Sunday, October 12, 2008
The New Veterans
This month we've been busy with assuming the new role as veteran Peace Corps volunteers. It seemed only yesterday that the two of us arrived here. However, we were forced to do a lot of reflecting on last year and recognize how far we've come once the new group of trainees arrived last month. Since then we've been occupied every week with giving workshops, hosting trainees in our house, and answering all the same questions we asked a year ago. The one year mark seems to be bringing about a lot of changes in outlook, and a lot of reassurance. We're able to quit worrying so much about where we need to be, in terms of language ability and assimilation, and focus more on the relationships we've made and the activities that we enjoy most. As many people told us at the beginning, the second year of service appears that it will be easier and even more enjoyable than the first.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Estelí Trip
Mountains?!
Agave
Shunpei contemplating suculents at La Casita
Where the valley meets the mountains
Independence Day
Folkloric Dance 
The original 5 independent countries of Central America. 
Marching 
The boss 
The kids at one of my schools, my teacher, and the boss.Time
Hey everyone! I know it has been awhile since you have heard from us, but we thought we would give a mini-update onh how things have been going lately. I guess the theme of this post will be time.
The most interesting thing is that on August 29th we celebrated one-year in country with our group in San Juan Del Sur. It is hard to believe that we have already been here a year. Day to day life seems to move pretty slowly, especially in the heat, but before we know it another month has passed. We offically now have about 14 months left of our Peace Corps service. On the one hand, that number seems pretty daunting knowing that we are going to be away from our homes for so much longer even though we have been gone a year already. On the other hand when we think of all things that we still want to accomplish, it doesn´t seem like nearly enough time.
On another note, the new group of volunteers from our sector arrived on September 5th! We are no longer the newbies and it is our job to help train the new group and show them the ropes of Peace Corps. Because Alex and I live so close to Managua, Peace Corps has recruited us to do alot of work with the new group and we will be having several Trainees visit our site on Tuesday to learn how to make a Vivero (tree nursery). It is hard to remember that this time last year, we were the scared trainees, trying to figure it all out.
My Birthday... yep I will be spending my second birthday in Nicaragua! By then end of my service, I will have had three birthday´s here. When you think about how much you grow and change in three birthdays, it boggles my mind to think about how different I am now than when I first came here and how different I may be when I am finished my service. When I entered Peace Corps, I was in my early 20s, ready for an adventure and when I leave Peace Corps I will be 25 and ready to start another chapter in my life.
On Dec 21st, in 99 days, Alex and I will return for 2 weeks to celebrate Christmas with friends and family! We are really looking forward to seeing everyone and can´t wait for these days to fly to help with some of our homesickness.
Finally, to end this rambling post, a little bit about friendship. True friendship stands the test of time and distance. Being here has enabled us to really reflect on our relationships with other people, both in Nicaragua and at home. We know that distance, time, and different life experiences can make it difficult to keep up friendships but I believe that when all is said and done, that at the end of this journey, your true friends will be waiting for you at the other side. We miss everyone and strongly encourage keeping in touch. We love to hear about your lives and adventures back home so please keep us posted. We love you and will hopefully see you in December!
Just a friendly reminder of our address down here because our box has been empty for months and months....
Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick
Alex Fuller-Young
Apartado Postal 366
León, Nicaragua
America Central
The most interesting thing is that on August 29th we celebrated one-year in country with our group in San Juan Del Sur. It is hard to believe that we have already been here a year. Day to day life seems to move pretty slowly, especially in the heat, but before we know it another month has passed. We offically now have about 14 months left of our Peace Corps service. On the one hand, that number seems pretty daunting knowing that we are going to be away from our homes for so much longer even though we have been gone a year already. On the other hand when we think of all things that we still want to accomplish, it doesn´t seem like nearly enough time.
On another note, the new group of volunteers from our sector arrived on September 5th! We are no longer the newbies and it is our job to help train the new group and show them the ropes of Peace Corps. Because Alex and I live so close to Managua, Peace Corps has recruited us to do alot of work with the new group and we will be having several Trainees visit our site on Tuesday to learn how to make a Vivero (tree nursery). It is hard to remember that this time last year, we were the scared trainees, trying to figure it all out.
My Birthday... yep I will be spending my second birthday in Nicaragua! By then end of my service, I will have had three birthday´s here. When you think about how much you grow and change in three birthdays, it boggles my mind to think about how different I am now than when I first came here and how different I may be when I am finished my service. When I entered Peace Corps, I was in my early 20s, ready for an adventure and when I leave Peace Corps I will be 25 and ready to start another chapter in my life.
On Dec 21st, in 99 days, Alex and I will return for 2 weeks to celebrate Christmas with friends and family! We are really looking forward to seeing everyone and can´t wait for these days to fly to help with some of our homesickness.
Finally, to end this rambling post, a little bit about friendship. True friendship stands the test of time and distance. Being here has enabled us to really reflect on our relationships with other people, both in Nicaragua and at home. We know that distance, time, and different life experiences can make it difficult to keep up friendships but I believe that when all is said and done, that at the end of this journey, your true friends will be waiting for you at the other side. We miss everyone and strongly encourage keeping in touch. We love to hear about your lives and adventures back home so please keep us posted. We love you and will hopefully see you in December!
Just a friendly reminder of our address down here because our box has been empty for months and months....
Kaitlyn Fitzpatrick
Alex Fuller-Young
Apartado Postal 366
León, Nicaragua
America Central
Monday, August 25, 2008
Fiestas Patronales
Our massive patron saint holidays ended in the beginning of August after a solid month of festivation. The central event in all of this celebrating was of course the much anticipated bull fighting/riding. Although the reality was just, or more, as entertaining as we could have hoped for, it was not exactly what we expected.
I always envisioned bull fighting as we see it in the movies, where a handsome Spaniard is dressed in an elegant suit, wielding a intricate sword and a deep red cape. I always imagined bull riding as we see it on ESPN, where professional cowboys from Texas tactfully evade the wrath of a purebred monster. Our events were nothing like either of these.
Our town's mayor's office rebuilt a brand new bull ring for this year's festival, complete with grand stands for the fans, a box for the mayor and his cabinet, chain-link fence and zinc roof to protect the spectators, and a well designed containment area for the bulls. Watching the construction over the months increased the excitement greatly, as we observed the amount of planning, care, and resources put into the event center.
The first day came and we were sure to be there, along with some PC friends that we invited to experience the famed Nagarote spectacle. The stands were overfilled with people from the community, as well as others that had come from a great distance away, including a good number of family members that were visiting from places like Miami, Los Angelas, and Houston. The queen of the festivals entered on horseback, followed by a parade of cowboys and cowgirls dressed in their finest hats and spurs. The made a round of the ring while fireworks exploded overhead, then dismounted their horses and found their places in the mayor's box. Next came the brave young fighters, and here is where Nicaraguan bull fighter begins to differ from tradition.
At least 200 men enter the ring, ranging from the ages of 12 to 50. All of them ready to face down a bull, some with the help of a great deal more alcohol than others. Soon a cowboy leads the first bull from the containment area into the ring and with the help of others, ties the bull head to a pole near the middle. However, the danger begins as soon as the bull enters, since it is only being led by one rope. In more than a few instances the bull immediatly charged once it caught sight of the swarm of men. If everything went according to plan, the bull was pacificied enough to stand still while it's head was tied to the pole, ropes tied around its torso, and men wrestled one another for the position on top of the bull. Once aboard, usually the bull started bucking while still tied to the pole. This created the chance of the man being crushed between the bull and the pole, but somehow I never saw this actually happen.
The real fun begins once the bull is let loose. After all of the pulling, smacking, tieing, kicking, shocking, and general terrorizing of the bull, it is thoroughly emotional. The question is how the bull will express itself, which does actually vary. At times the bull will be so terrified and exhausted that it will simply trot around the ring while all of the men scramle up the sides as it comes around. Most of the bulls we saw were more animated. It turned out that this day was when they displayed the most bravo bulls of the area. In less than an hour we witnessed a compound fracture to the arm, a broken collar-bone, massive loss of teeth, concussion, and a person's leg get stepped on by a full-grown bull. Or course, even more close calls and death defying acts occurred than actual injuries. In short these men were not risk-adverse people. More injuries seemed to fuel the enthusiasm for the whole thing, and fuel our own enthusiasm for being on the other side of the fence.
I always envisioned bull fighting as we see it in the movies, where a handsome Spaniard is dressed in an elegant suit, wielding a intricate sword and a deep red cape. I always imagined bull riding as we see it on ESPN, where professional cowboys from Texas tactfully evade the wrath of a purebred monster. Our events were nothing like either of these.
Our town's mayor's office rebuilt a brand new bull ring for this year's festival, complete with grand stands for the fans, a box for the mayor and his cabinet, chain-link fence and zinc roof to protect the spectators, and a well designed containment area for the bulls. Watching the construction over the months increased the excitement greatly, as we observed the amount of planning, care, and resources put into the event center.
The first day came and we were sure to be there, along with some PC friends that we invited to experience the famed Nagarote spectacle. The stands were overfilled with people from the community, as well as others that had come from a great distance away, including a good number of family members that were visiting from places like Miami, Los Angelas, and Houston. The queen of the festivals entered on horseback, followed by a parade of cowboys and cowgirls dressed in their finest hats and spurs. The made a round of the ring while fireworks exploded overhead, then dismounted their horses and found their places in the mayor's box. Next came the brave young fighters, and here is where Nicaraguan bull fighter begins to differ from tradition.
At least 200 men enter the ring, ranging from the ages of 12 to 50. All of them ready to face down a bull, some with the help of a great deal more alcohol than others. Soon a cowboy leads the first bull from the containment area into the ring and with the help of others, ties the bull head to a pole near the middle. However, the danger begins as soon as the bull enters, since it is only being led by one rope. In more than a few instances the bull immediatly charged once it caught sight of the swarm of men. If everything went according to plan, the bull was pacificied enough to stand still while it's head was tied to the pole, ropes tied around its torso, and men wrestled one another for the position on top of the bull. Once aboard, usually the bull started bucking while still tied to the pole. This created the chance of the man being crushed between the bull and the pole, but somehow I never saw this actually happen.
The real fun begins once the bull is let loose. After all of the pulling, smacking, tieing, kicking, shocking, and general terrorizing of the bull, it is thoroughly emotional. The question is how the bull will express itself, which does actually vary. At times the bull will be so terrified and exhausted that it will simply trot around the ring while all of the men scramle up the sides as it comes around. Most of the bulls we saw were more animated. It turned out that this day was when they displayed the most bravo bulls of the area. In less than an hour we witnessed a compound fracture to the arm, a broken collar-bone, massive loss of teeth, concussion, and a person's leg get stepped on by a full-grown bull. Or course, even more close calls and death defying acts occurred than actual injuries. In short these men were not risk-adverse people. More injuries seemed to fuel the enthusiasm for the whole thing, and fuel our own enthusiasm for being on the other side of the fence.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Fiestas Pictures
The parade
Ready
Go
Our Patron Saint
The Queen of the Fiestas
Musical Entertainment
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
