Amig@s and Family,
I hope everyone is well and that the new year is off to a good start. (I'm a bit late on those wishes, but the last time I wrote an update was last year, so...)
Here's an update I started to write in Jan. I guess it is a bit of an understatement, but I have been busy lately. It is a bit out of date, but... I will try to continue the update after and get it sent off... And just before that, the executive summary of the last month or so (workwise) - in a pair of words: super busy. I have:
I have been incommunicative of late, perhaps it is the minimal access to internet these days in this new housesitting gig I got (with no telephone or cable, thus no internet at home - minimal phone access at least with a cell phone) or perhaps it was the busy-ness of the end of the year accompanied by the lazy-ness of recovering from all the work and parties. Whatever the reason, I cannot make up any more excuses, I'd better just get to it.
As I mentioned, I am housesitting. One of my work companions (Wilmer) has gone to Spain (Xmas with his partner) and England (to study a post grad diploma for Jan/Feb) so it worked out well, as I had kind of wanted to move, so this gives me a chance to look for a place and save rent money. I wanted to move as I was paying a little more than I wanted and as I discovered as I tried to get my deposit back, that the landlady wasn't as honest as I thought.
Wilmer's house is a bit out of the city, on km #15.5 on the highway heading south towards Carazo or El Crucero (where our beloved ex-president Aleman is still under house arrest at his lavish mansion). Being close to El Crucero, it is actually quite chilly at night, I have to get 4 sheets out to keep warm some nights (ok, it is not quite Canada). It is mostly quiet (some noise from the highway sometimes, but rarely at night) and a beautiful setting. I eat breakfast in the patio sometimes, enjoying the sun and trees...
Part of having the house means I have a car as well, for these next few weeks as Wilmer also left his car. I have been using it a bit over the holidays, but hope to get back to taking the bus to work when we officially start back next week.
Christmas was a fairly typical Nicaraguan affair, with fireworks at midnight, dancing and food. I spent the afternoon in the car, delivering presents of homemade fudge (Gramma's recipe) to friends in Managua and around 6pm I picked up some of the family of my friend Nubia and we went off to Carazo to her mother's house. Her family live right on the highway between Nandaime and Jinotepe, doing farming and odd jobs to make a living, which in the end is not much. The house has a dirt floor and it is in very poor condition. However, it is a festive place, the family was super happy to see us and the gifts that Nubia's family brought of meat and candy, luxuries for them. Nubia's family is very poor as well, but being in Managua means that they are slightly better off and can at least afford to bring some meat and other luxuries to share.
We arrived somewhat late, but there was no electricity when we arrived, apparently a line had come down somewhere nearby, a not too uncommon experience...
Back to the present. Editor's Note: Aleman is no longer in his lush mansion, he is actually in jail. Hard to say if he will actually stay there, but for the moment...
Well, I am no longer in the lush country manor that passes as Wilmer's house. Well, it is not exactly a manor or lush, but anyway... Wilmer's house was a nice 2 bedroom affair in a quiet neighbourhood where people generally seemed not to talk to each other. Reminded me of home.
Wilmer came back in March, and I spent a few weeks looking for a place before finally finding something, that, while not perfect, is definitely acceptable, so I signed a one year contract... Although I didn't move in until April 16. The house is in a "barrio" called El Riguero. A barrio is like a neighbourhood, but is what they call "popular" here. I guess that is a nice way to say that it is a poor neighbourhood. The house is in fact, relatively mansion-like, compared to my neighbours. I am getting to know the neighbours, bit by bit. I have met two of the families so far, as well as most of the kids between 4-6 (there are seven on the block, as far as I know).
The house is very big, with very high ceilings, so it is not so hot, although it still feels hot, given that this is the hottest time of the year. About two weeks ago, it was terrible, but it is slowly improving and we had our first rain (two days ago) that was more than a drizzle in about 3-4 months. There is sort of a fountain, for that cascading water sound to lull you to sleep as you lie in the hammock for your afternoon nap (if only I had time for afternoon naps), a big living room that I refer to as the dance floor, because it is big and basically empty due to my lack of furniture, 2 bedrooms (or an office and a bedroom), kitchen and backyard. The backyard is concrete, but at least it has 3 trees - two coconut and one mango.
Well, of course, no house is really lived in until the first party, so I had a housewarming 2 weeks ago. I invited quite a few people and about 65 showed up. At first it seemed like the party wasn't going to kick off, everyone was kind of nervous, not everyone knows each other, but eventually people got up and danced the night away... Till 2am at least and the last people left at 4am, except for the 8 people that slept over, conveniently 3 of them stole my bed. Jerks. It was a good party though, only one really drunk person and lots of fun. It was a Canadian style party BYO-everything, which is not how people do things around here, but well, mostly people adapted, I think. We ran out of alcohol around 1:30 - didn't bother me at all, but the neighbours weren't too pleased... I hadn't invited them, since I didn't really know them, but as I walked to the corner to get a taxi for one person, some of them approached me to invite themselves over. I said ok, but wasn't sure.
Anyway, I needn't have worried... They bee-lined for the alcohol table, and seeing that there was none, bee-lined right back out the door. Oh well.
Still no romance, but lots of social life. There is a European Film Festival at the moment, so am getting some culture at least and lots of nights of dancing, although less in the last few months as I have been a bit tired from all the work, but am getting back into the swing of things since the party. We are already planning the next party for my bday, for Sat, May 29 - in case you are in town... Everyone is welcome. Could be even more people this time...
Well, it is busy as I mentioned above. With CUSO, my contract ends in August officially and I was hoping to get home to Canada at that time for a visit, but looks like I may be extended by either 2 months or 2 years. It is all a bit up in the air, but perhaps by the time of the next update I will be able to clear that up. See the executive summary for more info.
I generally don't attach things to emails, but this is a small one. It is one of my favorite Nicaragua road signs from the highway to Matagalpa, this one or maybe the Amardillo one...
There are many stories I am leaving out, including some near-misses with romance, the full moon parties, my trip to Corn Island, but if I don't send this tonight it could sit here another 4 months... I'll try to include some stuff in the next update, hopefully it won't be quite so long in coming...
Take care,
Rob
P.S. In case you didn't know, this the new email: [email protected], although it may change again in a few weeks, I will let you know. My permanent email will not change though: [email protected]