Monday, November 24, 2008
In the interest of the science of comfort I´ve picked up a new project. I spent this weekend at a hostal two hours north of Yalí. They are putting in flushing toilets, hot water showers and eventually internet access. None of this sounds like a big deal, but mixed with an integrated community and farm experience, it should be really cool. There are also petroglyphs about a two hour hike from Rancho Solentiname. I gave an impromptu class at a Polytechnical school, and we ended up dragging half the class along to see them. Horse back riding is a must, and some of the views were incredible. Needless to say, it was an amazing experience in an iconic setting.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Although I should leave analysis of the US elections to those residing in state, or those who at least cast their ballot, I can’t help myself. In my defense my parents did mail my ballot to me. Due to inherent inconsistencies of the Nicaraguan Post, however, it has yet to arrive. I am proud that our president elect is one of such international esteem as opposed to Voldemort W. Bush. I was also proud to have the concession speech in Chicago. I bragged to volunteer and Nicaraguan friends alike that ‘Those hundreds of thousands of people are watching Obama accept the presidency fifteen minutes from my house!’
Five days after John McCain delivered history’s most gracious concession speech, the Nicaraguan Municipal Elections broke out. There were no peaceful mass gatherings. There was no concession. Period. The FSLN Sandinista Party—reformed remnants of the Cuban-style-socialist-dictatorship still figureheaded by Daniel Ortega—stands accused of stealing the elections. The PLC Liberal Party is counting and recounting the election results in Managua, reminding me of the 2000 or 2004 US elections. Party leaders called their constituents to the streets en masse to protect or protest the election results, respectively.
Four people were murdered in Managua as the streets erupted in a violent spectacle, a caricature of Nicaraguan politics. Even here in Yalí, the warm, eerily quiet and visibly tense election day boiled over in a 2 am rock fight. Broken up by the army two hours later the exchange resulted in a mere two injuries. One young man was shot in the leg, and an even younger women lost her front eight teeth. Although a 48 hour prohibition was placed on the country, booze was well stocked and may be held accountable for significantly lowered accuracy.
No one will ever know if the elections were truly fraudulent, due to a lack of extra-party—not to mention international—observations. This factor does not help the tainted claim of ¨Free and Fair Elections.¨ In Managua the Friday before the elections, drinking cocktails with US Ambassador Callahan, hitting up the poshest nightclubs in Nicaragua, I barely considered the political trepidation. I love the seamless contradictions of being a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Although interested and bound to informing those interested of the goings on here in Nicaragua, the subject is already passé. I lost the first draft of this blog in a botched file transfer, but just couldn’t let myself get by without explaining what happened in the Nicaraguan elections. I’ve gotten over them and now I’m really excited about my future projects. I’ve started a series of accounting presentations with my coffee farmers and I will be working with the Mayor’s office to promote tourism to local petroglyphs and waterfalls. Today I’m having a deservedly comfortable evening creating my first business exam in Spanish for my high-schoolers. My site-mate and I even made smores and tea to celebrate pure relaxation. She knits as I absently type.
Five days after John McCain delivered history’s most gracious concession speech, the Nicaraguan Municipal Elections broke out. There were no peaceful mass gatherings. There was no concession. Period. The FSLN Sandinista Party—reformed remnants of the Cuban-style-socialist-dictatorship still figureheaded by Daniel Ortega—stands accused of stealing the elections. The PLC Liberal Party is counting and recounting the election results in Managua, reminding me of the 2000 or 2004 US elections. Party leaders called their constituents to the streets en masse to protect or protest the election results, respectively.
Four people were murdered in Managua as the streets erupted in a violent spectacle, a caricature of Nicaraguan politics. Even here in Yalí, the warm, eerily quiet and visibly tense election day boiled over in a 2 am rock fight. Broken up by the army two hours later the exchange resulted in a mere two injuries. One young man was shot in the leg, and an even younger women lost her front eight teeth. Although a 48 hour prohibition was placed on the country, booze was well stocked and may be held accountable for significantly lowered accuracy.
No one will ever know if the elections were truly fraudulent, due to a lack of extra-party—not to mention international—observations. This factor does not help the tainted claim of ¨Free and Fair Elections.¨ In Managua the Friday before the elections, drinking cocktails with US Ambassador Callahan, hitting up the poshest nightclubs in Nicaragua, I barely considered the political trepidation. I love the seamless contradictions of being a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Although interested and bound to informing those interested of the goings on here in Nicaragua, the subject is already passé. I lost the first draft of this blog in a botched file transfer, but just couldn’t let myself get by without explaining what happened in the Nicaraguan elections. I’ve gotten over them and now I’m really excited about my future projects. I’ve started a series of accounting presentations with my coffee farmers and I will be working with the Mayor’s office to promote tourism to local petroglyphs and waterfalls. Today I’m having a deservedly comfortable evening creating my first business exam in Spanish for my high-schoolers. My site-mate and I even made smores and tea to celebrate pure relaxation. She knits as I absently type.
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