Since the half marathon in June I've been keeping myself busy, but laying off huge projects (until December 21st when the next half marathon is taking place!). Let's explain this in bullet points and pictures, shall we?
* I helped choreograph two songs with primary school teachers for the Día del Maestro/Día del Padre (Teacher's Day/Father's Day) assemblies. They went off swimmingly and we all had a blast!
Some of the "chingüines" loving Pípe
I've got my Nica makeup on!
Completed outfit
Kids in the traditional Nica wear; they're so cute!
Performing a dance at the assembly
Pípe can make herself comfortable just about anywhere
Gangnam Style!
* I went to Managua for the biannual HIVaids Task Force meeting that I became co-chair of! It was nice getting all of the volunteers of the group together and talk about upcoming projects we all have planned; including a conference for people living with HIV, a national survey for the mobile population in coffee farms, a training for teachers on how to teach HIV in the schools and a camp for Orphans from HIV and Vulnerable Children.
Sectors represented (l-r): English, Health, English, Health, Health, Agriculture, Health, Environment and my boss, a former Health PCV!
* I went to a Jalapeño community, Teotecacinte, to "assist" with a Chagas health fair. I asked if I could bring specific charlas like teenage pregnancy, HIV/STIs, family planning, dengue, etc. but was told not to because all of the materials were there. EH, WRONG. There weren't any materials and the entire 8 hours I was there, I did two 5-minute presentations on how to properly use a condom. I now know that if there's a next time, I bring a couple of charlas just in case.
* I went to my first Baptism! I have become very good friends with one of the ladies from my Zumba class and she invited me to her niece's baptism. We went to Sunday mass with her husband and kids (My host mom, Profe, was one of the speakers!) and after the service, all the little ones lined up for the baptism. Of all that were baptized that day, her niece was the only one who didn't cry when the holy water was poured!
Profe speaking at mass
El "Padre", mom, godmother and dad.
Me and the girl of the day! The family jokes that she could be MY daughter (nope, no babies here!)
* Ovens use a lot of gas and therefore, not a lot of people bake or even know how to make a cake! I've missed that luxury a lot and after making bread with Profe before Semana Santa and seeing how much she enjoyed it, I decided to gift her an oven. The Agriculture PCVs receive training in constructing improved ovens that omit smoke and are made solely from bricks, mud and a barrel. I was lucky enough to have an Agriculture sitemate and the week before she finished her service, she helped me out in building an oven for Profe!
Laying the bricks for the base
Starting to take form!
Final product!
Profe and I and the new oven. Can't wait to start cooking!
* Along with my sitemate, the 56th group of Nicaraguan PCVs finished their service and I got to see some of my good friends "ring the bell" (when you ring the bell, you're officially DONE!) in Managua. It was tough saying goodbye to them...with each group that leaves, I have more and more friends that I have to say "see you later" to; but it also means that I'm one step closer to "ringing the bell", too!
What a good looking group of Aggies!
* After Managua, my boyfriend and I went to the Atlantic Coast for his despedida ("going away"). It was BEAUTIFUL! I'm going to have a separate post for that trip with all the pictures :)
* Settling back in to Jalapa, I went to the high school's first recycling fair. Trash in the streets is way too common here; I even see people throwing their Pepsi bottles outside of the bus windows when we're at top speed on the highway! This fair was to promote Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and some of the students got really creative! I was impressed and hope this fair continues in the future.
Dress decorated with plastic spoons; accessories made from old potato chip bags
"Invernadero": Green house made of plastic bottles
Pípe getting attention from the students
Most popular girl on campus
Look, ma, they love me!
* Since arriving to Jalapa, I have wanted to do something about the maternity house (Casa Materna) and its expansion. It only has room for 7 pregnant ladies. Considering Jalapa is the biggest municipality in Nueva Segovia and has over 100 communities that send their pregnant women to town to have their babies; it has needed an expansion for a while. I've seen up to 15 women at the house at one time...that's 15 PREGNANT women (within 1 month to 2 weeks of giving birth) bunking up on single-size beds. We just had municipal elections this past November, and the new alcaldeza (FEMALE mayor!) also knew something had to be done. I didn't really have any input in the expansion process, but I'm very happy it was done and the house can now accommodate 16 women; 9 extra beds! There is also a nice kitchen, visitor's area and a room for weekly checkups. The women who use it seem to like the upgrade, as well!
New bedroom; they haven't added all the beds quite yet.
Medical consult room
Kitchen
Finishing breakfast in the new dining area
Visitor's room
New entrance
"Mayor's Office of Jalapa, Nueva Segovia
Blessed, Prospered and in Victory
Expansion of the Casa Materna
"Isolda Traña"
Performed by the central government
Cost C$ 500,000.00 cordobas
Period: 2013-2016
Lic. Maura Alicia Andino Vanega
Mayor"
* Lastly, Profe's cat decided to take an extended vacation when Pípe moved in a few weeks ago. However, we had a new tennant fill out a lease application and she moved in last week! Her name is Gris (pronounced "grease"...Spanish for "grey"). She and Pípe are still feeling each other out, but I think they'll be friends in no time!
New roomies
Little Ms Diva
So...what's on deck for the next few months? I am going to start giving charlas at the institute again; there have been reported problems of alcoholism, drugs and violence, so the counseling office and I will be focusing on those themes, as well as the other important themes of teenage pregnancy, HIV/STIs and self-esteem, to name a few.
I also want to do a map project at a couple of elementary schools in that we paint a world map on a wall and the students can use that for geography classes! In September, I'll be enjoying the Jalapa Corn Fest again, as well as hosting two friends from the states for a week! I can't wait! Following their visit, I'm helping organize the HIV+ conference with the HIVaids Task Force as well as getting ready for training people on executing the mobile population survey at the end of the year.
...just to name a few things! I have at least one thing planned every month until the new year and I think that'll keep me busy!
