Blogs from Northern Highlands, Nicaragua, Central America Caribbean - page 14

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Ocotal June 16th 2009

We were near el Jicaro, Nueva Segovia... Barrel Ovens I recently went to help out with the new volunteers’ training. They have been in country for about 4 weeks, and then trainees for the AG program have “tech days”. I got to be one of the “real volunteers” who was invited to help train the rookies. During that week, we built two improved stoves, and two improved ovens. The oven is the interesting part. Mostly because it is waaaay better than the traditional ovens in that it uses a lot less firewood and gets hotter quicker. Again, check out the photos. This barrel oven is, predictably, made out of a barrel. As in, a big metal barrel. There are specific designs needed for the barrel and for the person who does the welding. I will not ... read more

wash the clay off your hands before taking photos

seed bank by the numbers

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands June 15th 2009

mbaade

Mail shoutouts... A three month long letter from one akaur of San Diego. Love you dear and another letter is on its way! A letter from mom, including a copy of Ben´s graduation announcement and a copy of my IRA status. One manilla envelope from vicenogle of the Lake full of seeds. Thank you! Two manilla envelopes of seeds from one jlynch of Omaha, NE. Thank you! ALSO, I got the two big boxes from mom via Ann via the office in Managua. And inside was a big bag of seeds from pallen of the Lake! Thank you, too! So I was writing thank you notes to the Seed Bank benefactors, and came to these conclusions. 25 women showed up to the first Seed Bank meeting. They formed a directiva - board of directors - and ... read more

mail from new zealand and other random info

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto June 5th 2009

mbaade

WOW MAIL SHOUTOUTS!!!! So I run into the guy from the post office that delivers around Somoto. He speaks English and is probably the only person in this town who knows my name. I always know it´s him when I hear ¨Hi Molly!¨in Somoto. At any rate, he was like, hey you got a box! And did I ever! All the way from New Zealand! Apparently it takes a helluva lot less time for A BOX OF AWESOMENESS to arrive than, say, the three month letter timeline. Shannon, I opened it in the park but didn´t get through all of it, waiting till I get home... but I DID see CAMOFLAUGE pens and pencils, crayons, and foot powder and let me tell you ALL of these things are necessary in life, ESPECIALLY life abroad! I cannot ... read more

seeds shoutouts!

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands June 2nd 2009

mbaade

A lovely box of seeds from my lovely Aunt and Uncle who own a seed and feed store in Nebraska! Thanks so much Aunt Sybil! And two envelopes from the Cahails of Camdenton! No note, but two manilla envelopes full of seeds! Gracias! Headed to the post office again right now to see what´s up, then to buy cheese and avocados and mangos and have lunch with another volunteer and catch a bus home. ! ... read more

of done is good, of frog fishing, and of building an above ground garden

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Estelí May 30th 2009

okay so i suck

mbaade

29 May 2009 Friday 8pm, Esteli office Well. Decided to get out of my site for a while and come to Esteli for the weekend. Not gonna lie, though, don’t like leaving when the boy is still there. But he has to work tomorrow and has class Sunday and it’s fine. I have a ton of stuff to do tonight and tomorrow. Stuff to buy. Stuff to do. And am going out to Moncha’s for Mother’s Day tomorrow. I am in the office, blessedly on wireless, and it feels like I am in college again, preparing for an all nighter. Except it’s only 8pm and I will probably crash in about two hours and head back to the hotel. TO DO X print photos photos to kodakgallery.com WORK REPORT 6 month INTA report seed bank office? ... read more

that would be our neighbor who scaled the tree

quickly

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands May 27th 2009

mbaade

Quick update... Walked all over my community inviting women to a meeting about a seed bank. All in all it was a rousing success with over 25 women showing up and ALL of the seeds from my mom´s envelopes are now among the members of the seed bank, probably being planted as I type this. I pulled out a selection for me, a selection for the school, and a selection for the Peace Corps Seed Bank, too. In my 4th consecutive week of classes at the school. That´s going well. Starting basketball lessons with the kids next week. Mother´s Day is May 30 here. Headed to Estelí to celebrate with my first Nican mom.... and to get some work done. Gonna make Lenin and the cousins in Moropoto construct an above ground garden for Mamita for ... read more

of delicate skin ... and seeds

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto May 22nd 2009

mbaade

Okay, this is gonna be short as I need to go buy cheese and mangos and catch a bus... however... The ONE day I don´t bring a sacko, I have 3 big, heavy manilla envelopes FULL OF SEEDS from my mother! So I went to go look for a sack. I ended up with a big black trash bag. I have 4 canvas bags at home. But I thought, gee, probably won´t be anything.... And of course there are. Went to the pharmacy because, guess who has another allergy? THIS volunteer. I never have diarrhea. Even though I drink the community water, eat fruit and food that has fallen on the dirt floor, eat all the food that everyone here eats, and rarely get to wash my hands with clean water and soap before I eat. ... read more

of training a nican man

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands May 18th 2009

mbaade

18 May 2009 Monday 6:45 pm Well, the rains really started last night. And apparently, when it rains super hard, a little leak happens with my awesome zinc roof…. that drips exactly on my chest when I’m in bed. Woke up at 11:30 last night freaking out. Turned on the light. Lenin was not pleased, told me I was imagining things, and to go back to sleep. Three seconds later it was dripping on him, too, and he was up trying to rig my rain jacket over the mosquito net…. but then the absolute and complete monsoon let up a little and there were no more drips. However, this is not cool. Since there will be another SIX MONTHS of rain. Had efrazee, one of my best volunteer friends, come visit me in the MoPo the ... read more

seed bank proposal

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto May 14th 2009

mbaade

Greetings from Nicaragua! Please forward this on to anyone who would be interested in helping a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Nicaragua start a Women´s Group Seed Bank. Things are going well down here. I¨m about to hit my 6 month mark of being in my community and 9 month mark of being in country. And that just blows my mind. Check out my blog mytb.org/mbaade for all of my ramblings and photos of my Peace Corps Volunteer service in Central America... if you´re not already stalking me :) Okay, I¨ll get to the point. Nicaragua has a 6 month dry season... when not much happens... and a 6 month wet season... when everything related to agriculture happens. Everyone is planting. However, the women are lacking basic vegetable seeds to plant in their family gardens. Family ... read more

sangre de hermanos

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands May 8th 2009

uncle toÃ±o

mbaade

Yup, I´m fine! Know I haven´t written in a while, but things are going just swell. Headed up to the border town of El Espino to visit Lenin and see what his job in the aduana is all about. Will stay the night up there with him and return tomorrow morning. Had a full week of English class this week, too. Went fine. I like working with the kids. Rains started last week and suddenly stuff is turning green again. Weird. Still reading Blood of Brothers and am continuously amazed by its ability to offer insights into modern Nicaragua. Anyone who is living or working here for any length of time NEEDS to read this book. MAIL SHOUTOUTS! Just got two manilla envelopes from Mom! Haven´t opened them, but according to the customs tag they contain ... read more

Brief history of Nicaragua

The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the fir...more history

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