I Love Somoto

This Blog features pictures of Somoto and some randomness...

I would first like to thank the following people, all who have lately contributed to my sanity during PC service to say the least:

-Mom and Dad, for the early bday present
-Aunt Judy and Harriett, for the vacation offer in Costa Rica (I sadly had to work :( )
-Nishma, for The Wal-Mart Effect book and postcards (co-authored by Arielle)
-Arielle, for postcards (co-authored by Nishma) from their travels I’m missing out on (Boo!)
-Alison Vaux, for a care package of tasty treats and also included her wedding invitation (sorry I can’t come!)
-Allison Eriksen, for gummie worms and a letter…right before she left the states for PC service in Tanzania!
-Jan, for more letters of inspiration
-Jan & Doug, for a carepackage full of yummy goodies that will hopefully last for awhile!
-Vy, for a carepackage which included a Kangaroo Crossing apron (no more flour on my clothes when I make bread!) and a cute fuzzy koala from Australia
-Mamow, for more letters and always keeping me updated about things at home
-Priya, for letters all the way from The Netherlands that help remind me that my friends may be far away in distance, but they are always close to my heart
-Amanda for sending me her graduation announcement from UCSD (Congrats again!), and I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to her party
-Matt and Jess, for bringing me a ton of goodies back from the states and mailing a bday present to one of my friends

Some random epiphanies I’ve had lately:

-I’ve finally learned how to tell myself “it’s not your fault” when anything goes awry in my work and life in general here in Nicaragua. It’s a very hard concept to grasp, but I think I’m beginning to master it. All I can do is complete the tasks I have promised and follow through with my part. If others don’t do their part…not my fault about 99% of the time. I can’t make people work harder, change a failing system, or boss people around. The best way to create a ripple effect is to set the example and do the best I can.

-I don’t miss television that much anymore, yes it would be nice to watch my shows like Top Chef and Project Runway, but I don’t NEED them to relax at night after a day of work.

-I’ve been very good with mail and I’m proud of myself that I’ve tried to keep track of everyone who writes to me and everyone I write to. I even made a page in my notebook for “Sent Mail” and “Received Mail”. I hope to carry on this “lost tradition” of letter writing when I get back home.

-I just finished my 23rd book of PC Service, The Count of Monte Cristo. Having the time to read books again is so amazing! I recommend reading The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs and The White Man’s Burden by William Easterly to gain more knowledge about foreign aid and two very different views on how foreign aid should be handed out.

-If I go get my Master’s Degree in Sweden I won’t have to pay tuition!

-I’ve become pretty insensitive to the ants that are always in my food, the cockroaches in the bathroom that I kill with my sandals, and the surprise of the geckos running up and down the walls eating the rest of the bugs.

-What a difference my PC service is compared to when my Uncle Curt served in Turkey over 30 years ago, especially when I think about the accessibility of technology. For example, yesterday I talked to my Chilean host mom Eugenia and James, at the same time via Facebook chat, sent an email to Priya in the Netherlands, replied to my boss in Managua to which I received a reply 10 minutes later, and asked Alison how her wedding planning was going in Gmail Chat. All in under 1 hour or so…crazy!

Some pretty flowers in the backyard at my house.

I will have to get the names of them again.

View of Somoto from one of the Miradors (Look out point)

Pretty and green right now!

One of my students, Henry, who I am now mentoring. Great kid!

Pura Somotena

Men's softball game

Mother's Day dinner, I made lasanga from scratch. From the left: Don Carlos, me, Alegda, Jose Luis, Martina (from Canada), Dona Vera

Don Carlos shows off his sexy legs in his shorts...cracked me up! Did I mention he'll be 90 in January!

I love cute old couples! They were watching a TV show when I snapped this photo.

Goodbye Callie May 2009

In May we said goodbye to our friend Callie, Fabretto volunteer in Cusmapa. She lived and worked in Cusmapa for over two and a half years and helped the Cusmapa Oratorio continue their music program. She will be missed very much by the kids, the other volunteers, and myself. Thank you Callie for all those late night guitar concerts, grandiose meals at the house, sharing bottles of wine (and guaro) with me and above all for teaching me how to open one's heart to Nicaragua. I will miss you chelona!

Hmmm...a ride to Cusmapa would be lovely, right Pedro?

Riding in a truck is way better than the bus because I can take photos of the countryside.

At this time Madriz was still dry...yucky dust!

A random tractor that I assume is (slowly) working on the road.

On the road again...

In true Nica fashion, we had to stop for a beer along the way.

Pedro, Leonel and the other dude whose name I can't remember.

I heart Pedro as always!

Gotta love the cell phone towers in the middle of nowhere.

When I got there I was ambushed by chavalos (kids).

They performed a show using Lauren's baskets they found on the table...this is what happens when I don't see them for a couple weeks...they go crazy!

Everyone wants to show me they can balance the baskets on their heads!

Gieselle reminds me of the time Nishma had a basket on her head when we went to Isla de Pascua.

Hallelujah! Right Memo? Dariel is to the right.

Somehow the madness...imagine 6 kids jumping off the walls...turned into a conga line led by me...we then continued to go around town like this.

And then Pedro promised the kids we'd go to the river the next day...which made them even crazier!

Salud to Callie, we'll miss you chelona!

Bacanal, bacanal, bacanal (party party party!)

The next day...to the river!

I love the walk through the pine trees.

Swimming, swimming, in the swimming hole...

Callie and Mike, we didn't go swimming but we stuck our feet in. I'm scared to think what sort of yuckiness is in the water...after the cow poop and detergent from everyone washing their clothes in the river.

Sadly in the winter most of the horses and cows have their ribs showing because there is no grass and the farmers are out of money to feed them. Breaks my heart!

When you drive into Cusmapa this is what you will see.

One of the last walks for Callie into Cusmapa...sadness.

The beginning of Callie's Goodbye Desfile (Parade)

Lauren and Callie painted the kids faces as always. Marlon's face is hilarious in this picture!

I think Tony asked for a mustache as always...

Not sure who this kid is but he is adorable!

More chavalos, I think we had about 60 kids at the house at this time...maybe more!

Another adorable picture...

Yeeeeeee haw!

Me scaring little Manuel with the trombone.

The kids squashed me 10 minutes earlier, so I got them back!

The beginning of yet another parade around Cusmapa.

Up we go...

Callie worn her animal shirt drawn by the famous gringo artist Mike Zelek.

76 Trombones....well 1 at least...I played whatever song I could make up that day.

Mike carried Sarita our neighbor on his shoulders the entire time.

And down the streets we go!

It was a happy day in Cusmapa and we had beautiful weather in the background.

Surrounded by chavalos, Callie makes her last tour around Cusmapa.

The central park in Cusmapa with a statue of Padre Fabretto.

Anayencing, Callie, me

I'll miss you very much Cal! Thanks for everything! Cusmapa won't be the same without you!