Blogs from Northern Highlands, Nicaragua, Central America Caribbean - page 9

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Moropoto April 19th 2010

Well. I'm back to the middle of nowhere. Came back in the middle of the first rain that we've had in mooonths, so things are looking greener. Guess the rains are about ready to start. Unfortunately, a tube broke up the mountain and there has been no water in the spigot for two days. And now there isn't enough water to take a bucket bath, let alone do laundry. Glad I did a lot of laundry on Sunday morning when the cistern was still full. I had to bathe in gross water at the bottom today. Not cool. There had better be water in the puesto tomororow. Also, MAIL SHOUTOUTS! Got two manila envelopes from mom, one full of magazines and the other with a baseball glove? Or so says the customs form. Thanks! Not much ... read more

random thoughts wednesday - tickets to the wedding & ordering my custom made dress

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Estelí April 14th 2010

mbaade

2.30 PM Well, I did it. I ordered my wedding dress to be made. Will cost $250, or 5,300 cords, and comes with the crown and veil, a ring pillow, a pillow for the money thing, and the money thing. I am exhausted. 8.30 AM Woohoo! I just checked my email annnnnnd my family has tickets and so does Arielle! That means I have my family, Arielle, LB, and Cassi allllllll for sure coming! 8 Thurs - Baade Family Arrives! at 7:30 PM 13 Tues - Arielle Arrives! at 11:30 AM 14 Wed - Cassi Arrives! at ????? 15 Thurs - Bachelor y Bachelorette Party, Esteli, at 6 PM - 2 AM 16 Fri - LB Arrives! at 11:30 AM 16 Fri - Rehearsal and Dinner, Moropoto 17 Sat - BAADE TORREZ BODA! 18 Sun - ... read more

random thoughts tuesday - angry, so i got the hell outta dodge

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Estelí April 13th 2010

mbaade

Okay, here´s what´s up. I have to be in Managua Thursday and Friday for an editor meeting of the volunteer online zine, Va Pue, of which I am, predictably, the Travel Section Editor. However, I have been sooooo angry lately, and have been taking it out on Lenin.... and I decided to get the hell out of my community and come to Esteli for Tuesday and Wednesday, and then Managua Thursday and Friday Hence, it´s Tuesday and I am in Esteli. I hope after being away for a few days I will go home and be happy to be there. Here´s why I´m angry though. First, Lenin is my example of a great guy. He takes steps to better his life, to save his money, to think about the future. Doesn´t smoke, drink, or gamble and ... read more

kitchen floor and CAKE!

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Moropoto April 7th 2010

lenin with mamita in her messed up kitchen

mbaade

And we are back! Lenin and I have decided to make Mamita's kitchen floor cement, instead of dirt. In order to do this we had to have sand delivered and buy bags of cement, illegally, I might add. And then we had to excavate the kitchen to make it level, which is what Lenin and I did all day yesterday. He used the pick to break up the dirt and I shoveled into the wheelbarrow and he went to unload it. So really, he had the brunt of the work.... but then again I spent hours that morning washing our clothes... so it all works out. Lenin went to work this morning, gets back tomorrow morning, at which time we shall make cement and lay the floor. And there will be photos of that, too. By ... read more

semana santa is finally over

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Moropoto April 5th 2010

mbaade

Okay, Semana Santa is finally over and there are busses running and things are open again. Man what I wouldn´t have given for an Easter basket and an egg hunt yesterday. Not a lot to report. Last year I spent this week in DF, Mexico with Arielle. Seems like for-ev-ver ago. Am here buying a weeks worth of stuff and getting ready for class tomorrow. ... read more

random thoughts

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Moropoto March 12th 2010

abuelo and some tiny bulls

mbaade

09 March 2010 Tuesday 3pm It’s too damn hot. My father taught Lenin “It’s too damn cold,” over Christmas, and now we’ve taken to repeating how it’s too damn hot on a daily basis. The strange thing is that it is searingly hot in the sun and downright chilly in the shade. We woke up seeing our breath in the air this morning and the water that came out of the community spigot was steaming. My body steamed clouds worth as I showered at seven in the morning. But now, at 3:00pm, it’s so hot that my legs have rivulets of sweat streaming down from where I sit on a plastic lawn chair. These are the hot, dry summer months in Nicaragua. March and April reach the dry dry hot hot stages and then sometime in ... read more

blah and photos

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Moropoto March 4th 2010

somoto canyon sign

mbaade

Yup, have been MIA for a while now. Some random thoughts.... Started English classes at the school this week. The 7th-9th grades have an actual Nicaraguan English teacher. It's weird to speak English in Moropoto with a Nican. But kinda cool. Going to help/watch classes with him tomorrow, Friday, morning. I have started gaining a little weight again. Lenin and I are heading to Wiwili the week after next, March 14-20something. I am sooooooo looking forward to getting out of the Mopo for a hot minute. Went to the Somoto Canyon last week with some volunteers and Lenin. Photos included. Yup, that's about it. ... read more

you can walk and climb, or pay 50 cents for a boat

of natural medicines, internet, wedding schtuff

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Moropoto February 16th 2010

mbaade

It's Tuesday and I am in Somoto. Lenin has been sick with upset stomach and general grossness, so we went out to his uncle's house and found some root that helps with stomach aches, and picked some lemon grass for lemon grass tea, which is great for congestion. And then I gave him some Benadryl and knocked him out. He woke up feeling helluva lot better! Yay natural medicine and benadryl. Also went to the post office and received.... two letters from my mom, one card from my great Aunt Pearl of San Diego, and a manila envelope from my mom. There is one internet cafe in Somoto that has ethernet cables to hook up laptops. Technically I think any internet cafe can hook you up for your laptop, but I like this one. It's bright ... read more

esteli, mail, green market, sickness

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands » Estelí February 11th 2010

mbaade

Ah, Esteli. I had to come in for a meeting and, since I'm here, might as well spend the night, use the wireless internet, eat some western food, and get up to go to the Friday Green Market in Esteli and take some tamales and homemade yucca chips and tangerines home while I'm at it. Which also reminds me, belated mail shoutouts! Went to the post office in Somoto the other day but didn't have time to get online. I received one envelope from licenogle, currently of Jackson, WY - thank you! And I received two manilla envelopes from my mom, one with the double sided tape and SweetnSalty granola bars, and the other with some magazines and tissue packets and other goodies. Thank you! Lenin's been sick, so I feel bad being away. When I'm ... read more

of ovens, seeds, Omnivore´s Dilemma, and life philosophies

Central America Caribbean » Nicaragua » Northern Highlands February 5th 2010

mbaade

Feb 5 2010 Friday 1:30 pm Ramblings of an Agriculture and Food Security Extensionist Yes, that is my official title. We are firmly into Nicaragua’s “summer”… or hot and dry period. The sun burns my pale skin and leaches color out of laundry hanging out to dry. At our community spigot there is always water in the morning, though at spigots further out or up the hill, the water doesn’t come every day. Water is a touchy subject in Moropoto. In other community news, I am tired of waiting for the family that I selected for my first improved oven example. I got everything together and wanted to build it before Christmas, and they just keep putting it off. I am going to talk to two other households who make and sell food to see if ... 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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