Quick Updates (September/October)


Dirty Jokes
I had the great joy of inviting my coworkers to my house the other day for lunch. We had been in a training workshop in the morning and my boss had given us the rest of the day off. When my coworkers started to complain that they would be put straight to work when they got home, I suggested we take it easy at my house. These people NEVER take it easy. We made chicken and rice with fried plantains, sat around telling stories and even bought a bottle of rum. I got the idea that watching a movie together might be fun, so I grabbed the DVD’s my mom and sister have sent and showed them the options. They picked the 40 Year Old Virgin (dubbed in Spanish of course). I have never seen a group of people laugh so loud in my life. They made commentaries about everything, getting mad at the characters and offering life stories in between. It was not your conventional viewing. They even rewound the video three times to re-watch the opening boner scene with Steve Carell. They found it unbearably hilarious. I was pleased to find that Potty humor translates into all cultures and languages.

Matt Littrell’s Whirlwind Visit
My friend Matt Littrell emailed me the other day on a Monday night asking about when a good time to visit would be. In true Matt spontaneity, he was here by Friday morning. It was super fun hanging out and talking about old friends, the future and life in general. We met a couple of girls at the Laguna de Apollo and traveled with them to Granada where I got bed bugs, but other than that had a blast roaming around the colonial town. Matt was gone a few days later, but officially made me ready to see everyone again. True to form, as any good friend should, Matt arrived off the plane with a big bottle of Grey Goose in hand. Thanks to PJ and Rob for setting that standard.

No Rain

The last few months have been quite difficult for my community here. Unlike last years storms that destroyed harvests and caused innumerable illnesses, this year has been particularly dry. As a social worker, I thank god for the warm weather that has allowed our sick children and elderly to survive this normally treacherous season. As a community member I sit frustrated with my friends, as yet again their crops die from unexpected and unfavorable weather. Few crops mean very little income, which results in extremely limited meals, further illness and the greatest effect - a vast depression of spirit. There is very little one can do in this situation. We simply wait for the next harvest season and share resources in the mean time. Please pray for the small farmers of San Isidro de Bolas.

Election Fever
The presidential elections are next week. One candidate is a hugely corrupt Sandinista commander who is promising zero unemployment, apparently unaware of the unfavorable nature of zero unemployment on a growing economy. Another is the owner of a local bank who gained fame when he scandalously funneled money to his pals and family during the collapse of the bank system a few years back. Yet another is the handpicked mouthpiece of Arnoldo Aleman the now jailed former president who shamelessly stole the countries relief money in the last hurricane. The best option the country has as far as a non-corrupt leader goes is a guy whose posters eloquently state “Vote for the ugly guy who wants a pretty Nicaragua”. God have mercy on our souls.