Richard’s Reckless Travels

February 19^th

Today was much of the same – the morning jog and class. The class that I was to help Johani with was “cancelled” because the students just aren’t as perceptive as another one of our classes. So due to this, she didn’t need my help since they’d just be repeating the class with them. With the unexpected large chunk of free time, I headed home and cleaned up my house and did a few errands. I also had the shortest planning session of my life – 11 minutes – with my new counterpart at my private school. She seems like she’s on top of it, but I’ll have to see if this was sufficient when we teach our class next Tuesday.

I then headed to Malpaisillo on the last bus out of Achuapa

February 20^th

Brie and I headed into León today to go pick up mail as well as to just amble through León for the day. We went to check them mail (they changed their hours to 7 – 1 PM (not including lunch), so god knows when I’ll be able to get packages now), then grabbed some food at the good vegetarian restaurant (why not?). Then we headed to the market to replenish on luxuries that we can find in site (see à everything).

That night, I got some cooking lessons and made some chicken and mozzarella cheese crepes (I made some of the crepes – I feel I should make a button toting this new ability). Not only that, but they were corn crepes made with blended tortillas. Some people have that cooking creativity, but I sure as hell don’t. Good thing I know people who have a little more artistic culinary flair than I hold (though cereal holds a special place in my heart).

February 21^st

In an act of “Why not?” (a mantra that has seemed to envelop me completely), we decided to head to Estelí for no other reason than to eat breakfast. For those of you unaware of Nicaraguan geography (or transportation), this was a 3-hour trip by bus, one-way. When you crave something, why not go for it? In Estelí, we caught a taxi with a friendly driver who dropped us off at the restaurant. Unfortunately, there were no lights, so my primary reason to go there – to get an amazing milkshake – was impeded. Devastated, I ordered some orange juice – it was not the same.

With our craving satistified (mine partially), we took a walk around Estelí and bought some counterfeit movies (movie industry: I’d support you if I had any idea where to buy non-counterfeit movies in this country). It appears to me that the counterfeiters have received our business course as some of them have a reputation for offering high quality movies (the guy in the theatre doesn’t move a lot, etc), and people subsequently walk the extra couple blocks to buy from them. That’s innovation for you folks.

We hit another grocery store (a PCV hobby) and then headed to the park where we ran into another business volunteer. She was in Estelí to meet up with some volunteers from my group (Kat, Katie E, and Andrea), so we accompanied her back to the café where we ate breakfast. I hadn’t seen most of them for awhile (with the exception of Kat who I saw when my parents showed up), so we exchanged a history of what we’d been doing recently, and then went to go pick up some custom made cowboy boots they all bought. It was some super high quality work that was done, and if that were my thing, I’d have gotten a pair. Maybe I should start a farm or something? Or start riding horses?

Brie and I then headed to La Casita (an organic eatery place on the edge of Estelí), and caught a taxi there. Coincidentally, the taxi that picked us up was the same guy who picked us up from the bus station. After our déjà vu moment, we had a good conversation with the guy, Rolando, while he brought us to the eatery. Following our lunch, Brie got locked in the bathroom (remember this bathroom mom?), and after saving her from the evil privy, she bought a plant and we left. Rolando gave us his number, so we summoned him (a good connection in light of the “express kidnappings” that sometimes happen in the country) and he dropped us off at the bus station.

We’d missed the bus back to León, so we just hopped the first bus that headed south, which was a bus to Masaya (we’re not quite sure why Estelí has so many busses going to so many places in the country, but it’s awesome). We rode to San Isidro and got off there (this was a potential site for a business volunteer, though nobody was put here), where we caught another bus that went to León. When all was said and done, we rolled into Malpaisillo at 5 PM, an hour earlier than if we’d waited for the bus from Estelí to León.

We enjoyed reheated crepes (amazing) and watched Slumdog Millionaire that night. All I have to say is that movie was super overrated. For all the hype it got, I was super disappointed in it – it wasn’t that good.

February 22^nd

Today I learned how to make omelettes (I feel like a Sim increasing my cooking skill). This whole cooking thing isn’t so out of reach as possible. However, I feel that when I try to mimic this new skill, an explosion or some other adverse effect will result. With this in mind, I express cautious optimism regarding my new cooking skills. On top of this, Brie and I got into a pretty good conversation about the sustainability about PC. It’s nothing for the internet though.

Before catching the bus back to Achuapa, I tried a new concoction – tuna fish with sweet relish (I’d never tried relish in my life), and was borderline terrified at having my normal Denver dish altered so. Surprisingly, it’s amazing. I’d never have thought to put relish in my tuna fish, but I will now be doing it whenever I can. It’s delicious.

On the bus (which I almost missed), there was no place to sit for the first hour so I stood and waited in the front of the bus before a “seat” opened up on the engine. I took this seat (my butt avoided third degree burns due to a pillow the driver provided me. The ride was pretty uneventful (though the radiator had several problems, meaning the bus driver took his gallon of water and poured it into the dashboard), and I read the whole book of Tao Te Ching that Heather had mailed me (Thanks again!). Then since I still had time before I got to Achuapa, I read it again.

Tao Te Ching (Steven Mitchell translation) – A. A good book that makes you think. I feel super wise now. Super confused as well.

February 23^rd

Mondays I don’t have to give classes, so I went to the gym and did yoga forever. I was in zen mode after becoming all-knowledgeable (or rather more lost) by reading the tao book. I got caught up on some errands (like stocking my fridge with V8, and found that there were no more boxes of V8, but there were only 3 bottles – so I bought them all. I figure that if I raise demand (I think I’m the only one that demands them), they’ll keep buying them. This is my hope anyway. So far, the hypothesis is proving true. So my solution to drinking 100% fruit juice throughout my service is by buying more juice than I really need/buying in bulk (a new concept for Nicaraguans). I finished The Devil in the White City:

The Devil in the White City – A+. The same author as Isaac’s storm, the book is about the construction of the 1893 World Fair in Chicago. It tells the story of the main architect of the fair and that of a psychopath who leisurely killed a dozens of people during the same time in Chicago. The book talks about all the things that were a result of the fair: the Ferris Wheel, Shredded Wheat, Aunt Jemimas Pancake mix, and the AC current (electricity) among other things. Great book.

I also had an amusing conversation with my ex-counterpart and his wife. My favourite dog in town, Cual, follows me everywhere and everybody thinks he’s my dog. However, “Cual” means “which” in English. The following happened:

“Come here Cual!”

“What’s that dog’s name?”

“Cual.” (which)

“That dog right there.”

“Cual.”

“This dog you’re talking to.”

“CUAL”

“THAT DOG RIGHT THERE, THE ONE YOU’RE TALKING WITH. FORGET IT.”

“He’s named Cual.”

“Oh, who gave him that name?”