A post from the nearest ¨big¨town, Jinotepe

Helloall, I have been trying to do a posting for weeks but there seems to always be a problemo.  The first time, no power, then no signal, then could not go out after dark ( still a little scary) and more and more.  We have a cyber in our town, Guisquiliapa, but it is the one that has all the problemos.  So, today, mi compagnera, Katy, whose mother, incidentally, is a PhD nurse from U of Md, ( Theresa Lynch) aged about 50 now so maybe, Peg, you knew her, and I made a special trip here to use the cyber.  So far, its great but if I disappear in the middle of a blog, it will be the power or signal, probably.  This little cyber is also in the middle of a mercado with taxis, ox carts, push carts, and mucho persons passing about 3 feet from me.  Mucho ruido !!!  but I am getting used to it.  This morning, I had to admit to my host mother that I was no longer hearing the roosters in the morning and she laughed and said something about acostombrando.  I think she is right.  This morning I washed clothes, by hand, for about 2 hours in the laundry and cooking casita off the back of the main casa.  Last weekend, they built a fire in there to cook the frijoles while I was washing clothes and the humo drove me out.  I think they changed their schedule this weekend as they knew I would need to wash on Sat morning.  My host family is very very nice and accomodating.  They are 70 and 75 and have had long lives working hard.  She was a private duty nurse for 30 years and he was a porter/bell boy at the Grand Hotel for many years ( I think until the tremblar in 1972 when all of Manuaga including the hotel was dstroyed) and then sold shoes for a number of years.  They both still work very very hard.  They have had at least 11 previous PC trainees.  My Spanish classes are going very well and I find myself speaking much more easily.  Still lots of words ( and verbos) to learn.  We start working in the school next week and start our garden next weekend.  We are supposed to tell the kids to meet us there Sat. at 8 and bring tools including machetes.  They are like pen knives around here - the instructors laughed when I questioned whether we wanted 10 year olds to bring machetes- you know - liability issues....they laughed.  We have had lots of ¨charlas¨¨ ( trainings) from current volunteers and MANY of them are extending for a thrid year.  They all seems very satisfied with their various situations and in week 5, we trainees go to spend a few weekdays with ta current volunteer who is doing what we will do once we are trained up.  Looking forward to that.  We have formed our youth group and had 15 their last time.  They are soooo cute and willing to do anything we ask.  We played a couple ¨icebreakers¨¨ and they fully participated.  Their ages range from 10 to 24.  Amazing.  And they get all dressed up and look like a million bucks coming from some pretty rough homes.  Amazing. Last week, Nicaragua celebrated 2 days of patriotism, not sure of the technical name, but it included independence from Spain. Big doings...lots of parades with amazing outfits.  The kids we went to see in the town of Ste. Theresa marched at least 20 blocks in 90 degree full sun playing their drums etc. the whole time.  Each time they came upon a Nica flag flying from a home along the way, the leader alerted them and they turned, kept marching, and saluted the flag.  Amazing !!! in light of how little their country can do for them.  Oh, before I forget, we watched on TV a report of an assembly of the Policia Nationale and they march in the old goose step ( Nazi germany) manner.  They also refer to themselves as socialistas without all the worry poor old Barrack has to endure.  Thats all for now....thanks for your comments and emails   Love em.  I just wish I could get to the cyber more often......When I get an assignment, all this will change but for now, I have this access most of the time.    Adios !!!Le vaya bien.......