Blogs from Northern Highlands, Nicaragua, Central America Caribbean - page 16

of canyons and granada and a long three days

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Estelí March 13th 2009

Exhausted. Monday went to the Cañon de Somoto with Lenin and the youngest cousin. That was a long day, though definitely an adventure! We went to the top part of the cañon.... or the upper part of the river. Got out of the cab, hiked for a while, came to a fork in the path, chose one at random, and came upon a house. Ended up talking with the old man about the canyon and how many gringos pass by. They offered us food! Fresh tortillas, BLACK beans, and hardboiled eggs. It was awesome. And then he said he would guide us down to the canyon. So we had a guide. Not gonna lie, though, I was frustrated for a good part of the morning. The guide and the boys just wanted to hurry the hell ... read more

plan nicaragua

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto March 7th 2009

mbaade

Well, a little less enthusiastic right now than my last post filled with exclamation marks. Mostly because I am exhausted. I had no money left, and we have no bank in our department, so I had to go to Ocotal to go to the bank. Slight inconvenience, but an adventure nonetheless. So there's this organization, Plan Nicaragua... actually, I am sure Plan is in several other countries, too. Anyway, Plan does things like provide notebooks and whiteboards to schools, to teach kids to wash their hands, and they build health centers, apparently. The woman who works in our communities, Betania, kind of rocks. She has a motorcycle and rides around and is very competent and gets stuff done. The other side of Plan is that people abroad can "adopt" a kid. There are like 70 kids ... read more

of puppies and crazy busy schedules

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto March 4th 2009

mbaade

So I'm sure there are things to report.... but I'm blanking out... Oh! Mail shoutouts! I got a postcard from one aabeyta of Mexico City AND a Valentine's card from the same Mexico-city-gayborhood-living wifeth! Also, the second batch of no bake cookies turned out much better! We just ground up peanuts and used twice as much oatmeal and they were delish! And ESTRELLA HAD PUPPIES! Yes the awesomest dog south of Missourah has 6 wiggling grunting puppies! And the family is going to gift me a perrita! I am sooo excited to have a dog. Now my tiny room can hold not only a gringita and a Niquita, but also a perrita! But damn I feel bad for Estrella - she is just so damn skinny! I'm gonna go see about what kind of food I ... read more

of mail shoutouts and attempts at cooking... and how in the world is february done!

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto February 28th 2009

this is the shelf that my cousin made for me for my toiletries

mbaade

Mail shoutouts! I got a FLOWER DAY CARD!! from one cdougher of Chicago! And an envelope with candy and a very much needed card from one eicenogle of DC! Thank you both, I needed to receive both of those today... So yesterday was rather productive. First, I gifted some of the hot chocolate packages from the lovely clandrus and creiter to Lenin, as well as some of the vitamin water packets from Mom.... and he in turn gifted some to his family.... so all afternoon yesterday, as I was hanging out in Uncle T´s backyard watching them make chairs - remember he´s a carpenter - and all of my male cousins are aspiring carpenters and work with Uncle T.... hanging out and having fun with the boys and my 12 year old cousin, Krishtel... while she ... read more

attempted shot of cookies with me and cousin K

of packages, pantasma, and cool kids

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto February 24th 2009

mbaade

First and foremost, shoutouts! MAIL!!! FOUR manila envelope packages from Mom - including my BASEBALL GLOVE and more REEF sandals and a bunch of other stuff. Haven´t opened them, but this is what the custom´s declarations says. AND a box from one pbarclay of the Lake by way of Atlanta! I literally had to borrow a sacko - or a big canvas sack - from Silvia in the post office to carry all of this. And I still have to go shopping! Also, shoutouts to the former volunteer from my site, K1, and to Moncha´s daughter in law, K2! Ah, it gets to be a smalllll world! So. Lots been happening. This past Thursday I went to Estelí to run errands and EAT. Stayed at Moncha´s and it was just like coming home. Friday I made ... read more

of articles, english classes, and coffee

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto February 17th 2009

coffee beans

mbaade

Wrote an article for my hometown newspaper. Printed version is a lot cooler than the online version, but this online version has comments from readers, which I always appreciate! http://www.lakesunleader.com/archive/x1450777758/A-letter-home-from-Nicaragua Valentine´s day passed rather uneventfully, other than a great surprise call from the family. The Boy traded a work day to stay home that Saturday, so that was nice. It feels weird calling him The Boy on here. I generally try and use initials and nicknames for everyone that I write about on my blog, just so their names are not printed online.... but I´m gonna break that rule now and start using his name because .... because that´s just the way it´s gonna be. So things are going well with Lenin and I. Yes, his name is Lenin. As in Marx and Lenin. But ... read more

of laptops, o magazine, and trips to the pila

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto February 7th 2009

Photo 1

mbaade

Well, I did it finally. I brought out my laptop into the light of day yesterday. I was tired of keeping it a secret, only using it in the nighttime under my mosquitero in stealth mode. So I brought it out to the porch yesterday and commenced typing ... at incredible speeds, according to all in my family who were watching me. That´s the big news. That, and the outgoing volunteer from the town down the mountain, San Lucas, just gifted me like 20 O Magazines. So I have a lot of Oprah to read now. Photos and a video forthcoming! Photos of PCV´s in Matagalpa to celebrate a birthday, and photos of my siblings and cousins here as we climbed the hill to the ¨pila´¨ or main water source for the community... the nicaraguan version ... read more

of red bean recipes, flights to beijing, and dreaming of the future

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto February 4th 2009

mbaade

Okay, so I called my titan last night with my extra minutes, and I realized that the red beans and rice HERE do not compare to the red beans and rice in the Bayou. And I want to figure out why. And by that, I mean... Nicaraguans do not use spices. There is absolutely no creativity with the food here whatsoever. A friend from Beijing, who has been living in Saudi Arabia, just emailed me and said she´s going back to the Jing. And that makes me so jealous I am ready to go look at plane ticket prices from Managua to Beijing. ($750 rt from StL to Beijing.... last summer I paid $1200. That would be half price.) Also, though, I was just thinking that there are a million awesome sweet red bean paste buns ... read more

wondering how i have better cell reception in nicaragua than in my hometown

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » San Lucas January 30th 2009

mbaade

okay, i have no real energy to write today. i´ve just been answering emails... and i´m going to copy and paste parts of a few of those here... .......................... to my boss: Thank you for P´s mini Spa and the positive reinforcement. It feels like I have to keep reminding everyone in my community that I´ve only been here for 2 months. I mean, I´m still working on the español and getting people´s names straight but they´re ready for me to get up and GO and I´´m like, whoa, chill out. I started English classes like 3 weeks after arriving and go to every reunion they tell me about and visit INTA and UNAG in Somoto and go hang out with the volunteer mothers during PAININ and have to KEEP TELLING THEM that I am staying ... read more

why i love nicaragua, a list: part deux

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Somoto January 28th 2009

mbaade

Ah, back from Matagalpa. Got back Sunday. Was tiiiiiiired like whoa as we went DANCING Saturday night in Matagalpa from, oh, 10pm until 4am, roughly and had a GREAT time. God I love dancing! Monday all day I was in San Lucas watching the change over of the mayor´s office and watching my host mother get sworn in as the conseja to the alcalde de San Lucas. Oh, the Sandanistas.... And ended up spending the whole day in San Lucas with some of the family and friends of the family. Didn´t get home till late. There was a party in town, but The Boy said it was too dangerous and we opted not to go. Yesterday morning, the Health PCV from San Lucas, K, came up to give a talk about pregnancy prevention to the youth ... 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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