The Countdown is On

With less than a week until my departure, it is becoming increasingly difficult to focus on the small print, the reports and the research. Although I know the freezing conditions I am going back to, it seems like more than a fair trade off. Nicaragua has been an amazing place to grow and to discover, but it is my family and friends that awaits me at home that I am most looking forward to.

I have learned so many lessons to take me onto the next part of my life... many "marketable skills" that are discussable on CVs mostly... but mostly, I have learned the importance of connections. Where are we without our relationships? Spending Christmas here, I saw orphans receive many gifts... but there was a huge void in the way of what Christmas really meant - family. The little things in life, the schedules, careers, the ladders we might climb, the meetings, the conflict... they seem to work themselves out. But the thing that matters most is the relationships through it all.

What will I miss most about Nicaragua? The people. I really enjoyed getting to know different producers, and the technical staff that brought me to each one of them. I will not miss the dusty rides on speeding motorcycles... but I will miss the people, the culture. People are incredibly open, incredibly honest... willing to talk about anything (politics is a favourite, by far).. and so curious to know everything about you! There is definitely a curiosity that comes from the foreign, but what is more, I truly believe they care. Yesterday, I had the same taxi driver as I had had previously... he remembered me, remembered that I was from Canada, and we continued on our conversation where we left off. I will innocently say that is due to his good nature. Maybe it came more naturally because he is faced with occasions like that often. A small world it is here, full of human interaction all day! Very different to our compartmentalized world we live in, in Canada.

Nonetheless, I go home with a new perspective on the world, and the interactions we have from day to day. How will this experience change how I interact with strangers? We are about to find out!

Earthy...

The cockroaches are out of control! I've already killed six today, but keeping my eyes out for more. They just attract the ants, which I detest more. Life.

Over the past month, I have had the opportunity to do much contemplation. The result of long bus rides. Needing to leave the country to renew my visa, I was forced to think critically about my attitude towards Nicaragua, and it's differences compared to it's southern neighbour, Costa Rica (who are both terrified and somewhat racist towards Nicaraguans). "Nicaragua is much more... Earthy," I would tell them. The only word I could come up with. The glitz and glam of tourist Costa Rica was sad to me. Where did all the culture go? And at what cost? I feel somehow, amidst all the idiosyncrasies of Nicaraguan culture, there is something real. People just trying to survive, to better themselves and their families somehow. This sometimes comes in the shape of a higher taxi price for the foreigner, or the offer of help for a price. Just trying to be be opportunistic. This has definitely been a shift in my thinking, at least. Can't blame them for trying.

Hope?

Election furry left the city in shambles. Now that the results have been tallied, amidst being false, the violence has stalled to a halt. Now the only explosives we hear are fire crackers for... well, for why not? :) The elections forced me once again to contemplate this country, and what we are working for. Ultimately, we are not working for the Nicaraguan government, but they are definitely benefactors. The Nicaraguan president has a private account, donated by the president of Venezuela, given for the purpose of aid and development, which has no third party accountability. Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture? He continues to tear down NGOs, accusing them of money laundering (link), telling his people not to trust them, threatening to kick them out of the country. He tells Nicaraguans not to make good on their microcredit loans, telling them that they were donations in the first place, and that they deserve the handout - as if handouts needed to be more promoted in this country. I feel like Nicaraguans are continuously taught to be less than their best. 

So where do we come in? We tell them the opposite. And so far, the stories have been both encouraging and disheartening. The poverty is real, but the hope is too. My frustration still exists towards the government, who makes their own results, fails to take responsibility and promotes a victim mentality. Hopefully when all is said and done, there is a little more hope.

The Adventure I was waiting for...??

Now that I have officially settled in, the high life of taking taxis everywhere, had to end. In comparison to Canadian taxi prices, or even Canadian transit costs, taking a taxi was less. However, taking local transit is even cheaper! So why not? In attempts to cut my costs, and actually get a feel for the culture I'm living in, I embarked on my local transit adventure. Working long hours at the office, mixed with taking taxis left me feeling as though I lived in a bubble. Taking the bus has definitely helped!

I was prepared for long waits... I was prepared for getting lost. Both seemed pretty guaranteed. I was unsure about what else I would encounter, but was prepared to go with the flow.

It's rainy season, here in Nicaragua. It rains every day, which makes me think that the rain shouldn't really affect things (since it is so regular). But it does. When it rains, the buses become packed, the roads go into disrepair; sometimes becoming impassable. The other night, after missing my one bus a couple times (they were too full, and drove off, leaving many trying to get on), I was determined to get on the next one. The determination payed off. This was the adventure I was waiting for! (haha) Off we went, I was barely hanging on, falling out of the front bus door. The others in the bus kept looking at me sideways, the look on their faces clearly read "what is this chele doing??" I guess it's not too common for us foreigners to take the bus... or to do it, holding on for dear life. But with so much attention, I felt pretty secure that they wouldn't let anything happen to me. As we drove out, into oncoming traffic, headlights speeding towards us, the entire bus was praying, swearing, making jokes, and calling each other crazy.

Each new adventure makes me more grateful to still be around. I'm sure it wasn't that dangerous... it was quite fun though. All in the name of saving money. My kind of day!

With Eyes Wide Open

Now that I have been in Managua for over a month, I am seeing Managua with fresh eyes. The poverty hits me harder, the sights have consequences. Window washers at intersections are not annoying, they break my heart. Not that I haven't seen this kind of poverty before; it's the number of children that hit me the hardest. Kids walking around with no shoes asking for "un peso", begging for you charity, as if one peso will help. I still don't know what to do. It surrounds you. What can one person like me do? I feel like we are responsible for our potential. We need to do what we can. It's figuring out what that is that is the hardest. With all my intercultural training, we are taught to mirror the actions of nationals, take cues from those around you. But somehow I feel this may be different. Not that one meal will change the problems these kids face everyday, but it's something. It may be what I have to give.

Last week, Lauren and I led a tour group of young American girls through Managua. We took them to a place where about a thousand people live, basically squatting in front of the National Assembly. Over five thousand people have been affected by a pesticide by the name of Nemagon. The people that live in what resembles a refugee camp suffer from ailments; cancer, lesions, genetic mutations, and several other related diseases. They have been there for several years, in protest of the inaction they have received from their government and foreign companies that made them work in such close contact with the chemical, without care of the ramifications. The girls broke into smaller groups, and walked around, asking people their stories. Each story sounded familiar and sad. At the end of the day, I am just left with questions. Always more questions.

Finding the Beauty of Nicaragua

What a difference a week can make! I feel much more adjusted, now that I have begun to actually understand what I'm supposed to be working towards at work. With clear goals, I feel like I can literally see further. Funny how that works. Managua is actually quite small, and I am becoming quite familiar with it. To be honest, not my favourite city. I mean, it has it's fair share of gaping holes in the middle of the sidewalk, Karaoke joints (thanks to the Beatles, All My Lovin' I've found my new calling!), cattle herding within city limits and horse drawn wagons... but I just wasn't falling for it.

When people asked me what I thought of Nicaragua, I would tell them that I liked it... and to be honest, I had nothing substantial to like! I'm sure that sounds awful... but really, I was just getting to know some people... and the city is kind of boring. This weekend though... we all crammed into a microbus (a.k.a. the coffin on wheels), and headed out to Diriamba. My boss lives on a farm just outside the town. And on the trip, I found out that NICARAGUA IS BEAUTIFUL!! Wow. Seriously. Many of the sites I saw are now just a blur, as they were seen from a small window in the microbus. Obviously making a picture impossible. While at my boss' farm, he showed us the land.. the banana trees, coffee trees (I think I really have a love affair for coffee...) and a bunch of other trees and plants that help the coffee out (to balance the soil and all that). What a great time! I really can't wait until I actually get to go out to do field research. I'm really looking forward to it! Keith (boss) said that he wants us to spend a few days out in a community, asking questions.. living with them.. so excited! I'm sure it will be challenging... especially to produce reports after that.. I will try to find the balance.

For now, need to get back to work. Can't wait until this office stuff is not all the time. I need more sunlight!!

The Adventurous Weekend!

This weekend was definitely filled with unusual sights!

We started out our weekend by going to a Brazilian night, held at the Crown Plaza every year. The food was raved about, and the atmosphere sounded electric. We were all excited to go. After a long day in the office, we shined ourselves, and set out... We were practically the only people there. Last year, there were dancers (the ones with the skimpy outfits and HUGE head dresses), live music and fantastic food. This year... not so much. The most Brazilian thing there was probably the flags on the tables. All in all, we had good laughs together, over the cheesy band and great bread!

Saturday, Lauren and I headed to the market by my house with Carolina (the girl I live with). She ended up leading us around, somewhat on parade. This market is unlike others I had seen in the past. The vegetables and meat were sold so close together... the smell of old blood, ripening fruit and other random good swelled together in an unprecedented way! There is no way to fully explain it. All I know is after we were loaded up with random household goods, we stopped at a local vendor for some baho (basically stewed plantain, yucca (sort of like potatoes), beef and onions). Of course I responded with "que rico!" (how delicious!), but it was a little too much starch for me. And after the market, it was especially difficult.

Yesterday, we all packed into the truck for a beach adventure! The highways are pretty insane! Here, most roads are 'paved' with cement blocks (similar to a patio). This is supposed to be cheaper (though very labour intensive) and is supposed to withstand the rain better. I think not. There were monstrous potholes, and whole sections of the highway that had washed away. Yet, we sped down all the same... only to be jolted by a quick stop or turn.

On the way out of town, I noticed a herd of cows walking down the sidewalk. I guess they just wanted to be responsible about using the sidewalk. Wish I had my camera ready for that one. Next time, perhaps.

Last night, we made our way to a city close by a concert. All in the name of conservation and the environment (I'm pretty sure). The bands were incredible; I had a ton of fun. I could barely understand the words - but I knew they were good in every other sense of the word. The mix of different genres was amazing. A fusion of styles, all mixed together. Canadian artists should come down and take some notes!

I promise pictures will be posted shortly... I keep forgetting my cord to transfer them at home. We keep our computers at work, so that we don't have to worry about them on the commute. However, with so much work... I'm thinking I may start to take mine home! Oh no.