September/October 2009

Daniel playing with the boys outside Farito

We're in the midst of a drought here in Managua, and although a few rain storms pass during the afternoons, we still haven't experienced a real Nica rainy season. Hopefully the rains will come soon to help the crops and keep prices low. Yesterday the "hombres trabajando" finished patching all of the massive potholes along carretera Vieja Leon! There was some disagreement in the house as to whether this made driving better or just more boring...but don't fret, I saw some new cracks creeping open on my drive home from soccer practice this afternoon, and I'm sure the potholes will be back in no time.

Manna House

Daniel with Syd in her cone--she has to wear it for two whole months

Unfortunately, the house has been preoccupied with our dear Sydney's health for the past week or so. Her idiotic son was playing too rough with her and bit her leg so hard that it punctured the skin in several places and became infected. After a tumultuous tour of Nicaraguan veterinary medicine, Syd's currently on house arrest and 24 hour watch with her leg bandaged while it heals. Hopefully the Nica vet's all-natural "Jelly dog" ointment (which strongly resembles cranberry sauce, especially on her mangled leg) will work its magic and she'll be back to her old self soon.

Couch time with Amelia during the round-the-clock watch

The NicAyuda kids have been coming over to the house regularly to jam with Hemby and Ian on the guitar. Gabe and Norman are teaching Hemby "Cara de Luna" and "Son Tus Perfumenes Mujer," while he frequently serenades them with the sweet sounds of Dashboard Confessional's "Vindicated" and other angsty U.S. classics.

Cedro & Chiqui

Hemby and Ulises in literacy group A at Farito

The transformer blew near Farito and power was out for almost two weeks. Despite the setback, the nighttime classes at Farito (beginning English, advanced English, and business development) have continued from where they left off. Beginning English is just concluding a unit and will have their own attendance party soon.

The Farito literacy and math classes have maintained high numbers with a few additions, including Ardiel in math group A and Gerald, who earned a place at the September attendance party with near-perfect attendance in math A and occasional appearances at literacy A. The PDs on duty at the pool party almost fainted when he threw himself into the deep end immediately upon arriving at the Manna house. Little did we know that he swims better than any other child there! Unfortunately, his overenthusiasm resulted in a nosebleed for poor Joel--let's just say, his behavior is still a work in progress, but at least he's opened up to us substantially since our arrival.

We've put some more "expensive" items in the Farito store, such as a baseball bat and glove. With this motivation, some of the young boys are starting to learn how to save their dollars and have been volunteering to help more often after comedor.

Elena, Adriana, and Anina at the graduation celebration

Adriana of NicAyuda and Advanced English class, just graduated and her father, whom she had not seen in sixteen years, flew down from Miami to celebrate with her. Although we managed to forget about the "hora nica" and arrived way too early to the party, making for a highly awkward half an hour, the fiesta was great. Adriana seemed really happy hanging out and dancing with all of her friends and relatives, including her abuelo, who kept dancing long after we sat down to take a rest!

The men's soccer team won a game! They also received two red cards after a small brawl and both team's keepers were thrown out, but things calmed down and Daniel led them to victory.

La Chureca

Karen (13.5) and Jennifer (Chureca)

Karen has joined a soccer league with the Chureca girls that plays against women in a local prison. It's fun to see how close she's become with Jennifer and all the other Chureca English girls.

In the Child Sponsorship program, the past month almost every child gained a substantial amount of weight, we think in part due to the medication that many are taking to get rid of their parasites. Liseth (the mother of Mildeana--not the one-year-old child Liseth) gave birth to a new daughter Sorchi about a month ago. Juana (mother of Jenny) gave birth to her eighth child a week ago, an as-yet unnamed girl.

We've hosted several tours for Dr. Doty in La Chureca for visiting medical professionals. Dr. Doty also generously allowed a group of mothers in the Sponsorship program to get free PAP exams at Samaritano during one of their cervical cancer screening initiatives. It was a first time for many of the moms and a great time for us to get to know them a little better outside of their homes.

Special music update...
Pretty much every girl between the ages of six and thirty in Managua cannot stop singing "Colgando en tus manos" by Carlos Baute and Marta Sanchez, and yes, that includes me! Download it to get a taste of the Nica radio right now...

Thanks for reading and hopefully we will see many of you soon at the November reunion!

-Anina