Two More Weeks in Review

We had a very nice couple of weeks. On Saturday Sept. 18 Jeff and the girls drove to Finca Esperanza Verde (where Jeff is temporarily working) and did a nice hike. School was closed for a few days so Sunday we all visited Masaya Volcano National Park and peered into an active, sulfur spewing crater. Fortunately, we left minutes before some decided to through themselves into that crater!  We then went to Managua to renew our tourist visas and due to a series of fortunate events we ended up staying in a fancy hotel with hot water, TV, a swimming pool and no mosquitoes; it was an awesome way to celebrate the three month anniversary of our arrival in Nicaragua.

Emma and Hannah hamming it up at a volcano in an effort to win a photo contest sponsored by their dentist in the USA

Tuesday we went back to Finca Esperenza Verde for some more hiking and school finally started again on Wednesday (thank goodness). Upon returning to school we learned that Emma was one of the top students in her class, with a 98.2% average. It is rude to brag, but we cannot help being so proud of Hannah and Emma who have adjusted so beautifully. Friday was a short school day for the girls as we all went to the city of Dario to celebrate the 20th anniversary of El Porvenir a nonprofit in Nicaragua that Aileen and Jeff worked for ten years ago. It was amazing to see how well the organization is doing and that its unique culture still exists despite some very substantial growth.

Musical Performer at the El Porvenir Anniversary

The following week was a bit slower. The weekend of Saturday Sept. 25 had us stuck indoors due to heavy rain. Power and water went on and off and at some point we lost running water for almost 3 days (fortunately we had water saved up in some barrels). Of course school got cancelled due to the rain because many students do not show up during bad storms. It makes sense that some students do not show up when it rains as they have to cross dangerous rivers to get into town for school. However, the constant school vacations can be pretty frustrating and cannot be very good for the students. Anyhow, the girls passed the time doing their extracurricular activities and playing with their friends.  We also managed to brave the storms and take one of our neighbors out for pizza to celebrate her birthday.

Hannah and Friends Keeping Busy



Birthday Celebration at the Italian restaurant in Matagalpa

The rains subsided toward the end of the week but being stuck inside for many days must have clouded our thinking. We (i.e., Jeff) made the spontaneous and not very wise decision to buy a dog. Our new puppy is called Cuate (Buddy in Spanish). Cuate is 50% Boxer and 100% adorable. The kids love him and are now lobbying to expand the Kositsky Farm with a bunny once our neighbor's rabbit delivers her babies.

Emma, Hannah and a sleepy Cuate

Aileen's work at SOL continues to progress well.  She has finished up one school and is planning the grand opening celebration.  She is now focusing on developing a few schools in other rural communities and hopes to start construction when the rain stops.  Jeff is really enjoying his temporary position at the nonprofit hotel/farm Finca Esperanza Verde.  Despite the fact that this is the slow season, he is keeping pretty busy with a leaky roof, electrical problems, cash flow issues, etc.  We could both tell lots of funny stories about work but choose not to given that our bosses might read this so you will have to wait until we get home to hear them.

Student in SOL's newest school.

That pretty much sums up the past few weeks. Like most of our weeks here, they have been full but mellow and always full of surprises. We are deep into the rainy season so the next month will likely be a bit challenging. However, I imagine Cuate will pose more challenges than the rain!

Another Week in Nicaragua

News About "Uncle Andy"
As you may know, Jeff's brother Andy had a fire in his home.  The entire house was destroyed and everything lost.  Fortunately Andy, his daugher Nadia and their dog Eddy are doing just fine.  Unfortunately insurance is not going to cover much.  If you know Andy (or even if you do not) and are interested in helping his family recover visit http://kositskybenefitfund.blogspot.com/

Independence Day - By Emma
Here is a video from the independence day parade I was in.

I was in the independence day parade.  They were celebrating independence from the USA (note, September 14th commemerates the battle of San Jacinto during which the Nicaraguans defeated American William Walker who had declared himself President of the country).  I practiced for a very long time.  I had to skip school just to practice.  I learned how to use a baton and pom poms.  It was great.

A New Job – by Jeff
Life in San Ramón keeps presenting twists and turns, most of which are fun or at least interesting. The one thing I least expected to be doing in Nicaragua was working but as of last week I am once again employed. The director of a place called Finca Esperanza Verde went back to the United States on paternity leave and I am filling in for a month or so during his absence. It is just a part-time gig and taking care of the family is still my main job. However, this will be a nice diversion for a few months and it is for a very good cause.

Finca Esperanza Verde is a business with a mission (a.k.a. a social enterprise). It is an award winning eco-lodge and coffee farm that creates jobs for folks from San Ramón. Finca Esperanza Verde is also a nature preserve with an extensive trail system. The profits from this business are used to fund community programs such as building schools, repairing the town’s water system, supporting a dance festival, bringing electricity to rural communities, etc. Finca Esperanza Verde was started by Sister Communities of San Ramón, Nicaragua (SCSRN), a nonprofit based in Durham, NC that promotes people-to-people connections and supports social and economic development projects that build friendship, understanding, justice and respect for the Earth.

I starrted this job just one day before the director left for the US. We did not have much time together so I am still trying to figure out my role. Luckily, the staff I are excellent and know what needs to be done to keep the place running. I would like to believe the main skill I bring to the table is extensive experience running nonprofit organizations. However, I fear that my ability to drive a stick shift, use a computer and translate are probably more important.

So far I am enjoying this opportunity.  I have already met some wonderful folks and the farm is a very special place.  Emma, Hannah and I spent a night there and had an incredible time.  Please check out the links above to learn more about our work and how you might be able to support it. Also, I now (regretably) have a mobile phone - the number can be found in the contact info page in case you ever need to call.

What I Did - by Hannah
These are the things I did this week.

1.  Made an omlette with our chicken's eggs.

2.  Went to my friend's birthday party with Emma.

3.  Visited our friend Janeth in Matagalpa where we lived before.

4.  Stayed at Finca Esperanza Verde with Emma and Daddy.  It was really fun.

5.  We had no school this week so I played and played.

Blogcation - By Aileen
I am taking a break from blogging and will write again one of these days.

Week in Review

Like we said in our last post life is becoming more "normal." In some ways, life is very much like it was in the USA. The adults work, take care of the children, pay bills, try to find some alone time, etc. The children go to school, have afters-school activities and play dates. We each have our friends, acquaintances and some folks we could do without. On the other hand, things are so very different. The language, the culture and the simple mechanics of getting things done in a very poor country make this a rich and challenging adventure. Every week we each have new discoveries, wonderful experiences, frustrations and questions -- each of which could be a long post. For now, here is a summary of everyone’s week in their own words, hopefully giving you a picture of our life here.

Not Fun/Fun - by Hannah
This is what was not fun. Arleth (her friend) was not supposed to go into my classroom but she did even though my teacher said no five times. She took my hand when my teacher was not looking and said corre (run) because she did not want the teacher to see. She ran all the way to my house and said it is the end of class to my Dad. My teacher was worried (and called wondering where Hannah was). Last night the lights went out and I had no night light. It was pitch dark and I bumped into everything. Luckily I screamed DADDY and he came out of the bedroom with a flashlight.

Hannah and Her Sisters

This is what was fun. I was drawing with my friend Cindy and I made a pretty picture with the sun and sky and a house and flowers and butterflies and a worm. I like to play with her a lot. Daddy got a new bike and it is fun. I went swimming in a lake and I was never scared a fish would bite me. I did a run jump (off a floating dock) into the lake. Mommy reading stories to me is fun. Preschool is fun. I had green poop and that is really funny (no illness, just green for some reason).

I Have Lots of Subjects So I Do Not Know What to Name This – by Emma
This weekend we went to Laguna de Apoyo and we got onto a floating dock in the deep water. The water was warm and I do not know why. We also floated in tubes. We stayed in the biggest room in a place called the Monkey Hut. I had a really fun time.

Laguna de Apoyo

I am going to be in the independence day parade (September 14th) and I am in the gimnasia (pom pom girls) not the paliona (baton twirlers). I had to buy lots of clothes, knee high socks, a red skirt, pom poms, white shoes and a white t-shirt. Practice is really fun but it always starts late. The older girls are basically in charge of us.

School is really interesting but it is also very fun and hectic. People are always yelling in my face asking me if I like a boy in my class (Emma and Carlos seem to have a little romance going). The teacher can end school whenever she wants like if she has to see her husband because she lives in a different city that is far away. We have three subjects at school, math, Spanish and civics. I think my Spanish is getting good and I can have conversations with girls in my class without going, hmmmm, what does that mean?

Great Escapes - by Jeff

We had a wonderful escape from the patron saint festival in San Ramon by visiting our new favorite place in Nicaragua, Laguna de Apoyo. We swam, ate pizza, swam some more and relaxed by this lake which formed in the crater of a dormant volcano. Thermal vents keep the water warm and the location keeps the crowds to a minimum. The area is protected and thus development is sparse (compared to Lake Tahoe, for example). Speaking of which, Laguna de Apoyo rivals Lake Tahoe in its beauty; the only downside is the lack of skiing.

One of our hens escaped from our chicken run. I spent one night and the next morning running around town looking for our beloved Estrella. I heard many interesting theories; she left because she wanted a rooster, a dog ate her, someone stole her and painted her brown, etc. I finally found her right on the other side of our fence and our neighbor (also named Emma) tossed her over for me. I then spent the next day making our chicken habitat escape proof. Many of our neighbors thought I was being foolish as it would be easier to cut their wings but that is something I just did not want to do. Hopefully the chickens will now stay put. In other chicken news, our neighbor Maria lent us her rooster named Pinto. Estrella and Luna are keeping him company as Maria sold all of her hens. Perhaps they will finally start laying eggs. Hannah says if they do not we should eat them and get a dog!

Speaking of Hannah, as you already read, she escaped a great deal of school. Last week most classes were cancelled due to her teacher’s doctor appointment, the school census and a holiday. This week there was no school Monday – Wednesday because of the patron saint festival. The festival ended Tuesday but Wednesday was also a day off so folks could recover from the holiday. As you read, Thursday Hannah and her friend Arleth came home from school two hours early and Arleth told me there was no more school. Hannah seemed confused but it all became clear to me when her teacher called wondering what was up. I had to explain to Arleth and her mom that we were very happy she wants to play with Hannah but it has to wait until after school. Hannah escapes even more school because her teacher has a workshop Monday and Tuesday (I guess they never heard of substitutes). While I am on the subject, I walked into Emma’s class on Friday to say hello and found that the teacher had not arrived and was an hour late. I improvised an English lesson until someone finally showed up to take my place at the white board.

Universality – by Aileen

Certain things this week grabbed my attention not because they were so meaningful or funny or memorable, but because we/they could have been any people, anywhere in the world. They’re the kind of things that kind of make me wonder why we can’t all just get along.

Last week, I happened to be walking by the kids’ school when they got out for recess. The frenetic energy as the kids burst out of their classrooms and sprinted for the yard was palpable, even from outside on the sidewalk. It reminded me a lot of the energy on the yard at Fairmount (where I used to work) during recess.

On Friday, I had a meeting with a community that has been very enthusiastic about starting a project to build two new classrooms for their school. The meetings I’ve had there so far have been well-attended, with good participation, and with people even showing up on time (!). But when it came time to appoint the president of the committee that would be in charge of the project, there was dead silence. You’ve all been there: silence, a few nervous coughs, some slouching, and everyone studiously avoiding eye contact with each other.

Childen at a Community Meeting

The other day, I was in a rural community and some women were washing laundry in a river, while their kids played and splashed around nearby. As the women finished the laundry, they had to coax their kids out of the water with bribes of treats back at home. It reminded me of trying to get Emma and Hannah out of the water at Laguna de Apoyo.

In Closing...

Okay, after reading this again it is clear that our life is not what we used to consider normal. I guess settled would be a better word. We are really happy to be settled and normal will have to wait until we come home. In the meantime, we are enjoying the differences.  If you are interested in enjoying them too, we welcome visitors!