Thursday, December 20, 2007
ATTACK OF THE SCORPION!
I survived my first scorpion attack! Two nights ago, Alex and I were sound asleep when I woke up to a horrible burning pain in my arm. I started yelling so Alex got up and turned on the light. I was crying that my arm was burning and that something bit me. We looked all over the room and found nothing. Finally, we looked right near where our pillows were, and sure enough there was a baby scorpion who had just settled down for a nap. My entire arm was burning and my lips and tongue were all tingly and numb. Luckily it was only a baby because apparently when the big ones sting you, then you can´t even walk for awhile. The scorpions here have poison but they aren´t deadly. Okay, so that was my survivor story. Miss you all!
Finding a House
Finding a house to rent in Nicaragua is unlike any other experience that I have ever had. At first, Alex and I used our host Mom to talk to people for us and see if they knew anyone who was renting a house. There are no signs here, or agencies, or even listings in the paper so you you need to rely on word of mouth. At first the general response was that there were absolutely NO houses to rent. Finally one turned up but it turned out to be a fixer-upper to put it mildly. We were feeling slightly discouraged but finally we decided to take matters into our own hands and just wander the streets and ask people. It was generally a good way to get to know people because it gave us an excuse to talk to them and get to know our town. However it was usually an exhausting experience that usually left our heads spinning as we walked all over town viewing one house or another. Here is a typical conversation that we had while trying to find a house.
Kaitlyn/Alex: Hello! We are Peace Corps Volunteers and we are going to live here for two years. We are looking for a house to rent. Do you know of any?
Nicaraguan#1: No, there are no houses to rent.
Nicaraguan #2: Yeah, there isn´t anything at all around here.
K/A: Oh really? That is too bad.
Nicaraguan #2: Well actually, isn´t there that house over there?
Nicaraguan #1: Oh yeah! Actually, my best friend´s, brother´s mother-in-law´s, cousin has an aunt whose friend´s Mom lives in Miami and they might want to rent their house! Do you live near Miami?
K/A: Really? That´s great! Where is the house? And no, we actually are not from Miami.
Nicaraguan #2: Okay, well you go 3 blocks down that way, go past the old church that used to be there but isn´t there anymore, then go right for 2 and a half blocks right near Rosa´s house and where they sell tortillas but there isn´t a sign, then on the left side there is a house about halfway down the street, you should go ask for Juan. He can take you to the house.
K/A: Uhh, okay wow thanks. What color is the house?
Nicaraguan #1: I don´t remember. But its real easy to find. Just go to that street and ask for Juan.
K/A: Thanks!
Okay, so that was basically how it went. There are no street signs here or addresses. Finally though, Alex and I managed to find a house that is too big for us but it is comfortable and has a BIG patio with fruit trees. We even have a spare room so we expect many visitors! We have nothing to fill our house right now except our clothes, a fridge, a fan, and a stove. Next on our list is that we need to buy a bed and if our host family does not take us to get one we will have to transport the bed on a bus which should be another adventure. We will move into the new house in January and then we will post pictures. We love and miss you all and are sad that we can´t be home for the holidays :( Thanks to everyone that sent packages! It is really much appreciated. We miss you all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
Kaitlyn/Alex: Hello! We are Peace Corps Volunteers and we are going to live here for two years. We are looking for a house to rent. Do you know of any?
Nicaraguan#1: No, there are no houses to rent.
Nicaraguan #2: Yeah, there isn´t anything at all around here.
K/A: Oh really? That is too bad.
Nicaraguan #2: Well actually, isn´t there that house over there?
Nicaraguan #1: Oh yeah! Actually, my best friend´s, brother´s mother-in-law´s, cousin has an aunt whose friend´s Mom lives in Miami and they might want to rent their house! Do you live near Miami?
K/A: Really? That´s great! Where is the house? And no, we actually are not from Miami.
Nicaraguan #2: Okay, well you go 3 blocks down that way, go past the old church that used to be there but isn´t there anymore, then go right for 2 and a half blocks right near Rosa´s house and where they sell tortillas but there isn´t a sign, then on the left side there is a house about halfway down the street, you should go ask for Juan. He can take you to the house.
K/A: Uhh, okay wow thanks. What color is the house?
Nicaraguan #1: I don´t remember. But its real easy to find. Just go to that street and ask for Juan.
K/A: Thanks!
Okay, so that was basically how it went. There are no street signs here or addresses. Finally though, Alex and I managed to find a house that is too big for us but it is comfortable and has a BIG patio with fruit trees. We even have a spare room so we expect many visitors! We have nothing to fill our house right now except our clothes, a fridge, a fan, and a stove. Next on our list is that we need to buy a bed and if our host family does not take us to get one we will have to transport the bed on a bus which should be another adventure. We will move into the new house in January and then we will post pictures. We love and miss you all and are sad that we can´t be home for the holidays :( Thanks to everyone that sent packages! It is really much appreciated. We miss you all! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Day of the Virgin
We got our first taste of a true Nicaraguan celebration last Friday night, the eve of the Day of the Virgin (Mary´s bday). This is one of the country´s biggest holidays, and there sure was a whole lot of excitement building up to this event all month. Fireworks are incredibly popular here. They had been going off every day, all day all through November announcing the distance approach of the celebration. Every Catholic family (most) also puts a small shrine to the Virgin in a corner of their house. However, we couldn`t have predicted what the night would actually be like since all the big stuff was all going on behind the scenes.
Our host mom kept reminding us that we needed to be prepared with our backpacks to walk around town at 6:00 PM, and that we would be receiving lots of items for our new house. We also must learn at least two songs praising the Virgin Mary, which she provided us with. We were confused. Did we need to bring gifts also? Was it ok that we weren´t practicing Catholics? Here is a summary of the nights events:
The entire town, including the people in the smaller villages surrounding Nagarote, fill the streets around 6:00. They then walk in groups to particular houses around town. These houses have set up a massive shrine to the Virgin Mary somewhere inside or outside their home, complete with a large statue, candles, music, Christmas lights, etc. The group of people stands in front of the shrine and sings songs praising the Virgin Mary. Once the host family has deemed the singing worthy, gifts are handed out to all of the singers. Children, mothers, grandfathers, and ourselves then push to get to the front for the best items. The group then moves on to the next house to repeat. This goes on for almost exactly four hours until 10:00 Pm when everyone returns home.
This was a very interesting experience. First of all we, especially myself since Kaitlyn did formally attend Catholic churches, felt awkward singing songs praising a shrine of the Virgin. Also, we only practiced two songs, while throughout the night our family sang an assortment of about 6 or 7 songs. Not sure what to do, we ended up spending the majority of the night mouthing Spanish lyrics that we didn't know. The diversity of the gifts was also incredible. We never knew what to expect. Here´s a list of some items: candy, rice, cookies, corn on the cob, homemade deserts, juice, a bag of salt, fruit, pasta, superman plastic bowl, a plastic pitcher, laundry detergent, Tupperware, a bar of soap, sugar, a washcloth.
The eve of the Day of the Virgin was very surreal and definitely a great time. Everyone was in a really good mood. It's really a great way of having a community wide activity and also for some of the more wealthy families to redistributing some wealth back into the community. It was a prime opportunity for us to be able to see the entire population of our area, and also for them to see us participating in the event. Next year we'll be sure to have the songs memorized.
Our host mom kept reminding us that we needed to be prepared with our backpacks to walk around town at 6:00 PM, and that we would be receiving lots of items for our new house. We also must learn at least two songs praising the Virgin Mary, which she provided us with. We were confused. Did we need to bring gifts also? Was it ok that we weren´t practicing Catholics? Here is a summary of the nights events:
The entire town, including the people in the smaller villages surrounding Nagarote, fill the streets around 6:00. They then walk in groups to particular houses around town. These houses have set up a massive shrine to the Virgin Mary somewhere inside or outside their home, complete with a large statue, candles, music, Christmas lights, etc. The group of people stands in front of the shrine and sings songs praising the Virgin Mary. Once the host family has deemed the singing worthy, gifts are handed out to all of the singers. Children, mothers, grandfathers, and ourselves then push to get to the front for the best items. The group then moves on to the next house to repeat. This goes on for almost exactly four hours until 10:00 Pm when everyone returns home.
This was a very interesting experience. First of all we, especially myself since Kaitlyn did formally attend Catholic churches, felt awkward singing songs praising a shrine of the Virgin. Also, we only practiced two songs, while throughout the night our family sang an assortment of about 6 or 7 songs. Not sure what to do, we ended up spending the majority of the night mouthing Spanish lyrics that we didn't know. The diversity of the gifts was also incredible. We never knew what to expect. Here´s a list of some items: candy, rice, cookies, corn on the cob, homemade deserts, juice, a bag of salt, fruit, pasta, superman plastic bowl, a plastic pitcher, laundry detergent, Tupperware, a bar of soap, sugar, a washcloth.
The eve of the Day of the Virgin was very surreal and definitely a great time. Everyone was in a really good mood. It's really a great way of having a community wide activity and also for some of the more wealthy families to redistributing some wealth back into the community. It was a prime opportunity for us to be able to see the entire population of our area, and also for them to see us participating in the event. Next year we'll be sure to have the songs memorized.
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