tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-319546022024-03-07T16:39:49.283-06:00Life's a garden. Dig it.The blog of 2 Peace Corps Volunteers living in Nicaragua. "The contents of this web site are ours personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps."Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-47026353017434493562008-09-21T21:10:00.010-06:002008-10-06T09:44:03.319-06:00AdiosThere have been many times here that have been difficult, and I know that I won´t remember those as much as the good. So today, I made a list for myself just in case I was feeling really sad, I could remember what I really didn´t like. So here goes.<br />5. Being stared at when I´m walking anywhere, doing anything.<br />4. Being yelled at on the street, adiosssssss mi amorrrr, chelita, gringa, ect.<br />3. So much about the educational system that it could be its own list<br />2. The creatures..scorpions, rats, mice, spiders, tarantulas, cochroaches, yuck.<br />1. Sweating all day, everyday for 2 straight years! And smelling like it.<br /><br />The bad doesn't even compare to the good, but the bad is a daily thing, and the good sometimes is more hidden. But here is what I will remember and miss, in no particular order.<br /><br />Farah-the smartest little girl ever. She picked up English so easily and we spent many afternoons together in private English class. She is very creative, funny, and full of life. She invited me to her birthday party, we once took a 5 hour bus ride together on a packed bus and sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer like 20 times. I will miss that Farita.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXl_eCWlRZqqGl8114eqeUcx5cPCfssR0U0aGII1Tgi3I9QaNjKF6X7OxqsBwrHmtjn0H83urM53IfX-ovft5GSTv2mbNRE1Cbh3K0RlePRcWj16RKaAJhJNQkUvnr-7vILzJ/s1600-h/Imagen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248680760034216626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXl_eCWlRZqqGl8114eqeUcx5cPCfssR0U0aGII1Tgi3I9QaNjKF6X7OxqsBwrHmtjn0H83urM53IfX-ovft5GSTv2mbNRE1Cbh3K0RlePRcWj16RKaAJhJNQkUvnr-7vILzJ/s400/Imagen.jpg" border="0" /></a> My neighbors, not just these neighbors, but specifically bird. I am holding bird, or pajarito, in this picture, and this kid kept me entertained. The crying, the screaming, the AMAZING dancing, the spaziness of it all. I will miss bird. And speaking of spaz, I will also miss our next door neighbors, a family of 7 women and pobrecito Carlos.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZn8Mqr_kv908RYgpJT3sZfh4LLqwDjkrYV5kqUhkEdY-_NPriUDyyUxosYGuIJXfnwPYESK822CqQmwyGILMCd5r9WGG_RCni8IpnNLRugww7gmPhl54m4Q3b_m_hsbherKAb/s1600-h/Imagen+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248679307554799154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZn8Mqr_kv908RYgpJT3sZfh4LLqwDjkrYV5kqUhkEdY-_NPriUDyyUxosYGuIJXfnwPYESK822CqQmwyGILMCd5r9WGG_RCni8IpnNLRugww7gmPhl54m4Q3b_m_hsbherKAb/s400/Imagen+031.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZLPeCb1EUodsG8Cfc2rHbGC4IN_mzlxQy4CXi78i2tW8Q0A2sI7eGT44z785KoPgvJ17GhtH4KBqjB02l5HzPt_hfN8FtRVEfNC1oFKgHc5jmRVPVx53Ec4d9cJxmaIRmscR/s1600-h/487689287109_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250338691409313938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZLPeCb1EUodsG8Cfc2rHbGC4IN_mzlxQy4CXi78i2tW8Q0A2sI7eGT44z785KoPgvJ17GhtH4KBqjB02l5HzPt_hfN8FtRVEfNC1oFKgHc5jmRVPVx53Ec4d9cJxmaIRmscR/s400/487689287109_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a>My Telecentro English class. Some of these kids were in my community class for 2 years (Susy, Jared, Maried, Luis); others came and went. We had some good times, and we played a lot of UNO. We had a Halloween party, without costumes, we had a goodbye party before I went to the USA to visit for 2 weeks, and a welcome home party when I got back, and they also threw parties for my visiting family members. I think we actually just liked to throw parties, not learn English. This group of kids made my English class fun. I will miss Luis for never just calling once, but until I answer. I will miss Maried because she's fun and I really wanted to take her back to the states with us. I will miss Jared because she totally gets gringos and she always has something to say. She also helped me teach English to kids....that was fun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe84kUWGAxAt8D3GqUjW7OGQsOEdfT9GQ5omiTTuEF8sY_gsr5FNVdZeKpw3IMGTZREhLDf5inrTh-j_yAShPxBd69ZRpBQoykwCQkEWtIchgcyRhSHHLgpdy6bj77eKRARQ0t/s1600-h/Imagen+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248679315120045282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe84kUWGAxAt8D3GqUjW7OGQsOEdfT9GQ5omiTTuEF8sY_gsr5FNVdZeKpw3IMGTZREhLDf5inrTh-j_yAShPxBd69ZRpBQoykwCQkEWtIchgcyRhSHHLgpdy6bj77eKRARQ0t/s400/Imagen+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3kxV5oksAEjIRAtwkSrUAFUDwaOsj7F8qkezZxbgdvk2ZVTLKVZf5omyPtk4p9yrytW1m29gLf2Ap4uiM49JVKphIgCdg-rdxINBa2yCqTXLB3Q0x1QVjOdwlxDAzj5OkYZL/s1600-h/407089566209_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250338683541600962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3kxV5oksAEjIRAtwkSrUAFUDwaOsj7F8qkezZxbgdvk2ZVTLKVZf5omyPtk4p9yrytW1m29gLf2Ap4uiM49JVKphIgCdg-rdxINBa2yCqTXLB3Q0x1QVjOdwlxDAzj5OkYZL/s400/407089566209_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a> My counterpart Henry. This is one dedicated, great, teacher. We had some great times teaching together for 2 years! We always spoke in English and Henry really took advantage of me working at INCH. It was great. Henry really made my service. I was lucky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vibEieoXdMXvQ9iOGFrp-HUz6LHoVB2Nzl2StZoBSokAB0fNDlmsu9qfZs25j6gGqju37V1ZG_b83MocuM3cNuXJ8qozQov-Cd7q-OYfEX19orUQNGAnkCqtg2q0xxzCg7PY/s1600-h/Imagen+027.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248679323713782114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vibEieoXdMXvQ9iOGFrp-HUz6LHoVB2Nzl2StZoBSokAB0fNDlmsu9qfZs25j6gGqju37V1ZG_b83MocuM3cNuXJ8qozQov-Cd7q-OYfEX19orUQNGAnkCqtg2q0xxzCg7PY/s400/Imagen+027.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdWbriofiybUSXZ0bnsoDWU6gIGd-bnHuSltJdwChrxSw0jJvznvCtYi4WfpAVXt9AllhL2Cj5SxrLbC2PHoc_Szzi8vq0NiitT0e0oaISRE7OJQpQ5FlIk1P8ueDGDuwhyphenhyphenGS/s1600-h/837041866209_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250341037229594898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdWbriofiybUSXZ0bnsoDWU6gIGd-bnHuSltJdwChrxSw0jJvznvCtYi4WfpAVXt9AllhL2Cj5SxrLbC2PHoc_Szzi8vq0NiitT0e0oaISRE7OJQpQ5FlIk1P8ueDGDuwhyphenhyphenGS/s400/837041866209_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a> The gemelo. My best friend for 2 years. He is such a great friend, always doing things for me and helping me with things that I really don't want to do, i.e. chasing out an iguana that got itself stuck in a doorframe, killing a tarantula that was stuck in the sink, changing a lightbulb really really high up. You get the picture. In 2 years this kids English went from 0 to conversational. He also knows really great, useful phrases such as "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" and "Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater". I really feel that Jeff and I realized our potential as English teachers with those lessons. But really, the Gemelo is a great friend.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLgq2Utez-2IJV7E6LhfRf5l0xf4v1h7psapdWE_ylfuWEMNVErhSTfNMwHrJ_a9NETFdso-iU0CXslYzsfVkwusGfnKsSYP1qXNROX4RRAuNod7VMS04OZ610MWFL3hRtLLA/s1600-h/172716382209_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250338680125784402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLgq2Utez-2IJV7E6LhfRf5l0xf4v1h7psapdWE_ylfuWEMNVErhSTfNMwHrJ_a9NETFdso-iU0CXslYzsfVkwusGfnKsSYP1qXNROX4RRAuNod7VMS04OZ610MWFL3hRtLLA/s400/172716382209_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a> Williams. Thats right, with a s. One of my 5th year students, turned friend. He walked me home everyday when I was being stalked by a taxi driver. He was my Spanish teacher before my interview. Williams is really chill, really good at English, and also an amazing friend. He knows more vulgar words in English than I do.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCI8zHjtIU7DOex2id6cdoA0JFmQfFGOSCtlf9vY4VwfZIejID_wttSHxaVpwwLqXFzh_fcHzW5Wi1iD6MxQEscDLXrDPdPBkQzZs6qRRsMQb7o7HzJ474_Sgv9jgH8lfyzv2_/s1600-h/192961664209_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250338683962324850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCI8zHjtIU7DOex2id6cdoA0JFmQfFGOSCtlf9vY4VwfZIejID_wttSHxaVpwwLqXFzh_fcHzW5Wi1iD6MxQEscDLXrDPdPBkQzZs6qRRsMQb7o7HzJ474_Sgv9jgH8lfyzv2_/s400/192961664209_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a> And of course, I will miss all of my Peace Corps friends. I wouldn't have made it without them! The following is a collection of good memories!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrbkX9kN-SRmHNorCjXm6qjqWtWX6sBdI65g_NPluqoYpA2lkps0yhNdtTtZfGNXV43qi3V2xLer2NUamYIcA7r7Jv4aynkl0vqd5frWs6wr0n_fz88LEXkp0M6Ox4QhrXpzQ/s1600-h/n834428910_745425_3479.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250349961544356578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVrbkX9kN-SRmHNorCjXm6qjqWtWX6sBdI65g_NPluqoYpA2lkps0yhNdtTtZfGNXV43qi3V2xLer2NUamYIcA7r7Jv4aynkl0vqd5frWs6wr0n_fz88LEXkp0M6Ox4QhrXpzQ/s400/n834428910_745425_3479.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqNdBlQKHhMqkVY6h86-G0o_BuADBowm0fTEkc8YYxRcgzjOKzYAlpCgQu90iJKs0yHdfSfAZ3e3auuQDR7kE8ctYCAj5Wn4CZgKoio3AHaEswvjcBT9NoUlVugCHUicLfs7H/s1600-h/110989695109_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250349962216246642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqNdBlQKHhMqkVY6h86-G0o_BuADBowm0fTEkc8YYxRcgzjOKzYAlpCgQu90iJKs0yHdfSfAZ3e3auuQDR7kE8ctYCAj5Wn4CZgKoio3AHaEswvjcBT9NoUlVugCHUicLfs7H/s400/110989695109_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkHBh5qp8_Hwr8xMJj9mb-hiZfsw_tIuUBJnLnSRyzgxBXi5kOyWRl5O2ugzFojpCR9Y3HjhFCCMu0K7nwY50E4H0xIodFB-9kuc1-1PuxrN2irNdCOJJFltJuVZAO5_LndHn/s1600-h/732673223109_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250349963710504610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkHBh5qp8_Hwr8xMJj9mb-hiZfsw_tIuUBJnLnSRyzgxBXi5kOyWRl5O2ugzFojpCR9Y3HjhFCCMu0K7nwY50E4H0xIodFB-9kuc1-1PuxrN2irNdCOJJFltJuVZAO5_LndHn/s400/732673223109_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1Ar_Cauec9GQD6-24X3O77pyXpOwDvdoB5RJICAl1QlWP_5ZFgcNnlMck6d5hxrYunE6xEBizem0l5tpTgreXn9SkflVfk5br9c06CQYv9053T-003KdFAz5ZfUqqHgOEns3/s1600-h/840657252209_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250349970222331954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1Ar_Cauec9GQD6-24X3O77pyXpOwDvdoB5RJICAl1QlWP_5ZFgcNnlMck6d5hxrYunE6xEBizem0l5tpTgreXn9SkflVfk5br9c06CQYv9053T-003KdFAz5ZfUqqHgOEns3/s400/840657252209_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqWNq45io2ZJLgfC0JthAmLB89Cqj7WNLxQg3oRrHeE3Ni67jc9d4UqQIzjxH2cqRz-VRo4xUS-JegwzBKKXokzl1qAvs4yK9cCSotzcbhDYW6UacflGxeJ9GW_lhDWeA1K7R/s1600-h/n834428910_745426_4538.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348668206002770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqWNq45io2ZJLgfC0JthAmLB89Cqj7WNLxQg3oRrHeE3Ni67jc9d4UqQIzjxH2cqRz-VRo4xUS-JegwzBKKXokzl1qAvs4yK9cCSotzcbhDYW6UacflGxeJ9GW_lhDWeA1K7R/s400/n834428910_745426_4538.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJjfNo5TkTgeWFaf_QG5O6gIIpkdypBq-ZKkNHxwwTFjEeY8eLot6ie9h1epYXn1xbRYMMjjYQ1W1rXVwnNBbAzT1XfXwzyGhcVXiQwrGrqdeyQHYdYbh3X91Q0hxVktEm6aU/s1600-h/n834428910_271842_7438.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348665339394594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJjfNo5TkTgeWFaf_QG5O6gIIpkdypBq-ZKkNHxwwTFjEeY8eLot6ie9h1epYXn1xbRYMMjjYQ1W1rXVwnNBbAzT1XfXwzyGhcVXiQwrGrqdeyQHYdYbh3X91Q0hxVktEm6aU/s400/n834428910_271842_7438.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp2bK0lg8e7UrRY-GFwnwNX2trX2Gd8MBWkSkQyuAr-kdSw5pn3ERwF1A5TaTYvXVvpiyXXKa7SN8koRFwpVJ-aOs8-DP5XchdvtlEzY6cspsuI1_YhvijzmLjHhxlRovI9sU/s1600-h/n834428910_327106_2176.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348668893313906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp2bK0lg8e7UrRY-GFwnwNX2trX2Gd8MBWkSkQyuAr-kdSw5pn3ERwF1A5TaTYvXVvpiyXXKa7SN8koRFwpVJ-aOs8-DP5XchdvtlEzY6cspsuI1_YhvijzmLjHhxlRovI9sU/s400/n834428910_327106_2176.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtlDVeUB76CM5VNNMAeWN8igpZlStdQNioZUhA4Jt72oth_AP2xTpiVFy7_ZFuqLwvyYsw-xxR4DWttSFgzUwzpQMKxuM-KtVgZ1ZsGEmatsY8MRBUzAXY6FwqMj4Kc4-ieiw/s1600-h/n834428910_327107_2468.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348666516034162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtlDVeUB76CM5VNNMAeWN8igpZlStdQNioZUhA4Jt72oth_AP2xTpiVFy7_ZFuqLwvyYsw-xxR4DWttSFgzUwzpQMKxuM-KtVgZ1ZsGEmatsY8MRBUzAXY6FwqMj4Kc4-ieiw/s400/n834428910_327107_2468.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w8bdeihfFLOOOnMSeG78NI21twiQCp0T84aJawcWRfSMkNNcMHobM7dhZ5foH55fx8lmwV4iaaDMYX87euGVnlDJcFcAgrDA2xVFgM9ihjmLtoDpMq5vgUeSxz-3DoumQIoF/s1600-h/n834428910_745424_2562.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250348672292414130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w8bdeihfFLOOOnMSeG78NI21twiQCp0T84aJawcWRfSMkNNcMHobM7dhZ5foH55fx8lmwV4iaaDMYX87euGVnlDJcFcAgrDA2xVFgM9ihjmLtoDpMq5vgUeSxz-3DoumQIoF/s400/n834428910_745424_2562.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4vCCPbFYabtyg5WabrHdsZ4JZ0aH6fiPSp8onciyJjE-wUa23v3VUAyHupkkNWgowgsySsIssMXMo11N9kgt4d_SpLR8r2dBQS4wH7pGRGGgfG-QDIVwY8u1nVX4gG-X7JUw/s1600-h/112719463209_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250347566103377090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4vCCPbFYabtyg5WabrHdsZ4JZ0aH6fiPSp8onciyJjE-wUa23v3VUAyHupkkNWgowgsySsIssMXMo11N9kgt4d_SpLR8r2dBQS4wH7pGRGGgfG-QDIVwY8u1nVX4gG-X7JUw/s400/112719463209_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNmom-rCZmL0doWHDI8qjf841hOALyJvSnPKkTrUvwQUQmiGxQXG1wm8qiLHBcjkiMkvFccdrV6MeRt0jSTU2LrgbRd7eSnT0TGOKmlE4QWKufiYZmP8mb8ytC1zkL524kaf9/s1600-h/234978262109_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250347567055039042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaNmom-rCZmL0doWHDI8qjf841hOALyJvSnPKkTrUvwQUQmiGxQXG1wm8qiLHBcjkiMkvFccdrV6MeRt0jSTU2LrgbRd7eSnT0TGOKmlE4QWKufiYZmP8mb8ytC1zkL524kaf9/s400/234978262109_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxQeRoZJJorMfmsLWXUDhhutAz2KGITDnvCw6RGKvX11ALQoNWm9KGAsuEjvwJvutvm8gmpldztVIKmRx9qkn1qNTspJbDnVYa-3Bf7wpl6qZBaAoJX8OlIS3vOlAx6HTwi9T/s1600-h/312719463209_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250347572115676066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxQeRoZJJorMfmsLWXUDhhutAz2KGITDnvCw6RGKvX11ALQoNWm9KGAsuEjvwJvutvm8gmpldztVIKmRx9qkn1qNTspJbDnVYa-3Bf7wpl6qZBaAoJX8OlIS3vOlAx6HTwi9T/s400/312719463209_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0P1TVwAtwt95WsmnReOh6HuB4MVeisMrSo9XVGMRow49T__cKuwNcXOGfSi9RlQNuEFMaJYVP-biV9jlcvdrwKsFLlgnGWqSBdTl_1Xt8qZ1ZxFAjSTTiez7FDHj0YWdQWmj/s1600-h/801593367109_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250347575726900210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0P1TVwAtwt95WsmnReOh6HuB4MVeisMrSo9XVGMRow49T__cKuwNcXOGfSi9RlQNuEFMaJYVP-biV9jlcvdrwKsFLlgnGWqSBdTl_1Xt8qZ1ZxFAjSTTiez7FDHj0YWdQWmj/s400/801593367109_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRkjfAd-nJriRpaC9VWJkg_hxkVBTsT_Wc-Q1cnP95lYut7OCv_m8YN-MBBzNF4hSHxUM7klTt32iSfQDNkxJPQMk5ecsRRBlXMeDKxAFflNiGELp4q5AHlH57eI_JAHsMhiZ/s1600-h/880602991209_0_ALB.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250347576415375474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRkjfAd-nJriRpaC9VWJkg_hxkVBTsT_Wc-Q1cnP95lYut7OCv_m8YN-MBBzNF4hSHxUM7klTt32iSfQDNkxJPQMk5ecsRRBlXMeDKxAFflNiGELp4q5AHlH57eI_JAHsMhiZ/s400/880602991209_0_ALB.jpg" border="0" /></a>I am currently at home in Minnesota, I just got home last night. It is scary to be back, no place to live, no job, no car, no money! But its also exciting and completely awesome. Jeff and I were given a early COS (Close of Service) date because of a family situation. Jeff is, however, still in Nicaragua for 2 more weeks. So here I am, home, a RPCV. (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer)<br /><br />Peace Corps is like a rollercoaster; you're up and you're down in a matter of seconds. There were many days were it went from great to crappy, back to normal in a matter of hours. Was it worth it? Ya, totally. I learned a lot: spanish, about Nicaraguan culture, about Central America, and about myself. I am very greatful for this opportunity, and yes, I would do it again. I will miss it.<br />Adiooooos!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKykZH39HxavZbPc_sNiF5NujaYOBKcAUnYRwUuAfDZpI-hQ6yZWNj-Cq_F16O8V9EeduEQaf9uI8KHzvgDxPzlhD7IFVRBdPEGFu7tS4Rt01UdHWEW-N_Q301t83qpJobG9ih/s1600-h/Imagen+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248679954485940226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKykZH39HxavZbPc_sNiF5NujaYOBKcAUnYRwUuAfDZpI-hQ6yZWNj-Cq_F16O8V9EeduEQaf9uI8KHzvgDxPzlhD7IFVRBdPEGFu7tS4Rt01UdHWEW-N_Q301t83qpJobG9ih/s400/Imagen+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-45228863171898579522008-09-17T10:38:00.009-06:002008-09-17T11:55:33.383-06:00Nicaragua Independence Day 2008Nicaragua´s Independece Day doesn´t just celebrate the independence of Nicaragua, but of 5 Central American countries: Guatamala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. It´s a pretty big deal. To celebrate, there are parades the two days before Independence Day. The first parade is when all the primary schools march. But not all the students get to march in Chinandega because we´re such a big city with so many schools, only the TOP students. This means the students who have the best overall percentage in classes, the band, and then some baton twirlers. Our neighbors marched with their school, and they carried the school banner.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvs0qZrExG1K6DznyZh67ln4XTkHn62E5dP9YDQNthTSxGxwlTrqVFzLsBqf3MaYo_GhOTDhv3Nd_-iDB2U6H8PF9Wa5GXG5ber1VTfKzkDZj6PEZmPaemMOrQGgFu1RNXwqL/s1600-h/Imagen+137.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvs0qZrExG1K6DznyZh67ln4XTkHn62E5dP9YDQNthTSxGxwlTrqVFzLsBqf3MaYo_GhOTDhv3Nd_-iDB2U6H8PF9Wa5GXG5ber1VTfKzkDZj6PEZmPaemMOrQGgFu1RNXwqL/s400/Imagen+137.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247032021284755282" border="0" /></a>Our other neighbours also were in the parade for their school. This is taken afterwards, in front of their house. One was a baton twirler, the girl in the middle was one of the best students, and the little one carried the Nicaraguan national symbol.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIBRCZOtqF6rN-eEG3wZo3Em4HxpUtKSQSk_lqFEDn3Dwek-YaVanRAysofhMzb2qlCyE4wrH2MSS61okNEsO6SQPxA2mMsYj_v-bJmdzy40AimPFi4jfgQrYDJF6olgC5p-D/s1600-h/Imagen+149.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIBRCZOtqF6rN-eEG3wZo3Em4HxpUtKSQSk_lqFEDn3Dwek-YaVanRAysofhMzb2qlCyE4wrH2MSS61okNEsO6SQPxA2mMsYj_v-bJmdzy40AimPFi4jfgQrYDJF6olgC5p-D/s400/Imagen+149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247032023753276466" border="0" /></a>The big day in the second parade-the parade for all of the high schools. This year 21 high schools marched in the parade. My school has 4,000 students, and a few hundred walked. First come the best of the best, wearing their very military style outfits, or maybe it looks more like a pilot. The best of the best carry the school banner, the school symbol and the flags for all the Central American countries that gained their independence on this day. Its a pretty big deal. And they have to buy those outfits!!! 500 cords! (40 dollars). The teachers walk behind all of the students, which is why we were lucky enough to get to walk too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaizLEjqzXECWcqgzpKNdLJQ1nky08faWscQiysawC-d96u5pPZkQXDDASxqhi1URv29swoLHPiRQi0i-c3awYygm0YTlDuuyBF25wlMw_bzMlszwYwx7f_ZThJ8wANCx1el6Z/s1600-h/Imagen+197.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaizLEjqzXECWcqgzpKNdLJQ1nky08faWscQiysawC-d96u5pPZkQXDDASxqhi1URv29swoLHPiRQi0i-c3awYygm0YTlDuuyBF25wlMw_bzMlszwYwx7f_ZThJ8wANCx1el6Z/s400/Imagen+197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247032028220183458" border="0" /></a>Me and my favorite students. Maried, Williams, Carlos, me, Ricardo, Mariela, and Rider.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYx4VwyyntDTKzMDGqCQBBP5f4F6-MqcibPNn_5Z5E8__7n08HL2DGDj6XBLOpeIyBE3-65y5vpJSg4CbWf4gBuUHPH48aQuPoIqgKd0l4-0so6syHKeWsr0RAAL7AdRn6uBK/s1600-h/Imagen+153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwYx4VwyyntDTKzMDGqCQBBP5f4F6-MqcibPNn_5Z5E8__7n08HL2DGDj6XBLOpeIyBE3-65y5vpJSg4CbWf4gBuUHPH48aQuPoIqgKd0l4-0so6syHKeWsr0RAAL7AdRn6uBK/s400/Imagen+153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247033654755615154" border="0" /></a>Jeff and one of his students who is carrying the flag for Jeff´s school, Tomás Ruiz.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXzxpExBM65Ms0Sd66qOOwb8VpWWiiGksOiwgZVllxK6SXjXQ1WT1m-OmRs8R3U1-Np74aZfqVzfLObp9FzeL9vo_-ACT5viZxVKd8ozTvHrCrVwsBYpc7eJp_IX5CkTjkwDo/s1600-h/Imagen+168.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXzxpExBM65Ms0Sd66qOOwb8VpWWiiGksOiwgZVllxK6SXjXQ1WT1m-OmRs8R3U1-Np74aZfqVzfLObp9FzeL9vo_-ACT5viZxVKd8ozTvHrCrVwsBYpc7eJp_IX5CkTjkwDo/s400/Imagen+168.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247033662872689458" border="0" /></a>The chaos that is the parade.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTD_SkWB73mo_7434olySS7UgCP0en0vru1ZSL6y_qoJCN3CZ8cS7mR1J1T3FmJ5F9DPFJa6uXo15wcSJEqr-AKqI0bdvV7EdGfkLfBed7nGUowEe_-Bs4B15vtXqhZVpqaND/s1600-h/Imagen+172.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrTD_SkWB73mo_7434olySS7UgCP0en0vru1ZSL6y_qoJCN3CZ8cS7mR1J1T3FmJ5F9DPFJa6uXo15wcSJEqr-AKqI0bdvV7EdGfkLfBed7nGUowEe_-Bs4B15vtXqhZVpqaND/s400/Imagen+172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247049093903727634" border="0" /></a><br />Danica and me holding our school´s symbol. Danica is a new TEFL volunteer who is replacing me! Yeah!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerRdfiNyRFateuTPQ6R6lrIjCxXF-2nODWgUKgQlSwUs3k225aNmgYWA2JCFgjiYqnGjP2BLoK6WDm2qDmAe-OGLnwsHEzF7FXCk9wURQvu-_oSs77FgTvRx2xJTuJkq9wAhK/s1600-h/Imagen+175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerRdfiNyRFateuTPQ6R6lrIjCxXF-2nODWgUKgQlSwUs3k225aNmgYWA2JCFgjiYqnGjP2BLoK6WDm2qDmAe-OGLnwsHEzF7FXCk9wURQvu-_oSs77FgTvRx2xJTuJkq9wAhK/s400/Imagen+175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247035533925792418" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5ZmAOIb-tQSz849ZnKh5-f8ybmQfFtnDqK4vYjMWuLkJTVR0Gnmt_4L8kxOXph7xB0Aj6B8Me15y2zq1F1kUOJZpIf_pNOH9QY_XxA6Z_ZUrJClQenbLKcF-7O3WsJ7gpICE/s1600-h/Imagen+194.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5ZmAOIb-tQSz849ZnKh5-f8ybmQfFtnDqK4vYjMWuLkJTVR0Gnmt_4L8kxOXph7xB0Aj6B8Me15y2zq1F1kUOJZpIf_pNOH9QY_XxA6Z_ZUrJClQenbLKcF-7O3WsJ7gpICE/s400/Imagen+194.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247035538821066034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3sXFntPbtMrEgBYuyHmhA74uVWcNa-dTm0RoStX95fUjCVDrZwcyECgAaOUNMfl3Vn68u8QMsPFG3kUyycJjWNu5r1d0nm7rup4ScSj_4k52IhuHbxhQ0etNCeEf46vVpltc/s1600-h/Imagen+195.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM3sXFntPbtMrEgBYuyHmhA74uVWcNa-dTm0RoStX95fUjCVDrZwcyECgAaOUNMfl3Vn68u8QMsPFG3kUyycJjWNu5r1d0nm7rup4ScSj_4k52IhuHbxhQ0etNCeEf46vVpltc/s400/Imagen+195.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247039505858817730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnWPAmX6CUbN7qvjxZQBKYx32z8Di-mNkK3eOU0HPcgn5xuS8coVP6CkiRNhKSTiIjzJiNNH4FOQJVOImRJt7LcX0KHVbvOwTPsUWF6iby2BIeBjyiuXqt0v4_-vsF6hhcPjZ/s1600-h/Imagen+198.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnWPAmX6CUbN7qvjxZQBKYx32z8Di-mNkK3eOU0HPcgn5xuS8coVP6CkiRNhKSTiIjzJiNNH4FOQJVOImRJt7LcX0KHVbvOwTPsUWF6iby2BIeBjyiuXqt0v4_-vsF6hhcPjZ/s400/Imagen+198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247035540616483810" border="0" /></a>Jeff school marched at spot number 14. This took place at about 10 a.m. We got to the baskeball court, where this all takes place, at 6:30 a.m. And it was hot. Really hot. Those poor kids in those pilot suits.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpg2clKzNXVknzFL1GE6kSgbVMYtCcmUE-ZNserG5u4z1E-5lPQ1Cc5xHMRqUZ9zqWeG9cLjJEIWlfyJ2t4hHGE3VupiPtdBX06rElgj_q5hLNVqqluTQvuvBDnNA4LuK2M_Tj/s1600-h/Imagen+180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpg2clKzNXVknzFL1GE6kSgbVMYtCcmUE-ZNserG5u4z1E-5lPQ1Cc5xHMRqUZ9zqWeG9cLjJEIWlfyJ2t4hHGE3VupiPtdBX06rElgj_q5hLNVqqluTQvuvBDnNA4LuK2M_Tj/s400/Imagen+180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247039497110769378" border="0" /></a>And here come Jeff and Elizabeth. Elizabeth is our new sitemate. She is working at Jeff´s school, and will replace him there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXwCg9boZNQfNJYXsFIm9qz0YuHc8YMFFXWw8rutb2Fij61sx4ZKasbWuNQPajOUQ1bxQWYoEuNVOIMif-t-NMED2SrccehI2lP0xmtnXZA_Jm6QCSsR2uLKF0HNUqgRndYUx/s1600-h/Imagen+191.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXwCg9boZNQfNJYXsFIm9qz0YuHc8YMFFXWw8rutb2Fij61sx4ZKasbWuNQPajOUQ1bxQWYoEuNVOIMif-t-NMED2SrccehI2lP0xmtnXZA_Jm6QCSsR2uLKF0HNUqgRndYUx/s400/Imagen+191.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247042415020078962" border="0" /></a><br />All schools must do a presentation before they leave the baskeball court to march. Here is my schools amazing performance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMM2INIw_hv_4dQaxiYhaZjDghIoSbnYNqboU7VJlp96MJZrJtjwESY4xLP8S_8b6OiAPIZTu47ADChzdrwBaw4LgNgdxASrL_PuVVOGUddJXvqh3_C6HPVqk08eHi0lbaCyxO/s1600-h/Imagen+203.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMM2INIw_hv_4dQaxiYhaZjDghIoSbnYNqboU7VJlp96MJZrJtjwESY4xLP8S_8b6OiAPIZTu47ADChzdrwBaw4LgNgdxASrL_PuVVOGUddJXvqh3_C6HPVqk08eHi0lbaCyxO/s400/Imagen+203.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247035548371673810" border="0" /></a>And we´re off marching. Thank god. We were the LAST school. Number 21! We left at 11 a.m.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9srGCXXvRqWKYsL3GHBsbfjrlouS51_VMtDWQn69JV-kZ7LPOwfU0sd1iwjr7Im_6BRJk6gIHWmf3ovfNyiYlJGJObcjxhtD6RlSi2afZc2GDRVKG-_k_nAlGbIES5eZxzr-/s1600-h/Imagen+206.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9srGCXXvRqWKYsL3GHBsbfjrlouS51_VMtDWQn69JV-kZ7LPOwfU0sd1iwjr7Im_6BRJk6gIHWmf3ovfNyiYlJGJObcjxhtD6RlSi2afZc2GDRVKG-_k_nAlGbIES5eZxzr-/s400/Imagen+206.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247039512513625986" border="0" /></a>I don´t think that I can fully explain the chaos that is the Indpendence Day parade. So you get there in the morning and wait all day to start. The baskeball court is filled with hundreds, thousands of students and other observers. Then you finally start walking. I was already drenched with sweat when we left. The march is about 2 hours long. The band plays and the girls dance throughout the march. The sidewalks are packed with people watching. People are sitting on roofs, the sidewalk is overflowing on to the street. Then people start walking with you, infiltrating the band. I was walking with kids and adults up on me the entire time. It´s actually scary. The police sort of try and help, but give up after awhile. I was kicking people out and moving people the entire time. It´s hard for the kids to play the drums when someone is standing right next to them. But that is what those baton twirlers are there for. They swing those things right out into the crowd to move them back and keep them away. That part is great.<br /><br />That was our second and last Nicaraguan Independece Day celebration. I know for sure that I will never experience anything like that again. Tear.Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-32492449155755925392008-08-27T13:20:00.004-06:002008-08-27T13:27:23.757-06:00El Chorizo!!!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtlTFhUq5TJkqunm5G5eqN_dCm1IylFHK8bfJJL6w3eNl8zn3Zm8R_hLzoFsvpu1vMdWQKklB5GmuurIFMOi7yTnqh3j_XHJkro63_Uhyphenhyphen_sKA3Wuu1ojO84eVrmYlpDQC7jZ8/s1600-h/jeff+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtlTFhUq5TJkqunm5G5eqN_dCm1IylFHK8bfJJL6w3eNl8zn3Zm8R_hLzoFsvpu1vMdWQKklB5GmuurIFMOi7yTnqh3j_XHJkro63_Uhyphenhyphen_sKA3Wuu1ojO84eVrmYlpDQC7jZ8/s320/jeff+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239279966585374290" border="0" /></a> The weiner race at the Milwaukee Brewers game!!<br /></div> In early Aug. we went to the states for 3 days for my brother´s wedding in Milwaukee. It was a lot of fun, although tiring. The day after the wedding we went to the Brewers game with my brother and his wife, Wendy, and a few of their friends. When it came time for the weiner race I cheered with all my might for mi amigo, el chorizo, but it was for not. He was too quick out of the blocks and could not hold, fading face the second half of the race. Que Lastima!Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-58080163555525952008-08-27T12:54:00.005-06:002008-08-27T13:20:03.335-06:00Fish Story!About a month ago I got the opportunity to go deep sea fishing. Our old sitemate, Ernie, who is working for Peace Corps now in Managua, invited me to go along with him and his dad, that was visiting, and another former PC volunteer from Ernie´s group, down in San Juan del Sur. This was the first time I have ever got to do anything like this, probably cause I suck at fishing. We went out with 2 guides and the 4 of us for the whole day. The guides provided everything, food, drinks, all necessary fishing equipment, etc. All we had to do is get ready. I was the 3rd person to get a chance to reel one in. The first two were good sized fish, but it took them maybe 10 minutes to reel them in. Just my luck when it was my turn I got what seemed to be a good sized one also.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mnORLQpFCWSpJKB38fT41532WPhXWwVn3HXqTLHuevCR5jwne221GC9Wex-m_stn6EZJvUik_9XKF7z1mck9QxaMiKigjDTSyvextPHh_sHK26DPkb8NH7YCE0fbaaHx60PV/s1600-h/jeff+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mnORLQpFCWSpJKB38fT41532WPhXWwVn3HXqTLHuevCR5jwne221GC9Wex-m_stn6EZJvUik_9XKF7z1mck9QxaMiKigjDTSyvextPHh_sHK26DPkb8NH7YCE0fbaaHx60PV/s320/jeff+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239275591008205138" border="0" /></a> Here is me working hard.<br />It took me a good half hour to get this fish in the boat. I struggled through fatigue, cramping, and my swimsuit falling almost all the way off me(nothing like showing your ass to everyone on the boat when you are trying to reel in the big one!), because of my weight loss here, but I didn´t let go of that pole. And the results were this...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCXexIT3_4qUQ06qLixHoKdIDlEjQ8_VIEdd4cetl-2_tlNz1CdQRKvl-tqbYGJbV522uvEY4m2jwCoO6-Hjk0Vhj6MgcaKp3V0P83GLb0ZmOjUOznfaBOtb_ZzZqt5DCI2Q2/s1600-h/Nueva+imagen.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCXexIT3_4qUQ06qLixHoKdIDlEjQ8_VIEdd4cetl-2_tlNz1CdQRKvl-tqbYGJbV522uvEY4m2jwCoO6-Hjk0Vhj6MgcaKp3V0P83GLb0ZmOjUOznfaBOtb_ZzZqt5DCI2Q2/s320/Nueva+imagen.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239276843089055634" border="0" /></a>It was a about a 70 lbs. wahoo. The guide said it was the biggest he had seen caught of that type. Talk about luck! After that we did not have as much luck catching fish, but I did get some awesome sea sickness after I caught my fish. Luckily Ernie´s dad is a doctor and he prescribed me 2 beers and a half a dramamine, which did wonders.<br />When we got back to port the guide cut up all the fish. We took about 1/6 of the meat from the fish I caught and brought it to a restaurant owned by a chef from California. He cooked it up with some veggie, mashed potatoes and a sauce on top. It was really good, (even Jenny ate some). Here are the catches from the day, minus one which is still in the boat. The two others are Mahi Mahi.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABibUWtTTG-E7QIACO1sjNBUo8CKcXo_LCp_Y7BPRTb3jI3YgihZ_YRlPidsqARHyaUmSukWBFPGSsOg2jjc5Qr2tMNW5MJkSLJnDYgWYQxxaYUZxFE6a_L_4kQheq_mrNDA1/s1600-h/jeff+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABibUWtTTG-E7QIACO1sjNBUo8CKcXo_LCp_Y7BPRTb3jI3YgihZ_YRlPidsqARHyaUmSukWBFPGSsOg2jjc5Qr2tMNW5MJkSLJnDYgWYQxxaYUZxFE6a_L_4kQheq_mrNDA1/s320/jeff+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239277911309781522" border="0" /></a>So that is my fish story for my lifetime. I am just glad that it was bigger than the one my dad caught ice fishing and mounted so I can tease him!Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-12116925938280765342008-06-24T15:37:00.004-06:002008-06-24T16:17:07.175-06:00It´s been awhileWell, it has been quite awhile since we have written! Since our last blog, we have gone to the United States and it was glorious! I was so excited to go, and it lived up to its expectations. We did so many fun and great things. First, we went to our friends Courtney and Nate´s wedding. It was really fun and a great way to start off our trip. And it was the first time that we have looked nice for over a year and a half!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhVUjLm9LrdmpMqXsqN0Hs4GAyJXLZkqreJUMiPRtxqa5ddX-V2UhxFeCi1T6Jpl3Ma2nqAo6-xsrcMai78saZOqgVB9ry_aoALnZZIqOjKJkNWHPCIFbIagxRorKXu0dKHjQ/s1600-h/776641664209_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhVUjLm9LrdmpMqXsqN0Hs4GAyJXLZkqreJUMiPRtxqa5ddX-V2UhxFeCi1T6Jpl3Ma2nqAo6-xsrcMai78saZOqgVB9ry_aoALnZZIqOjKJkNWHPCIFbIagxRorKXu0dKHjQ/s400/776641664209_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215571357029902002" border="0" /></a>Courtney and Nate had a female minister. Our friends here thought that was strange. We don´t just for the record.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCMQT4BbR9wMrvCVObA59iOk9Po7bz3MJ-viCey_VHm9V1TbD3cVXqKkEk3WLmDP1W5vvxCFbHJvfUBrxuQeEps7jWy-O-OAgE_FfjR0R-jjpDrwLJ3fx7ygr6rCSAIZDxTzN/s1600-h/176641664209_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeCMQT4BbR9wMrvCVObA59iOk9Po7bz3MJ-viCey_VHm9V1TbD3cVXqKkEk3WLmDP1W5vvxCFbHJvfUBrxuQeEps7jWy-O-OAgE_FfjR0R-jjpDrwLJ3fx7ygr6rCSAIZDxTzN/s400/176641664209_0_ALB.jpg" /></a>Later, we also went to my stepbrother Aaron´s wedding. Here we are with my stepmom Luann in downtown St. Paul. The twin cities are so great! We also had a really good time at this wedding, as it was also very beautiful. That tornado warning didn´t stop us, even if we were told to move away from the very large windows to the back of the room. There was still beer.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-UQNSLrN_U8oB1h2QIjpn86dFiRaxlDskwi2vrHYjlk146BPia-_YjLQXvZINYsyFPtEes1gLB__Tu1N4vyjNDA9Ln2mP8RsKJtWPIdOSThX8PvFBJiK7g12x1HKcD8ZYk4Q/s1600-h/729990664209_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe-UQNSLrN_U8oB1h2QIjpn86dFiRaxlDskwi2vrHYjlk146BPia-_YjLQXvZINYsyFPtEes1gLB__Tu1N4vyjNDA9Ln2mP8RsKJtWPIdOSThX8PvFBJiK7g12x1HKcD8ZYk4Q/s400/729990664209_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215569498176373282" border="0" /></a>Aaron and Kara got married at the James J. Hill Library. When we got back we showed the pictures to our Nicaraguan friends who thought it was so funny and strange to get married in a library. They told me, more than once, oh you gringos really love your books! You even want to get married around them! If you get bored at the wedding, you can read. Followed by laughing by everyone but me. I tried to explain how beautiful it was, but it was lost in cultural differences.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg3t9OPROcvLThvOieZIwZT8rdRyUrV0wbLW5Um_d-QHoMAu2oxX_t0xWrcJxQEU3TuZfvsQB6PSPdatpWXN6hhBAjAxNrmFzlOFm8cko9efTIxYUop9NKEwAbIVw0VOhsNPR/s1600-h/167351664209_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTg3t9OPROcvLThvOieZIwZT8rdRyUrV0wbLW5Um_d-QHoMAu2oxX_t0xWrcJxQEU3TuZfvsQB6PSPdatpWXN6hhBAjAxNrmFzlOFm8cko9efTIxYUop9NKEwAbIVw0VOhsNPR/s400/167351664209_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215569502515859666" border="0" /></a>Another favorite pasttime that we have missed was lawn games. Here is Jeff with Renee playing Bag-O. A favorite.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTQJzjPT_7uwQbfjpfouIKI6PUJbpW0SO9S6NQ76kpgjqCRf59CkHmgsvB2RNT4rSc5Fd3XncpsL6SoK8rQyVh69I8BdxbkgAaSaG1tjnB9uoarHdhe_qBJkYY4PqZRqlIQSE/s1600-h/619990664209_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTQJzjPT_7uwQbfjpfouIKI6PUJbpW0SO9S6NQ76kpgjqCRf59CkHmgsvB2RNT4rSc5Fd3XncpsL6SoK8rQyVh69I8BdxbkgAaSaG1tjnB9uoarHdhe_qBJkYY4PqZRqlIQSE/s400/619990664209_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215567115619607938" border="0" /></a>We also enjoyed our favorite local beer, Summit. We have really missed good beer, as there are about 2 options here, both leaving something to be desired. Unless you are a Miller or Bud Light fan, well then, you might be pleased with the beer here. Notice, I am wearing 2 sweatshirts. It was that cold!! (the following pictures are ripped off from Veronica, thanks!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYBigT5Yq1Vf9FNXy9qCHyOew4Cu-iEzI89cIncHKPnvq8f1KM31qAAfC_mGGzCNf7x78z9O90H3CdzN_zXww23SSzYfjDNWABwhtd_-MEGRX_auu0ix7F6nGNY09OilEfLT9/s1600-h/170449557306_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoYBigT5Yq1Vf9FNXy9qCHyOew4Cu-iEzI89cIncHKPnvq8f1KM31qAAfC_mGGzCNf7x78z9O90H3CdzN_zXww23SSzYfjDNWABwhtd_-MEGRX_auu0ix7F6nGNY09OilEfLT9/s400/170449557306_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215567115232939458" border="0" /></a>Jeff also taught some signs that are popular here in Nicaragua. We were remembering that goal number 3 of the Peace Corps is to educate US citizens about our host country. Jeff was on the clock here, giving a short charla on nonverbal communication. We did also go to Southside Family School and give a presentation on our experiences here in Nicaragua. This nonverbal presentation was not included.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjtTCJEnwJhDdar_1moE0UA4nwhh_-pfWnZtJvPmCY-W1xbkjf5oa-XE0nPE8-R_tJ16NSgPF6gMPtukKRZMY7mJMAsrGBhHidkewvZftYpFNf7co4XBjQx0C_BPw5ZaGr5Bd/s1600-h/842598557306_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjtTCJEnwJhDdar_1moE0UA4nwhh_-pfWnZtJvPmCY-W1xbkjf5oa-XE0nPE8-R_tJ16NSgPF6gMPtukKRZMY7mJMAsrGBhHidkewvZftYpFNf7co4XBjQx0C_BPw5ZaGr5Bd/s400/842598557306_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215567120596103074" border="0" /></a>We also relived some oldies, but goodies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HEY_HnHwZI0Jjizd-3EW7jYRzwY8NXb7eRHNsaZw83eUBE1lOpi9ubn1Vr8gCwnz_nltnQVfMqQ2_3j4ROgOjDijFuPDwMv7YXfPv1ziM6bkiwOKP-FMc6d5lKF3l_urSSdL/s1600-h/381419557306_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HEY_HnHwZI0Jjizd-3EW7jYRzwY8NXb7eRHNsaZw83eUBE1lOpi9ubn1Vr8gCwnz_nltnQVfMqQ2_3j4ROgOjDijFuPDwMv7YXfPv1ziM6bkiwOKP-FMc6d5lKF3l_urSSdL/s400/381419557306_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215569496342286594" border="0" /></a>And we drank more good beer! Guiness, I miss you....oh, and I miss you too Shaun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1SmnoR1gywZ9HvAOJ40wuapj7OmOABAOcI3qq6Fp6zn8RWEdkShBj_I1OIIiiI-1Yu1qpMt0ZsBbp5r-YR5tnkLkQTOrSSZ6oaf3gp9IUEsL_Hnk0stHxilqMQKdEFtTbEq7/s1600-h/520827277306_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1SmnoR1gywZ9HvAOJ40wuapj7OmOABAOcI3qq6Fp6zn8RWEdkShBj_I1OIIiiI-1Yu1qpMt0ZsBbp5r-YR5tnkLkQTOrSSZ6oaf3gp9IUEsL_Hnk0stHxilqMQKdEFtTbEq7/s400/520827277306_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215569500976779154" border="0" /></a>We saw a lot of family and friends and went to 2 twins games! We also ate out at all of our favorite joints. We had a really great time.<br /><br />Since returning to Nicaragua, Jeff and I have both judged an English singing competition. I judged one for an elementary school where the second place winner was a little 4th grade boy who sang ¨My Heart Will Go On¨ by Celine Dion while wearing a suit and tie. Just thought I would mention that....<br /><br />Well, at any rate, we are back in Nicaragua and we have 5 months left here. Our replacements are coming next week. And, just for the record, its still really hot here.Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-2430212885549135712008-03-10T11:17:00.012-06:002008-03-12T10:33:06.225-06:00Update from The ChinSchool started which seemed to conicide with a decline in blog writing by us. So, here is an update as to what we have been doing these past 2 months, other the contemplate the educational system, as stated in Jenny´s previous blog. After we returned to Chinandega from being on vacation and working at the summer camp in Managua, we had about a week to prepare for the upcoming school year. The week before school started all the teachers (a couple hundred teachers) from the department of Chinandega come here to have workshops put on by the Ministry of Education. One of my counterparts happened to be one of the faciliators for the English teachers. He asked me if I would help him with some activities, so Jenny and I ended up presenting particpatory ideas to use in the classroom three days in a row. It was luck that my counterpart happened to be one of the faciliators and we got this opportunity to work with all the English teachers in the department. Yeah, objetive 2.2!!!<br /><br />The school year at my school definitely got off to a faster start this year since I was already accustomed to my counterparts and the specific challenges that working here entails. But, one challenge that is always hard to overcome is when you do not have a classroom. At my school right now there are 4 different classes that share the basketball court, as shown by the photo, plus one other class that doesn´t fit on the court so they are off in the dirt. Talk about a difficult way to start the year. I work with my counterpart in the morning with 3 of these sections. It is almost impossible to do speaking activities because I can not hear/understand the students and vice versa. Luckily they are in the process of building the extra classrooms necessary and they should be done in April or May...I hope.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHKz22ay_YgDIvFr3JI2fGXk-VM1XSAGnnaBA1f3_nYrjMAQdTURscV2oyKsE1zsRtggQP7HwqHwI_W0pRtv3SbYmd9psN29V-aFdYK78ahPYzEomqvl4i4YBkfKas01W_PSM/s1600-h/IMG_1301.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHKz22ay_YgDIvFr3JI2fGXk-VM1XSAGnnaBA1f3_nYrjMAQdTURscV2oyKsE1zsRtggQP7HwqHwI_W0pRtv3SbYmd9psN29V-aFdYK78ahPYzEomqvl4i4YBkfKas01W_PSM/s320/IMG_1301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176164529976622722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj0gcOhOXJFb3Igk5cKYUC4J1ihU6Bn8NOcuWa3v6YfR5cvl3GwgeC7jqYXa2bIWjABNryfkh7xlKhXOeq1HW8FpWeBkP6YDKHk-7hBclsEsNt_R-AMWeislbI-xVsDOWzAxn/s1600-h/IMG_1304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj0gcOhOXJFb3Igk5cKYUC4J1ihU6Bn8NOcuWa3v6YfR5cvl3GwgeC7jqYXa2bIWjABNryfkh7xlKhXOeq1HW8FpWeBkP6YDKHk-7hBclsEsNt_R-AMWeislbI-xVsDOWzAxn/s320/IMG_1304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176167055417392786" border="0" /></a><br />My counterpart David writing on the whiteboard in our classroom of 11th grade students (seniors here).<br /><br />Besides our usual English teachings responsibilities we have been doing some "secondary projects" including cooking with soy and creating a garden and compost pile in our backyard. These are more for our own good and sanity.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bghc5INssLbUVdL06hRTbtev2XDfOEsOJ49vLO9nlfGUq-eksPbfqdQ2x-FRlw4M7H9JvWIAfzUmkLb0yHqjNN1-WDqmQLfJu5hdq3RqlT3zdqLxcLpom3oX32PW9vjZez8E/s1600-h/IMG_1307.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Bghc5INssLbUVdL06hRTbtev2XDfOEsOJ49vLO9nlfGUq-eksPbfqdQ2x-FRlw4M7H9JvWIAfzUmkLb0yHqjNN1-WDqmQLfJu5hdq3RqlT3zdqLxcLpom3oX32PW9vjZez8E/s320/IMG_1307.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176168163518955170" border="0" /></a><br />Will cooking our "Chorizo with Soy"... It tasted a lot better than it looked!<br /><br />Will actually bought the soy beans here in Chinandega in the market and then soaked them and got the meat (payana) out of them before bringing them to our house to cook with.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDiiI7umfDTjFWB_JQfueJyRPk5xYXg32foZ4EV6OoLZ4EWly6SAmNj7ePxjECTW4UjUnU9T4RKh_5bk1xWhVxYS5j67FkB6ciwuX1aXIbxji9QGanfL3bAnKyDFjnREFipsA/s1600-h/IMG_1316.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDiiI7umfDTjFWB_JQfueJyRPk5xYXg32foZ4EV6OoLZ4EWly6SAmNj7ePxjECTW4UjUnU9T4RKh_5bk1xWhVxYS5j67FkB6ciwuX1aXIbxji9QGanfL3bAnKyDFjnREFipsA/s320/IMG_1316.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176169271620517554" border="0" /></a><br />Not really a secondary project, but what would a blog be without a random picture of a parade that came by our house the other night. This one was for a private school that is near our house. Surprisingly, it had a religious theme!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoJwoDL-VwKYlsBr1WWshkrCWQAt34-aK7dyqHCRfafym5W0AU2Rp7XsC1k3MCXXF9Xsx6nMAO3JS0Mmaewd_G-oG8oXg60AX8Cj3_YnMoMY6mNudoDXkZ289zJnU43PtCvkA/s1600-h/IMG_1319.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoJwoDL-VwKYlsBr1WWshkrCWQAt34-aK7dyqHCRfafym5W0AU2Rp7XsC1k3MCXXF9Xsx6nMAO3JS0Mmaewd_G-oG8oXg60AX8Cj3_YnMoMY6mNudoDXkZ289zJnU43PtCvkA/s320/IMG_1319.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176170323887505090" border="0" /></a>Here is our amazing compost pile it even comes with free baby trantulas!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bkPc8Xaq_AJ4x5da3Oqu8PZczO1Ct5s8hdIXPQJsr166nTUBEmXd6MipsRkcRwXNuCoKYvxTojcSEW_8YxBLQ9FH4ZLvgsWpsgV1Tkf70hb9yZgNMS9S71fmhzybMdKJMmhb/s1600-h/IMG_1327.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bkPc8Xaq_AJ4x5da3Oqu8PZczO1Ct5s8hdIXPQJsr166nTUBEmXd6MipsRkcRwXNuCoKYvxTojcSEW_8YxBLQ9FH4ZLvgsWpsgV1Tkf70hb9yZgNMS9S71fmhzybMdKJMmhb/s320/IMG_1327.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176171268780310226" border="0" /></a><br />Finished after a lot of help from our two friendly environment volunteers, Lucian and Will. We couldn´t have done it without you! Now we just have to wait for the fruits of our labor..peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, two types of lettuce, and melon...mmmm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNvWhv1577R9Aqw1cwXpUwTcwNUf_N8yGhGo5OFJHAHG507p2ntklCvCfXBB8-tXKz0X8dXMh4lQef6pfsAm2XJVljUplGb3kXQrcye0VGf2dT4pp8rvpYGf88qCkU7_7owA7/s1600-h/IMG_1320.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNvWhv1577R9Aqw1cwXpUwTcwNUf_N8yGhGo5OFJHAHG507p2ntklCvCfXBB8-tXKz0X8dXMh4lQef6pfsAm2XJVljUplGb3kXQrcye0VGf2dT4pp8rvpYGf88qCkU7_7owA7/s320/IMG_1320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176172690414485218" border="0" /></a><br />This photo is for Jenny´s dad because Jenny said he would never believe her if she told him that she picked weeds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQstOmW9yKSm3QxtWE67-vNN8q3mx45bxzZnZ-0j5nUdCseee8ia6YpGz9WOyCFSlE6bZfJhLeNCf2PjzxkBR0CysbDaII69vYpzDxP9cHX83S-hT90vMMTE-IzFyv5vxl5OS/s1600-h/IMG_1329.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQstOmW9yKSm3QxtWE67-vNN8q3mx45bxzZnZ-0j5nUdCseee8ia6YpGz9WOyCFSlE6bZfJhLeNCf2PjzxkBR0CysbDaII69vYpzDxP9cHX83S-hT90vMMTE-IzFyv5vxl5OS/s320/IMG_1329.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176173734091538162" border="0" /></a><br />This is Paul. He is a health volunteer in Corinto. He didn´t really help with the garden, but man, can he supervise!<br /><br />We have about 7 months left here and it seems to be going so fast. We still have plently that we want to accomplish....next up... <span style="font-weight: bold;">making homemade mango wine!! </span><br />Oh yeah, and of course the English teaching and all our other projects and responsibilities.Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-65523235120729822502008-03-07T13:26:00.004-06:002008-03-12T10:33:32.409-06:00Jenny´s had too much time to think...The other day I was thinking...why is it so much easier teaching here than in the states? Is it because there are 2 of us in the classroom? I do think that this has a lot of do with it, but not everything. So what else is it? I think it is so much less stressful teaching here. Maybe it´s because I´m a volunteer and I don´t have to deal with any political issues? Once again, yes, but this isn´t a big problem in the US, so it doesn´t really count. So really, why?<br /><br />Then I got to thinking.....wait, I know nothing about most of my students, much less their names. But neither does anybody else. In the states, we are encouraged to find out why Student A is sleeping during class, why Student B doesn´t do his homework, why Student C is such a spaz, and why Student D copies incorrectly from the board. This is something here that teachers don´t worry about! However, I still do. Sometimes I´ll make comments to my counterpart, Hey did you know that Student B who never does his homework has a job and works all afternoon/evening? And he´ll say....mmmmm. Like, and your point is.....??? I realized that here, the teachers don´t think of this as part of their jobs. Well, I guess, because it´s not.<br /><br />Some of this makes my life a lot easier. We can treat all students as equals. But the truth is, they aren´t. Why should 2 students who grew up in the states be judged on the same scale as the rest of the students in English class? Since nobody is diagnosed with learning disablities, that must mean that nobody has one, right? WRONG! It is amazing the amount of students who can not copy off the board without their papers looking totally crazy and illegible. But what do we do to help these students succeed? Nothing.<br /><br />In the states, the schools are really different. Teachers are expected to be part of a committee, hall moniters, lunch moniters, homeroom leaders, counselors, motivators, and more. I realize that only the teachers that really care do the counseling and motivating, but I really feel like that is a large portition of teachers in the US. However, here, teachers are mainly instructors. I am speaking about me as well. Here, I walk into the classroom and I give a lesson. It is up to the student to decide whether they want to learn it or not, listen or not, take notes or not. If they do or not, no me importa. I try and create lessons that stimulate and motivate my students, but beyond that, nada. In the states, I will honestly say, that kid in the back is going to learn, and really try to achieve that. Here I think, those of you paying attention will learn! Even though, sometimes just paying attention isn´t enough for some to learn.<br /><br />It´s sad really. Jeff thinks that Paulo Freire would be mad. However, most teachers don´t have time here to play the other roles of a teacher. Many teachers teach at one school from 7-12. A different school from 1-6, and yet a different school all day on Saturday or Sunday. This is way to much work to be doing a good job in the classes that you have. There needs to be big changes in the structure of the eductional system to allow the instructors here to really become teachers. There needs to be more teachers, more schools, and more class time for students. I don´t think that 7-12 really cuts it. Students need to recieve more classes, and be given more opportunties for other forms of learning in groups outside of school as well, or even sports teams.<br /><br />A lot of time, we hear a lot of complaining that there are no materials for teachers. And they´re underpaid. Welcome to the job of a teacher. Wherever we go, we will be underpaid! But materials, what do you REALLY need to inspire youth to learn? An imagination. Sure, some kick ass materials would help, but many times great materials go to waste because people don´t know how to use them. So maybe its better to do like we were told, to keep it smart and simple.<br /><br />There is so much that really needs to be changed. But really, as a Peace Corps volunteer, what can I do? Nothing with these big, structural changes. But I can try and help teachers do the best that they can, with what is given to them. I can also help students who want to learn English, learn more. It´s a start.Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-66565818473152798152008-01-28T13:07:00.001-06:002008-01-28T13:51:49.672-06:00Learning English IS FUN!Guess what? <a href="http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/nacionales/6568#top">we are in the paper.</a><br />Its true. A photo even. You have to look really hard to find Jeff. He´s all the way in the back next to the drunk guy wearing a hat crooked throwing the metal sign in the air. Where am I? I´m at the store down the block with 8 students buying chips. Ya, we missed the fame for chips!<br /><br />We spent 2 weeks living in Managua and working at a summer English immersion camp sponsered by the US Embassy. It was soooo much fun. There were 10 of us volunteers and almost 100 students, along with some Nicaraguan English teachers. It was the best experience that we have had so far teaching English, for us and the kids. Because it was total immersion, the students learned a lot in 2 weeks and improved what they already knew as well. The students were from all over Nicaragua. As volunteers, we got to recruit students from our schools. 5 students from my school and 1 from Jeff´s came to the camp. The students were then seperated into 3 basic groups and 2 intermediate groups. 4 of my students tested into the intermediate group, which made me proud. Here is me and my 5 students, plus one. They don´t look happy, but really we were having fun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3W-dEzTuwbYufGlPcMN8tF6Q_Rm7ofoRE2qtygv9YO_Ht2SryQ2u-sNUFllSUOFUqaAE_t580uOjBTFr156nmPowbLLImRpIPnFEJZ9tcPAi5LbWrDj6aKK6Hl8UuDmtdEPIi/s1600-h/Jenny+208.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3W-dEzTuwbYufGlPcMN8tF6Q_Rm7ofoRE2qtygv9YO_Ht2SryQ2u-sNUFllSUOFUqaAE_t580uOjBTFr156nmPowbLLImRpIPnFEJZ9tcPAi5LbWrDj6aKK6Hl8UuDmtdEPIi/s320/Jenny+208.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160614491686649602" border="0" /></a>In the mornings, they had 3 classes, each 1.5 hours. I taught American Culture class with Caitlin and Jeff taught Speaking and Listening with Paul. Below is Jeff teaching about time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcUcO78A-03w6Gnce_pmVcYpKSk99MTUq8jQ-wSsKsPamKb_zsDr42rNZGXRXLlSHg0vTh4w1mfGkBHZQ37cAv4C0lBbm_ErYWPVbxx7XobHvG_vSxN1G_IY3QJQFdrffAU2U/s1600-h/Jenny+149.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcUcO78A-03w6Gnce_pmVcYpKSk99MTUq8jQ-wSsKsPamKb_zsDr42rNZGXRXLlSHg0vTh4w1mfGkBHZQ37cAv4C0lBbm_ErYWPVbxx7XobHvG_vSxN1G_IY3QJQFdrffAU2U/s320/Jenny+149.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160614483096714994" border="0" /></a>In the afternoons we had sports or we went on fieldtrips. Here is Jeff with his fieldtrip group.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcoYlUCWk3lPLN7SRowu91IxafIOYxuRFHPCjt6GYUA71hd66glAez8M2mlkEpnnCB1V57vN2m4NX2UW2jFIWJEtYx7utqoPm0tlvO5V8zwEp8wlttegeWWbZKWHNUFoHqatg/s1600-h/Jenny+249.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcoYlUCWk3lPLN7SRowu91IxafIOYxuRFHPCjt6GYUA71hd66glAez8M2mlkEpnnCB1V57vN2m4NX2UW2jFIWJEtYx7utqoPm0tlvO5V8zwEp8wlttegeWWbZKWHNUFoHqatg/s320/Jenny+249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160614504571551506" border="0" /></a>They also had homework time at night before dinner. The last night we had a talent show where the kids could show off. After that, there was a dance party, obviously. Here are 3 students who did some songs in Spanish. They´re really dressed up. I don´t think that American kids would dress like that to camp. Just a guess.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhszlPGFpid8kL9xzF-vp812gEdoBInRgsZCn-bR-yK8YfqlcD_R30YrdIy-hPEYrtTURO6z5y0i0z6fw8gylt60yyniVJr0dV3gSY_YQ0_PrcU4WKD9cb_qf1HwaB9EY8KO0/s1600-h/Jenny+265.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhszlPGFpid8kL9xzF-vp812gEdoBInRgsZCn-bR-yK8YfqlcD_R30YrdIy-hPEYrtTURO6z5y0i0z6fw8gylt60yyniVJr0dV3gSY_YQ0_PrcU4WKD9cb_qf1HwaB9EY8KO0/s320/Jenny+265.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160614513161486114" border="0" /></a>The last day was a ceremony where the US ambassador came to give out certificates. Then, just like regular camp, there were a lot of tears. Here are all of the teachers, coordinators, and the US ambassador (he´s the really tall guy in the back)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGxWI-lwvW9Hz9O7hqCyhHg9jh3o3qjg0Td6i4wnq5M2szkaGyJd6T9g0VwxftBVYlXtVDXsA2dfkSvaYZtvT8uPnd5eArMaPOPTD8lJXU6n5a9qjdoRsfpGNzskYYC9TBKl_/s1600-h/Jenny+293.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGxWI-lwvW9Hz9O7hqCyhHg9jh3o3qjg0Td6i4wnq5M2szkaGyJd6T9g0VwxftBVYlXtVDXsA2dfkSvaYZtvT8uPnd5eArMaPOPTD8lJXU6n5a9qjdoRsfpGNzskYYC9TBKl_/s320/Jenny+293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5160614474506780386" border="0" /></a>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-69350301412394889892008-01-11T15:18:00.000-06:002008-01-11T16:04:37.453-06:00Vacation!!Starting with Christmas we began a 2+ week vacation with various people, including other volunteers, my dad, brother, and my mom. It was a nice break from everyday life in Chinandega and an opportunity to show my family,whom I had not seen in about 16 months, what Nicaragua is like. We traveled from Chinandega and the beaches up here and near Managua, to Granada and Volcán Mombacho, to visit my host family and buy some pottery in San Juan de Oriente, and down to the Laguna de Apoyo, among other places. Other than a few "traffic fines" paid to the local police (Remember, when you get into an accident here, you don´t get hurt, you die! Right, Andy?) and some missing luggage, I think everyone enjoyed seeing where we work and live. Plus, they got a chance to leave the cold and snow of Minnesota and Washington D.C.!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP61wbkXG4mvPi2TTi38KwYADxYPt3FnAAr0X7GM8DfmW8OqfaJkTmaao9WU-vUlgIOqF9vwfTzRnz4ZbHQHn0q7f8C7c3AZC7LwSrRLLceHw_w8qhJB7YhTn7fikAY69biy9L/s1600-h/jeff+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP61wbkXG4mvPi2TTi38KwYADxYPt3FnAAr0X7GM8DfmW8OqfaJkTmaao9WU-vUlgIOqF9vwfTzRnz4ZbHQHn0q7f8C7c3AZC7LwSrRLLceHw_w8qhJB7YhTn7fikAY69biy9L/s320/jeff+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336959839646210" border="0" /></a><br />The first of two visits to Montelimar. This one for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Mellisa, Caitlin, and of course, Jenny. Talk about a different Xmas than what we are used to in Minnesota. Instead of snow we had pools and beaches and all the food and drink we wanted!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkX-IRkqnzohEyoSfhyphenhyphenfHi9Ve2cZ0qTyS3FCbZ-OoBraa_R0zyP0KGWYZWkMkK0jwKxwx7OVvVpkvD8dLhfalKMrDMOIrsuiIi1qC4wPKO_6ZcVvLLkX_-V5WSqdeT5XXwA_Nj/s1600-h/jeff+023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkX-IRkqnzohEyoSfhyphenhyphenfHi9Ve2cZ0qTyS3FCbZ-OoBraa_R0zyP0KGWYZWkMkK0jwKxwx7OVvVpkvD8dLhfalKMrDMOIrsuiIi1qC4wPKO_6ZcVvLLkX_-V5WSqdeT5XXwA_Nj/s320/jeff+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336977019515426" border="0" /></a><br />At the pool at Puesta del Sol Resort on the beach north of Chinandega with my dad, brother, and Jenny.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy84Yu4_H1b7cdlRBRnMz7-gWzCiCeCcrpFGk2Sr6fHNjbFBdBLifXMNe8VDVQboTbs-7sHF50nEeg-EqEEGENekM2CdtfzcR_SWCMwlC1gVqj_oiCSc1UUemIRflNqSQ58aSi/s1600-h/jeff+026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy84Yu4_H1b7cdlRBRnMz7-gWzCiCeCcrpFGk2Sr6fHNjbFBdBLifXMNe8VDVQboTbs-7sHF50nEeg-EqEEGENekM2CdtfzcR_SWCMwlC1gVqj_oiCSc1UUemIRflNqSQ58aSi/s320/jeff+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336985609450034" border="0" /></a><br />My dad, brother and I enjoying our balcony at Puesta del Sol.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle2Mku6LMbQFTUKNhliLnhZWQbFh1lM7V7P1Gj5CZktGj-2O2iozeZJIn-eCmMSCn2RCue2vKGuVf3ybQ9sLCdH7yMWS94GR77JNlA_18KQ5UkinRDyq4K7oa8TySF2LEvCiP/s1600-h/jeff+030.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhle2Mku6LMbQFTUKNhliLnhZWQbFh1lM7V7P1Gj5CZktGj-2O2iozeZJIn-eCmMSCn2RCue2vKGuVf3ybQ9sLCdH7yMWS94GR77JNlA_18KQ5UkinRDyq4K7oa8TySF2LEvCiP/s320/jeff+030.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154336989904417346" border="0" /></a><br />Back in Chinadega in front of our house with my mom,Amy, Caitlin, and Caitlin´s mom who was also visiting.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRQL6_6igHrunZ3t1tf92gh1hWWZvTb_Vgau7rJDZaQjqzN3-YLN0BvtKKc3Kx1F_Vr5QoCSUCsV5dgLf_xBSS0n0ARRF_93lVdRD94SlItCFVEALozIH6AROWsSdZKHPte0y/s1600-h/jeff+049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRQL6_6igHrunZ3t1tf92gh1hWWZvTb_Vgau7rJDZaQjqzN3-YLN0BvtKKc3Kx1F_Vr5QoCSUCsV5dgLf_xBSS0n0ARRF_93lVdRD94SlItCFVEALozIH6AROWsSdZKHPte0y/s320/jeff+049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154340528957469266" border="0" /></a><br />My mom and I in front of the sign for Volcán Mombacho beforing we rode to the top. It was raining all the way up this very steep road to the top, I think that was only the second time I was ever really cold in Nicaragua.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QXUiJXx5xS7wwhXEsW93SHz9qkRb8XUH29MHnohBKLB6sUS9OKKWYm5ykpksealcA08rWntcb8h_D1-hwws3TiobNNUBWUowZuDKXfP88Gn57mvgogO4GjEZfAQsGRPvRMjy/s1600-h/jeff+074.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QXUiJXx5xS7wwhXEsW93SHz9qkRb8XUH29MHnohBKLB6sUS9OKKWYm5ykpksealcA08rWntcb8h_D1-hwws3TiobNNUBWUowZuDKXfP88Gn57mvgogO4GjEZfAQsGRPvRMjy/s320/jeff+074.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154340533252436578" border="0" /></a><br />Jenny and my mom looking out at Lake Nicaragua below from one of the viewpoints near the top of Volcán Mombacho.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC1I1QN_OYO5ahvoxm51m4SoWugY-KHYPeVvwF-qC8EP2Jqhw0Oy1tj3GEEk1LihoG7vcigcYR8ZVCZS08XSsuZUGEhKYAgCTcKoQx6gwPvhVTXDuwPZnStHGlHbhsTlN_ksy/s1600-h/jeff+041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC1I1QN_OYO5ahvoxm51m4SoWugY-KHYPeVvwF-qC8EP2Jqhw0Oy1tj3GEEk1LihoG7vcigcYR8ZVCZS08XSsuZUGEhKYAgCTcKoQx6gwPvhVTXDuwPZnStHGlHbhsTlN_ksy/s320/jeff+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154342062260793970" border="0" /></a><br />Jenny, who is known for her love of church interiors in Nicaragua, standing inside her favorite in Granada when my mom was here.Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-28551631074111950632007-12-22T12:27:00.000-06:002007-12-22T12:40:05.716-06:00Merry Christmas!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Feliz Navidad!</span><blockquote></blockquote></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNet_YgZNhFmUZ2qfde7EFvBQrbkDV6lS-379sna3Ydynu9DiRyCjyZcnUouEVTHd0ePdp1nE9tR6eQb8QzIhn2hoZthFrOSW7ZM9pZWSgfOUrPKYrlVwIF6eRba-LRZYl_3t/s320/Jenny+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146866641617334770" border="0" /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMNet_YgZNhFmUZ2qfde7EFvBQrbkDV6lS-379sna3Ydynu9DiRyCjyZcnUouEVTHd0ePdp1nE9tR6eQb8QzIhn2hoZthFrOSW7ZM9pZWSgfOUrPKYrlVwIF6eRba-LRZYl_3t/s1600-h/Jenny+009.jpg"><blockquote></blockquote></a>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-34094813421308170302007-12-21T18:16:00.000-06:002007-12-21T18:43:40.297-06:00San Pancho!I left my comfy house with my flush toliet and shower for latrine and no running water life. Thats right, I went north! I went and visited the country, San Francisco del Norte, or San Pancho which is were my friend and fellow TEFLer Caitlin lives, just a short 5 hour bus ride north. It was a really pretty ride up there, and she lives in the mountains so it was a lot cooler too. I actually wore a sweatshirt, and was still chilly.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The mountains on the way there as the sun was setting.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44wpGZkFad0ZTlbnmBFlRiV0_nsrxJLW5Ba1ixOdc6SV3yVbSUe4L3fjbGrAcqKJMJ34D652fzvO2rznqQbANxI1dbhSCXb3TGtVgH3axRcVgqOC-7bzSD5z46J1SCy3w3Qqc/s1600-h/Jenny+101.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44wpGZkFad0ZTlbnmBFlRiV0_nsrxJLW5Ba1ixOdc6SV3yVbSUe4L3fjbGrAcqKJMJ34D652fzvO2rznqQbANxI1dbhSCXb3TGtVgH3axRcVgqOC-7bzSD5z46J1SCy3w3Qqc/s320/Jenny+101.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146586425066041746" border="0" /></a>On the way there, Farah, the girl I give private English class to, also rode there. However, when she got on the bus, 15 minutes after it left from the bus terminal where it starts, there were no seats. So I invited to her sit on my lap. There she sat for the next hour until I thought my legs were going to break off, so then she moved next to me on the seat, but I didn´t hear any complaints from the largish lady sitting next to me. We sang Rudolph the Red Rose Reindeer about 25 times, perfecting our delivery. She also told me some fairytales in Spanish. The five hours went pretty fast and then I arrived at Caitlins.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here we are on the bus.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17rYWsFRdvQptDSh2ft4YAjhKP0p_AsqZCjblsgoc6Bdh3vyUKsIimY-N71chd2Tqms832qfrRsQNz2IlzkprZ7PHhDrMgwiBNH-p4Sf1ZdHqJoxqvw6OgkGfq4_mVCnShkpa/s1600-h/Jenny+102.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17rYWsFRdvQptDSh2ft4YAjhKP0p_AsqZCjblsgoc6Bdh3vyUKsIimY-N71chd2Tqms832qfrRsQNz2IlzkprZ7PHhDrMgwiBNH-p4Sf1ZdHqJoxqvw6OgkGfq4_mVCnShkpa/s320/Jenny+102.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146586433655976354" border="0" /></a>The next day we got up at 5 a.m. and it was FREEZING! We took the 6 a.m. bus, which is the last! bus for the day, and we rode 40 minutes to a different community where Caitlin is giving an English class. After we got off the bus, we walked 20 minutes on a dirt rode to the community. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqVjenFZpJ90ZbgaJN7z0rGk_7sralouvboZzMrS2NeiDZwF1Mxap2ZJFvF1Gx91wN3ScD2bIGXOA2SNTA7TCUIdHvjG-FHzjQcuE99b0EW68LxFBnuo7FiC5C6yIPvxkrAm6/s1600-h/Jenny+110.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqVjenFZpJ90ZbgaJN7z0rGk_7sralouvboZzMrS2NeiDZwF1Mxap2ZJFvF1Gx91wN3ScD2bIGXOA2SNTA7TCUIdHvjG-FHzjQcuE99b0EW68LxFBnuo7FiC5C6yIPvxkrAm6/s320/Jenny+110.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146588933326942674" border="0" /></a>Then we were given breakfast, we watched some Backstreet Boys videos for awhile, and then we went to class. The class was about 2 hours. After, we walked 20 minutes back to the main road, and waited for the truck that passes to give us a ride. It was an old covered army truck, packed with people and stuff. Here we rode for 40 minutes on a really crappy road to get back to San Pancho. My jeans ripped on the way up to the truck (in the bootie), so I am down one pair (my favorite).<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Caitlin and her puppy in front of her house.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhtmVgRugP7YVVSgBpzUslPHOuOft9f3TupLPjHEspAK416gosSxjuwqimhLaOmEPjgTEKiURl5Ht_jB8plmX0HL9JseDxZy4qUnUU1-UzsiuAx_Hseux7AjKxpWbEG0IefZ4/s1600-h/Jenny+120.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhtmVgRugP7YVVSgBpzUslPHOuOft9f3TupLPjHEspAK416gosSxjuwqimhLaOmEPjgTEKiURl5Ht_jB8plmX0HL9JseDxZy4qUnUU1-UzsiuAx_Hseux7AjKxpWbEG0IefZ4/s320/Jenny+120.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146586437950943666" border="0" /></a>Another highlight of the trip was when Caitlin´s new puppy found a chicken foot and was chewing on it. Then, after it was taken away, she came back with the other. Her mouth has to be pryed open. She did not want to give up that foot, but really who can blame her.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The foot. Que asco.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg78QYOoWU34E42RwIMga4tML2ObnWbyzBygqNFHLkwdqIGytKY0Ckuoc969kmNzyI1VTrk_EFl58hYd8IWTyXnU6LaTcelsBqmcouxgPj5WqSc8LoSMsXjzlIPJthoST2U4cR/s1600-h/Jenny+116.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg78QYOoWU34E42RwIMga4tML2ObnWbyzBygqNFHLkwdqIGytKY0Ckuoc969kmNzyI1VTrk_EFl58hYd8IWTyXnU6LaTcelsBqmcouxgPj5WqSc8LoSMsXjzlIPJthoST2U4cR/s320/Jenny+116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146586446540878274" border="0" /></a>Once again, it was taken away, but don´t worry, she came back with the head. It was sick.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFuPN20EITZcS5pnfIibov_LzF2L8NAd2mjJI2rsuLFYY1He8ICsjLBrmQhu1WdnCjy6speA2VD4LECOoEWKKoDpIh-9R3r8XKccRKQnFAgkaOjnyBih6AHZfPSYfmW6FL2dx/s1600-h/Jenny+118.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFuPN20EITZcS5pnfIibov_LzF2L8NAd2mjJI2rsuLFYY1He8ICsjLBrmQhu1WdnCjy6speA2VD4LECOoEWKKoDpIh-9R3r8XKccRKQnFAgkaOjnyBih6AHZfPSYfmW6FL2dx/s320/Jenny+118.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146588937621909986" border="0" /></a>So I got back today. Jeff was unable to come with me cause he had class on Wednesday. I´m sorry for him! He missed out.Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-28248876438743017642007-12-06T17:57:00.000-06:002007-12-16T13:31:17.872-06:00Graduation! Worldwide AIDS Day! and more...Well since I have an amazing new camera, it takes me awhile to upload the new pics but here are some things that have been going on with us lately. First and most importantly, the end of the school year! Jeff and I both went to our graduations, which were long events, not unlike at home. However here, the graduate walks on stage with 0ne of their parents. When they get there, they get their diploma and sometimes their class ring is presented to them by the parent. And there is a photo taken with the person who hands you your diploma. At my school, 2 teachers give out diplomas for 2 sections of graduates. A section is like a class. There were 7 total. I was lucky enough to be asked to hand out diplomas with the principal for the first section of graduates. It was pretty cool. Also, I will forever be in photos with about 25 kids as the gringa teacher who handed them their diploma. Here is a pic of me and my favorite group of kids. They may not look like it, but they´re really happy.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtAPsk8M8Dq6iA9lzy7wwL_p0dfHvONHXlCDwW86QAskkv-quHGrLNhReYTUW4edT7Q1GwC8ItGrCc26VOMUFH22UliqiIZAz_0WT0syaXzVJN9gU-UAdxBmUOBmgOyKlwF98/s1600-h/Jenny+173.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBtAPsk8M8Dq6iA9lzy7wwL_p0dfHvONHXlCDwW86QAskkv-quHGrLNhReYTUW4edT7Q1GwC8ItGrCc26VOMUFH22UliqiIZAz_0WT0syaXzVJN9gU-UAdxBmUOBmgOyKlwF98/s320/Jenny+173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141017455830674498" border="0" /></a>Wendy and Igdali!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-sMVxxK3dpbQAYVsXfYKqppzxc1rG3zjlHcj5QmXe2GOZtL3GDRfwbG7Hb6YU7pORmR_6fxa4fNnqpvlyy3Z2InCqraigjCVXMqc1cWRk5Jxn2WGObvneqeA2bYTwASinZjV/s1600-h/jenny+177.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN-sMVxxK3dpbQAYVsXfYKqppzxc1rG3zjlHcj5QmXe2GOZtL3GDRfwbG7Hb6YU7pORmR_6fxa4fNnqpvlyy3Z2InCqraigjCVXMqc1cWRk5Jxn2WGObvneqeA2bYTwASinZjV/s320/jenny+177.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144654694805188994" border="0" /></a>It was also World AIDS/HIV Day. Since we have a health volunteer in Chinandega, he helped the day´s celebration by putting on a full day of activities in the park, one of them being a game called Chimbombas Sexy, or Sexy Balloons. In this game, you and your partner have to pop balloons in interesting, somewhat sexy, positions. There were 2 teams. One of them were 2 health PCVs, Amy and Anna. Here is a photo of them really trying to pop that balloon. I am sure that this game would not be allowed in a park in the US. I invited some of my community class students to hang out. Luckily, all but one arrived after this game.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU7cvMWepJFa-F9xUNRwoa4HOGd0iE9rgFDkAmehft4RNSlm8v4186pvp2hiAdaJzM-Jvm_Hrbdo7x-sx9LVYcxAAHNVTuSTuW1sJByhDfqo4l26pq4aYrh3zBW1XkYevlYPT/s1600-h/Jenny+153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrU7cvMWepJFa-F9xUNRwoa4HOGd0iE9rgFDkAmehft4RNSlm8v4186pvp2hiAdaJzM-Jvm_Hrbdo7x-sx9LVYcxAAHNVTuSTuW1sJByhDfqo4l26pq4aYrh3zBW1XkYevlYPT/s320/Jenny+153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141015372771535906" border="0" /></a>Since we are currently on vacation from school, I did a 2 week English camp. It was 2 weeks of class, everyday for 2 hours. I had about 18 students and I ran the camp at a house of the girl I give private English class to, she was the coordinator, and my co-teacher was one of my students from 10th grade, who is also in my community English classes. The students ranged from 5 to 12. I forgot that I didn´t like working with little kids when I decided to do this, and remembered on the 3rd day of class. I also forgot again how much I dislike them on the last day when they were way sweeter than any teenager has ever been. All in all, it went really well. We played a lot of games, obviously. On the last day of class they suprised Jared, my co-teacher, and I with a lunch and then a photographer came and took pictures of us with all the students. Many of the students ordered pictures of themselves with me and Jared. It was super cute, and there were even some tears on the last day. And I got some cool gifts! Oh, and I´m pretty sure they learned some English and had fun. Here is my class below.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAouSxoaMrRtRuw15VQT45ovgfZGX0K0NJrz0-5EaklRn_xEgBTz1u37a608-Oth2DUpklQs4UPpizaioy66zYgGp6CStaVQA2EqfgZiILR6oa1BDTHkyzu_kW4CN5KxBMfQ7/s1600-h/Jenny+201.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhAouSxoaMrRtRuw15VQT45ovgfZGX0K0NJrz0-5EaklRn_xEgBTz1u37a608-Oth2DUpklQs4UPpizaioy66zYgGp6CStaVQA2EqfgZiILR6oa1BDTHkyzu_kW4CN5KxBMfQ7/s320/Jenny+201.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141015381361470514" border="0" /></a>Here is a picture of one of my students with her BINGO board. We were reviewing classroom items and animals. I know its really random, but just go with me on this.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6P_MgWo2KS5AF2VK8HF4fU1xRYo2FLy2TLjBbUoodKWfDa21dWpq7Y2UKzP4ASjCVxk5b3_t_LtDZh_o1kusB_P8x0_Zr1LIS_Doxkjz3nN6Vj5bpzay-0Gf0wgvmxofoEyO/s1600-h/jenny+228.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6P_MgWo2KS5AF2VK8HF4fU1xRYo2FLy2TLjBbUoodKWfDa21dWpq7Y2UKzP4ASjCVxk5b3_t_LtDZh_o1kusB_P8x0_Zr1LIS_Doxkjz3nN6Vj5bpzay-0Gf0wgvmxofoEyO/s320/jenny+228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144652942458532146" border="0" /></a>Here is Farah, my coordinator.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWREDLN0XKW9g6WD8K73PtKVYScwJL5zRE0STUazmHJETrSYTsS-1BBHuBhzlWJLFDsG5iCupBCXs2UWt8RZWO5us0vlXNZg0fmgBAFjtZTSsadL3DzU_uQJhiQdjFmDA4F8p3/s1600-h/jenny+242.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWREDLN0XKW9g6WD8K73PtKVYScwJL5zRE0STUazmHJETrSYTsS-1BBHuBhzlWJLFDsG5iCupBCXs2UWt8RZWO5us0vlXNZg0fmgBAFjtZTSsadL3DzU_uQJhiQdjFmDA4F8p3/s320/jenny+242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144652951048466754" border="0" /></a>Jared and me! The profesoras. Here accent is really good, which is one of the reasons I asked her to do this with me. When I told her that her accent was good, she said of course! She learned from me. That was sweet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFqZfQw8v6Ps-6yItHUb6IK61FAFUgUuzis7HPJ6y7WqtWbdYIXpD3UYNjxPXh4raJyZTOARAx08js5UjXdNQR1PJttVfiYmlXCdB-06aYEdg8-XzzAoEtS4JIihDHPQnfg4o/s1600-h/jenny+240.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCFqZfQw8v6Ps-6yItHUb6IK61FAFUgUuzis7HPJ6y7WqtWbdYIXpD3UYNjxPXh4raJyZTOARAx08js5UjXdNQR1PJttVfiYmlXCdB-06aYEdg8-XzzAoEtS4JIihDHPQnfg4o/s320/jenny+240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144652959638401362" border="0" /></a>In other news, Chinandega now has air hockey! I took my class to play. I´m terrible in case anyone is wondering.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIXXDSgeU2uoO7YviEbQJOEpS8IGhrvKH5DvyufzW2AFQNXZ2wxOOlrJ7DP9Qd375dQ-lGc_klRzBmEAKmdl59RC34mgnRI34IgPxwbIeiASOg1xLjlqFVL86H5O4yHzIG-5v/s1600-h/jenny+099.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIXXDSgeU2uoO7YviEbQJOEpS8IGhrvKH5DvyufzW2AFQNXZ2wxOOlrJ7DP9Qd375dQ-lGc_klRzBmEAKmdl59RC34mgnRI34IgPxwbIeiASOg1xLjlqFVL86H5O4yHzIG-5v/s320/jenny+099.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144654686215254386" border="0" /></a>And Jeff is growing a beard. This is us with Dr. Pepper that a friend brought for us from Managua. Actually, he brought 10. It was a good day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4KWGaa9wo-2g423zLpcU367pO4yzBrwc9K2BBheUUFifKFf4KNS9ZWePuND0dBQq28Pc-wOmqWWznGpOB16AmL0peank-DPIA3gcnIDVwT4xmilCEe1XQsaOxO5ERY8UUO5P/s1600-h/jenny+247.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4KWGaa9wo-2g423zLpcU367pO4yzBrwc9K2BBheUUFifKFf4KNS9ZWePuND0dBQq28Pc-wOmqWWznGpOB16AmL0peank-DPIA3gcnIDVwT4xmilCEe1XQsaOxO5ERY8UUO5P/s320/jenny+247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144654673330352482" border="0" /></a>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-824968470031969912007-11-15T13:25:00.000-06:002007-11-15T13:55:19.298-06:00Baseball season´s back!Well the rain is gone and the sun is back! And it brought baseball season with it, gracias a dios. I think that we´ve only been to three games so far, but we have new lights so there are games at night, which are way more fun. We´ve seen all of the usual vendors, and even can crushing Steve. He´s aged since last season, and it looks like he´s got a new pair of sandals! It´s always good to start off the season with some new can crushers. Because of the new lights, and the winning, the stands have been PACKED and we were packed in. You become very friendly with your neighbors. Or in my case, maybe not so friendly. The last game we went to was a night game. It was fun, except for the 17 year old nerd behind me decided to blow his whistle straight for 9 innings. By inning 8 I had a killer headache, and by the 9th I just couldn´t take it anymore. Not to mention, this nerd desides to have a ¨who can blow their whistle the loudest and longest¨contest with some 9 year old girl. I couldn´t take it anymore, I turned around the yanked the cord of his whistle and it flew out of his mouth. I don´t know what came over me. Anyways, I just told him NO MORE. He didn´t blow that whistle again for the rest of the game.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpotbP1uufCR7TUMYkGRF98uYF5Tyxg1BlqnE203DXPQ4sTgr4wBD5XeNlOrDXqPnWBkbXzpfHqLtTe3BAmyo5czSZPv-cpDlGDag8XaVYLlx32z3sCFfCKiJv1kp0eafm9mSu/s1600-h/Jenny+065.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpotbP1uufCR7TUMYkGRF98uYF5Tyxg1BlqnE203DXPQ4sTgr4wBD5XeNlOrDXqPnWBkbXzpfHqLtTe3BAmyo5czSZPv-cpDlGDag8XaVYLlx32z3sCFfCKiJv1kp0eafm9mSu/s320/Jenny+065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133152764284960946" border="0" /></a>Above: a day game in the seats that we usually sit in. Below: a night game on Halloween in the expensive nice seats where you actually sit in a chair instead of concrete stairs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQrLyWrFjFd9zcNUJEJFDhZrkKMt4eIEg9FxOp-rHBLPebbH0FW9lIV1dUHlrPMShHWjG8dNreeWLOguMSKkJqNV41hUn5ZZek6_f8TiSoQsV7a6EZHT54I8uutMS2V_57740/s1600-h/OplCommandServlet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQrLyWrFjFd9zcNUJEJFDhZrkKMt4eIEg9FxOp-rHBLPebbH0FW9lIV1dUHlrPMShHWjG8dNreeWLOguMSKkJqNV41hUn5ZZek6_f8TiSoQsV7a6EZHT54I8uutMS2V_57740/s320/OplCommandServlet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133157235345916130" border="0" /></a><br />Other exciting events have happaned. Jeff and I went to the band competition (by band I mean really large drumline). My school, his school, and another private small school participated. The kids in the stands were throwing water everywhere and there were only 3 police officers around. 3. And really, nobody even thought about throwing anyone out. It was total chaos, and we left before they announced the results because fights were a for sure. However, the bands were really good. There is at least 200 people, which includes about 100 drums, maybe 20 other instruments, maybe, and a lot of dancing girls. The band is mostly boys playing drums, but they can sure dance with those drums on! My schools show was great. Jeff´s school featured a 40 year old man getting down and dirty with a 16 year old girl. There were some really questionable moves going on during their performance. I blushed a lot. Our 2 schools ended up in a tie. That was competition number 1. For competition number 2 it was our 2 schools and one other really large school from a town 15 minutes away. I got tricked into going by a student, I´m a sucker. It was way more insane than the first. There was juice throwing in this one, staining everything orange. It was super packed and really hot. Again, it was a really great show. Here is a pic of my school´s band, or part of it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgG164_k3M4w6H_otc6VwtjR1OoCwaCj-L7L6p7FI7qFTQNYgeVBVDHTQ2-VHpGCgMzPvAHNOoNRI7Zlqj-MqKvU3WE8kZsLIAShn_Tmxmw4cse-1OewpYi4WXsXB-FsLYZY6d/s1600-h/Jenny+032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgG164_k3M4w6H_otc6VwtjR1OoCwaCj-L7L6p7FI7qFTQNYgeVBVDHTQ2-VHpGCgMzPvAHNOoNRI7Zlqj-MqKvU3WE8kZsLIAShn_Tmxmw4cse-1OewpYi4WXsXB-FsLYZY6d/s320/Jenny+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133152772874895554" border="0" /></a>Below is Jeff´s school´s band, complete with dancing girls.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTC9zOSTyvYFn-AW7loh4FVBecJ2_SAuNnT7TlNInUxU-EmsgSUBXq4KlgtGaoAK-FtoXYsjH0dUSGI5acuUThVBjybt-q9EI-E0UTLI6OMSei8jCF00V33UllEqUEH5S2K4T/s1600-h/Jenny+033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTC9zOSTyvYFn-AW7loh4FVBecJ2_SAuNnT7TlNInUxU-EmsgSUBXq4KlgtGaoAK-FtoXYsjH0dUSGI5acuUThVBjybt-q9EI-E0UTLI6OMSei8jCF00V33UllEqUEH5S2K4T/s320/Jenny+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5133157274000621810" border="0" /></a>The school year is almost over. We just have graduation and I´m also doing a teacher workshop with my counterpart and we are done! Whoo hoo!Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-56098970544319287012007-10-12T10:07:00.000-06:002007-10-12T10:29:00.414-06:00rain, rain, go awayComing from Minnesota, I thought I was used to severe weather. Well...I am, but the severe weather here is really different.<br /><br />It hasn´t stopped raining for 3 days, and supposedly its going to get worse this weekend. There are floods in the northern parts of Nicaragua.....oh thats where we are. Volunteers in our department are being consolidated to the capital city, which is where I live, while other volunteers in the northern central areas are being consolidated to Managua. However, some volunteers are stuck in their sites because no buses are running because the roads are bad. Here in the city, it isn´t that bad. However, Jeff was in Managua for a dentist appointment, so he gets to stay in Managua since traveling is a bad idea. <br /><br />Not to mention we haven´t had school in 2 days! As we have said before, when it rains generally there is no class. This hasn´t happened in a really long time, so it was a suprise to me all over again. Yesterday I woke up to really heavy rain, and then later got a text message from a student saying that classes were cancelled and all the students were going home. Luckily, I didn´t have to make the trip in the rain to find that out! Today, there was less rain so I took a cab to the school to find it totally empty! That was 16 wasted córdobas.<br /><br />Other than that, the rain has just effected my life in other ways, such as I can´t do laundry. We have had a water problem here for the past 6 months, as in we rarely have it during the day during the week. They just built a new tank so now we always have water! Just after we started having water all the time, it started raining all the time. So, you can do laundry, but then you´ll just have a bunch of wet clothes cause nothing will dry! We just can´t seem to win.<br /><br />Also, the walls in our house get really wet and everything feels damp all the time. Its pretty gross. Oh, and we have to wear the knee high rubber boots to go to the bathroom since we have a lake in the back of our house. <br /><br />That is our life right now. Wet and moldy smelling. But I´m not sweating for the first time in 1 year. I like that.<br /><br />Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying fall.Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-39678044523828852912007-09-17T12:40:00.001-06:002007-09-17T13:54:33.879-06:00Happy Independence Day!Nicaraguan Independence Day that is.<br /><br />To celebrate, there was a big parade in which all of the schools in Chinandega participated. Let me tell you, I had no idea how many schools there were until this parade, or until I waited for 2.5 hours for all of the schools passed, and finally my school started to march. Each school brings their marching band, which usually is heavy in drums, some dancing girls, the best students, some flags or other certificates that the school has achieved, and the teachers!<br /><br />Here are the girls at my school, wearing bras made from corn. Corn is very popular in Nicaragua, and they are sometimes refered to as sons of corn...or something like that.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc33fWz7ieERNPmGgaht22CSiwiEVjAv-w3PGnHc4QbfVIwZAkOyFwXTjPB11QbCf3FwUJPC_QANyTrIEyztHw0zic3iNBJU3PPzo0AnNlgowx3GczCtCROl0ir95vJUaZD1vg/s1600-h/Jenny+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111259371196303506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc33fWz7ieERNPmGgaht22CSiwiEVjAv-w3PGnHc4QbfVIwZAkOyFwXTjPB11QbCf3FwUJPC_QANyTrIEyztHw0zic3iNBJU3PPzo0AnNlgowx3GczCtCROl0ir95vJUaZD1vg/s320/Jenny+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a>So I left my house at 6:30 to walk to the plaza with another teacher. Jeff left a little bit later, but not much. We went to the plaza where all of the schools are already lining up, um except for my school which hadn´t arrived yet. So we walked to the school and they were getting ready to leave, so we basically walked right back to the plaza. I saw Jeff, my counterpart, and some students. There I stood until 10:30. Well, I watched the other schools march off, and they each did a small presentation in front of the flag and the mayor and other important people who were standing on a stage, watching. All of the schools dressed in sort of a sailor/military outfit. (This is the band from Jeff´s school)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGJUTI2bGTs1odBneu-2em0xHod8hu1FznuTJH_Zwc-EVVdEL0R89PNLWacO1s8zFYWsTwqc40momefIlKQiU6H-AH2jgNoJR_ZIuqYNdQRfqY0wNvqsHT26ywX0rbwim8vRm/s1600-h/Jenny+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111259349721466994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGJUTI2bGTs1odBneu-2em0xHod8hu1FznuTJH_Zwc-EVVdEL0R89PNLWacO1s8zFYWsTwqc40momefIlKQiU6H-AH2jgNoJR_ZIuqYNdQRfqY0wNvqsHT26ywX0rbwim8vRm/s320/Jenny+029.jpg" border="0" /></a> I´m really not sure why, but it was interesting. Also, the top students wore a sash with Excellence on it, and they wear white gloves. Manuel is the top student at my school, INCH. It used to be INACH, with Autonomo in it, looks like they haven´t changed that banner.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzZTxJPMo7oJ8Vr4RfLdVxLz-M7PvoHtfRkS3ei-06n4RyMjGhFPKsS1UknRGqlfTTaJW4I4R-PadykvQaton3qU0lprQQyPeSt5UVaootPN_CM-rMU66gpea3j1mtAXlZYEJ/s1600-h/Jenny+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111259358311401602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzZTxJPMo7oJ8Vr4RfLdVxLz-M7PvoHtfRkS3ei-06n4RyMjGhFPKsS1UknRGqlfTTaJW4I4R-PadykvQaton3qU0lprQQyPeSt5UVaootPN_CM-rMU66gpea3j1mtAXlZYEJ/s320/Jenny+019.jpg" border="0" /></a> Anyways, it was really cool to see all of the schools pass and the bands play. I thought they were really good, even if I heard the Chinandega song 10 times.<br /><br />Most of the teachers wear matching uniforms. My school and Jeff´s school didn´t really follow that too closely. His male teachers had pants made. My school was supposed to wear black and white, which about 25% of the teachers actually did. I was in the 75% that did not. So where most of the private schools looked really nice together, our two schools looked like a mismatched group. I guess in other years the government gives the schools money to buy the uniforms for the teachers, that didn´t happan this year. Here is Jeff walking with the teachers at his school.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111259379786238114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSP1XhxCaz3MS3QR6IEdDj4Js_h78TshOix6Y3ntT6aWDAvAsiCVO-AvZtXFFYMcZATwdZ60W9PlidXJtJJ3v2_ne_SPxh5hxSWeAVJyxTY5JSdobr-CKH9UQnO4gGLqfoQVU/s320/Jenny+016.jpg" border="0" /></a> My school was the last school to march, and let me tell you, being at the end of a parade is not fun. There was a mob that was behind us the whole time, and the 4 policemen who were behind us weren´t really enough to keep everybody from crashing into us, walking in front of us, or pushing us out of their way. I walked about 6 blocks with my school, which took 1.5 hours. My counterpart and I left after that. But I think all 125,00 people in Chinadega came to see the parade, it was that crowded. Here is my position, at the back following our drumline. We were leaving the plaza.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrkjD6DfxPf-WpO16pCoKsVmCyuZ5yDimujbwxmN52bLakY3pIE-d_VjLp1ncLe7yTXfhuSd4BWYkadFbt-vNpxRrNN_hp7um4GRIJZAQ-GlrQ4_sbgu48w1qR8JAF0HpDoKJ/s1600-h/Jenny+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5111259392671140018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrkjD6DfxPf-WpO16pCoKsVmCyuZ5yDimujbwxmN52bLakY3pIE-d_VjLp1ncLe7yTXfhuSd4BWYkadFbt-vNpxRrNN_hp7um4GRIJZAQ-GlrQ4_sbgu48w1qR8JAF0HpDoKJ/s320/Jenny+023.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Jeff marched in the middle, right in front of his band, and behind the dancing girls. When the crowd got to close, which was often, the 11th grade students would cut them off with a rope or the dancing girls, who had batons, would suddenly twirl them and hit people with them. I think that thats pretty cool. I´m not sure if anything like that went on in front of me but I´m sure it did.</p><p> Anyways, it was really cool to walk in the parade. Everyone was really dressed up and proud to be there. It was a great experience and now everyone knows what the gringos that they see walking around do, they´re teachers!</p>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-2911662563730305112007-09-10T18:43:00.000-06:002007-09-10T19:21:27.383-06:00NicaTESOL<div>This last week we went to Managua for a conference of all English teachers in Nicaragua! And the best part, the conference was all in English, so I understood exactly what was going on. It was amazing. Anyways, it was 2 days of presentations by English teachers and professors from the Universities. Some were...better than others. There were over 800 teachers that came to the conferene and it was really well organized. Each day included 1 or 2 all group sessions, and 3 concurrent sessions. The conference ended with, what else, some typical dances, oh and a reggaeton dance as well, which always makes me blush and turn away. (there is a lot of thrusting) </div><br /><div>My counterpart and I presented at the conference on, what else, English games! I think I will stick to always teaching about games because its easy and fun! We presented once each day, and it went well....until in the 2nd presentation I was showing how to play Tic-Tac-Toe as a review game with English. One of the participants, who had been participating a lot, screamed and I mean SCREAMED (okay maybe she didn´t scream, but it felt that way to me) that those WERE NOT the rules to the game and that I was being UNFAIR. It totally threw off the rest of my presentation. I calmly explained that those were my rules and she did not have to use them. And she probably won´t use them. Fine. Anyways, here are some pictures, but my camera is totally sensitive to light and doesn´t work well anymore. But here ya go. </div><br /><div>Here is a picture of me and my 2 counterparts. Frank, Henry, me.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0zEdz0Sr0vZ5Fu4KOVq_2Jt2YZHY5b6ae3KrxvI9LAY1I3K08aOpT42vs-wCuPE0_1vuFl-IoWrnQhfnytk_Ca6zQBBCacLm1pnC8C-i-Oj_Q3DqD1DFxUXLigf_eA8DIBe6/s1600-h/Jenny+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108742116980177730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0zEdz0Sr0vZ5Fu4KOVq_2Jt2YZHY5b6ae3KrxvI9LAY1I3K08aOpT42vs-wCuPE0_1vuFl-IoWrnQhfnytk_Ca6zQBBCacLm1pnC8C-i-Oj_Q3DqD1DFxUXLigf_eA8DIBe6/s320/Jenny+048.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is Henry giving an example of Memory which we use in our class to teach vocabulary. I swear this picture is not posed.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20QA4Rab_kwOL51jVyxNmkCanRTJpm_Q9Meu0DiuQnppHs2jiBR3Q9pghzW0D5yKD_q76yIHfDGm11vjs8Fb4BwwCGOV2fFX8D5tLcGWkWuG7_88KB8wmsUdDuJ5dJR5zLpgN/s1600-h/OplCommandServlet.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108749895165950866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20QA4Rab_kwOL51jVyxNmkCanRTJpm_Q9Meu0DiuQnppHs2jiBR3Q9pghzW0D5yKD_q76yIHfDGm11vjs8Fb4BwwCGOV2fFX8D5tLcGWkWuG7_88KB8wmsUdDuJ5dJR5zLpgN/s320/OplCommandServlet.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhklEP_QHypEbCV-9iMAZVYXHc_dznnN64Krrrmw4XvJ73zfXXRnWzIkqetY2KPz0BLyOzJSHpRWeDwIHzRgygqkyv8WP1gJR8Rj7XKzTcs9COsUasjgQlbToq5Bpj08XOiSj/s1600-h/Jenny+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108742129865079650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqhklEP_QHypEbCV-9iMAZVYXHc_dznnN64Krrrmw4XvJ73zfXXRnWzIkqetY2KPz0BLyOzJSHpRWeDwIHzRgygqkyv8WP1gJR8Rj7XKzTcs9COsUasjgQlbToq5Bpj08XOiSj/s320/Jenny+025.jpg" border="0" /></a> Henry and I before we presented.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TV0lrxHrdPfOFuJEVQ4iZft-ImO9sRQ67VzSxLAEHY_Uir2FDxDSZ7DCYKhMvPZHX-SZ9-QYmXfuxPejTwJnbsJMkbfwF_53dyJ_PwavUr_1pX4NuZ4eV1UBKtXD65U_xjSg/s1600-h/Jenny+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108742138455014258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0TV0lrxHrdPfOFuJEVQ4iZft-ImO9sRQ67VzSxLAEHY_Uir2FDxDSZ7DCYKhMvPZHX-SZ9-QYmXfuxPejTwJnbsJMkbfwF_53dyJ_PwavUr_1pX4NuZ4eV1UBKtXD65U_xjSg/s320/Jenny+020.jpg" border="0" /></a>After the conference on Friday evening, we had a going away party for our boss Deepa. She is married to a guy who works for the embassy so they are moving to Africa for his next assignment. Our TEFL group is really a bunch of nerds, us included, so we put on an Acto which is what all schools do for each holiday. It always starts with the national anthem, check, sometimes a poem, we had that too, a reggaeton dance, yep we had that!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GXkWNUsdW_Co6KBBPV4lu2FDxj02xmLoyMZarMg0lMOgq3PGnb3_hFy4ZVVfRMK7GWEWp3r4RjGWuz001xvn4VyInhc2ReCXYocR8mXiqV_RUgFPT-cdZ2W3cFGYK87BsSXx/s1600-h/Jenny+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108749916640787362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GXkWNUsdW_Co6KBBPV4lu2FDxj02xmLoyMZarMg0lMOgq3PGnb3_hFy4ZVVfRMK7GWEWp3r4RjGWuz001xvn4VyInhc2ReCXYocR8mXiqV_RUgFPT-cdZ2W3cFGYK87BsSXx/s320/Jenny+054.jpg" border="0" /></a> and we included some skits for enjoyment. It was fun. Here is our entire, minus one, TEFL group with Deepa and the Nicaraguan flag that we signed.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqSl3b6Nm8noecTjVTodnpE1R6tZrJy1qemvxLcIq0fTmYkVbK7VSk4lBJEov73ONEeH7elVvH9fLtzIczRRDrqaBI2GIkufaqMcDGvn9C83XXFnIAR1KDwdrzOrmynAJIOr5/s1600-h/Jenny+058.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5108742142749981570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggqSl3b6Nm8noecTjVTodnpE1R6tZrJy1qemvxLcIq0fTmYkVbK7VSk4lBJEov73ONEeH7elVvH9fLtzIczRRDrqaBI2GIkufaqMcDGvn9C83XXFnIAR1KDwdrzOrmynAJIOr5/s320/Jenny+058.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-91839902106101245072007-08-25T10:13:00.000-06:002007-08-25T10:17:36.409-06:00Hey Julio Cesar!Julio Cesar,<br /><br />We were surprised to hear from you on our blog, but glad we got your support! We don´t have your email address, but we would love to hear how things are going in the US. Our emails are:<br /><br />Jenny<br />lies0049@umn.edu<br /><br />Jeff(Chepe)<br />pilon_jeff@yahoo.com<br /><br />Hopefully you are studying your sports trivia along with your regular studies.<br /><br />-ChepeJenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-84897776600525071132007-08-21T12:59:00.000-06:002007-08-21T13:34:44.433-06:00English FestivalLast week, I was lucky enough to get to judge my schools English singing competition. I also got to do this in training in Catarina, so I felt qualified. That, and that I speak English I guess were my qualifications for judging others on their singing.<br /><br />Every year most, if not all, secondary schools in Nicaragua have an English singing competition. It is to get students excited about English, and it works because they students are REALLY into this competition. I helped numerous groups practice their songs in the weeks before the festival. Anyways, the music teacher, another teacher, and I were the 3 judges for the competition. 27 groups participated, not counting one group to kick off the festival and another to close the competition who were not being judged. Thats right, 27 groups, about 5 minutes a piece = 3 hours. 3 hours of students singing. Popular choices were Eternal Flame, Backstreet Boys and Air Supply. The winner was a 9th grade boy who sang a Backstreet Boys song and 2nd place was a girl in 11th grade who sang <em>I Will Survive</em>, and she really was awesome. She even had backup dancers, though they could have used some of her pizzazz. I personally thought the winner should have been one of my students who sang <em>Everything I Do I Do It For You, </em>but he ended up in 4th. Really though, he sings and pronounces really well and should have been 1st or 2nd. I think I was more upset that he didn´t win than he was.<br /><br />The crowd during the competition was something to see. The students, all 600 of them, were screaming and they also brought noise makers and signs to support their friends. That part was fine, but half of the time I couldn´t hear, which made it tough to judge. When I boy sang really well, ALL of the girls screamed and cheered. What was worse however, was when there was very sexual dancing going on onstage between boys and girls. I was blushing and couldn´t watch, but the other teachers didn´t mind as much. They´re used to it. I couldn´t watch. Below are some pictures, not of the sexual dancing, but of some of my students.<br /><br />Here are two of my students who sang <em>We Are the World</em> to kick off the festival. I like Anthony, left, because he sweats more than I do and it makes me feel better about myself. But seriously, it was really really hot in that auditorium packed with 600 students. Anthony is on the left and my BFF the gemelo is on the right.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSzd0b_PCp91RK4u7XZzRfS3cpG_Xsd6uA5nmTeu7LSNoB6tA3W9DlBXudB_5nYUdvpFPqU_RZaMvuvU6guA_YPAB61c_b0OIlRjMkvFXZn09xWOgLHelhNrDwjRjmGDz3Cx9/s1600-h/Imagen+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101239131236612914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSzd0b_PCp91RK4u7XZzRfS3cpG_Xsd6uA5nmTeu7LSNoB6tA3W9DlBXudB_5nYUdvpFPqU_RZaMvuvU6guA_YPAB61c_b0OIlRjMkvFXZn09xWOgLHelhNrDwjRjmGDz3Cx9/s320/Imagen+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is the whole group singing <em>We Are The World</em>. They are all in one of my 11th grade classes.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEgnWGUcQD5EkD_DeUGIJueIWqiZ3pkf4zMs5c8vnTY2iI_V_9z7nQEPw6ftlIQqmnYQeWFJkOwW1GOHXCyFCTqbuEwJJk3vPD0RiXUD1FymtX72SEphoeE8uWHitbNb4LJwb/s1600-h/Imagen+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101231305806199538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEgnWGUcQD5EkD_DeUGIJueIWqiZ3pkf4zMs5c8vnTY2iI_V_9z7nQEPw6ftlIQqmnYQeWFJkOwW1GOHXCyFCTqbuEwJJk3vPD0RiXUD1FymtX72SEphoeE8uWHitbNb4LJwb/s320/Imagen+003.jpg" border="0" /></a> The gemelo singing his part.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZGFEzZ5A51A5oyTcnwW_e590vhr3WByvp_kn5pJWxvAi_vOivOApOh2Yqc7YFr__U4R86i_CNnIxeYaDfmij_-toRfhb8fAxOtL6cElNXPUqW37S4lyLaeti9R44BzaOjZXx/s1600-h/Imagen+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101231314396134146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZGFEzZ5A51A5oyTcnwW_e590vhr3WByvp_kn5pJWxvAi_vOivOApOh2Yqc7YFr__U4R86i_CNnIxeYaDfmij_-toRfhb8fAxOtL6cElNXPUqW37S4lyLaeti9R44BzaOjZXx/s320/Imagen+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> Darwin (who I think should have won) holding the mic for Anthony.<a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5101231967231163170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtm5ChudLmIXHhhD4FsF2Md9pI86K5PZrgtuX3toHLFDTiQqLAiMmyZYlrEij8CW8h_0Wm1Ckq1yZMPGZTJl5aAlo0HUIJl5YedWMtBG5WJ4jJV15rM9m-lBHgsrsJWXAYpgQ/s320/Imagen+005.jpg" border="0" /></a> It was a really fun time and we raised enough money for all of the English teachers to go to the TEFL Conference in September where my counterpart and I will be presenting! All in all, a success!<a><br /></a>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-88917417458446374952007-07-26T15:40:00.000-06:002007-07-27T14:32:53.170-06:00Daily LifeEveryday pictures of us. Me cooking stir fry, well it sort of tastes like stir fry anyways. Anytime Chinandega has broccoli we get really excited, and buy it. I don´t know who this counter is made for because I am about the same height as most Nicas (or taller) and this is really ridiculous. Who is that tall that cooks in Nicaragua? Certainly not men.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx3x-URrKg6FPWwRI5KsZa84Ou8Redj7zVOSuNwBY-xcDE3NaDTTwVihlFRxubjqaTP-9l0s0-ZBbbnIqW4taQ0sLQAG2_6Lid922j5LUthsrcG5vK1zowHHYPaNSCBGGT4dn/s1600-h/752571438109_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx3x-URrKg6FPWwRI5KsZa84Ou8Redj7zVOSuNwBY-xcDE3NaDTTwVihlFRxubjqaTP-9l0s0-ZBbbnIqW4taQ0sLQAG2_6Lid922j5LUthsrcG5vK1zowHHYPaNSCBGGT4dn/s320/752571438109_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091970942930223714" border="0" /></a>Jeff sitting in the rocking chair, chillin´.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqG2fS4ouWA-PnlBaFtGpeWFkCmGP2wYaKBrIiRXIW_0JmEsJW1NObDwmECCJ6UjTecIjhrzxLpBkJ2Ppu9Iy8ruJfbycspuYmA95NOsNazqp_EVgBrEnNz87Mks3EPWx6lmYS/s1600-h/890281438109_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqG2fS4ouWA-PnlBaFtGpeWFkCmGP2wYaKBrIiRXIW_0JmEsJW1NObDwmECCJ6UjTecIjhrzxLpBkJ2Ppu9Iy8ruJfbycspuYmA95NOsNazqp_EVgBrEnNz87Mks3EPWx6lmYS/s320/890281438109_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091970947225191042" border="0" /></a>Jeff ¨mowing¨ our backyard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1UIYoB4D-7OS3lOsbj729URi5LMg48aE7aXHt5GmG_QneQFN-72bXM44V9tsvNG-paNm_fwk_ey8a4zBUWIuGJCezuHJHGS8ujI8nP37dqfgiwSQ7SetshWyvEl6pw2riR4N/s1600-h/631681438109_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw1UIYoB4D-7OS3lOsbj729URi5LMg48aE7aXHt5GmG_QneQFN-72bXM44V9tsvNG-paNm_fwk_ey8a4zBUWIuGJCezuHJHGS8ujI8nP37dqfgiwSQ7SetshWyvEl6pw2riR4N/s320/631681438109_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091973618694849170" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQpabwZTb1fiebU9jwTOFt1D3HW69rwjPsW6-yqC3YoU1EVdUmsQ9SOHri20DgYDaPBypatQlVeh3Bdi4Z2CfQUj-kt7ncnRAfJh_FN518G0CfRRLIwj4knZwqeQHeBlDTdKG/s1600-h/121281438109_0_ALB.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTQpabwZTb1fiebU9jwTOFt1D3HW69rwjPsW6-yqC3YoU1EVdUmsQ9SOHri20DgYDaPBypatQlVeh3Bdi4Z2CfQUj-kt7ncnRAfJh_FN518G0CfRRLIwj4knZwqeQHeBlDTdKG/s320/121281438109_0_ALB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091970942930223730" border="0" /></a>Me washing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1ZaIi9wJm-ZzsKbHEXaS26b_SEfqKhYiDVvbYoQJLVbVgpmjH6D1sQD9EC4762-YEVaC3xYzXZEQ9KvNwtDXlyNuWMftGkS9iWhz4Gsl393biQDu1C91mGb0mYfuGJffqWg7/s1600-h/jenny+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5091625082098778674" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1ZaIi9wJm-ZzsKbHEXaS26b_SEfqKhYiDVvbYoQJLVbVgpmjH6D1sQD9EC4762-YEVaC3xYzXZEQ9KvNwtDXlyNuWMftGkS9iWhz4Gsl393biQDu1C91mGb0mYfuGJffqWg7/s320/jenny+014.jpg" border="0" /></a>July was a crazy month. It was the month of our fiestas patronales so there was something going on every Sunday of the month. Yesterday was the actual day of the patron saint and we had the day off. There was a lot going on in the park, like fair rides and even more plastic stuff being sold than normal. I bought a candy apple and almost ripped out each and every one of my new 15 fillings. I´ve never eaten anything so sticky in my life. It was delicious though.<br /><br />One month to go until we have been in country a year. Before we came, I read a lot of blogs and a lot of the time the girls complained about the cat calling and hissing of the men. They talked about how it bothered them and I thought....get over it, grow used to it, and similiar things. Wow, there is no way of knowing how much it will drive you nuts until you are actually here. I hate it. There are days when I dream of punching people in the face when they hiss at me. Once and student said ¨Goodbye my love¨to me at the school. He wasn´t in one of my classes and didn´t really know me. So I walked up to this kid, I had had it that day I think, and told him that he could call me Profesora instead of my love and that he needs to have more respect for me and women. He was super embarrassed and apologized profusely. I wish I could do this to every man that offends me, however I would never make it to school because I´d be giving small charlas the entire way. Today when I was walking home, I was lucky enough to hear ¨Hey baby. I love you. I want you. I want to f**k you.¨ But what can you do. I have to live here for more than another year and if I say something back to him I could be putting myself in danger, especially since I sort of stick out around here and he is bound to recognize me the next time he sees me walking around. You can be having the best day and then hearing something like that, or even less offensive, can bring you down to a really low low. Just like that. Its so offensive and I´m super sick of being sexually harrassed whenever I walk around. They even do it when I walk around with Jeff, but not as bad. Anyways, thats just me venting.<br /><br />August is coming! And with the end of August means we´ve been here for a year. Whoo!<br /><br /><br /><div></div>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-63366952861251632342007-07-16T18:38:00.000-06:002007-07-16T19:01:28.692-06:00Hípico!Each city in Nicaragua has a patron saint that goes along with it. For Chinandega, its Santa Ana. Along with each saint comes the fiestas patronales, which is a large party for the city during the specified week(s). Our celebration just started this Sunday with a hípico, which is a horse parade. Well, its not just any horse parade, its a parade Nicaraguan style! Which means...lots of drinking. So, everyone that wants to participate gets their horses ready to parade down the main streets, with music, floats, etc. Preparation includes drinking for most everyone, including the riders and supposedly the horses too... People line the streets to watch the horses pass, drink with their neighbors, etc. Also, what makes it more exciting is that as the horses pass, they dance!, yes dance, by moving their hooves one at a time, kinda like hopping on one foot only with 4 in the case of a horse. Add to this bands playing music, motorcycles driving next to the horses, floats with women dancing on them, the occassional fireworks, and the possibilities of a really drunk guy wandering in front of the horse and you got yourself a hípico!<br />This was the second one that Jenny and I have been to, the first being in Jenny´s training town. But since we are a large city, there were a lot more horses and they were a lot pretty and larger. Some were supposedly worth upwards of 40,000 dollars!<br />And you are thinking to yourself...this sounds kind of dangerous. And it can be and we saw this first hand yesterday. After eating at a place on the route where the horses were going to pass shortly, we went across the street to a bar that had set up an outside tent with tables and chairs for the customers to sit at and watch the horses pass. So, one rider (drunk obviously) and their horse stops in front of the tent with the seating to talk to his friends and try to get his buddy(also drunk) to get on the back of the horse with him. Bad idea! Horse is not into it at all, and starts to buck his back legs...at the area where everyone is seating! The horse ends up connecting with an unsuspecting man, who is enjoying his beer at the table, in the face! Lots of blood to say the least and probably some missing teeth. As this happened we were standing probably 10 ft. away! Which shows you...don´t drink and ride!Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-37020199179576666412007-07-11T16:41:00.000-06:002007-07-11T16:48:41.303-06:00Minnesota Rocks.Okay, so I totally ripped off this article from someone elses blog. Thanks Erik. But I thought it was interesting.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Study: Midwest leads in volunteering</span></strong><br />By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press WriterSun<br />Jul 8, 12:35 PM ET<br /><br />The spirit of volunteerism is thriving in the heartland, but not so much on the coasts. Midwesterners are more likely to volunteer their time than are people elsewhere in the United States, according to a government study being released Monday. The highest rates were in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, where more than four in 10 adults volunteered.<br /><br />"It's really about Minneapolis' commitment to the quality of life," said Michael Weber, president and chief executive of Volunteers of America of Minnesota. "If you look at the entire society, it says we will give back to the community and take care of our society.<br /><br />"The Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency, used Census Bureau data to determine the share of people age 16 and older who had volunteered their time in the previous year.<br /><br />The study provides three-year averages, for 2004 through 2006, for the 50 largest metropolitan areas.<br /><br />Minneapolis-St. Paul was followed at the top by Salt Lake City; Austin, Texas; Omaha, Neb.; and Seattle.<br /><br />Las Vegas had the lowest volunteer rate, 14.4 percent. It was joined at the bottom by Miami; New York; Virginia Beach, Va.; and Riverside, Calif.Nationally, 26.7 percent of adults in 2006 said they had volunteered in the previous year.<br /><br />That compares with 28.8 percent in 2005 and 20.4 percent in 1989. More than one-third of the people who volunteered in 2005 stopped in 2006.<br /><br />"Volunteering has a leaky bucket," said Robert Grimm, an author of the report. "Many times people drop out because the activities are not challenging enough or they're not substantial enough.<br /><br />"In Minneapolis, Weber said his organization works hard to make sure activities are well organized, meaningful to the community and rewarding to volunteers. "The person goes away saying, `I feel good, I made a difference today,'" Weber said.<br /><br />The study said several demographic and social factors appear to contribute to higher volunteer rates:<br />_Short commutes to work, which provide more time to volunteer.<br />_Home ownership, which promotes attachment to the community.<br />_High education levels, which increase civic involvement.<br />_High concentrations of nonprofit organizations providing opportunities to volunteer.<br /><br />Volunteering can have a "positive, substantial impact on the life of a youth" or it can help an older person remain at home instead of moving into a nursing home, said Grimm, director of research and policy development for the federal agency.<br /><br />"Volunteering is not something that's just nice to do, it's necessary to solve important community problems," he said. Les Kuivanen of Minneapolis volunteers at an elementary school with other retirees from the manufacturing company Honeywell International. The retired engineer said volunteering is more rewarding when the activity matches his skills.<br /><br />Kuivanen and other retirees teach students about electricity and magnetism. He said it is important for young students to learn about science and technology, maybe drawing interest in a future career choice.<br /><br />"I wanted to volunteer because I wanted give back," Kuivanen said. "It's fun to golf and fish and hunt, and I do all that. But I wanted to do something that I thought was needed, to help others."Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-50691588665246965852007-07-10T20:16:00.000-06:002007-07-10T20:54:37.606-06:00Se fue Ernie...y la luz y agua tambien!Ernie is gone! Now we are here with 2 sitemates that were not here when we got here which means....we are the next to leave (unless someone goes home early, of course)!<br /><br />In the spirit of Ernie leaving, I would like to tell a story about Ernie. One time, he was on a bus. He was kind of tired so he yawned a really big Ernie yawn. The woman in front of him happened to sneeze in this exact instant, amazing I know, and the liquid from her sneeze went right into Ernie´s mouth. Disgusting. Maybe it was cause he yawns like this:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGoRL2pmnHRQAyZjrzYKoGL9x-GbrMWwnjvIelHObqNRH1i6ICsWMW0K3f96Tn2ygT70umhCv7rWN-Von-cO2Z2k90VlNI2KFnUzhxVtVP2L77IuJswvucxC3HLhwS0VEFxyu/s1600-h/ernie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085758282744810594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGoRL2pmnHRQAyZjrzYKoGL9x-GbrMWwnjvIelHObqNRH1i6ICsWMW0K3f96Tn2ygT70umhCv7rWN-Von-cO2Z2k90VlNI2KFnUzhxVtVP2L77IuJswvucxC3HLhwS0VEFxyu/s320/ernie.jpg" border="0" /></a> Anyways, bye Ernie! We´ll miss you.</p><p>In other news, the electricity and water have been going out like crazy! It is insanity to know tht you live right next to a big ocean and you don´t have water. Every day we lose power at 7 a.m. and it comes back around 2 p.m. The water goes with the electricity and comes back around 5 p.m. This is our current shedule, but who knows when it will change. In Chinandega, each sector is on its own time schedule, so sometimes you can walk around the city of find a cyber or a photocopier with power. </p><p>The whole country is facing this crisis. It stinks. How can you get done what you need to get done? You have to plan ahead, which I´m not that great at. And last week we have virtually no water all week. Thats not good when you don´t store water, as we didn´t because we almost always have running water. Nobody knows when this insanity will stop, but its all over the front of the newspaper and everyones talking about it. Some people say in August things will go back to normal, but this is Nicaragua so when they say August that means...October, maybe. </p><p>Thanks for all of the birthday wishes! 27 sounds so old.</p>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-41573826243128697202007-07-05T10:27:00.001-06:002007-07-07T11:47:38.062-06:00Teacher´s Day!Last Friday we had a celebration at both of our schools in honor Teacher´s Day, which seems to be a holiday only in Nicaragua (although it should be everywhere). When we both got home we discussed our experience and realized that they were a little different. At Jenny´s school the celebration was pretty typical, dancing etc., but not that many students showed up and it was fairly underwhelming. Whereas at my school the students really seemed to get into it. I got there a little after it had started and one of my counterpart showed me where all the teachers were sitting, right in front of the stage in a few rows of chairs surrounded by the students. So, not thinking about it I grabbed a seat in the front row, which was surprisingly empty.... We had a student MC who announced the different acts from the different classes, you know the usual folkloric dances and poems.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k0NvSvB2FqaFwTAxb-takL_vLuKgPH79vI4Ea1HLg-h_Xl8NDB40FmFlsydGMhHGhf7Te6XA2iclYRhLsl-k1aBjTFCS5PVuTG01ReFZ2PTBFeW8wtf-BORYatkWKxkInWLe/s1600-h/jeff2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084505204561366002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k0NvSvB2FqaFwTAxb-takL_vLuKgPH79vI4Ea1HLg-h_Xl8NDB40FmFlsydGMhHGhf7Te6XA2iclYRhLsl-k1aBjTFCS5PVuTG01ReFZ2PTBFeW8wtf-BORYatkWKxkInWLe/s320/jeff2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Then, on to the reggaeton! The next, ooh, 8 dances were mainly different choreographed reggaeton dances with a little salsa mixed in. For those who don´t know reggaeton is a newer genre of rap music(a combination of raggae roots and rap), more or less, and is HUGE here Latin countries.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbBQHIlTxNwUxJaQwHl6SNxP_s1hXNKInwgYskS7EKAt7tjd6cjB-IQ7p9I79Z8eyF_wbqjOLqass2ZHUEJArj4RlkR4qtNw-UltGO27alwEqGqKL9aI03Uw6TniFtXi97g1U/s1600-h/jeff1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084507214606060594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbBQHIlTxNwUxJaQwHl6SNxP_s1hXNKInwgYskS7EKAt7tjd6cjB-IQ7p9I79Z8eyF_wbqjOLqass2ZHUEJArj4RlkR4qtNw-UltGO27alwEqGqKL9aI03Uw6TniFtXi97g1U/s320/jeff1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Best part for the students was when they would come off the stage into the area where the teachers were sitting and dance in front/with/for the teachers as the sat there. A little embarassing... I tried to occupy myself with as many things as possible, i.e. my camera and my glass of pop so as to not get dragged into anything more embarassing. I also enjoyed the fact that after one of the songs where the girls came and dance in front of the teachers I looked back at my counterpart who was sitting in the backrow (obviously) and says to me ,"You nervous?" with a smile.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLd3JUAo52a8Bzt4G063g9KeoisIuytvO3MHztNpZaMxLVDTH3k9gtwNRVFYVPCtH0WQpTKyoHSY9bLiZs2bIiWtM2W0Kka87sGzNeYhB_WJ3rlilKb9151QVI-pNjgON-RLe/s1600-h/jeff2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084507214606060610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLd3JUAo52a8Bzt4G063g9KeoisIuytvO3MHztNpZaMxLVDTH3k9gtwNRVFYVPCtH0WQpTKyoHSY9bLiZs2bIiWtM2W0Kka87sGzNeYhB_WJ3rlilKb9151QVI-pNjgON-RLe/s320/jeff2.jpg" border="0" /></a> After the celebration ( called an acto in Spanish) there was food for the teachers, pelguey, which is some sort of goat/sheep combination that my school always cooks for important events. I had it at a different event at my school and its good, but I was too hungry so I skipped it this time. But in the end I got to go home with a gift from the students and they had a lot of fun.<br />On top of that earlier this week both of our community class that we have at a place called the Telecentro gave us presents for Teacher´s Day. We each got traditional Nicaragua shirts which were really cool and which we were not expecting.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5084512201063091282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1stFoOs9RH9yZXjqTkBcmoq04YDLxRa5jiT3Zgz3WODWcA0dSs0t2Jnn_qCCANhaOyUy1s6MwyuL5uZM_V82gFAuqbXfKI9Nk_k-dTQRqIBTHFjpKpDDRS-pPTqH16T2Y2iax/s320/jenny+054.jpg" border="0" /> Jenny with my class. Our Telecentro classes had a ¨field trip¨ to the park to get to know each other a little bit better. After class, they presented the presents. I was at home planning, but they came by our house to present me with the shirt after class.Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-5277295729241060722007-07-05T10:13:00.000-06:002007-07-05T10:45:26.264-06:00Service Rocks!<span style="color:#cccccc;">I have been thinking a lot about volunteering lately, and why some people feel it is part of their duty to give to others, volunteer, or have a socially conscious job, while others don´t. Anyways, I feel very strongly about service, and a life of service at that, so I wrote this article for our quarterly publication. I´ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately. Not much else to do when theres not electricity at night. Jenny</span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>“Ask not what your country can do for you; but what you can do for your country.”</strong></span><br /> John F. Kennedy, Jr.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HeO9v4XetmfLhZ-HT7TLjvjiGSHQTlaywFsGhirgjtq-cnrVQ5_kWqCRu0OIZkx-thtwia5hMYbf1j00Jo2lQlam3rt2Oo4c-WRqoC-eULC4Mv5cTitOVzq66xoU5m03O3AK/s1600-h/Southside-Mural.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5083751377671375826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="320" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HeO9v4XetmfLhZ-HT7TLjvjiGSHQTlaywFsGhirgjtq-cnrVQ5_kWqCRu0OIZkx-thtwia5hMYbf1j00Jo2lQlam3rt2Oo4c-WRqoC-eULC4Mv5cTitOVzq66xoU5m03O3AK/s320/Southside-Mural.jpg" width="338" border="0" /></a><br /><p>·Do you love the volunteer life style and the high it gives you?<br />·Do you feel like you need another year to “figure things out”?<br />·Do you enjoy measuring life in increments of 1-4 years (i.e. College: 4 years, Peace Corps: 2 years, Grad School:15 months)?<br />·Are you going to really miss being part of a community when you leave?<br />·Before you left, did anyone ask you “Why are you leaving when there’s so much to be done here?” and you thought….good point? </p><p>If you answered yes or maybe to any of these questions, READ ON! </p><p>Before joining the Peace Corps, I served for 2 years in AmeriCorps, which has been called the “domestic Peace Corps”. Much like the Peace Corps, you dedicate a length of time (couple months to one year) to volunteer in a specific project in a specific community for a living stipend. However, unlike the PC, you get to choose the program AND the community with whom you work (in most programs). You also get an education award (approx. $4,750) that can be directly applied to most loans or tuition at most universities. </p><p>I joined City of Lakes AmeriCorps in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There, I co-taught in a middle school, taught after school classes, recruited and trained volunteers, went to many group retreats, coordinated a summer youth leadership group, facilitated many service learning projects, was a big sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters, filled out reports, made life long friends, met my husband!, affected at least 1.8 peoples lives, volunteered my time, energy, and knowledge to give an extra hand, and felt good about myself for the first time in my life.<br />I also learned a lot. I learned about my community, how to be a productive member of society, how to talk about diversity, how to give countless life skills classes, how to see myself as a leader, how to work in a group, how to lead trainings, how to do one million icebreakers, name games, teambuilding activities, and energizers, and most importantly I learned a lot about myself.</p><p>When people have found out that Jeff and I did AmeriCorps, they are usually interested and some have expressed interest in joining when they get back to the states. I have been asked “Would AmeriCorps be a disappointment after doing the Peace Corps?” more than once, and we always answered “Ya, it probably would”. But after spending more time in the Peace Corps, I’ve thought a lot about my answer and have changed my mind. They are two very different and separate experiences. When I joined the Peace Corps, I thought I was taking a step up. I now realize that what I did was take a step sideways. I feel that while we offer a lot to the communities that we are working in, what I have learned in both programs is what is truly valuable to me and will stay with me for the rest of my life, and they are very different.</p><p><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>In Peace Corps I learned…</strong><br /></span>“Life is calling, how far will you go”<br />That when I swore in we got a cute little Peace Corps pin.<br />The difference between llegar and venir and that you really shouldn’t use venir when you are at your neighbor’s house and you are talking about your students coming over to YOUR house. That’s a time for llegar. Move 5 steps to the right, okay cool, NOW you can use venir.<br />How to make tostones, gallo pinto, and my own spaghetti sauce. Also to cook when I have running water, and to eat out when I don’t.<br />How to sneak in a life skills charla to any youth gathering. Oh, and what in the world a charla is.<br />How to live on $250 in a developing nation.<br />How to work with very driven, motivated, and goal-oriented Peace Corps volunteers. Also how to work with Nicaraguans in their country.<br />The importance of free food.<br />Volunteers will always break rules (i.e. NOT wearing a bike helmet).<br />The words to countless Mana and bus songs.<br />To NOT say yes to everything right away otherwise I might burn out, and I’ve got 2 years!<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">In AmeriCorps I learned…</span></strong><br />“Getting things done for America”<br />That when we swore in we got a hooded sweatshirt, a t-shirt AND a cute little AmeriCorps pin.<br />That I am a Southwest, which means that when I work in a group I want everyone to come out happy (the process is what counts!) but I also like our work to be orderly and organized.<br />To NEVER bring hummus, veggies and pita bread to a potluck otherwise all we will have to eat is hummus, veggies and pita bread.<br />That HAVING a youth group(after school class) is the important thing, no matter what the topic is (knitting anyone?), because most youth mischief happens during the hours of 3-6 p.m. (in the U.S.)<br />How to live on $640 in a developed nation.<br />How to work with very free flowing, open thinking, and concerned AmeriCorps volunteers. Also, how to work with and develop youth leaders.<br />The importance of free food.<br />Volunteers will always break rules (i.e. driving students home from activities).<br />That Jeff knows the entire “Freedom Medley” and enjoyed singing it daily.<br />To say YES to everything because I have to finish my 1500 hours, and I only have 1 year!<br /><br />AmeriCorps might not be right for everyone. However, I think that as RPCVs we should keep volunteering when we return to the states, or wherever it is that we end up. There’s so much work to be done and luckily, there are so many different ways to give: twice a week, once a month, once a year. Choose one! You’ll feel better about yourself, keep in touch with humanity, get to share your knowledge with others, and learn new things. Just make sure you choose the one that’s right for you. Here are some links, though I realize that they are biased with what I enjoy, there are so many more important and amazing organizations out there. Good luck and “keep on keepin on”! Peace.<br /></p>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31954602.post-81036050909150389752007-07-01T14:39:00.000-06:002007-07-01T14:46:52.838-06:00Did you know....?A lot of famous people were in the Peace Corps. Even some who you wouldn´t expect:<br />(thanks Jasmine´s dad)<br /><br />Joanie Laurer left home at age 16, and went to Spain under ascholarship with the United Nations. By 1987, she had graduated highschool in Spain. She spent the next five years at the University ofTampa and graduated in 1992 with a double major in Spanish Literature. Subsequently, she joined the Peace Corps and was assigned to CostaRica to teach literacy. After college, Laurer began to regularly enter fitness competitions.<br /><br />In 1996, Laurer competed in the New York City regional of the FitnessAmerica Pageant. Laurer met World Wrestling Federation employees Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a bar in 1997. Struck by her appearance, they helped herget into the WWF. She made her WWF debut on February 16 at In YourHouse choking Marlena. Her original role in the company was as Chyna, the laconic bodyguard of Triple H and later D-Generation X. She oftengot physically involved in Triple H's matches during his feuds withGoldust, Mankind, Owen Hart, and The Rock by executing a low-blow (anuppercut to the crotch). At WWF No Way Out of Texas in 1998, shebecame the first woman to be stunned by Stone Cold Steve Austin.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EWkOghgq8gG2MZVxhSpBm37FhiNrzgkLyMkGoY9KZob31nheApfIxDxqhwOQ3RMBfJGNDUkdH-4A_5MBRXM16gP08eqQnsrcXW-5xpLbzEWAfWRM3rVcnyleYHNCYKrGHD5l/s1600-h/chyna2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5082332518045273026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EWkOghgq8gG2MZVxhSpBm37FhiNrzgkLyMkGoY9KZob31nheApfIxDxqhwOQ3RMBfJGNDUkdH-4A_5MBRXM16gP08eqQnsrcXW-5xpLbzEWAfWRM3rVcnyleYHNCYKrGHD5l/s320/chyna2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Jenny n' Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652089608523729228noreply@blogger.com0