chatting at night. I hope that never ends even though my life will become a lot busier now that we are entering the school year.

A friend told me the other day, “los frijoles nunca nos fallan” which means “the beans never fail us.” I love this phrase because it speaks to the simple joys of the Nicaraguan life. For many Nicas, money comes and goes, as saving is not a common value to have in this culture. But nearly everyone finds a way to buy rice and beans. You could call it the basis of this society, but I think the real base is the community. If a family member is in trouble, doesn’t have food, or is just plain struggling, there is a whole network of people to provide help in whatever way they are able. When in a tough situation, you must go back to the basics, back to the beans, and back to the support of your family.

These communities work in amazing ways and cause me to criticize our individualistic society in the U.S. Is it really beneficial that we have a hands-off approach to family? In general, we fly the coop at 18 and return only a few times a year. It must be admitted that this way of living as neighbors with your entire family makes it hard to achieve certain educational and economic opportunities that are available. Yet there is something so beautiful about stopping by someone’s house just to say hi and chatting for the afternoon without the requirement of a phone call or advanced notice. What is truly important in our lives, the relationships we foster or economic success? Even when we have financial difficulties, the beans will never fail us, our relationships will always be there. Some say life is easier the more money you have, but I think once you pass the point of paying for your needs that statement becomes less true. It’s true, you no longer have to worry about paying for the basics, but what are you losing in the process of working long hours for a well-paying job? What are you gaining by buying a bunch of technological gadgets and spending hours fixated in using them? More importantly, what are you losing?

This is certainly not to say that life is perfectly peaceful here, free of any TV or people who keep their nose in their cell phones. However, there is definitely an appreciation of your neighbors, the relationships you have with your family, and the time that you dedicate to simply being with others. I don’t think this is an intentional part of this culture, but it is certainly one of the most positive aspects I have found in my five months here so far. I will surely continue to uncover the gems of this culture as I go along this journey.

Back to Diriamba

It is hard to believe that two and a half months have passed in site and I am already returning to visit my training town. Time passes incredibly fast though it feels as though I have not been doing much. The real work will begin in a few weeks when school begins, garden plans will be made, and teaching will occupy my days. But before I dig into the real work, I headed to Diriamba to see their “Fiestas Patronales”, the typical celebration for the town.

 

 

These fiestas are famous in all of Diriamba and even attract tourists from different parts of the world. I have mentioned the famous folkloric dances of Diriamba in which they parade through the streets with masks and music. This is precisely the festival we had been learning about for months in training. We arrived on Saturday to visit our old host families and I was shocked at how much had changed both inside and outside the house. When I left, little Claudio was four months old. Now the little “gordito” had his seven month birthday and has changed significantly. Not only this, but the house is newly painted, they renovated one of the bedrooms, and my old room is now occupied with a sewing machine and other belongings of my host mother. There are new businesses all around Diriamba, including restaurants, bars, and clothing shops. Countless times I have left Brainerd to return finding it exactly the same and now in two months it feels like a whole new Diriamba.

 

Sunday began the biggest two days of the festivities with what they call the “tope.” San Sebastian leaves from the basilica in Diriamba to process through the streets to a nearby town called Dolores where the saints from towns called Jinotepe and San Marcos also meet up. We squirmed into the packed church to await the dances that would accompany the saint through the streets. Then we placed ourselves in the door of the church to see dancers enter and leave. Finally, the saint was carried out on the shoulders of six men to the streets where the long walk would begin. We got ahead of the dancers to find a street party on the Pan American highway as people had set up cars and tents selling food and beer along the way. It was one giant tail-gating party to celebrate the saint!

 

We made our way in the hot sun to Dolores where we had to wait for San Sebastian to arrive. When the saints all united, the virgin from Dolores came out of the church and they all danced around. Describing the event cannot begin to express how it felt to be a part of so much celebration amidst people who have so much pride for their town and Nicaragua. It was a great experience in which to participate. The night ended with fireworks and a dance party in the street, though we did our own dancing on the side to avoid the crowds.

 

Monday was hailed as the “happiest” day of the parties, it is the day of San Sebastian. People swarmed the park as dancers began dancing in front of the church simultaneously. My host sister in Diriamba had a friend who was in the second story of the church and invited us to view the festivities from there. I finally got to see Diriamba from above, plus viewing the dances from that perspective was quite a sight. The firecrackers nearly gave us heart attacks because it sounded as though we were at war and were going off all weekend at least every five minutes. As the saint left the church again, my host sister’s friend began to climb the tower to put ribbons on the saint. It is a tradition that someone does every year, but we thought he had to be crazy to want to face the wind and rickety ladder. Luckily he came down safely and later that day dared to ride a bull. Some days I simply cannot forget the safety standards I grew up with no matter how long I spend in Nicaragua. That night ended with folkloric dances on a stage in the park, though we could not handle the cold for the entire show.

 

Now it is back to my sleepy little neighborhood where I know my neighbors and care for my garden on a daily basis. I get excited for vacations and seeing my friends, but I am also happy to know that I have a comfortable home to return to. After a few days away, I get excited to eat my “normal” food, sleep in my own bed, and of course laugh with my family and cuddle little Elizabeth. The night I returned I commented that I didn’t think I had laughed that hard the entire trip as I did in an hour of being home. In the end it is nice to be able to travel and see this beautiful country, but I feel like I am fully enjoying what the Peace Corps is all about, melting into this new community and maximizing my time here in this town.

Berenstain Bears and Too Much Vacation

It is a bit ironic that I have been on complete vacation for two weeks and yet I have not been blogging at all during this period that I have the most free time. I guess I have just had too many parties....

Before Christmas I got to see the lovely process of a pig slottering. Luckily, I did not have to attend the killing however I was there for a good portion of the division of meat. I believe that I have seen enough that I do not have to ever see a dead animal become food again. The background of this story is that I went to Managua with my host family to stay with my host mom´s brother and sister. Her host brother had a pig that was ready for slaughtering on the back patio. In the middle of the city. Thank god I was at the other house while that happened... So I had quite the cultural experience there and call it a success because I did not faint and did not get sick. There are pictures of which I may share later...

Christmas was a struggle to keep some of the traditions alive while in a hot country. I made piñatas (a Christmas tree and a snowman) a few days before to break at the Christmas Eve party with all of the family. Then during the day on Christmas Eve (as is tradition in my family) we baked and decorated sugar cookies. I had to cut them by hand because we didn´t have the cookie cutters. It was a fun experience and interesting because everyone kept telling me they could not decorate cookies. After I showed the five year old that he indeed could people started to open up and decorate. It was fun to share that experience with them! That night we had a party and it snowed in the form of flour and paper from the piñatas. Everyone was caught off guard with that surprise but I simply told them I could not have a Christmas without some sort of snow. We danced and waited until midnight when they set off fire crackers and sparklers in the street and we greeted eachother with wishes of a Feliz Navidad. Christmas day here is spent doing absolutely nothing, so the majority of the holiday is celebrated on Christmas Eve.

Though my family kept making fun of me for escaping during New Years, I traveled with a couple of friends to a beach place down south. It was so gorgeous and relaxing, a perfect get away. After the few days I spent away I was actually really excited to get back to my new home and reconnect with my host family. Its always a good sign that I feel so connected to this community and I have yet to really start my real work here.

So this week we all headed back to work. My host mom began to make fresco and will sell enchiladas and other fried foods this weekend. I started back up with my English classes and my work with the Environmental club at school. Our garden is growing pretty nicely, though there were chickens digging in it a bit. It will be a while before we see the produce, but it´s nice to have something started. It took a bit to get myself back in the mentality of work and that is just for the two hours a day I spend at the school. We will see if I will be ready when school is about to start in February.

I continue to have new experiences (this week I am trying to learn the process of making enchiladas) and will leave with so many new skills. My host mom continuesto tell me that I am now a Nica which here is pretty much the best compliment a volunteer can get. For now, I´m so happy to be out of the cold and melting into the Nicaraguan culture.