Starting to Slowly Say Goodbye

Celebrating the New Year & 1.5 Years in Nicaragua

Today I officially have one month left in Nicaragua. I can't believe how fast the time has flown by & yet I remember moments when time went slowly. I am very thankful and blessed for the year that has passed. I have been challenged in new and hard ways this year. I have experienced God's presence in many different forms. I have fallen in love with Nicaragua. 

In celebration of 2014 & the final month of my time in Nicaragua, I want to share with you a list of things I love, things that have been challenging, things that I have learned, and the best memories of the year. 

Celebrating Christmas with Dra. Belinda & family. 

I traveled with Dr. Francisco & Dra. Alicia to Matagalpa for a few days after Christmas. 

Things I Love

• Nica Food- gallo pinto, queso, tortillas, Indio viejo, pescado… I really do love me some Nica food & as I am closing my time in Nicaragua I’m desperately trying to write down as many reciepes as Ican.
• Public Transportation- You can travel pretty much anywhere in Nicaragua using public transportation, even if some areas take more than a day. I know I will have days when I’m back in the States where I will miss feeling like a sardine on a bus or crusing in a panga down the river. 
• The People- The most difficult part of leaving Nicaragua will be to say goodbye to all the wonderful people I have met. Nicaragua is filled with heart-felt people who have big faiths and strong spirits. I become overwhelmed when I think of how much I’ve been blessed by others here, even if I met someone for only a brief period of time. I will leave Nica with people in my prayers and a few Skype names or cell numbers written down.
• The Language- I could probably include learning Spanish under challenges as well, but I also absolutely love speaking Spanish and despite the struggle I feel honored that I can speak Spanish at a fairly decent level.
• Diversity- Many people do not realize, including many Nicaraguans who live on the Pacific Coast, that Nicaragua is a quite diverse country. Where over 4 languages are spoken and a range ofethnicities graces the country. From Mestizo to Creole to indigenous populations such as the Miskito and Rama, Nicaragua is full of many different cultures and people.
• Natural Beauty- Nicaragua is home to many volcanoes, lakes, beaches, rivers, rainforests, lagoons, islands, canyons and many interesting insects and animals. Even in the capital city of Managua, you can come around a corner and catch gorgeous views of the lake and volcanoes that surrond the city.
• Time- People who are not from Nicaragua or Central America might say that Nicaraguans do not make good use of their time, but for me I think they cherish time and use it in a valuable way. Families and friends know how to just sit and be with each other, people take long daily lunches and plenty of holidays which I see as good self-care.
• AMC family-  I use the word family, because that is what many people who with AMC are to me now; family. They have allowed me to be apart of the AMC ministry and continue teaching me new things everyday.
• AMC work- Acción Médica Cristiana is a rockin’ organization and I’ve gotten to visit almost all of our project sites and see the ground work of the NGO. AMC works with empowering youth, sexual and reproductive education, agricultural promotion and intelligence, women’s rights, basic health education, violence prevention, community pharmacies, radio programs, renovating schools, educating & supporting teachers, and so much more based on Christian faith. AMC is fighting/improving for justice issues that no one else wants to even talk about.  I pray that I can continue to do a good job at promoting and helping others realize the importance of AMC in the lives of so many Nicaraguans.

Things that Have Been Challenging:

• witnessing unjust living conditions/opportunities
• machista society
• learning Spanish
• being far from family and friends
• wresting with my own culture & background

Things I have Learned:

• to live more simply
• about the diverisity that exists in Nicaragua
• I lived in a bubble before
• how to sit and do nothing with people you love & be content
• the face of God may be different in each culture but God is definitely present throughout the world

Best Memories of the Year:

• making my first friends at Spanish school
• The river trip down the Rio Coco. The first time I learned about the Miskito culture and witnessed how different life on the river can be.
• dancing & singing karaoke
• my Nephew turned 2
• teaching English clasess
• saying goodbye to my fellow Mission Interns who left in February. It was nice to have fellow volunteers to share experiences & bestow their Nica wisdom on me. 
• Fishing with Dr. Francisco
• working with my first volunteer team (Medical Teams International) alongside wonderful translators & the awesome Matagalpa team
• lunch times at the AMC central office - enjoying a long lunch with great company
• trying to surf
• the arrival of another Mission Intern, Sarah Fraizer, to Nicaragua and working alongside her at different times
• my brother graduating from college & moving to California to work as an engineer
• meals at Dr. Gerardo & Belinda's house
• the struggles & successes of learning Spanish
• celebrating my parents 120th birthday from a distance
• working with an enormous dental team (Smiles for Everyone) and ending the week with lots of clean teeth and filled cavities
• celebrating the engagement of several friends- from a distance
• witnessing God's presence within other people, Nicaragua's beautiful landscapes, and within impoverished areas I have visited
• the friendships that have grown
• conducting over 40 interviews and listening to the beautiful , yet challenging stories of many Nicaraguans
• visiting almost all of AMC's project sites in the RAAN & RAAS
• celebrating my 2nd Christmas in Nicaragua

God bless! Happy New Year!

Updates

Before heading back to Managua, Sarita, the nanny who works with my co-workers from AMC in Kukra River invited me to eat lunch and visit her family at her house in Bluefields. 

It was a sacred afternoon- eating yummy chicken, fried plantains  and rice. Don't forget the CoCa.

I spent a month living with Sarita in Kukra River and she always talked about her family and her beautiful house.

It was such an honor to spend the afternoon chatting and munching on some delicious food.

I also concluded my time in Bluefields by spending the night at Berja's house with the two Norwegian volunteers and our friend Kesly. Berja and the Norwegians are involved in an exchange program called Communication for Change through the Norwegian Church. AMC helps support and provide experiences for these young people. Anna and Andreas just finished their 3 months in Nicaragua and Berja will leave for Norway on Jan. 1.

I flew back to Managua with the Norwegians and Belinda picked us up in the AMC "ambulance".  Belinda is the long-term United Methodist missionary who has worked for AMC for over 20 years. 

Sarah, the other Mission Intern was also traveling back to Managua on the same day, so she also joined us on the trip back from the airport.

The day after we arrived back to Managua, AMC held the annual Christmas party. It was extra pretty this year because the party was arranged outside instead of the cramped auditorium. 

Dra. Teresa Bobadilla is the big boss lady for AMC. She is the Director for the entire organization and a wonderful person to know. 

A few AMC workers had prepared a few Christmas Hymns to share at the party. 

Then, we played our secret santa game and each person had to give the audience clues as to who was their secret santas. 

Sarah left for the States on Saturday after serving in Nicaragua for 10 months. Also, the two Norwegians  left today. I will be in Nicaragua for about one month and a half longer. As I am facing this transitioning time and as we approach Christmas time, I really miss my family; however, I also feel overwhelmingly grateful. I will have over a month to reflect on my time here, remember the inspiring people I have met, cope with the challenges I have seen, and praise God for baby Jesus. 

I hope you all find joy and peace in this holiday season. 

With love, Whitney

AMC & SFEF Dental Outreach Reaches-Out to a very Special Community

English Version: Spanish Version:

Life in Managua

Sometimes I get to go on wonderful adventures during my time here in Nicaragua. Here are some pictures from a trip to Costa Rica I just took with my fellow Mission Intern, Sarah Fraizer. We went to Montezuma on the Nicoya Peninsula and then visited Scott & Linda McAnnally in San Ramon.

However, most days I have been working in the office just like many of you all do each and everyday. Here's what my average day looks like.

7:30 am I wake up & escape from my mosquito net which snuggly surounds my bed. 

7:32 am I jump into my cold morning shower- I actually really enjoy cold showers now a days. 

7:50am Eat breakfast- for a while I was really obsessed with making smoothies each morning, because fruit is so readily available and cheap. 

8:15 am I leave the house unlocking and then locking behind me the the front door and two gates. 

I walk about a mile to get to my bus route. (If I am running late, feeling lazy or taking my computer to the office I will grab a taxi.)

I've become accustomed to taxis honking in order to try to give me rides, picking up dust on some of the pathways, men making kissing sounds and yelling out "chela!" (white girl), and passing many other people during their commute to work & school. 

8:45 am On Mondays we have morning devotionals but otherwise I greet the "vigilantes" that guard the entrance to AMC and head to my office. 

8:50 am I always greet and catch up with my co-worker Dina & supervisor Dr. Francisco when I get to the office. It is always important to greet one another properly in Nicaragua before getting to work.

9:00 am I start checking emails on my computer and working on a new team budget or logistics.

10:00 am We can turn on the air conditioning in our office. The cost of electricity is horrible here.

12:00 pm I usually immediately stop what I am doing to enjoy a yummy lunch cooked by AMC's cooks. Sometimes I bring my own lunch if Doña Chelita and Doña Maria Eugenia are not cooking or walk down the hill to a nearby gas station to purchase a sandwich.

I spend lunch sitting in the nice eating patio and chatting with other co-workers at my table. Everyone relaxes and spends about an hour chatting and resting. No one sits in the eating area if they need to talk about work.

Not often, but sometimes I join some of the guys in the office to play a quick game of ping pong. I suck compared to everyone else.

1:00pm I head back to my office and continue working.

2:30 pm Stop for a moment to listen to a joke from Dr. Francisco or he tells me about something interesting that is happening in the news/ health care in Nicaragua.

3:00 pm Time for coffee. Sidenote- I never drank coffee until living here. Now, I love it.

I learned how to pick coffee on Josimar's farm with Sarah and Jossimar. 

4:00 pm For a while, I taught English classes to a small group of students twice a week at this time. It was fun to sit on the front porch with the white board and my students- sometimes different people would pass by to observe and try to use their English as well.

4:30pm During rainy season, it begins to rain around this time almost everyday. The skies do not give you me notice, either.

5:00 pm I wrap up class and grab my things to walk down to the bus stop.

5:15 pm The bus arrives, after some waiting, to the bus stop and I hop on with a few of my co-workers.

5:20 pm I get off the bus and wait with the masses to board a new bus.

5:30 pm  I board bus 119 and squeeze towards the back door. When we arrive closer to the stop, I pretty much have to shove my way to the door in order to escape the bus on time.

5:40 pm During my walk home,  I walk in front of one of Managua's shopping malls and say "adios" to several of the guards along the way who I have befriended.

At night, I sometimes go to a dance exercise class with my friend Jessena, I cook for myself or with my roommate, read or watch a show or two on my Netflix.

After a year of living here in Managua, I can say I feel really comfortable and at home. There are other days when I get to participate in birthdays, Nicaraguan holidays, interesting workshops, etc. but for the most part I have accompanied Nicaraguans and AMC through my work in the office.

Next week I depart for the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua and will live in a very rural project site. My new role will be to conduct interviews and document human impact stories. I'm sure I will also have average, everyday moments, yet they will probably be completely different than my time here in the city.

Brush Your Teeth

When I wake up in the morning and the sun is startin' show

I brush my teeth chhh chhhh chhhhhhh chhh chhh chh

I brush my teeth chhh chhhh chhhhhhh chhh chhh chh

I recall shaking my booty singing this song over and over again as wee little Whitney with my mom, brother and sister. Growing up in the United States, children cannot avoid talking about, learning about, reading about, nor singing about dental health. A large majority of US citizens can afford and have access to toothbrushes, toothpaste and still a huge percentage of people can and do visit a dentist.

According to Nicaraguan statistics from 2012 (statistics about Nicaragua?), only 0.1 dental consults are provided per resident per year and 2.2 general medical consultations. However, these statistics do not explain that out of the 6 million inhabitants, many people cannot access nor let alone afford basic dental care. Also, the available water supplies often lack an appropriate amount of fluoride to aide..(something).

On July 5-13, 2013 I assisted AMC in hosting a large dental team consisting of 17 team members; 7 dentists, 2 camera crew men, the president of the company, a international consultant, a life/team coach, and 5 other volunteers. It was huge! This team came from the Smiles for Everyone Foundation which is a foundation started through the Smiles Brand company. 

Throughout the week, the SEAL Team along with the help of local dentist Dra. Alicia Reyes (Dr. Francisco's wife & a mother figure to me), 4 translators and AMC, 621 dental consults were given and 2,026 dental procedures were performed. Everyone worked hard to clean, fill, and extract teeth.

 For many Nicaraguans, visiting the dentist simply means getting teeth extracted or a crown put on a tooth. Therefore, some people go with the expectation and hope that their teeth will be pulled or they can gain the shiny-look to their smile. Many dental teams who visit only have time and supplies to pull and clean teeth. This team tried to save as many teeth as possible by putting in fillings.

As much work as was accomplished the greatest effects will come with our long-term dental project. This team is going to provide funds for us to continue follow up with not only consults but also dental awareness and prevention programs. AMC already had a few educational programs (I helped sing a dental song with two of AMC's health promoters/volunteers in a local school) but this will only help improve dental health within AMC's projects. 

During the week, I couldn't help realize how much of a privilege it is for me to have all of my teeth  and for them to be nice and white. However; when I thought about it more- dental health should NOT be a luxury or a privilege. It is a human right and a health issue that can be prevented. As AMC's dental program grows, I have hope that many of the kids I encountered will also have a brushing your teeth song stuck in their heads one day as they actually keep their teeth clean.

I loved being able to work with Dr. Francisco, my supervisor, outside of the office. Dr. F. went over and beyond his responsibilities to make the team's trip possible and successful.

Waiting hours for to receive treatment.

One of the coolest stories from the trip is about Ivania Navas. Ivania left for the states during the war and has lived there ever since. She recently won one of Smile Brands' most prestigious company awards and worked as Dr. Alicia's dental assistant the entire week. How tuani!

Dr. Horner and Marcos (the translator) We all tell Marcos he should just apply for his a certification to become a doctor due to his extensive experience translating for all different kinds of doctors.

Milton and Eliezer volunteering their time for AMC.

We did have one accident during the week. I told Mac it was perfectly fine to run the morning we were in Matagalpa....He went running...and got bit by a dog. Luckily, we had Dr. F. with us who has the big connections at the hospital (his brother is the director) where Mac got his first round of tetanus and rabbis vaccines. Later, we gave Mac these stickers.

In San Benito, all of our electricity ran through generators. Harry was our awesome tech guy.

"Sometimes,’ said Pooh, ‘the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

A. A. Milne, Winne the Pooh

These Are the Buenas Hondas of Managua

Kicking up dust; walking to the nearby pulpería  to buy tortillas,

These are the buenas hondas of Managua.

Baby on hip, gripping the bar above trying to maintain balance on the fast-moving bus,

These are the buenas hondas of Managua.

Standing in the mercado, calling out to potential customers hustling by

These are the buenas hondas of Managua.

Sitting on a plastic, stack-able chair chatting with others in front of a casa,

These are the buenas hondas of Managua.

Zooming through the city with the sign "taxi"  above; listening to directions "towards where the little tree used to be"

These are the buenas hondas of Managua. 

Bible at side, standing & clapping to Praise the Lord.

These are the buenas hondas of Managua.

Watching the favorite daily telenovela; sorting through a big plastic bag of pinto beans.

These are the buenas hondas of Managua.

Celebrating with many joyful songs, queque & Rojita; batting for a piñata

These are the buenas hondas of Managua. 

Enjoying a long, hot lunch; passing time with co-workers at the office. 

These are the buenas hondas of Managua.

Riding a horse cart through the barrios with a bull horn ; announcing ¡Hay frutas!

These are the buenas hondas of Managua. 

Learning in the white, blue striped schools; studying in the many universities, 

These are the buenas hondas of Managua. 

Kicking, walking, gripping, trying, standing, calling, hustling, sitting, chatting, zooming, listening, standing, clapping, watching, sorting, celebrating, batting, enjoying, being, riding, announcing, learning, studying

These are the buenas hondas of Managua.

buenas hondas= cool or good people

mercado= market

barrio= neighborhood

casa= house

hay frutas= fruit available

telenovelas= soap operas

 

Piñas

The drive from Managua to San Marcos or La Conca is lined with the occasional pineapple stand where you have your pick between pineapples or pineapple juice. Whenever I take a microbus to visit friends in that area, we zip past these stands and my mind remains on the pineapples as I daydream of the day where I stop and indulge myself with one of the plump yellow fruits.

First Heavy Rain of the Season

Come to the water all ye who thirst

International Women's Day

Comida in Nicaragua

I want to first say that my day is totally made when I receive a random email or message from someone with encouraging words or simply updating me on their lives. I'm really loving it here in Nicaragua but it means the world to me to hear from people back home. Which is also why I am trying to be more consistent with updating my blog, so I can be in touch we you all as well. Y'all are awesome! Ustedes son tuanis!

I realize I don't share enough about my everyday living here in Nicaragua, so today I want to share about food here in Nicaragua. I cook for myself now, so sadly, I don't experience typical Nicaraguan dishes as often but when I am a satisfied girl.

One of my favorite Nicaraguan foods is a Nacatamale. Similar to the tamales from Mexico, Nacatamales are wrapped in banana plant leaves and contain cooked pork. People usually eat them for breakfast and only as a special treat. A house in my neighborhood sells them directly out of their house. They have a simple hand written sign that says "Hay nacatamles 30 cordobas". I went to my first Nicaraguan wedding in December and before we left they gave each of us a nacatamale. I was informed it was because we were leaving "early" at 11pm and many times wedding receptions last until the morning; therefore, they were going to provide nacatamales for breakfast.

When I lived with Doña Rosa my favorite dish she made were her Nicaraguan tacos. She creates some sort of sauce and cooks a large tortilla in the sauce while placing meat with different seasonings inside the tortilla. She folds the tortilla in half as it becomes hardened. The meat and filling is trapped inside. It's delicioso!

Next to the taco is what a typcial "ensalada" or salad looks like.

Lunches, here in Nicaragua, are always the largest meals of the day and consist of hot food. A typical lunch plate is some kind of meat, usually chicken or beef, rice, beans, and some kind of vegetable. Tortillas are always included.

This meal costs 50 cordobas or about $2. On this plate, the salad actually comes with lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes, but without salad dressing. The tortillas are always hand made whether they bought them from someone else nearby or made them at their restaurant. 

The other day I finally tried BOAH (ba-ow). Beef, yucca, and plantain is cooked together for several hours until ready, similar to brisket. The dish is typically served on a banana plant leaf, as well. I'm excited because I heard today at work Doña Chelito y Maria are serving boah for lunch. Maria said they started cooking everything at 6:30 this morning.

Another one of my favorite foods here is simply the fresh fruit. Fresh fruit is readily available anywhere throughout the country. Right now it is mango season. :) However, I harldly ever eat apples, grapes, strawberries or berries in general. These fruits are not grown within Nicargaua and as a result are a lot more expensive. It's kind of a privilege of sorts to eat an apple. I just discovered a fruit stand near my work, so I can easily carry my big plastic bags from the market and stock up on fruit each week.

People sell bowls of fruit, as seen above, on the street. The big orange fruit is papaya. I'd say it's one of the most popular fruits in Nicaragua. 

As I've traveled on different road trips with AMC, I discovered that a traditional "pit stop" snack is a tortillla with guajada. Guajada is pretty much the only cheese Nicaraguans eat. It has a salty, bitter taste. It is a filling snack and you can easily get back to working hard or traveling.

As I am talking about Nicaraguan food, I CANNOT forget the most classic food of all... Gallo Pinto. I still have yet to try cooking gallo pinto on my own, but basically you cook your beans and rice separately and add onions and seasoning to the rice. Then, mix the two together. You always want more rice than beans. I do love me some gallo pinto!

The most popular beverage in Nicaragua is coffee. I did not drink coffee before living in Nicaragua and now it has become part of my daily living. My supervisor, Dr. Francisco, can not go a day without his coffee and he always brings us special types of coffee. I learned when coffee is grown at a higher altitude it is has a much richer taste, which is why Matagalpa is the busiest area for coffee growth. Each of our land banks also grows coffee plants and it is the largest export for Nicaragua. However, out of the entire world's coffee exportation on 5% is from Nicaragua. I had a very short and glamorous experience picking coffee beans on my friend Jossimar's farm. You look for the matured seeds or the seeds which are red or mostly red, and pick them off with your hand. Most people who work picking coffee during Nov- Jan earn a small pay for every 20lbs they pick. It's hard work for little money.

You think I have 20lb?

I could continue on explaining and describing much more food and beverages from Nicaragua, but this will conclude volume 1 of Comida in Nicaragua.

Dios les bendiga!

Whit