Another blog written on a weird Nicaraguan high. That sounds wrong. But I really think there is something in the air that makes me act strangely here. I kinda dance my way everywhere I go. I think staying in touch with everyone from home so often has helped keep me so…happy. I really cant express how much I love getting updates from people at home. I guess this is the biggest difference between Peace Corps circa 1960s and the present, we don’t just disappear. Hearing about your days, even if they weren’t so great, keeps me sane. Why else am I floating around in this giddiness? Great classes, mountains, I think it is also the confidence boost that is Nicaraguan men (and boys). I need to keep my ego in check if I am going to live here for 2 years. One of the funniest things I got this week was during my first class at the secondary school I am working at. I handed out a survey to my students so I could learn a little more about them and about Jinotega, leaving the last part open to any question they might have. Half of them asked me how I liked Jinotega, what kind of music I listen to, if I had a boyfriend (mostly girls asking), but the funniest question I got was “why are girls from New York so beautiful?” Let me tell you, they learn at a young age to be charmers here. I am so happy to be working at this school. The kids are sweet, though rowdy, and discipline aint my thing. Another tough part of this job is, though I’m working with 3rd year students in high school (about the equivalent 10th grade in the US), a bunch of my students are older, like 18-21, so when they invite me to go to a party, of course I want to go, cuz I’m desperate to make friends here, but I know its probably not the best idea to bacanalear (to party) with the kinder. Fortunately i also work in an adult school where i can interact with people my own age and older, and after only 1 class i have already been invited to dinners and to visit them at their homes and places of work, meet their families, etc, and i realize that this situation makes me even more nervous...i can plan and teach a class, but one on one communication still isnt my strong suit in spanish.
It’s weird, because I still don’t really consider myself teaching in the long run, yet I have the most fun when I’m at the head of a classroom. I may have to reconsider the life of travelling and waitressing and bumming that I have always dreamed of. Teaching might be where it’s at. Though I wont attempt that in the States for a while, I know from my dearest Laura that teaching gigs are few and far between.
Can I have a quick interlude right here and mention that all of my students have names that are IMPOSSIBLE to pronounce correctly. A few examples: Junielka, Lisbeyling, Jarithza, Jurguen. It is in these cases where my knowledge of the pronunciation of “G’s” and “J’s” dissolves into nothingness. I might have the students wear nametags for a bit so I have a slim chance of learning their names.
The woman who’s house I’m living in thinks I’m anorexic I’m pretty sure. Force feeding has started. I just cant stomach the same quantities of carbs as most I suppose.
I wake up at about 7 or 8am every morning here, which I consider impressive seeing as my earliest class begins at 1pm, and still I cant help but feel as if I’m being a total slacker, as my lovely force-feeding host dawns at 6 and begins making cheese immediately. I’m trying to do some math in my head, and I believe she must make a decent living selling cheese. If she sells 1LB for C$20, and sells about 12-20 lbs a day, that’s probably averaging C$300ish/day. And she doesn’t take any days off. I’d say she probably makes almost twice as much as I do as a PCV. And she collects rent for two rooms in her house. Make that money Rosario.
Gonna try to find a dance class here, dancing around my room isn’t cutting it anymore. Fingers crossed that it will be a ballet folklórico class. I don’t know if they do many adult dance classes, or if you missed it as a child your S.O.L.
Oh, speaking of dance, I know this is probably premature, but if anyone knows of any interesting dance scholarships floating about, let me know, I have a student that I want to work with.
I’m experimenting with Nicaraguan tap water. That is, drinking it. So far so good a little over one week in. This would be an incredible development, seeing as two full years of boiling, bleaching, or buying would have been a hassle. And I aint scared of no parasite. Bring it.
Topping my play count on iTunes as of late has been Wisin & Yandel, Georges Brassens, K’naan, and Girl Talk lately. I give myself credit for being a worldly music aficionada. I’m finally diving deep into my collection seeing as I cant download anything new.
I think the mosquitoes in Jinotega have supernatural powers. I cant for the life of me follow one flying by me for more than 1 second, it just disappears.
My peace corps provided bug repellent smells exactly like Camp Waubeeka, which is a nice throwback.
I may or may not have severely pulled a muscle and stubbed 3 toes just moments earlier “breakin it down” to some hip hop joint. This is why I think it might be safer to place myself in a dance class.
Please comment if stream-of-consciousness is NOT why you check my blog, I will adjust.
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2 comments:
um i LOVED this entry. keep em coming. i like that boy in your class who knows what's up with ny girls lol. you sound really happy and just again want to tell you im proud of you. <3 ya
um. why do you think kerouac is so right-on? i smiled many, many times during this one!
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