Volcan Mombacho

I went with La Mariposa students to Granada, Nicaragua (about an hour away from San Juan de la Concepcion).  It was 15$ to get in, which is pretty expensive by Nicaraguan standards.  For this reason, in a country whose teachers make 200$ per month, it is only tourists that visit. 

This is the location where you rent a guide if you want to, and have lunch.  There are three different craters on Mombacho but only one you can do on your own, about an hour hike. 

We were lucky to get this view from the top.  It was cloudy seconds before, and only remained uncovered for about five minutes. 

This is the end of the path.  It was fun to smell the sulfur, feel the heat, and see the smoke, but if you are expecting more you will be sorely disappointed. 

The hike within the rain forest is beautiful. 

This is a trail that you are only supposed to go on if you have a guide.  We only did a small part of it because we didn't want to get caught and have to pay!

After the hour hike the two people I was with wanted their money's worth and so did it again.  I was less interested and so decided to walk down the volcano.  The entire hike down is a good two hours, with plenty to see. 

I was very happy to get away from the group and be on my own picture taking schedule. 

There were so many different species of butterflies fluttering around I felt like I was at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park! 

A little over on hour down the hill is a coffee farm, Cafe las Flores that has been there for almost a hundred years.  It is rather humorous because on the way to the top the driver stopped here, which was confusing because we though it was where the trails began for a moment.  I asked the driver why we stopped and he said for a cafecito (a little cup of coffee).  This was all he said.  I would have been more interested to know the history of this place, which I discovered on my own. 

After sitting on the patio drinking free cafecitos and reading the newspaper. 

When coffee beans are ready to be dried they are dried here. It is really tuani (cool in Nicaragua) to think that some of the coffee I buy is dried at a place like this. 

These are baby coffee plants, the Rain Forest Alliance Certified coffee company plants 25,000 new trees per year. 

Behind me is a plethora of coffee plants. 

I love leaf cutter ants!  They are such hard workers. 

I was very excited to see this large group of caterpillars while continuing my walk down Mombacho.

I had my heart set on seeing howler monkeys but butterflies will have to do.  I could hear the monkeys not too far off and went on a monkey hunt, but to no avail. 

Overall the excursion was a success!  I would have been disappointed if the only thing we could do for the entrance fee was walk on a short trail to see a small crater, but the walk down the volcano and the coffee farm made it worth while for sure. 

Ensenar

Today my conversation teacher took me to the local primary and secondary schools.  It is very interesting to see the differences between how we teach in the US and how they teach here.  For one thing, it seems to me that the teachers are not as strict.  For example, in this first grade class the students were constantly out of their seats; moving their desks to be closer to the teacher, standing at the doorway to talk with students who walk by, approaching the teacher to show him something they wrote (and this is all while he was lecturing!).  It appeared like the teaching was very teacher-focused, but I imagine the lack of resources and technology prevents it from being more student-focused.  Oh, and I should mention the class sizes.  In the secondary school classes that I observed there were, on average, more than seventy students crammed into a classroom! 

Although it was very different from what I am used to in the US, the students seemed to be learning, which is progress for a country whose current illiteracy rate is about 30%.

After my Spanish classes it was time for lunch.  Today lunch was especially yummy; salad, rice, refried beans, steamed squash, and french fries.  Mmmmm mmmm. 

Then is was tutor time!  Today only Edwin could come. I think today will be my last day teaching English classes.  I believe next week I will be working on the farm (or la finca). 

Managua y Musica Nicaraguense

Yesterday after teaching my English classes at La Mariposa I went to Managua for the evening.  I caught a gorgeous sunset on Lake Managua while waiting for others from La Mariposa to arrive from their tour of Managua.  I was little nervous about venturing to Managua sola because everyone kept telling me how dangerous it is (not to wear jewelry, etc.) but it was totally fine. 

Afterwards we all went to La Casa de los Mejia Godoy to listen to music by one of the most famous and influential singers in Nicaragua, Luis Enrique Mejia Godoy.  He and his brother, Carlos Mejia Godoy, received the highest cultural award in Nicaragua, Order of Ruben Diario, for their traditional Latin American folk music mixed with social and political commentary. 

Music runs in the Godoy family, and is a big piece of Nicaraguan history.

 His son, Luis Enrique, is well known in the United States and has won numerous Grammy's.

It was an interesting day but I wish I would have realized what a treat it was to listen to this famous singer en vivo! 

Trek to the ATM

My morning started at La Mariposa with grammar and conversation classes.

I have been pretty tied down here at the hotel as working and taking classes (and lunch) is from 8-5. 

Today's lesson was a review on reflexive verbs, yesterday's was the difference between por y para.  These are definitely things that have never really sunk in even after all of the years of Spanish I have taken. 

This is, without a doubt, my favorite location for Spanish classes though.

A fifteen minute walk up the hill from La Mariposa leads you to the pueblo of La Concha.  There is nothing much to the small city but they do have a nice sized iglesia. 

I love the bright colors on houses that exist everywhere else in the world except in the US...

It is interesting to see what is for sale in some doorways.  This place only has a small amount of bread, and nothing more.

About 10 minutes past La Concha by minibus is another town called San Marcos.  This is the closest place to withdrawal money from an ATM (which isn't the most convenient location but since basically everything is included at La Mariposa I don't need much money anyway). 

There was a funeral service going on at San Marcos' main church. 

Now that I have seen the closest towns there is really no reason to return.  It is lovely to see, but there is nothing much to do. One week here is the perfect amount of time (although there are plenty of people staying for months). 

I am not very good at staying in one location for very long.  I am just happy that the Spanish school here is so wonderful or I may be more antsy. 

Water Conservation in Nicaragua

Ironically enough (since the country ends in agua) there is not very much water here.  Yesterday my conversation teacher told be about the water crisis in Nicaragua.  There are many pueblos that have pipes, but only receive water once or twice a week.  Some pueblos receive so little water that children cannot bathe, and so do not attend school.  Water storage, like the one at my house, is common here.

When you need to use the restroom you fill the green bucket with water brought over from the stored water about twenty feet away, and then dump it directly into the toilet bowl.  It makes for middle of the night bathroom visits a little daunting, although manageable. 

This is the laundry area/ sink.  It is the same process.  If you need water you need to fill up first. 

This is the shower at my house.  Once again, it is typical for a country that has so little water (although it was pointed out to me that people in the capital wash their driveways and use so much water that it runs into the streets). 

I just take a shower in the morning, but even that takes some will power.  Initially dumping the cold water on your head is the hardest part. 

There are public service announcements on the street regarding the conservation of water.

I am very happy that I started my trip here with La Mariposa Hotel and Spanish School.  Staying in hotels which include foreigner privileges would not have opened my eyes to the way that Nicaraguans actually live. 

They don't have much and they work hard, but they are happy. 

Home Stay and Spanish School

La Mariposa sent a shuttle to pick me up at the airport in Managua and take me to my host family in San Juan de la Concepcion (about an hour away).  It is so nice to be back in Latin America!! I love the plastic table and chairs in restaurants, the relentless honking while driving, and the smell of un-smogged cars. 

My room is simple, a bed and a small table.  It is totally safe but so loud at night (I am kicking myself for not remembering to bring earplugs!). It is right on the main street and sounds like people are driving and walking right through the house.  Not to mention the bomb-like fireworks that went off all night.  I am hoping that I get used to it.

For dinner, Bernan (one of the tutor's at La Mariposa) made me a typical Nicaraguan dinner.  Gallopinto (beans and rice), eggs, cheese, and green banana.  I was asked numerous times if I wanted coffee, which I turned down because I said I was planning on sleeping tonight.  The family laughed and said they drink coffee and then go to sleep, and they did. 

The living room is right next to my room, which opens up to the bathroom area through the curtain.  (I will post pictures of that later). 

By 8 I was walking to La Mariposa to find out how the day was going to progress.

This is the hotel, and where the Spanish lessons take place.  There are tables and chairs throughout the entire property for private lessons. 

I had three and a half hours of grammar and conversation classes. 

My conversation tutor took me for a walk, showing me all of the plants and animals on the property.

After lunch I taught English for two hours  (but four hours will start tomorrow).  I will not work on the farm until next week, this week I tutor. 

Everything is going great! This non-profit organization is very well run, and everyone is friendly. 

Except for the monkeys who kept trying to hit my camera! 

SD- LAX- MGA

So, getting to LAX was a group effort (other people's effort, not mine).  First my dad drove from Temecula to pick me up in Escondido.  We went to Rainbow Oaks Restaurant in Rainbow for breakfast, which was surprisingly good.

Then my dad dropped me off at my sisters house, and I got to see the bow and arrows that Dan made for the girls.

My sister drove me to LA (sans kids). 

We did the Walk of Fame,

and took advantage of Margarita Mondays. 

After a panini lunch in Venice Marla dropped me off at my friend Brittany's work (whom I met while studying in Mexico oh so many years ago). 

The following morning Brittany took me to the airport.

So far, so good!