Somoto, Nicaragua -March 26, 2003
I have been having a wonderful time since I last wrote. Two weekends ago I went to see the 'Mocuanes', currently the most famous band in Nicaragua. Their music consists of salsa, merengue & palo de mayo (Atlantic coast reggae) and they enacted Backstreet Boy-type dance routines except with more hip action. The place was packed and I danced for hours.
The next night I went to a birthday party for a Quebecois girl who lives here & works for CUSO. That was also a great time as her Nicaraguan friends did traditional dances, as well as guitar, bongo-type drum & singing performances (and more dancing of course).One of the things that I like best about living here is that there are barely any tourists. Most of the other foreigners either work for the US Peace Corps or NGOs. Thus, the majority of the locals have respect for us & don't try to rip us off as much as in 'touristy' countries. Also, the foreigners for the most part are very interesting, creative & caring individuals.
I am also in love with Somoto, the town where I live. There is nothing better than to be able to walk down the steet and say hi(or rather 'Adios') to everyone I pass and to join kids in playing soccer, basketball & frisbee (yes I brought my frisbee & am trying to assimilate the locals!) in the middle of the street at all times of the day. What I dislike the most is the Machismo- dealing with hisses, catcalls & annoying Latin lovers constantly trying to get my attention because I am an 'exotic' white foreigner. Sometimes I find it amusing but I am also learning a lot about how to stand up for myself.
Work is very challenging & fullfilling. I have so much respect for the Nicaraguan NGO organization and campesino women with whom I work. A lot of the women have had to deal with so much hardship- their husbands leaving them for other women, family violence, poverty, lack of medical services, droughts etc. but they manage to have a wonderfully positive outlook on life and are always sharing with me even though they have so little material wealth- whether it is giving me fruits & veggies from their gardens or making me bracelets. Their attitude is inspiring & I can't help but be happy & appreciate my life that much more when I see how they deal with their own situations. Life is really what you make of it.
I am currently staying with an awesome Nicaraguan family. They are very funny & laid back(sometimes we sit around the table trying to make armpit farts) and own a restaurant so I get to choose what kind of food I eat everyday. A sample of the food I ate this weekend is: cheese soup with rice & corn 'meat'balls, beef shishkabob, mashed plaitains filled with sugar, cheese & cinnamon(!ricisimma!), chocobananas and tamarind juice. I am totally spoiled & loving it.
Anyways, I am having a wonderful time here despite dealing with my anger regarding the the Irag war(people here are very informed by the way & there have been massive protests here & all over Latin America). The way I see it though is that we need to keep doing what makes us peaceful & happy; make our own contributions to the world without letting them get us down.
Miss you all & love hearing from you.
Love Alix
The next night I went to a birthday party for a Quebecois girl who lives here & works for CUSO. That was also a great time as her Nicaraguan friends did traditional dances, as well as guitar, bongo-type drum & singing performances (and more dancing of course).One of the things that I like best about living here is that there are barely any tourists. Most of the other foreigners either work for the US Peace Corps or NGOs. Thus, the majority of the locals have respect for us & don't try to rip us off as much as in 'touristy' countries. Also, the foreigners for the most part are very interesting, creative & caring individuals.
I am also in love with Somoto, the town where I live. There is nothing better than to be able to walk down the steet and say hi(or rather 'Adios') to everyone I pass and to join kids in playing soccer, basketball & frisbee (yes I brought my frisbee & am trying to assimilate the locals!) in the middle of the street at all times of the day. What I dislike the most is the Machismo- dealing with hisses, catcalls & annoying Latin lovers constantly trying to get my attention because I am an 'exotic' white foreigner. Sometimes I find it amusing but I am also learning a lot about how to stand up for myself.
Work is very challenging & fullfilling. I have so much respect for the Nicaraguan NGO organization and campesino women with whom I work. A lot of the women have had to deal with so much hardship- their husbands leaving them for other women, family violence, poverty, lack of medical services, droughts etc. but they manage to have a wonderfully positive outlook on life and are always sharing with me even though they have so little material wealth- whether it is giving me fruits & veggies from their gardens or making me bracelets. Their attitude is inspiring & I can't help but be happy & appreciate my life that much more when I see how they deal with their own situations. Life is really what you make of it.
I am currently staying with an awesome Nicaraguan family. They are very funny & laid back(sometimes we sit around the table trying to make armpit farts) and own a restaurant so I get to choose what kind of food I eat everyday. A sample of the food I ate this weekend is: cheese soup with rice & corn 'meat'balls, beef shishkabob, mashed plaitains filled with sugar, cheese & cinnamon(!ricisimma!), chocobananas and tamarind juice. I am totally spoiled & loving it.
Anyways, I am having a wonderful time here despite dealing with my anger regarding the the Irag war(people here are very informed by the way & there have been massive protests here & all over Latin America). The way I see it though is that we need to keep doing what makes us peaceful & happy; make our own contributions to the world without letting them get us down.
Miss you all & love hearing from you.
Love Alix
posted by Alix at 9:40 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home