Sunday, July 26, 2009

The Ordinary

After a recent blog entry a good friend from college, Lisa, asked me something like, “What about the normal stuff?” Good question. I often write about the extraordinary goings on in my life, leaving out the smaller details or the day-to-day consolations and desolations. I appreciated Lisa’s comment, not only because she’s one of the best young writers I know, but also because it’s given me reason to reflect on the everyday things of life as a volunteer in Nicaragua.

Before I get into some of the heavy things I’d like to talk about some everyday consolations. Almost every morning I have an hour commute from Managua to Ciudad Sandino. The bus leaves Managua and heads out into the countryside. The air on leaving the city is cool and I always find the ride a peaceful and quiet time to wake up or even catch a few more seconds of sleep while bouncing down the road. I also have grown fond of my work, especially the small moments with my students outside of class. I love the times we have to sit and chat or play a game of basketball after class. In the afternoons I have been tutoring high school kids in English. I have small classes of about five to ten students. I keep the class well occupied and busy with fun games and activities. A favorite was last week when I brought in a bunch of old magazines and the students cut out pictures of clothes and then taped them on the board with their English names. They loved just looking at and reading American magazines. I also have to note the culinary joys of life in Nica. For example, helados, known to many as ice cream are much different here. They are small fruit juice ices, much like popsicles, that are frozen in little bags and sold for one Cordoba a piece, or five cents. Also, I have found a true appreciation for fritanga which is mostly fried food, enchiladas, tacos, cheese, gallo pinto, or any number of grilled meats. All this is sold from a house in our neighborhood and I can get more than enough to eat for less than two dollars. We eat there every Friday night as a community. I also really appreciate the beauty of Nicaragua that has bloomed with the coming of the rainy season. New flowers are blooming that I’ve seen and everything is green and bright.

On a heavier note things here can get sad, lonely, and depressing. Some days poverty here is overwhelming. When my kids come to school every morning they are well dressed in their pressed uniforms. They may look cute and happy but I know many of them come to school hungry or come from homes where parents are fighting, fathers are worthless drunks, parents are living in the US or Costa Rica, or any number of other things that keep my students from being as happy and fulfilled as they actually look. There are also any number of things that just wear me down day-to-day. Buses are fine, but not to be romanticized. They are hot, crowded, and prime spots for pickpockets. Gracias a Dios I haven't been pick pocketed (knock on wood). Another thing that gets me down is that we always have mice in our house.They get into everything. Also occassional rat shows it's dirty rotten face in my bedroom--nothing out of the ordinary. Life in community is great but it has been challenging getting out of the house, meeting other people, and doing stuff on my own. My lack of independence can take it's toll leaving me grumpy and forelorn.

I've had a few moments over the past few months, reality checks if you will, when I stop and think back at my pre-JVC self. I think about my thoughts and dreams about being a JV and what it might be like. Life as a foreign volunteer is often very romanticized. It's not all about saving the world and changing social inequalities. It's hot, tiring, fulfilling, exciting and boring...there are ups and downs, and ultimately it is just about living life. This is my life: the extraordinary and the very ordinary.


If you have questions or good blog topics I'd love to hear them. Sometimes I struggle with what to write and so would love some feedback!


Monday, July 20, 2009

19 de Julio

¡Viva la Revolución!

30 years ago the Somoza dictatorship was overthrown by a popular uprising led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). Yesterday in the plaza a crowd of thousands gathered to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the revolution. It was an amazing turnout. Yesterday morning we boarded a Sandinista bus in our neighborhood headed to the plaza. As we stepped on board we were given red and black flags and took our seats. We didn’t know whether to give our flags away or fly them out the window like everyone else on the bus. It’s a fine line between observing a cultural and political manifestation and participating in it. We wanted to observe and be with our friends while keeping a healthy distance from aligning ourselves with either the Sandinistas or any opposition group. Back to the bus ride—our bus joined an enormous caravan of buses headed down to the plaza. The bus in front of us was laden with people hanging out windows and about twenty people were sitting on top waving the red and black flags. As it was rounding a bend a young man fell off the roof and violently hit the ground. The police were on the scene in mere minutes and then the caravan kept moving toward the plaza. Just a little background about Nicaraguan politics, Daniel Ortega was president during the revolutionary years of the eighties and is the current president. Sandinistas make up about 35% of the electorate with other minor parties filling in the other 65%. On July 19th it seemed like everyone was a Sandinista. Daniel Ortega spoke along with other speakers including Rigoberta Menchú, and states people from Honduras and Venezuela. We were a little disappointed that neither Mel Zelaya nor Hugo Chavez showed up. There were many political songs played, some made us feel a little uncomfortable. A good example was the song: “El Yanqui se va joder” or “The Yankee’s gonna get screwed.” There was a lot of anti-American sentiment in the speeches, especially from the Venezuelan representative. At one point a drunken guy leaned over to us and asked if we were Canadian. Michael immediately said, “YES!” We were definitely all Canadians yesterday. I never felt particularly unsafe but there were certainly moments when I felt uncomfortable.


Check out some of these great of the day from the BBC. We were smack dab in the middle of all those people! If you can find us you get a prize! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8158477.stm

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Scorpions, Tarantulas, and Monkeys, Oh My!

This morning we returned from retreat at Laguna de Apoyo. The Jesuit community lent us their beautiful retreat house mere feet from a pristine volcanic lake. The retreat was much needed by all. Our theme was the life and mission of Jesus—past and present. It was a great opportunity to reflect on our lives here and juxtapose them a bit with the life of Jesus. Michael’s session focused on revolutionary figures and the revolutionary Christ. I really appreciated the session because it reminded me of the revolutionary teachings of Christ and the need to step out of my own status quo, especially a call to live with radical love. So often here I get stuck in a rut: work, eat, sleep, work, wash clothes, work, etc. This quickly becomes mundane. This retreat was a good reminder to live the life I have chosen as a Jesuit Volunteer—to live in community, to live simply, to live spiritually, and to live out social justice. This last pillar of our community can often be the trickiest to define, but it is really at the heart of Jesus’ mission. Jesus was a radical dude and no matter if I’m living in the States or here I often need an occasional reminder to jar me out of my daily routine, to remind me of who I want to be and how I want to live.

Oh and I almost forgot, where we were staying was pura selva salvaje or an entirely wild jungle. We fell asleep to howler monkeys bellowing and woke every morning to parrots chattering. On the freakier side we found a hairy tarantula and Christine found a nasty scorpion in her jeans (unfortunately only after putting them on! Ouch!). Despite the incessant mosquitoes and the occasional creepy crawly, the house and lake were so beautiful. I sound like a broken record, but any and every occasion to get out of Managua is such a blessing. The heat and treeless urban setting can become oppressive. Nicaragua is such a mind-blowingly beautiful country, especially now that the rains have swept in making everything so bright, green, and alive.





Sunday, July 5, 2009

Solidarity with the people of Honduras

I don't know what kind of news coverage the situation in Honduras is receiving in the states, but here it is big news. It's like the eighties all over again. I thought Central America was past military coups. Honduras, our northern neighbor is closer than you can imagine and the thought of the region becoming militarized again is frightening. According to CNN, the military-backed government claims that Nicaragua is sending troops to the border. The Nicaraguan government is denying such claims. Many of you who know me well, or even those who don't, may know about my almost yearly pilgrimage to the gates of Ft. Benning, Georgia to protest the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC, formally known as the School of the Americas). The coup in Honduras was led by graduates of the school. Click here for more information from the SOA Watch movement. They have good up to date information about the goings on in Honduras. Our good friend Fr. Joe Mulligan S.J. is headed to Honduras to represent the SOA Watch movement and to stand in solidarity with the people of Honduras. Please keep him and nuestros hermanos y hermanas hondureños in your thoughts and prayers.

On a lighter and more personal note...
We just celebrated Christine's 23rd birthday at the beach! ¡Feliz cumpleaños!

El Camino Se Hace al Caminar

The Way Is Made By Walking