here's a few pics i finally uploaded!

the first is of me teaching english to kids entering 7th grade. i teach with 2 other volunteers - one from Alaska and one from Scotland. it's been really getting cute to hear the kids repeating english with a Scottish accent. :) we're doing the best we can, but we were given no curriculum and only one of us has had any experience teaching ESL. it's been interesting and a little overwhelming, but the kids are really patient with us. almost as patient, in fact, as we are with them when they never do their homework... 

the second picture is of Trianna, the little girl i live with, getting to hold the baby(doll) Jesus while a street band plays a Christmas carol. this group traveled with the doll and their instruments from door to door, and for 10 cordobas (about 50 cents) residents could hold it and feel like Mary i suppose. it was offered to me, but i chose to just observe. :) 

the final pic is of my neighbor kids. they are super energetic and whenever they see Trianna and I playing through the gate they make secret gestures that mean i should meet them in the alley (so Trianna's grandmother won't get mad they're "bothering" me) and there they perform dances that they have worked very hard on all day. it's been so much fun for me to get to know them. they live with their grandmother, who has 21 grandchildren. somewhere between 10 and 15 of them live with her and her daughter in that house (shack?). every day she makes 3 lbs. of rice to feed everyone! 

after being here 3 months i'm definitely feeling blessed this holiday season to have so much comfort in my life. but also blessed to be reminded of how little i actually need and how much joy there is in living simply and good community. 

I love you guys! Happy Holidays! 

family matters

this week i moved in with a nicaraguan family to help me practice spanish on a daily basis. i interviewed a few families, but this one won because it's a house of all women. FUN!!! the oldest is my host mom Goyita. her husband works in Miami and sends money once in awhile (a touchy subject it seems). she is the most excitable, happy lady i know. it's wonderful. 

she has two daughters that live with her - Laydi and i can never understand the other's name. the one's whose name i don't know also has two daughters - 18 and 5 years old. 

Trianna, the 5 year old is growing up in an interesting environment. the family is the wealthiest on the block (a clean house, electricity, a tv and a housekeeper) and therefore all of Trianna's playmates are quite a bit poorer than she is. i suppose to lessen the chances of her friends taking advantage of her she treats them all horribly. her best friend is 10 and whenever they play Trianna chooses all the rules and will never let her friend have an equal position. also, this same friend does chores for the family when she comes over - running to the market for things, cleaning up, and, most shockingly, cleaning Goyita's feet. as far as i can tell, in return for this she receives some food and can play in the house. Trianna's other "friends" stay outside the gate and watch them play. this is so bizarre to me. i feel sorry for her friends and also for her, growing up in an environment where she can't or chooses not to know real friendship. 

on a happier note, Trianna had a huge celebration for her 5th birthday (in which her friends were allowed IN the house) and they had TWO pinatas. as far as i can tell, the grandeur of a party is measured in number of pinatas. about 50 kids and their parents crammmed into the house and received 1/2 a sandwich, soda and ice cream. the cake seemed only for display purposes. the gifts brought for Trianna were mostly re-gifts of pants (a popular gift here?), many of which were too small for her (some were even for boys!). Trianna was very dissapointed about this and cried for quite some time after the party. :(

after the kid's party the adult party started. a band was brought in (trumpets and drums) and the adults celebrated Trianna with lots of rum and coke. it was fun, but everyone insisted that i dance and i simply don't know how to dance to trumpets and drums. it's harder than you think. like dancing to a high school band with everyone watching you. 

between family activities, school and spanish classes i've had a full first week without Dave. i'm really looking forward to coming back to IN for christmas and seeing everyone. and to feel cold, drive a car, and take a hot shower. mmm!!! :)