New Year: I went back to San Juan and visited my family there. I hadn't realized how much I missed them until I went back. Sadly I was only there for 3 nights, but I had a good time. I went to the mirador about 3 times, had Eskimo, and played a bit of Uno. On NYE there's a tradition in Nicaragua of burning el año viejo (the old year). People make a scarecrow kind of thing in the shape of a man, dress him up in old clothes, and burn him at midnight while setting off the country's entire supply of fireworks.
There were at least two of these guys on my street. I nearly went deaf from the fireworks, and I am surprised no children or dogs got blown to bits.
So then I came back to my site and had a couple weeks of downtime before I started working as a translator for a medical brigade that came to Rivas. They were here doing eye exams and surgeries, and handing out glasses. I worked with them for almost three weeks, only taking a break for my PC training. We learned how to make improved ovens, which use less firewood than traditional ovens. A couple of my fellow volunteers have already made some in their sites or neighboring sites. I hope someone will take me up on my offer to build some here, but so far no one has shown any real interest. Bummer.
Then school started. The first week was pretty much a bust. Hardly anything was done in class, and most of the time the kids ended up going home early. The next week I observed classes, hoping to decide which teachers to work with. Didn't get very far, because a) the class schedules were still not finalized and b) science was very frequently pushed out of the way in favor of other more important lessons like PE and religion. Then the third week of school, I was back in San Juan for my language workshop: one whirlwind week of grammar, grammar, and (you guessed it) grammar! Useful but exhausting. On my way out to go back home I headed to Managua to pick up Gabi and the thing I have been waiting for since I arrived: my kitten!
His name is Batman. After spending his first couple weeks here named Camila, his testicles started to grow and we decided he might not be a girl. He likes to fly, bite faces, and generally be a hyperactive pain in the armpit, because he likes to bite that too. But he is very cute, especially when he's asleep.
So Gabi's been here for a while now, and we've done some traveling around. We spent a couple days on the island of Ometepe, which was beautiful, but we ran out of money so we couldn't do everything we wanted to do. We spent a night in San Juan del Sur at the beach. And we went to visit the Masaya Volcano. We had intended on climbing to the top, but due to certain circumstances, we only walked around the bottom. First of all, we didn't arrive until the afternoon, which severely cut into our time available to explore. Also, apparently there was an eruption the week before so the majority of the volcano was closed to visitors. But, the entrance fee was waived, and it was still a really cool place to visit. I can't wait to go again and hopefully do the night tour to see the glowing lava pit.
Gabi and I also did an environmental awareness day of sorts. Last week was World Forest Day and World Water Day, so we decided to do some activities in my smaller school with the 3rd through 6th grade classes. We did an activity with candy to represent the effects of deforestation and reforestation, and we did an activity about water pollution. Even if it doesn't change the actions of the kids, hopefully they will at least be thinking a little more about what they do that might affect the environment. It was fun for everyone I think.
Also last week was the Fiestas Patronales for my town. We celebrate San José (St. Joseph). There was an hípico, in which people parade their horses around town, a bunch of loud parties, and dangerous-looking rides in the park. In the schools there were several actos, where students give various performances, mainly dances. Needless to say, nothing was done during school last week.
The third thing that happened last week was the pilgrimage to Popoyuapa, an important church in Rivas. People come from all over Nicaragua to visit the statue of Jesús del Rescate (Jesus the Savior). When we were on a bus we saw the pilgrims along the highway, driving their oxcarts covered in hay. There were probably about 30 of them in the group we saw, and for days it was impossible to drive past Popoyuapa. We had to go around the back side of the church in order to get past it. We also saw a bunch of these interesting giant dancing lady dolls worn by people down the street accompanied by drums and more dancers. You always see something new if you look around.
So now it's Semana Santa. No school this week either. Basically what it comes down to is, I still have not begun teaching in the schools yet. There was only one week in which I could have taught, and that week I spent 3 of 5 days holed up in my room with the worst migraine of my life. So with any luck, I will finally be able to start teaching next week. I guess we'll see. And then the following week I have training in Selva Negra in Matagalpa. Looking forward to the mountains!
That's my January through March in a nutshell. If I remember anything else I'll add it as it comes.
Saludos!
