Gente increíble

A few weeks ago we had our annual board meeting in Michigan. I once again realized how incredible all members of the board truly are. Their dedication and commitment to the Casa is unrivaled. ¡Muchas gracias por todo!

Below is a poem I shared as our closing reflection. It is applicable to many situations in myriad ways.

"Stages" by Herman Hesse

As every flower fades and as all youth
Departs, so life at every stage,
So every virtue, so our grasp of truth,
Blooms in its day and may not last forever.
Since life may summon us at every age
Be ready, heart, for parting, new endeavor,
Be ready bravely and without remorse
To find new light that old ties cannot give.
In all beginnings dwells a magic force
For guarding us and helping us to live.
Serenely let us move to distant places
And let no sentiments of home detain us.

The Cosmic Spirit seeks not to restrain us
But lifts us stage by stage to wider spaces.
If we accept a home of our own making,
Familiar habit makes for indolence.
We must prepare for parting and leave-taking
Or else remain the slave of permanence.
Even the hour of our death may send
Us speeding on to fresh and newer spaces,
And life may summon us to newer races.
So be it, heart: bid farewell without end.

The final evening

Time is tricky. How is it that this dictator of most everything can be so deceiving? I have been gone for over five weeks and it seems like years, yet I also feel like I just got here. During the course of my stay in Central America some things have been made very clear to me:

-The people of Nicaragua truly are some of the kindest and gentlest in the world.
-Not all 60-something men could hop into the back of a moving bus and laugh about it.
-You really can see pregnant bellies change in a short amount of time.
-I can eat cheese here.
-I miss long days, but love early sleeps.
-Teaching and translating is simply fun.
-Making a fool of oneself for the benefit of others is always okay.
-Your dad can become a best friend.
-Your best friends can become sisters.
-Horns apparently have many purposes.
-Effective communication is vital in all situations.
-Strong hugs are the best.
-“Sugar ants” also like skin.
-Questions and conversations can be better than material gifts.
-While waiting 10 hours for a flight, it is nice to have a hotel across the street.
-Most situations have an advantageous and disadvantageous side.
-Everyone’s story deserves to be embraced.

Riendose

I’ve been thinking a lot about laughter lately, and how laughter, real laughter allows for presence and being. If for just a moment, laughter dissolves hardship, poverty, loss, grief, longing and sadness. Those that are willing to consume this drug feel side effects of immense joy, bliss and euphoria. It is prescribed spontaneously to those who desire to simply “be”. Later I will explain such moments we have experienced in the past few weeks.

A preview: Spoons attached by a string, charades, belly-flops and crabs on bathroom walls.

My dad arrives tonight and our friend, Erin got in yesterday. We will leave for the Laguna del Apoyo as soon as the plane lands!

Cultural irony, green hills, questions and welts

Something seemingly ironic: The state of Nicaragua is poor. When talking with staff members from the Casa today, there did not seem to be any vision of reprieve from the dire economic and political situation. However, when invited into homes, or when in meetings, or when speaking, the culture is extremely formal and full of pride. Though the authoritive entities attempt to keep people down, the pride and kindness possessed by the people here seems to outweigh some of the sorrow. As Lindsay said, "There´s something that´s just...right here."

We hiked up behind Kitty´s house yesterday morning. It was incredible to escape a bit of the heat, be surrounded by green mountains, and spend time with two of my favorite women in the world!

Today we chatted with the sixteen women who are currently in the Casa. They asked us what they should name their babies, why we weren´t married yet, and what was the (crazy) reasoning behind living so far from our families. There are obvious discrepencies between worlds, yet many similarities.

Why do mosquitos and flies land on and bite some (Lindsay) and not others (me)?

Los gastos

Linz and I bought 5-10 lbs of produce the other day for $3.75.

My gym membership costs $4 for the month.

Many women who arrive to the Casa Materna cannot afford the suggested $2.50 donation for room and board for as long as they need to stay.

Tratando de explicar...

When I was fifteen and spent almost a month in Costa Rica, I discovered the most difficult thing about travelling: being able to share my experiences with others. I had to learn quickly that my story was simply mine, and no one could ever fully understand. I form and save memories through writing and stories, and hope that these tangible mediums can convey my experiences. However, sometimes even words and images are incredibly limiting.

For example, how could I possibly explain “the campo” to anyone? How could I describe the rugged journey to arrive to Montaña Grande yesterday? I could say that the ride took two hours. I could write that we had to be sure to leave the town early, as the mountainous-dirt road would be wiped out if we didn´t beat the rain. I could explain that while writing this, I feel like I’m still going over a bumpy road…or I could change my story entirely.

I could tell you that “the campo” possesses more shades of green than one could ever imagine, that our luxurious care ride paled in comparison to being nine months pregnant and having to find a way by foot, horse, bus, taxi, or all aforementioned modes of transportation to get to the Casa Materna hours (or maybe even days later). I could try to explain to you the excitement on the faces of the Montaña Grande residents when we drove up…almost to the point of tears.

I could try to relay to you our “tour” around this community of tin homes and dirt streets, during which we invited the women of the community who had been to the Casa Materna to join us for a meeting. I might then try to explain that this was the way to communicate to these community members that the meeting was about to take place. Apparently the phone call never spread the word. There is little possibility to explain with any success how many homes we were invited into and how many we were invited back to whenever we so desire.

I said to this group of women, dressed-up, and piled into a room they were all very proud of, that their friends in the United States thank them for their hard work and follow-up with the Casa Materna.

If I can explain nothing else with clarity, my hope is that you might see the people of Nicaragua as the warmest that exist and the country as more beautiful than pictures or words could possibly capture.

Discoveries

They printed new money in Nicaragua. It is very slippery.

"Sombrero" (hat)is the provider of "sombra" or "shade".

"Tenedor" (fork) is that which "has"... from the verb "tener".

When teaching, utilizing all modalities is always a must.

One would think that after possessing Irish skin for 27 years, it would be obvious that after surfing and before laying on the beach, reapplication of sunscreen would be necessary.

Ideas come when they aren´t forced.

Here I find people exactly where I left them.

When making new friends, these are the important things to discuss:
1. Family
2. Weather
3. The beauty of the particular country, city, town or neighborhood

And by all means...share!

While travelling, it is the actual travel and transportation that incurs the most financial strife.