December is a month of celebrations in Nicaragua, the Purísima (see my Dec 08 post too) is to celebrate the conception of the Virgin Mary and the miracles she has performed. My good friend and Nicaragua expert, Miguel, was telling me, on a recent visit to Leon, that the Purísima is to give thanks to Mary for stopping a volcanic eruption that was threatening a Nicaraguan city. I have not found this explanation anywhere else, but I will keep asking around about it. La Gritería (The Shouting) happens on the Purísima's Eve. People go around to houses with alters made to Mary and sing to her and the people in the house then hand out treats such as sour lemons, chicha drink, sugar cane, molasses based candies and noise makers. Its almost like trick or treating and Christmas caroling put together. I wanted to go to Leon to see the celebration (because like most things, Leon does it better than anyone). But Ivan and I ended up being busy with work that weekend, so we didnt go :(
Ivan and I did go out during La Gritería to see what we could see.
I enjoyed hearing stories about when Ivan was young and he used to partake in the festivities and get all the sugar cane that he could! Ivan is also quite the traditionalist and hates to see how commercial the holiday has become with households now giving out candy bars and such. Most of the people participating are very poor and carry around large sacks to collect all they can. Others however are devout Catholics and of course lots of kids. The government also sets up alters downtown and hands out beans, rice and oil to the poor. Ivan and I drove through downtown after it had ended and it was horribly amazing to see how much trash was littered all over the streets. It was jaw dropping.
One of the best parts is the firecrackers everyone sets off at noon, 6 pm and midnight. It is really fun to hear hundreds going off at once and it last for 10 minutes or so too!
Christmas in Nicaragua is celebrated on Christmas Eve. Families get together and have a late dinner (around midnight)open presents and set off fire crackers. I will see this tradition first hand tomorrow night!
In the meantime, here are a couple good articles from Times magazine about Nicaragua and Christmas:
Nicaragua: Where Everyday is Christmas
Have Yourself a Sandinista Christmas
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Democracia Si, Dictadura No!
Last night I woke up around 4:30 and I thought it was strangely quiet. The parrots and other tropical birds started chirping around 6 and Ivan's friend arrived at the apt around 8:30. We watched some news coverage and all seemed peaceful. They left here around 9:30, dressed in white shirts, and planning on meeting up with colleagues from work. They arrived back here around 12:30, they were excited but exhausted. Ivan said it was an amazing feeling to reach Carretera Masaya and see a river of white.
Now, we are being forced to watch the Sandinistas "celebrating" one year since the victories of the municipal elections, which they just so happened to schedule for the same day. At first none of the channels were covering the "celebration", just channel 4 (the one owned by the sandinistas). But now all channels must be mandated to show it, because they are all showing the same feed and without commentary or anything.
Here are some videos I took of news coverage:
"
Here is a video of what I could hear from the apt:
Now, we are being forced to watch the Sandinistas "celebrating" one year since the victories of the municipal elections, which they just so happened to schedule for the same day. At first none of the channels were covering the "celebration", just channel 4 (the one owned by the sandinistas). But now all channels must be mandated to show it, because they are all showing the same feed and without commentary or anything.
Here are some videos I took of news coverage:
"
Here is a video of what I could hear from the apt:
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Sandanistas Back to their Old Tricks
Last month Nicaragua's constitution was violated, changing the law that will now allow Ortega to run for re-election. Since that time there has been some political turmoil, but not as much as I would have imagined. It actually seemed to happen without people blinking an eye. It certainly was expected, but doesn't make it any more acceptable.
The biggest outrage was seen when Robert Callahan (US Embassador to Nic) made a statement, making it clear that the US State Dept was concerned about the recent changes to the constitution and more so how it was changed. Sandinista turbas (basically street bums paid by the Sandinista's to cause trouble) were outside the fortress that is the American Embassy destroying signs, light fixtures, and trying to throw things over the wall. Police did little to nothing. I think it is sad how these people openly destroyed property and were never arrested or detained. There seems to be absolutely no justice-no one has to take responsibility for their actions. And I see this every day in school as well. It is amazing to me how such behavior, mainly unaccountability, committed by those that are seemingly social deviants, is the same type of behavior that I see some of my students display at school and sadly sometimes behavior I see administrators display as well. The school is a microcosm of the society. And I am sorry to say that from my point of view, displays of such behavior are not only made by deviants, but normal members of society as well.
Anyway, there has been a protest, a march in the works for several weeks now and it has turned into a three ring circus, as most things in Nicaragua do. It started off as a march against the change in the constitution, and then people said they wanted to march against the fraudulent elections that happened last year, and then the liberals said they were marching and different unions are marching and of course, the Sandinistas are marching against the march! What was supposed to be a peaceful protest now is billed as being the 2nd Revolution!
The opposition march planned their route and gathering places in advance and cleared it with the police and such. Now the Sandinistas are saying they are marching the same route in the opposite direction. The police, at first, told the Sandinistas that they needed to change their route, but now, since they are in the government’s pocket, the opposition in now being told they need to change their route.
This is all supposed to take place on Carretera Masaya, which is about 3 blocks from my apartment, and the starting point will be at the Mall, less than a 5 minute drive from my house. There is no worry for me though, because our road is not a main road and only traveled by those who live here. There should be no rabble rousers on our street.
There has been a document released, and the validity of it has been questioned, but it is supposed to be the Sandinista plan to impede the Opposition March. They are trying to use fear tactics, as always, to keep people from marching, saying that they are going to take over all main traffic routes of the city, fire off mortars, burn tires, throw rocks, generally terrorize, to keep people from coming out. Ivan has decided not to march, which of course I am happy for, because I would not want him out in that madness, but I am also a little upset as well. He should be able to go out and protest this travesty done to his country and speak his mind. It is all very sickening.
Here is a great article from the New York Times that explains things much more eloquently than I. There is something about this situation that leaves me at a loss for words at how wrong it is.
I will most likely be posting information here on Saturday, as it happens. Ivan teases me that I think I am a breaking news source or something.
The biggest outrage was seen when Robert Callahan (US Embassador to Nic) made a statement, making it clear that the US State Dept was concerned about the recent changes to the constitution and more so how it was changed. Sandinista turbas (basically street bums paid by the Sandinista's to cause trouble) were outside the fortress that is the American Embassy destroying signs, light fixtures, and trying to throw things over the wall. Police did little to nothing. I think it is sad how these people openly destroyed property and were never arrested or detained. There seems to be absolutely no justice-no one has to take responsibility for their actions. And I see this every day in school as well. It is amazing to me how such behavior, mainly unaccountability, committed by those that are seemingly social deviants, is the same type of behavior that I see some of my students display at school and sadly sometimes behavior I see administrators display as well. The school is a microcosm of the society. And I am sorry to say that from my point of view, displays of such behavior are not only made by deviants, but normal members of society as well.
Anyway, there has been a protest, a march in the works for several weeks now and it has turned into a three ring circus, as most things in Nicaragua do. It started off as a march against the change in the constitution, and then people said they wanted to march against the fraudulent elections that happened last year, and then the liberals said they were marching and different unions are marching and of course, the Sandinistas are marching against the march! What was supposed to be a peaceful protest now is billed as being the 2nd Revolution!
The opposition march planned their route and gathering places in advance and cleared it with the police and such. Now the Sandinistas are saying they are marching the same route in the opposite direction. The police, at first, told the Sandinistas that they needed to change their route, but now, since they are in the government’s pocket, the opposition in now being told they need to change their route.
This is all supposed to take place on Carretera Masaya, which is about 3 blocks from my apartment, and the starting point will be at the Mall, less than a 5 minute drive from my house. There is no worry for me though, because our road is not a main road and only traveled by those who live here. There should be no rabble rousers on our street.
There has been a document released, and the validity of it has been questioned, but it is supposed to be the Sandinista plan to impede the Opposition March. They are trying to use fear tactics, as always, to keep people from marching, saying that they are going to take over all main traffic routes of the city, fire off mortars, burn tires, throw rocks, generally terrorize, to keep people from coming out. Ivan has decided not to march, which of course I am happy for, because I would not want him out in that madness, but I am also a little upset as well. He should be able to go out and protest this travesty done to his country and speak his mind. It is all very sickening.
Here is a great article from the New York Times that explains things much more eloquently than I. There is something about this situation that leaves me at a loss for words at how wrong it is.
I will most likely be posting information here on Saturday, as it happens. Ivan teases me that I think I am a breaking news source or something.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Recent Seismic Activity
This week there has been lots of moving and shaking in Nicaragua! I am sure it is all connected to the earthquakes in the South Pacific, we are all part of that "burning ring of fire".
Monday I came home from work and took a shower, a thunderstorm had started and I thought, I should get dressed right away instead of lounging around in my towel for awhile, just in case there is an earthquake. A few minutes later there was a 4.4 Richter scale tremor. It felt stronger than the first one I had felt here and seemed to last longer, only a couple of seconds. I think I had the little premonition because the first time I felt a quake here was in the afternoon, around the same time during a thunderstorm too.
Adrienn, friend and 6th grade science teacher, commented today during a rain storm, that earthquakes often happen at that time, when a drastic change in temperature happens. And it was really hot today! I don't know what temperature has to do with plate tectonics, but people have often said here that earthquakes happen when it is really hot, which to me it always seems really hot. Maybe it is an old wives tale, or maybe I know nothing about earthquakes, being a New England girl and all!
Tuesday night there were two small tremors, I didn't feel them, but Ivan felt one and my students were talking about it in class. Last night there was a noticeable one as well. I am told that lots of small tremors are good! Small releases of pressure instead of pressuring building up and resulting in a large earthquake. They say when there hasn't been tremors in awhile, they start getting nervous. This makes sense to me, but I also feel like small tremors are warnings to something more to come, like signs before a volcanic eruption.
Anyway, I have been checking up on the Nicaraguan Seismic Monitoring website and there have been quite a few tremors each day (25 yesterday!), many too small to feel. Most are originating from near Volcan Apoyeque, which is on Lake Managua, not far from the city. But the stronger ones we have felt, have been from near Puerto Sandino, which is closer to Leon on the coast.
I am wondering if there are similar movements happening further up the ring in San Francisco and Seattle...Ceilidh, Mom, Dad?
Monday I came home from work and took a shower, a thunderstorm had started and I thought, I should get dressed right away instead of lounging around in my towel for awhile, just in case there is an earthquake. A few minutes later there was a 4.4 Richter scale tremor. It felt stronger than the first one I had felt here and seemed to last longer, only a couple of seconds. I think I had the little premonition because the first time I felt a quake here was in the afternoon, around the same time during a thunderstorm too.
Adrienn, friend and 6th grade science teacher, commented today during a rain storm, that earthquakes often happen at that time, when a drastic change in temperature happens. And it was really hot today! I don't know what temperature has to do with plate tectonics, but people have often said here that earthquakes happen when it is really hot, which to me it always seems really hot. Maybe it is an old wives tale, or maybe I know nothing about earthquakes, being a New England girl and all!
Tuesday night there were two small tremors, I didn't feel them, but Ivan felt one and my students were talking about it in class. Last night there was a noticeable one as well. I am told that lots of small tremors are good! Small releases of pressure instead of pressuring building up and resulting in a large earthquake. They say when there hasn't been tremors in awhile, they start getting nervous. This makes sense to me, but I also feel like small tremors are warnings to something more to come, like signs before a volcanic eruption.
Anyway, I have been checking up on the Nicaraguan Seismic Monitoring website and there have been quite a few tremors each day (25 yesterday!), many too small to feel. Most are originating from near Volcan Apoyeque, which is on Lake Managua, not far from the city. But the stronger ones we have felt, have been from near Puerto Sandino, which is closer to Leon on the coast.
I am wondering if there are similar movements happening further up the ring in San Francisco and Seattle...Ceilidh, Mom, Dad?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Mariposa Means Butterfly
There have been so many mariposas around lately, and it has been such a welcomed sight. After a tough class I start walking to the teacher's lounge all hot, sweaty, and frustrated and then a little (or big) butterfly crosses my path and makes everything all better. Sometimes they fly into my classroom or hover around the many flowers on campus. They come in all colors and sizes. I like the black and blue ones the best. I wish I could carry around a little camera to capture their beauty, unfortunately I always seem to see them at school and therefore don't get pictures.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Dragon Fruit Fun and Other Fruit Smoothies!
Its dragon fruit season (or pitahaya season as its known as here)and I am enjoying experimenting with its deliciousness! Dragon fruit either has a white flesh or red flesh (red is the type we have here) and is the fruit of a cactus. Its flower is lovely and of the midnight blooming variety, I wish I would see one here. It has a mild and delicate flavor, and is often compared to a kiwi although I dont think it is as strong or sour.
As you can imagine by its color, it is loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C and lots of other good stuff. Here in Nicaragua it is commonly enjoyed as a refresco (or fresh juice) like everything else! Although I thoroughly enjoy all the delicious "frescos" I can get here, sometimes I wonder if that is the only thing people know what to do with fruit here! I use Sabine as my inspiration, when faced with too many mangoes to eat, dropping each day in her back yard, she made mango pie, mango salsa, mango sorbet, mango smoothies.
First I made the pitahaya refresco, which was delicious. The seeds kinda get ground up in the juice and gives it a flavor like oily but not bad, kinda like omega-3, avocado type taste. When I was in Leon this past weekend, I had pitahaya juice, but the seeds were still in tact and had a little bit of the gelatinous fruit still around it. It was like the best bubble tea ever! And it didnt have the oily-ness that some people don't like. Ivan's mom said in order to make it like that you have to mash the fruit and then mix it with water instead of blending it. I will have to try it next time.
After making juice, I wanted to see what else I could do with it. I found lots of good recipes online that I am excited to try, one of which is a pitahaya jelly, which I think is more like a jello, I need to see if I can find gelatin here. The sorbet recipe seemed doable, so I tried it today, since I have a long weekend! The ingredients were simple, water, sugar, lime and the fruit from 2 pitahayas. I also added a couple of drops of tequila and triple sec. The hardest part was waiting for it to freeze and I am not sure if it will ever freeze completely with our crappy freezer. But it did get frozen enough to have as dessert and it received good reviews!
Ivan has also been up to new things in the kitchen. He is on a smoothie making kick after watching one being made on a cooking show. I have been really enjoying it. Each smoothie has had the base of papaya, which I am starting to like, if it is not too ripe. Also papaya tica (from Costa Rica) is much better than any others I have had. Added to the papaya is fresh dragon fruit juice, fresh granadilla juice (part of the passion fruit family), fresh passion fruit juice, mango, strawberries, kiwi, and lime, Yum! Today he made papaya, cantaloupe and grapefruit (which we thought was an orange until we opened it. It was also delicious!
As you can imagine by its color, it is loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C and lots of other good stuff. Here in Nicaragua it is commonly enjoyed as a refresco (or fresh juice) like everything else! Although I thoroughly enjoy all the delicious "frescos" I can get here, sometimes I wonder if that is the only thing people know what to do with fruit here! I use Sabine as my inspiration, when faced with too many mangoes to eat, dropping each day in her back yard, she made mango pie, mango salsa, mango sorbet, mango smoothies.
First I made the pitahaya refresco, which was delicious. The seeds kinda get ground up in the juice and gives it a flavor like oily but not bad, kinda like omega-3, avocado type taste. When I was in Leon this past weekend, I had pitahaya juice, but the seeds were still in tact and had a little bit of the gelatinous fruit still around it. It was like the best bubble tea ever! And it didnt have the oily-ness that some people don't like. Ivan's mom said in order to make it like that you have to mash the fruit and then mix it with water instead of blending it. I will have to try it next time.
After making juice, I wanted to see what else I could do with it. I found lots of good recipes online that I am excited to try, one of which is a pitahaya jelly, which I think is more like a jello, I need to see if I can find gelatin here. The sorbet recipe seemed doable, so I tried it today, since I have a long weekend! The ingredients were simple, water, sugar, lime and the fruit from 2 pitahayas. I also added a couple of drops of tequila and triple sec. The hardest part was waiting for it to freeze and I am not sure if it will ever freeze completely with our crappy freezer. But it did get frozen enough to have as dessert and it received good reviews!
Ivan has also been up to new things in the kitchen. He is on a smoothie making kick after watching one being made on a cooking show. I have been really enjoying it. Each smoothie has had the base of papaya, which I am starting to like, if it is not too ripe. Also papaya tica (from Costa Rica) is much better than any others I have had. Added to the papaya is fresh dragon fruit juice, fresh granadilla juice (part of the passion fruit family), fresh passion fruit juice, mango, strawberries, kiwi, and lime, Yum! Today he made papaya, cantaloupe and grapefruit (which we thought was an orange until we opened it. It was also delicious!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Managua's Mayor Commits Suicide
Managua's newly "elected" mayor, Alexis Argüello committed suicide with a shot to the chest around 1:30 this morning.
He was a three-time champion boxer, only to have all his riches stolen from him in the 80s by the Sandinistas, as they did to many of the wealthy in Nicaragua at that time. He more recently joined the Sandinista Party and "won" the office of mayor in an election that most believe to have been highly fraudulent.
He is known to have a history with drug and alcohol addiction, which may be an indicator of underlying depression that could have led to his suicide. This is merely my speculation, no news has come out as to why he might have done this yet.
This is of course very sad news. Although I was not happy about his election, I saw him mostly as someone the Sandinistas could easily manipulate and felt sorry he was so easily taken advantage of. He appeared to be a soft-spoken and kind-hearted man. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.
Alexis Argüello 1952-2009
He was a three-time champion boxer, only to have all his riches stolen from him in the 80s by the Sandinistas, as they did to many of the wealthy in Nicaragua at that time. He more recently joined the Sandinista Party and "won" the office of mayor in an election that most believe to have been highly fraudulent.
He is known to have a history with drug and alcohol addiction, which may be an indicator of underlying depression that could have led to his suicide. This is merely my speculation, no news has come out as to why he might have done this yet.
This is of course very sad news. Although I was not happy about his election, I saw him mostly as someone the Sandinistas could easily manipulate and felt sorry he was so easily taken advantage of. He appeared to be a soft-spoken and kind-hearted man. My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.
Alexis Argüello 1952-2009
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