This week, I’m delivering my lending library books to the schools. In addition to the books, I have a box of school supplies for each school. This morning, I found an easy to make mosquito trap. Since Dengue is a huge problem in Nicaragua, I’m going to make a trap for the schools, then teach them how to make them.
So simple, yet effective. This would be a wonderful project for volunteers in Nicaragua. Spread the word.
Advancing…always moving forward…athletes from around the world participate in the Fuego y Agua Ultramarathon Survival Run on Ometepe Island, Nicaragua
Advancing with heavy logs..pushing their endurance to the max.
Advancing with 50 pound stacks of firewood..testing their limits of strength
Advancing into possibly shark infested waters…testing their fears of the unknown
Advancing with 20 ft bamboo poles up the volcano..testing balance
Advancing through cloud forests and jungles…testing agility
Advancing with humor, kissing a live chicken for 5 miles….always moving forward with a positive and determined attitude.
Jefferson is a weekend philanthropist…a young giver with a heart that invests in people. He came to Ometepe Island seeking a way to help people change their own lives. Not only did he find Mariselda, a ten-year old with polio, he also became engaged to the love of his life while visiting Ometepe.
This is his story…a story of helping unconditionally, loving freely, and simply giving for the joy he receives in knowing that he can make the world a little better one person at a time…one weekend at a time.
Thanks to Jefferson for allowing me to share his story: Buying a Girl a Bike
The U.S. Trickle-Down economic theory sounds hopelessly pessimistic to me. The word “down” used as an adjective reflects negativity and is downright depressing. It defines a lower position ( Nicaragua has a down economy.), something unable to function (Our electricity is always down!), and someone who is sick. ( My neighbor is down with the flu.)
Therefore, with optimism and enthusiasm, I am going to attempt to explain my expat economic theory of Trickling Up. Just the word “up” sounds so much more encouraging, don’t you agree? If there is one thing I have learned while living in Nicaragua, it is to always be optimistic and encouraging, and lend a hand up when possible.
When we moved to Nicaragua, we received advice from everybody… from how to purify our water to how to bargain like a Nica. Some of the advice was well-received. Other advice, I couldn’t help but wonder about. For example, I was reprimanded by other expats for providing a free lunch for our workers, tipping too much at local restaurants, and paying too much for a taxi. They said, “You are driving up the cost of everything by paying gringo prices willingly.” Or, “The workers will expect the same treatment and pay from us, too.”
I look at it this way. Trickle-Down has never worked in impoverished countries because huge sums of money allocated to government officials never reach those who need it the most. What is wrong with reversing the system of aid by trickling up? The average Nicaraguan earns five dollars a day! Even in Nicaragua, that is well below a level of poverty that defies my understanding of how hard-working families exist.
Here’s an example of my trickling up theory. We are building an addition to our guest house. We hired Marvin to build a bathroom, dig a new septic tank, and add a new kitchen/living room area…nothing fancy…just small and comfortable for our guests. First, we had Marvin make a list of all the materials he would need and give us a list of the costs of materials. Then, we told Marvin that in the U.S., we usually figure labor costs based on the cost of materials. Labor is usually the same amount as the cost of the materials. The carefully prepared list of materials came to $2,000, so we told Marvin that we would pay him $2,000 for his labor. “That is not how we do it in Nicaragua,” Marvin honestly replied. “We charge $10 a day for the contractor and $5 a day for the helpers.” If we did it Marvin’s way, he and his helpers would make much less and take more time to complete the job.
We wrote up a contract, specifying the payments in six weekly installments. Marvin orders the materials with our approval and we pay the bill at the local hardware store. It is a win-win situation for all of the families. Marvin will have enough money to buy more tools and supplies for his business, and meet the needs of his growing family. His son and another friend are his helpers. Marvin can decide how much of a percentage to pay them and knowing Marvin, he will be generous with his percentage.
Marvin and his crew
Trickling up is a fair and sound economic system for expats. We can live comfortably on our retirement savings because the cost of living in Nicaragua is about 1/4 of the cost of living in the states. Our money goes a lot farther here, so why not invest in the future of Nicaragua? Trickling up makes sense to me! With a simple system of accountability and fairness in good labor practices, everybody is happy.
Weekly Writing Challenge: And Now For Something Completely Different
My friend, Bobby, always told me never to lend money to Nicaraguans. That was always my philosophy, too..never a lender or a borrower be. But, what would happen…if no one cared? Marina would go without a needed operation to remove a cyst on her thyroid gland because the public hospitals, where treatment is free, use dirty machetes to cut out unwanted tumors. (only a slight exaggeration) A building contractor would pass on a terrific opportunity to be the jefe (boss) of a construction crew in a $250 million dollar resort because he couldn’t afford to be bonded. A pig farmer would have to let the pigs starve for lack of food. A taxi driver would not be able to provide for his family because the taxi drivers were on strike. When faced with these situations…what would you do? Would you care?
I wonder what would happen…if everyone cared. Would it make our world a better place, or would the passion of caring destroy us all…or at the least send us to the poor house?
My Top Ten Scenarios: What Would Happen…If Everyone Cared??
1. We’d have stories with happier endings.
2. We’d be dead in days. We should be grateful some are apathetic.
3. We’d be eating cat food because no one returned our money.
4. Real heroes would be redefined. There would be a rush on the sale of red capes.
5. We would all become insomniacs. Worrying about everyone would be exhausting.
6. Causes would quadruple.
7. We would all take responsibility for our own lives. The “Blame Game” would disappear like eight track tapes.
8. Politicians would stop sabotaging the economy, our environment, and our rights as human beings on this planet.
9. Chaos would ensue! Too many people caring about one another would be confusing. How would one prioritize the cause?
10. Passion would be the hallmark of our lives.
As you can see, there is a ying and yang to caring. I’ve never used a poll on my blog before. This is something completely different to me. Do you care enough to take my poll and add to my list?
If you are wondering whether we will have our money returned, I believe that people are inherently good. The contractor had a lawyer create a document that stated if he did not return the money he borrowed, his motorcycle was ours. Our taxi driver is paying us back by giving us free taxi rides in exchange for the money borrowed. Marina’s operation was successful, and she will pay us back the first of November….she always does. Baby piglets are on the way. As soon as they are sold, we will have our money returned. Living in Nicaragua is good…retiring abroad is better… caring for others is priceless.
Francisco and Julio asked me if I would buy them shoes when I visited the states last month. The requests are always the same….shoes and cell phones. Walking the sandy paths throughout the island, my curiosity got the best of me when I encountered dozens of wandering soles mixed with bastura (trash) resembling an unappetizing salad of discarded status symbols. I began to think about how we come to value different things. Is there a hierarchy of bling bling? Are shoes and cell phones the essential elements motivating young Latinos to improve their lives and create a higher social position in their communities?
When I taught high school in the states, I was often chagrined when the students paid more attention to things…iPods, iPhones, brand name clothing and footwear, instead of their academic studies. It was hard to fault them. I, too am fascinated by expensive and sophisticated bling bling. I find it amazing and puzzling that two divergent cultures of young people place high value on similar things. What happens when different cultures with different values desire the same things?
While I don’t have specific answers to why, I do believe that it is important to create connections among the things that we value in divergent societies. If the youth in the states and Latin cultures both value shoes and cell phones, collectively we may be able to come up with some answers about human beings and things. The answers may inspire us to work toward unity, instead of division and teach us that collectively, we should encourage positive international relationships among all countries, all races, and all political ideologies.
Status, as defined by possessions, is nearly as essential as food, water, and shelter. Once our basic needs are met, we spend our money acquiring symbols of status..bling bling to enhance a better position, the GPS of social navigation. My teenage neighbor, Julio, lives in a shack with a dirt floor, 3 light bulbs, and no running water, except for a hose attached to a city water line. Yet, fancy name brand tennis shoes represent success to him, and along with success, comes respect. In turn, respect means that others will look up to him, and thus his fancy tennis shoes increase his self-esteem providing the impetus to work harder and the drive to improve his lot in life.
The wandering soles along the sandy paths inspired me to search for ways to increase unity in our troubled world. Maybe shoes and cell phones will be the connecting force that will unite the young people throughout the world. We are all wandering souls, searching for ways to improve our lives, increase our self-esteem, and better our positions through the hierarchy of bling bling. Can shoes and cell phones be the connection to save our world? Who knows, but it is worth investigating the connections.
As a post script: Ron and I had a philosophical debate about my article. He feels that using status symbols to connect the youth of the world is shallow and deceptive. I disagree. I say, take what you can get to emphasize our similarities. We all have possessions we use as status symbols. The problem is in denying that we elevate our positions in society through the use of possessions.
Ron wants me to answer the questions I asked. For example, why do two divergent cultures value shoes and cell phones? Is it a status symbol only for the poor in both cultures? Instead, I chose to take a different direction in my post. I stated that I don’t have specific answers…it would involve more research. Instead, I decided to emphasize the connections and the relationships among the youth in two cultures and the hierarchy of the things they value the most….namely shoes and cell phones.
“Why don’t you emphasize the importance of a good education to increase their self-esteem and improve their positions in life?” Ron asked. “Get real, Ron!” I replied.” I’ve been a teacher for 30 years. If you had the choice of receiving an A+ on a test or a new iPhone, which would you chose?” “Point taken,” he replied.
I was chatting with a friend on Facebook the other day about my lending library. It is taking me forever to collect children’s books in Spanish. My initial thoughts were to collect several thousand books and start a lending library in Moyogalpa. However, after visiting two lending libraries in San Juan del Sur and Granada, I became overwhelmed with my plan to make a central location for all of the books. Plus, I am retired, with lots of projects, and I don’t want to be tied down to a library everyday.
Instead, I have decided to take baby steps and empower the schools, one school at a time. When I told my friend that I planned to make a mobile cart, stock it with 100 books, and start with one school, she sent me this picture with a note, “Is this your plan?” Sometimes, you just gotta laugh!
I’m going to have Marvin design me a metal bookcase on wheels that will hold 100 children’s books. Presently, I have close to 200 books collected. My plan is to take the cart with 100 books to the school in Los Ramos after I have the books categorized and sorted. Then, I’ll spend a few days in the classrooms, reading books, doing activities, and explaining how a mobile library works. When I have 100 more books, I’ll repeat the process in another local elementary school. Eventually, I’ll be able to swap out the mobile carts, so the schools have a new collection of books.Maybe this burro idea isn’t so funny? Quien sabe? I must have some way of transporting my carts from one school to another across the island.
The name of my mobile lending library is, Ventanas del Mundo. ( Windows of the World) I am always in search of children’s books in Spanish. If you are making a trip to Ometepe Island, please bring a book for my lending library. You can drop off the books at The Corner House, Mar Dulce, or the American Cafe and Hotel in Moyogalpa. Tell them they are for the book lady in La Paloma. Once again, I thank the awesome people who have already donated books. You are opening many new windows to the world of reading for pleasure.
Soon to come, a new page on my blog explaining the mobile lending library with lots of pictures.
On the path to get water
The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.
~Saint Teresa of Avila
The first time we visited the tiny community of Los Ramos, at the base of Vulcan Concepcion, Francisco’s mother gave us a bottle of Coca Cola and a watermelon. She knew that walking a half mile down the steep and rocky path to their village parched us. Sipping on the warm Coca Cola, we watched Francisco’s grandfather unloaded two large, worn plastic water containers from the back of his horse.
“We don’t think your bodies are accustomed to our well water, so we bought you Coca Cola and a watermelon,” Francisco’s mother replied. We graciously accepted her gifts, hoping that we could eat the large watermelon at her house, because it was a long, steep uphill walk back to the main road to catch the bus.
Francisco’s mother explained to us that they made a four-mile trip to get water, two times a day. An ancient hand-dug well located next to the lake supplied the water for the community of Los Ramos. “Why is the well located so far away?” I asked. She responded, “The community of Los Ramos used to be near the lake, but we had to relocate when the Spanish conquistadors invaded the island.” When the Spanish conquistadors invaded the island??? I thought. “That was so long ago,” I said. “Why didn’t you move your community back to the lake after the invasion, or dig another well closer to your new place?” I asked.
“Maybe, we were lazy,” she laughed. That was the only response I got, yet I knew this community wasn’t lazy. For hundreds of years, they hauled the water from a hand-dug well to supply their community. Not only was it a time-consuming and back- breaking chore, but the well is located dangerously close to the lake making me wonder about the quality of the water. Many members in the community complain of kidney problems.
Three years ago, the families in Los Ramos decided they were tired of hauling water. Their family members were getting older and the young ones were moving away. Hauling water two times a day was exhausting. They formed a community association, planned and performed plays of the history of Los Ramos, and requested donations to install water lines and buy a water pump.
Their new water supply will come from a lake in the crater of the dormant volcano Maderas. Although, many families in the surrounding communities receive the gift of running water through a gravity-fed system, Los Ramos is too far away for gravity to work its magic.
After three long years and months of community effort, children, parents, grandparents, and other relatives dug ditches, installed water lines, bought a pump, and waited patiently for the water to flow into their homes. But, there was an unforeseen problem. The electricity supplying their community was shared on a transformer with too many other communities. The power they received was not strong enough to run the pump. They had to buy a $2,000 electric transformer from the electric company and install it in Los Ramos to see the efforts of all their hard work.
I only discovered their need for a transformer a few days before Christmas. In my grief over a close friend’s death, I tried to channel my sorrow into constructive action. I posted on my blog, called, and emailed close friends and family about the need for a transformer for Los Ramos. The next day, my prayers were answered. Los Ramos received a donation to buy the electric transformer.
How do I thank the loving people who sent the donation that will transform the community of Los Ramos? Words are not enough to simply thank someone for giving the precious gift of water to a community. For two days, I tried to call Francisco with the good news. Last night, I was finally able to reach him. When I asked him if I could go to Los Ramos next week to deliver the money, we were both sobbing over the phone. I was simultaneously filled with joy for Los Ramos and sorrow over the death of my friend, Bobby…a strange feeling.
Next week, I’ll deliver the money to Los Ramos for the transformer that will transform their lives. Think about the word play here! Francisco said, they will make a trip to Managua to buy the transformer. Hopefully, in a few weeks, they will have running water in all of their homes.
I am overwhelmed and filled with such loving compassion for everyone who made this possible. The gift of running water! Saint Teresa was right when she said, “The tree that is beside the running water is fresher and gives more fruit.” This can apply to many facets of our lives, especially to the wonderful community of people in Los Ramos. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for fulfilling a dream and providing a gift of running water to a community in need.
And, by the way, if you are wondering….Ron and I had to carry the 10 pound watermelon up the steep hill in 100 degree weather. We were drenched in sweat by the time we got to the bus stop. Waiting for the bus, we cracked open the watermelon and gorged on the refreshing fruit with everyone who was waiting at the bus stop with us. I’m a little worried about returning to Los Ramos next week. I have a feeling there will be a couple of big watermelons waiting for us.
If you want to help give the gift of water to local communities, below is a link for how you can help.
Charities give Christmas gift of water – USATODAY.com.
All I want for Christmas is.....
Seven years ago, I could easily compose a list of ‘wants’ for Christmas. Ometepe Island was a primitive island with few expat novelties. There was no ATM, peanut butter, whole wheat bread, internet dongle, sufficient cell phone coverage, books in English, or rat traps. When Cory came to visit at Christmas, all we wanted were books in English, rat traps, and a squeegee mop.
Now, Ometepe Island is thriving and growing like the huge papayas in Ron’s garden. We have four ATM machines, an airport which will be completed in 2012, and two grocery stores that cater to the exotic tastes of foreigners. I can download and borrow hundreds of Kindle books from my public library in the states. With a little creative ingenuity, my homemade woktenna delivers a steady internet signal to my dongle. Sky satellite TV broadcasts world news, my washing machine spins with authoritarian control, Ron’s year-round garden supplies us with green vegetables, and Skype allows me to visit daily with my family and friends back in the states.
What more could I want? My expat Christmas list this year isn’t as tangible as it was seven years ago. After much thought, here is my 2010 list:
1. Children’s books in Spanish.
I am determined to give the gift of reading for pleasure to the children on the island. My collection is growing slowly for my mobile lending library. If you are traveling to Ometepe Island over the holidays, please consider dropping off a children’s book in Spanish at the Corner House Cafe, Mar Dulce, or the American Cafe and Hotel in Moyogalpa. Tell them the books are for the book lady in La Paloma.
2. More Time in the Day
The sun rises and sets in the tropics at 6 am and 6 pm. We are early risers, but with all of our daily chores, we seldom have time to stop and ‘smell the roses’ until the sun sets. Retirement is all about fulfilling passions and dying with no regrets. Santa, please stuff my stocking with more time this Christmas.
3. Lots of anti-itch cream
I am definitely allergic to ant bites. The only relief is the anti-itch cream with Benadryl. Santa, please fill my stocking to the brim with anti-itch cream.
4. Simplicity
I have a house full of ‘stuff and junk’ back in the states. It is an anchor in my life. When I return to the states, will you come to my yard sale? It’s time to empty my boomer nest and give it all away.
5. Fluency in Spanish
Although I can understand and respond simply to most conversations, I want to be fluent in Spanish. We are culturally immersed in an all Spanish-speaking community. Santa, please give me the gift of fluency in Spanish. It would be helpful if I could wake up one morning and speak fluently. I’ve practiced patiently for over eight years, yet I still sound like a third grader. Please?
I struggled making this expat list. Honestly, my life has changed so much that I am not tuned in to the frantic Christmas pace and capitalistic mentality of my younger years. Realistically, Santa, if you can’t deliver my expat Christmas list, it’s no big deal…there’s always manana.
Last night, at 2:30 am there was a loud crash that interrupted the sleep of most of my neighborhood. The flashlights scoured the area like a well-cleaned cooking pot, but nothing looked out of the ordinary. Ron thought it was a crash landing of the German satellite, due to hit Earth last night. “Space junk,” he yawned and fell back into a deep sleep. Cory thought it was a spaceship. I guessed the Mango tree had fallen into Cory’s house. Our neighbors thought maybe Vulcan Concepcion had erupted.
With the light of dawn, I saw that a giant limb had fallen off an enormous tree behind our property. The heavy rains must have weakened the tree. “Time for the human termites to do their job,” I yawned.
Last September, after a strong wind storm, a huge dead tree fell into the lake obstructing my view and messing up my beautiful beach. I hired two men to cut the tree and they arrived early in the morning armed with machetes, strong backs, and an ancient ax.
They parked the horse cart beside my beach chair hoping to load the wood into the wagon and cart it off for firewood. “How much will this cost?” I asked apprehensively because it looked like a huge job. “Five dollars,” they responded.
At dawn’s first light, they waded into the warm water and proceeded to whack at each limb with their well-worn machetes. Machismo at its finest!
Meanwhile, Marina, my neighbor, ran over to my house wearing a black velvet party dress and smelling of strong flowery perfume…at 6 o’clock in the morning. Her 77 yr. old husband, Don Jose, has been in Rivas all week with his sick sister. “What are they going to do with all that wood?” she asked. “I told them to haul it off,” I said. “How much are you paying them to cut the tree?” Marina inquired. Discovering that I was paying them 5 dollars, she screamed, “Oh, muy caro!” Very expensive.
“Don Jose isn’t here, and I need wood for my cooking fire.” she exclaimed. “Can I help to pay if we take the wood?” Knowing that my neighbors are very poor ( I had to lend Don Jose $10 to visit his gravely ill sister in Rivas) I said, “I don’t want you to pay. I’ll tell the machete men that you can have the wood.” So, the machete man sent for his 7-year-old to take the horse cart back home.
Within an hour, they had most of the small branches cut off the dead tree and hauled ashore. “How much more do you want us to cut?” they yelled across the dead tree to where I was snapping pictures of their toothless grins. “I want more of the dead trunk cut.” I yelled back. After much debate and a demonstration of where I wanted the trunk cut, they said, “Oh, but it will cost you more money because the trunk is very thick.” “How much more?” I asked.” Five more dollars,” they said kind of apologetically.
So they grabbed the ancient ax and began to cut the thick trunk. Within another hour, they had most of the thick trunk hacked away. The wood was piled up on the beach and Marina’s father,and her son, Julio, carried the piles of wood to their house.
While they were hacking away at the trunk, Marina brought refreshments for all of us, warm bread from the local tienda and pinole drink ( Marina drinks this every morning instead of coffee).
A few more whacks with the ancient ax and their work was done. Not a bad day’s wages for 2 hours of work. Soon, the little termites swarmed to the beach to collect the wood for their cooking stove.Grandpa joined in the collection, and in no time at all, the beach was cleared.
The human termites were remarkable. For $10 I had my incredible view and a clean beach. My wonderful neighbors had enough firewood for a month of cooking. And best of all, we shared our blessings with our lovely community.
Looks like we’ll have to hire the human termites again!
I don't want to be a twat!
~ quote by Banksy on a dumpster
The other day, my 10-year-old neighbor was reading The Lorax to me, while the incessant beep, beep, beep of the one antiquated grader and dump truck were working on the new airport a quarter of a mile from our house. I thought, how ironic that The Lorax pleads to save the Truffula trees from the evil Once-ler’s plan to produce and sell Thneeds, while the trabadores (workers) frantically clear-cut the proposed runway.
Can a ten-year old make the connection between the plight of the environment and economic progress in the name of tourism? For that matter, can an island of 35,000 poverty-stricken inhabitants understand that the invasion of wealthier tourists, who can afford a flight to the island, doesn’t necessarily mean economic progress…especially for the locals.
I’ve tried to warn them, “Be careful, watch out. You are going to end up being the dishwashers and maids for the foreigners who buy all your land for pennies and flip it for handsome profits.” The demise of our ‘oasis of peace’ is quickly approaching. The greedy Once-ler has destroyed Boquete, Panama, most of Costa Rica, and Salinas, Ecuador in the name of economic progress. Is La Isla de Ometepe next?
I shudder to think what may happen in the future. Usually, I’m an optimistic kinda gal. I fight for the underdogs and take action to right the wrongs for those who cannot do it for themselves. Yet, I tread a fine line here. I am a guest in their country. I have no right to interfere in their plans to boost a flailing economy…even if I can foresee the writing on the dumpster.”You can’t eat money.”
So, I will do the one thing that I have been trained to do…EDUCATE. Slowly, I’m building a library of children’s books in Spanish on topics of environmental protection…like The Lorax. I’ll set up a small mobile library in every school on the island and train the teachers how to read to their classes, while providing activities that go with each book. Education is the key…it’s the Lorax vs. the Once-ler… the literary element of personification battling reality… the true lies of progress. It’s the only way I know how to stop the madness consuming our troubled world.
I’ve meant to link my library needs to my blog…but life on La Isla is unpredictable and other things have unintentionally taken priority. Thanks to the many people who have already donated children’s books in Spanish through my posts in the Thorntree forum of Lonely Planet, the volunteers that built an Earthbag house in my community, and my friends, family, and former colleagues in the states.
Stay tuned for my page, Ventanas del Mundo ( Windows to the World) and ways in which you can help conquer the Once-ler.
