Hola Family and Friends,
I hope all is well wherever you happen to be at these days. I am still here in Nicaragua, perhaps someday they will deport me, but until then, here I am...
Nothing too exciting to report here. It is decidely unexciting in fact. I finish work in November and am planning to go home for Christmas. My boss is still sick mostly - today she called in and may have dengue! We may get a new boss soon, though I can't see things moving into a higher gear here.
On the past job front, the book we published there finally came off the presses... We have 3 book readings/ presentations planned and we have already donde 2. There is just one more to go, but we are waiting until Maria Eugenia gets back from the USA on Sept 10, probably around Sept 21.
We did one presentation in León and about 60 people came and in Matagalpa there were 30ish. The turnout was not bad, but the feedback about the book is excellent, we are quite pleased. At some point the book will be online, I will let you know.
In 2006, with some friends we had talked about starting up a computer school/business in Nicaragua for-profit but with a social conscience. This may still happen, although it is hard to say at this point. If not, I may have to start job searching soon, although I am not too keen at the moment.
I met some interesting people at a project in Estelí called ASDENIC and if the project goes ahead, it could be good to work with them... Maria Eugenia's nephew is in charge of the computer school they have in the project.
Fonzi was badly injured in one paw recently, probably in fights with the neighbour's cats. He ended up with an infection so we had to go for surgery, I almost fainted with all the blood... I would never have made a good doctor, I think I would be one of those fathers who faints during the birth... In any case, Fonzi is improving though, although he still walks with a limp... At least we seem to have gotten rid of the fleas.
I think right after the last update I was in the bus accident...
I was going in the bus to León to do a workshop in mid-late April. I was quietly reading a book (by Joseph Campbell) and the mini-bus express that I was in, hit a yellow school bus (not a school bus here though, just a non-express bus) but not too many injuries, just me with my big legs.
I managed to limp out of the bus, and I was slightly beat up I guess, my left hand is still a bit off, but it is ok. My legs were bumped and bruised and took about 5-6 weeks to heal. I have scars now, but at least the bumps are gone... After the accident, I laid down on the side of the road for a while, while the bus driver assured me that my bruised and bleeding legs were "nothing". Eventually another bus came and I limped onto it, continued to León and the workshop, gave the workshop and then went to the pharmacy to look for bandages and alcohol... Life is ok though... now... No dancing in those weeks, but by my birthday I was dancing again.
Moved again. I mentioned that in the last report, but I wasn't completely clear on the reasons. There was an attempted break-in. Luckily my place was built like a fortress, so they were unsuccessful, but that prompted me to not renew when the year lease came up. A few days before I actually moved, someone managed to steal the hammock thru the cracks in the front gate, wrecking it the process, not sure why they bothered... Oh well. I am still without hammock, but I will remedy that problem soon enough...
So my new home is in a "Colonia" or Colony which means it is a nicer more upscale neighbourhood. I pay the same amount for rent, but it is a bit smaller the place. There is still a guest bedroom/office, although there is not a door on it at the moment, someday to be fixed up... My new owner is nice, (the last one was nice, although doesn't want to return my deposit - I may take her to court over it) and painted the place in about 6 or 7 different colours that we picked together. My place is a lively array of blue, red, mango, peach, offwhite and another peach-like colour. I like the mix although perhaps it is a bit crazy for some people. It is much closer to El Recreo where I lived one time long ago, so that it good, and several other friends as well, and 2 co-workers. It is very tranquil as well...
Of course, there was a housewarming/birthday party in my new patio. Some of my friend's daughters from El Recreo came and danced some traditional dances for us, it was a lot of fun.
As I sit in my dining room, which is actually in the patio, it's hard to believe sometimes that I am not in a dream. I eat breakfast at the dining table looking at trees, plants, birds, cats and fruit. In the patio/backyard, there are 2 banana/plaintain plants, a eucalyptus tree, a pitahaya cactus and a few others like a baby mango tree. In the front of the house, there is an adult mango and a lemon tree. Currently pitahayas (dragon fruit) are in season, which is great. They are a relatively expensive fruit at around $1.25US each (compare bananas: 3-4 dozen for a US dollar) and I have lots! And the bananas are coming in now too.
The kitchen is also together with the dining room, so often the strong winds blow out the gas stove when I am cooking, but these are minor inconveniences. The wind is better than no wind, helping to cool down the hot days and keep the houseflies and mosquitos at bay. Not that there are many bugs in this house, but there are some, especially at night. Of course, ants are a given, there isn't anywhere in Nicaragua without a great quantity of ants, helpfully cleaning up all those bits you leave behind...
Well, after not dating much, or at least not being too excited about the prospects, I seem to be having more luck lately, at least I met an interesting woman named Fabiola. She is Nicaraguan and we are enjoying each other's company when we get a chance to get together. She lives in León and so we see each other about once a week (we met or re-met about 3 weeks ago) Anyway, it is new, but seems more interesting than many of the dates I have had in the last while...
Christine came to visit from Canada, so that was fun, but between her and Fabiola and another friend's birthday I went out 4 or 5 times in the last week. Today I think I will just rest...
Life here is good, can't complain too much, in spite of the thunderstorms, mosquitos, rising gas prices, the occasional riot, corrupt politicians, it's all pretty normal, boring, dull...
Take care, un abrazo,
Rob