Hello all!
Ive made it home for the holidays. Its almost a surreal experience. Because I when I left last year the temperature was simpler, and because nothing really ever changes here, it almost feels like Nicaragua was just a short vacation or something, because the world I'm walking back into is pretty much identical to the one I left.
Im having a hard time explaining my time abroad. As many of you know Im a cynic, and its possible I've been painting my experiences rather strongly with the negative brush. But thats really not the whole reality, as you probably know from my previous readings.
Its wonderful to be able to communicate in my native language,Im actually more of a talker now than I was before, Im just catching up! My vocab in english has become slightly diminished, but it should go back up as I need to study for the GREs (UUUGHHHH!). Another thing that I hadn't anticipated was that when you can't communicate you loose a little of your personality, so its nice to have the whole Hazel back.
Happy New year everyone. When I feel more inspired I'll write more.
Dec 28, 2009
Dec 12, 2009
So this weekend I took a well needed mini break. A friend and I are down in San Juan del Sur for a couple nights relaxing on the beach (Did I mention how sweet of an assignment Nicaragua is?). We splurged on a surfing lesson and I was standing after only a few tries. We stayed in the white wash, we actually werent ontop of any breaking waves, but I think we¨ve got a solid start. Surfing has always been something that has interested me, but never imagined myself ever doing. Its fun!
Sorry, no pictures!
Sorry, no pictures!
Dec 7, 2009
I went north on friday, and helped build an oven with another volunteer. (i´ve decided that I´m now an honorary Agriculture volunteer). These ovens are really awesome because they do a few interesting things, they cut back on wood used because they are more efficient and hold heat better, are cheap to build, and last for a long time. Also the design releases less smoke, therefore reducing lung problems in the household. These ovens are constructed using bricks, an old steel drum, rebar, and mud. Cement isnt used because it doesnt hold the heat as effectivly and its expensive.
Dec 3, 2009
Successs!
Dec 1 is World HIV/AIDS day. I had planned activities for that day in the center of town, all of which flopped, (due to a variety of things like I had a conference and was out of town the week before, my co-leader in the health center lost her father that week, and it took 2 months for the mayor’s office to even receive my letter asking for help, let alone responding to it) so I was a little disappointed. The next day I traveled out to a rural community where I have a small, but active youth group. We´d planned a presentation in the park for 2.30 pm. (Of course that really means 3.30)
So we got set up and waited and waited, and no one came. We had maybe 5 mothers and their kids, and I´m not really sure that I wanted to give condom demonstrations to 5 year olds, not really umm... pertinent yet. So we decided to start anyway. By the end of the day we had over 100 people show up. The doctora who works in the health center came by and saved me from my terrible Spanish and helped explain how HIV works, the difference between HIV and AIDS. In my site we have 16 cases of HIV in all the communities, and have had 4 deaths this year. My part of the country has over 1000 cases, and the country as a whole has well over (I think) 8000 cases. Those numbers I think were an eye opener the town’s people. After the little presentation we had maybe an hour of games and prizes (thanks to an NGO in Managua that donated the hat, towels, condoms, etc etc). The girls and I did condom demonstrations to over 100 people, I thought it would be more embarrassing, but I learned quickly how to laugh at myself.
This was a game where we tied balloons to people feet, and they had to stomp them. When a balloon was popped the person was supposed to answer an HIV/AIDS question, but that didn’t quite work out.
Here we had a competition of two pairs to see who could put the most water in their condom. This activity is designed to demonstrate how much condoms can stretch. A commonly heard complaint against condom use is that ¨they don´t stretch enough to fit¨.
The little town’s cultural alliance performed some traditional dance for the group, and we ended the day with a dance competition.
I finally feel like my projects are working out, yesterday was a huge morale booster that was well needed.
So we got set up and waited and waited, and no one came. We had maybe 5 mothers and their kids, and I´m not really sure that I wanted to give condom demonstrations to 5 year olds, not really umm... pertinent yet. So we decided to start anyway. By the end of the day we had over 100 people show up. The doctora who works in the health center came by and saved me from my terrible Spanish and helped explain how HIV works, the difference between HIV and AIDS. In my site we have 16 cases of HIV in all the communities, and have had 4 deaths this year. My part of the country has over 1000 cases, and the country as a whole has well over (I think) 8000 cases. Those numbers I think were an eye opener the town’s people. After the little presentation we had maybe an hour of games and prizes (thanks to an NGO in Managua that donated the hat, towels, condoms, etc etc). The girls and I did condom demonstrations to over 100 people, I thought it would be more embarrassing, but I learned quickly how to laugh at myself.
This was a game where we tied balloons to people feet, and they had to stomp them. When a balloon was popped the person was supposed to answer an HIV/AIDS question, but that didn’t quite work out.
Here we had a competition of two pairs to see who could put the most water in their condom. This activity is designed to demonstrate how much condoms can stretch. A commonly heard complaint against condom use is that ¨they don´t stretch enough to fit¨.
The little town’s cultural alliance performed some traditional dance for the group, and we ended the day with a dance competition.
I finally feel like my projects are working out, yesterday was a huge morale booster that was well needed.
Dec 1, 2009
This is the virgin mary surrounded by lilac like flowers. This is in honor of the Purisima, which is celebrated from Nov 28 until the 8th of December. I´ve been told that it is a celebration of the Virgin, and the activities focus on children. Here the children sang bible songs (this was set up in the government run health
center)and we handed out oranges, rice pudding, and candy.
Lunch, beans, rice, steamed veggies, and salad- surprisingly colourful meal!
center)and we handed out oranges, rice pudding, and candy.
Lunch, beans, rice, steamed veggies, and salad- surprisingly colourful meal!
Nov 15, 2009
I recently had a friend visit which was amazing. We spent one week in my site, and the secon week treaveling.
This is a view from where we stayed on the Island of Ometepe. This island is in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in central america. It actually even has a sustainable population of bullshark. There are two mountains that form the island, we climbed the smaller one which is actually behind us so you can't see it in the photo.
View 1
View 2
I really like the contrast between the red roofs, green forests, and blue mountains.
This above photo is of the guid we had, we succesfully eluded him the whole day, he was rather obnoxious, and less than obvious about his interest in me. (it was awekward he'd tell me how much I look like his sister, then tell me how beautiful I am and do something like rub my shoulders or try to play with my hair.. ewww!)Here he asked me if I really needed glasses so he gave them a go, and realized yes, I am rather blind.
This photo is of me returning a work call, I love that my office can be on the side of a volcano to the tune of howler monkeys.
Coffee beans growing. perfect climate for them, and its amazingly tastey.
A couple of the ferries that take people to and from the main land.
A view of the bigger of the two volcanos which we didn't climb. This one is active.
We volunteered for a day on a permaculture farm (not still 100% clear on what permaculture is exactly, it involves farming modeling naturally exhisting ecosystems,and landscapes) we had the honor of chopping down banana trees which machettes which was a blast! The trees only live for a year or two bearing fruit at which point they're cut down. Each tree gives birth to around 8 new trees after being chopped.
So becareful of hornets when cutting down groves of banana trees, I got caught in the action of being stung.
Path through banana trees
View from volcano Maderus.
This is the lagoon in the middle of the volcano. Beautiful and errie.
Myself and my friend! (she said I can post her picture...!)
Muddy feet!
This bug was huge! about the size of the palm of my hand, its clinging onto the top of a fence post.
When we were in Granada we visited a animal clinic which speys and neuters pets for free.
Sunset from the coffee farm
This is a view from where we stayed on the Island of Ometepe. This island is in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in central america. It actually even has a sustainable population of bullshark. There are two mountains that form the island, we climbed the smaller one which is actually behind us so you can't see it in the photo.
View 1
View 2I really like the contrast between the red roofs, green forests, and blue mountains.
This above photo is of the guid we had, we succesfully eluded him the whole day, he was rather obnoxious, and less than obvious about his interest in me. (it was awekward he'd tell me how much I look like his sister, then tell me how beautiful I am and do something like rub my shoulders or try to play with my hair.. ewww!)Here he asked me if I really needed glasses so he gave them a go, and realized yes, I am rather blind.
This photo is of me returning a work call, I love that my office can be on the side of a volcano to the tune of howler monkeys.
Coffee beans growing. perfect climate for them, and its amazingly tastey.
A couple of the ferries that take people to and from the main land.
A view of the bigger of the two volcanos which we didn't climb. This one is active.
We volunteered for a day on a permaculture farm (not still 100% clear on what permaculture is exactly, it involves farming modeling naturally exhisting ecosystems,and landscapes) we had the honor of chopping down banana trees which machettes which was a blast! The trees only live for a year or two bearing fruit at which point they're cut down. Each tree gives birth to around 8 new trees after being chopped.
So becareful of hornets when cutting down groves of banana trees, I got caught in the action of being stung.
Path through banana trees
View from volcano Maderus.
This is the lagoon in the middle of the volcano. Beautiful and errie.
Myself and my friend! (she said I can post her picture...!)
Muddy feet!
This bug was huge! about the size of the palm of my hand, its clinging onto the top of a fence post.
When we were in Granada we visited a animal clinic which speys and neuters pets for free.
Sunset from the coffee farm
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