On a more regional note, Latin America is becoming an even more interesting place to live than usual. Bolivia and Venezuela have recently asked their respective United States embassadors to leave. The American government stands accused of encouraging the Bolivian seperatist movement. Venezuela has followed suit to show solidarity. Nicaragua, being economically reliant on Cesar Chavez, often takes political hints from Venezuela.
Venezuela does not have Peace Corps Volunteers, and Bolivia is not accepting new ones after a recent political misunderstanding. So we will see how the remaining volunteers are dealt with as a lithmus test for any potential embassadorial changes. Honduras is also pending the expulsion of their US embassador, which puts even more regional pressure on Nicaragua to tow the line.
With no current gubernatorial changes in motion here, life will continue as normal. Even in the worst case scenario--if the US embassador to Nicaragua were to be removed--we volunteers won't necessarily leave. It will just leave us a little less political cushion.
In the meanwhile, I will continue to eat my gallo-pinto and cuajada. As a matter of fact I am currently on a little vacation in Granada, a tourist destination where a volunteer in my group lives. The former Captaincy-General of Guatemala, which included Nicaragua at the time, gained independence from Spain on September 14th. Hence, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica celebrate Independence Day at the same time. We are about to grill and have a guys night out to celebrate like we celebrate our independence: cultural exchange?
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Accounts of a Peace Corps Volunteer in the highlands of northern Nicaragua. Some posts are daily adventures, while others are pure observation. They are intended to better understand the overall experience of this volunteer. Content is solely the view of the author. It does not reflect the Peace Corps or any other US government agency.
4 comments:
Sounds like the political chickens have come home to roost as it were. Did you hear the McCain selected the governor of Alaska to be his VP running mate? Lots to share on that front...Can you vote via absentee ballot? It's raining here today, Saturday.
Scotty and Tom, who own the cabin next to ours, is raising the interior decorating bar. We now have a peninsula AND kitchen cabinets AND you are not going to believe this: a NEW toilet! Yep. Lamosa hit the dust after being worked hard for 16 years. Tom helped put the Lamosa to rest and now we have, and get this: Briggs. So, we can say, "we're in the brigg and mean it."
Could very well be Cubs vs. Sox in the World Series this year. I'm beside myself. OK, take care, O. Love, Mrs. White
Casa La Briggs?? Unheard of...!
As usual, things are interesting on the school front. But I love my classes. My Ed Psych class is dovetailing nice with my work in cognitive aesthetics.
The Cubs have been losing, but fortunately, so have the Brewers, so they are still about 4 games into 1st place. They aren't playing for the next couple of days because of Hurricane Ike. Sounds REAL bad down in south Texas--my mom's old stomping grounds
Mi hijo, take care of yourself. If things start changing there, don't be a hero.
Love you very much.
Mom
Pouring rain here
Pouring rain here in Michigan. Caught one nice perch off a neighbor's pier and threw it in a water-filled boat thinking I could net it out of there when I needed to. But it seems to have hidden itself under a seat, so I may have to send Yvanna in there with her snorkel gear.
As others have mentioned, politics is wild here right about now. But the alderman's office did send you the form you need for an absentee ballot, so I'll mail it to you Monday. Look for it and please send it in all filled out.
Chito was scheduled to come here tomorrow and begin refinishing our deck and stairs down to the lake. But Christine just called to say all plans are changed due to the death of Chito's niece in a car accident in Dallas. Someone ran a red light and as a result she is with us no more.
Got your letter in the mail the other day. Thanks for sending it. Reminds me of the days when I was in Dublin apart from your dear mother and had to rely on epistolary relief in a similar way. Overall, it sounds like you are settling in, getting to know people, learning, listening, and growing. We're very proud of you.
Love
Dad
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