Dear Mango Tree...

When does your fruit know when to let go?
Resting in the duality of nature,
If I stay I sway,
If I drop I rot,
Waiting for someone to use me,
Passed through purpose,
Through confetti teeth, through voices that will save the world, through hands that care for broken children, through parades of joy,
Often ignored by the impatient yet appreciated by the poor,
If I drop I sway,
If I stay I rot,
Pushing through fruit phlebotomy,
Grazed by concrete and powered stares and truck dust and dog pee,
Dear Mango Tree...
Will your fruit ever be remembered?
Or will your roots go untangled and overlooked,
Without heart beats connected to parachutes,
I choose to jump and let the whole world hear my thump,
Then sway.

"Say It Loud..." Black in the Peace Corps

“Say it Loud”

By: Kimberly Scott

Before coming to Nicaragua to serve in the Peace Corps, I imagined that it would be similar to my study abroad experience in Ecuador: teaching English, speaking Spanish, and indubitably changing lives. But, I did not expect that the life that weighed the most change was that of my own.

During our Pre-Service Training in Washington, D.C, I precisely remember the reenactments of the tough situations that volunteers have encountered during their service and it was to no surprise that our group blindly selected to reenact the issues of a Black American Volunteer. Moreover, not only did we model the conversation that the volunteer was expected to have with their colleagues; we reflected how the people of the host country would react to the situation. And must I say that since I have been living in Nicaragua, our conclusions have ceased to amaze me!

Many Nicaraguans who have not had as much exposure with the diverse American culture in which I come in contact often assume that I am from the Caribbean Coast, Cuba or the Dominican Republic. People who are typically not shameful use their curiosity as a catalyst for conversation starters, while others still need their jaws lifted after seeing my braids. In these situations, I have learned that a smile can stretch further than any explanation about what my country, heritage, or character ever could.

Besides being a Black American, I also identify with the Jamaican heritage where my father and two sisters originated. I was raised in a mixed Caribbean jungle of South Florida speaking Jamaican Patois (similar to that of Creole from the Atlantic coast) and delighted in the same staple foods of Nicaragua and the Caribbean.

(Typical Jamaican food---Rice & Peas (Gallo Pinto) Plantain (Maduro) Steamed Cabbage (Repollo) Cornbread (Pan) Ox Tail & Gravy (Carne))

Being able to rest in this dual identity has given me the strength and knowledge to be able to unite the various cultures of Nicaragua, and introduce the empowerment that one can embody when they are secure in their cultural versatility.  The commonalities that we share between attire, traditional dance, music, and food are carefully wrapped into a story line then gifted to the next generation, often times in black or white. Being a Black Volunteer has afforded me the opportunity to provide many teachable moments thus far and I have been able to build open, trusting relationships with my students and the people in my community.

Signed ----AndProud!

(First) Secondary Project in Nicaragua

So, I have started my first (secondary) project in my pueblo (town) working with a small business that designs and sells  jewelry made out of recycled products called Un Montón de Añicos (which

translates to A bunch of Smithereens or fragments). Originally this small business began with 12 interested young ladies of various ages that received several workshops from a former Padre Fabretto volunteer (Lauren) on how to design their own creations out of recycled glass and scrap metal. Many of the young ladies that have began this project started when they were about 14 years old, and those who are still currently working at the cooperative never imagined that it would grow into a long term business.

“We didn’t know that we were going to have this business for the rest of our lives. We thought of a project that we could do in the moment but after a while the people began to like what we did and supported us” said Zunilda a 23 year old certified primary school teacher who’s been working with the cooperative for over 5 years and helped to maintain the upkeep of the store.

There are soo many ideas that can blossom from this one dream but the issue is that they have the skill set, just not the knowledge of how to market and maintain operations for their business. The main way that they have been able to sustain their business thus far is by the support of tourist that stumble upon the area of San Jose de Cusmapa supporting other NGO’s or their own personal hiking interests. Unfortunately, this is the case with millions of businesses that lack similar resources. 

While working with these young ladies I hope to help them fulfill their short term goals and prepare them for the planning and implementation of the long term goals as well. I would also like to share with them the basic steps to a business, who their target market or audience is, and how to acquire information when resources are limited.

Signed   

           -OnTheGo

PS. Happy New Year!!

Here is a video of these young ladies and a clearer idea of what they do, we would love your support!

Networking with "Non Natives" in Developing Countries

December 14, 2014

So its been a about a month since we have been in site and we just recently came back from being in Managua for our PreConnect Sesson as well as the 2014 NicaTESOL Conference.  I must say it was truly refreshing seeing the other Volunteers this week and hearing about the different experiences in their sites.It was quite the recharge. Going back to site, I was able to catch a ride back with a group of Volunteers from Northwestern University thanks to one of the awesome Fabretto coorninators who frequently coordinates trips to San Jose de Cusmapa for Missionaries. Padre Fabretto is a Non profit organization in my small community  named after a Catholic Minister that built and implemented several reading, English learning, forestry and business preparation initiatives for the community.

I actually met Sarah (or let’s just say her name is Sarah for privacy purposes) through my host sister who was interested in going to a University in the city of Managua and asked us if we could both meet up to exchange a few matriculation papers for her. This simple connection turned into an hour long conversation and led to us having quite a bit in common. Keeping in touch with her and “following up” allowed me to catch a 6 hour ride back to my site…traveling in style (wink wink). 

             OR                  

Why am I mentioning this? Well, being a Peace Corps Volunteer (or any other type of Volunteer for that matter) one has to learn how to build their home away from home in order to not feel like a complete recluse in your host country. Since I have been in country, I have met several “non natives” from Germany, England, the United States, Jamaica, and France etc. The interesting part about meeting other people is that we all have similar goals in promoting sustainability in Nicaragua which is the second poorest country in the world, even if it’s with a non-profit organization (most)  or for themselves (many).

Here’s a few tips to help build your networking skills with “non natives” in country…

                                                              Show interest…

Typically people in developing countries who are working or volunteering for long periods of time demonstrate that this is probably NOT their first rodeo. They’ve. Duunit. Before. These free birds are open minded and have seen everything under the sun while traveling to other countries including their own. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and start conversations because to tell the truth, they are probably not all THAT busy in the first place. If you are truly interested in networking with other people, there has to be a objective or purpose for pursuing this type of connect(ion). This way, you know what types of questions you need to ask. Specificity is key.

Don’t be afraid of “NO”

This is probably one of the main reasons why people don’t actually network; they are afraid of the word “NO.” When asking “Sarah” for a 6 hour ride back to my site I was expecting two possible answers “Yea Sure!” or “No, sorry we won’t have enough space.” Fortunately, I was able to bum a ride!(Im broke in the Peace Corps, that’s enough motivation right?) “NO” is all about perspective, so don’t let it discourage you from continuing to ask people for help because it can hinder you from awesome opportunities. People usually have a reason as to why they won’t do something for you and most of the time, it has absolutely nothing to do with them. It’s important to understand that the decisions people make not only affect them but the people around them as well.

Everyone has a story

So, traveling the 6 hours with a few Northwestern University students (all Seniors) to my site allowed me to get to know them and pitch the idea of being a Peace Corps Volunteer  because I was sure they had their lives together (NOT, lol). I invited one of the coordinators to one of my student’s graduation dinners and found out that she is very well connected. We were able to receive a generous donation for our up and coming Christmas Project! Apparently the president of the NGO in my community is the son of the Vice President of BP. I say no more!

Build your Confidence

Building your confidence has everything to do with knowing who you are as a person which can be as simple as knowing what you like and don’t like. How do you know if you know who you are? Hmm, that’s a good question because I’m still soul searching! To take a gander, it’s probably best to ask yourself if you are able to make simple decisions. Paper or plastic? Ice Cream or Cookies?  Jamaica or Costa Rica? Pick one! (No, really) There are enough gray areas in life so why make it more complicated than what it is? Thinking more logically as opposed to with emotion will often help with making decisions but understand that you’re human and God gave us emotions for a reason. Besides, people can see through non genuineness so try to find a balance.

                                                                 “Follow up”

When following up with people that you just met, it doesn’t mean that you have to send them a loooonnngg voice message about how amazingly great they were. To be honest, they may not have frequent service all of the time in a developing country. Hence, emailing and text messaging come in handy. A simple “I hope this message finds you well. I am just following up with you so that we can exchange information and keep in touch!” should be enough. Sometimes adding more information can come off as pushy and fake, so, try to get an idea for the personality of person you are contacting.  Following up may seem completely awkward at first but if you want to reach a goal that you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done before!

Hope this helps!

-Signed DiscoveringFire

"Sail Out"

  Septiembre 14, 2014

Today flowed.The last few days of training has been a smooth sail as I got closer to my training site mates as well as well the TEFLeros before swearing in ceremony. Despite being sick for three days from eating a burrito after our nocturnal rendezvous, I am much better and can proudly say that now we are officially Peace Corp Volunteers AND I am officially a member of the Gutierrez family! The day before I left my training site,  my host aunt tells me “Ahora voz sos Kimberly Gutierez!” (Now you are Kimberly Guitierez). Apparently my host mother did not want to have a despidida for me or a “going away” party because she says she ¨knows I’m going to come back.¨ She’s correct. I will indeed be traveling back to Masaya to see my training family for the end of the year celebration to spend time with them for a few days or five.

As I was about to travel to by site in Madriz, I didn’t feel as much anxiety that I thought I had been building up over the past few days.   I thought I would worry myself over trying to catch the earliest bus for my 6 hour magical rollercoaster ride to the highest point above sea level in Nicaragua. I ended up getting a ride to the capital by my host uncle, my taxi driver was 30 minutes early and pretty preppy to be taking me to the bus station at 6:15a.m, had time to watch my bags get on the bus, had a few minutes to get to know the coborador on the Expresso bus (person who collects money and assists the driver). After a four hour ride I met my host sisters at the first stop in Somoto who generously helped me with my bags, and met the bus driver (Chumpuyun---don’t ask why, that’s his  nick name) to get a seat for the two hour seat clutching ride to the higher mountainside. When we arrived, I was welcomed by the cool mountain fresh air that whipped around my neck and warm hugs by my host family. 

Toward the evening I was able to relax a bit after putting my things away. My host sister called me outside so that I could meet her teenage friends which were full of energy and of course…jokes. After breaking the ice, they seemed to have let their guard down with me enough to ask for my help on a Christmas project they had been preparing to have for the impoverished children that lived on the outskirts of the 26 communities that resided around Cusmapa (my town)…some as far as 4 hours away. These four teens (Los Divinos Niños de Jesus) want to create an annual Christmas project that will teach children of the community about the story of Jesus Christ, involve them in various outdoor activities, feed them lunch for free,   provide care packages and distribute gently used toys as their Christmas presents. These students completely blew my mind with their creative ideas, they just needed a little push with organization and implementation which is where I am, fortunately, able to help. Stay tuned.

-Signed Newbie

¨Don't eat the Pudding¨

30 de Octubre de 2014

¨Try to look at your experience here like a Mandala, Chapman, work hard, to make something as beautiful and meaningful as you can. And when your done, pack it all in and know that it was all temporary. You have to remember that------ its all temporary. I’m telling you, surviving here is all about perspective….dont eat the pudding.”

-Jones (Orange is the New Black)

 So, it is week 11 and this week we had our last Spanish interviews for the end of training. For the past few weeks I had been feeling as though my Spanish was improving tremendously and currently I do still feel as though my Spanish is bomb. One of the most important things while learning a language is having the confidence to speak, which is one of the things that I teach my students in Nicaragua. The more you are afraid to speak the target language, the less one is able to improve the language and will possibly miss out on an opportunity to effectively communicate. Thank God that I have broken out of this fear since studying abroad in Ecuador 2012.

This evening I received a call from our director that I would be receiving extra Spanish Language training in my training site and I would not be able to go to my actual site because I have not reached the required language level. While on the phone with my director, it was almost as if a smirk crept across my cheek bones because this also meant that not only would I be receiving personalized Spanish class for an extra week, I would be spending time with a family of the 18 people that I have grown to love and appreciate during my training period. Above all,  I will say that my God works in mysterious ways and Him and I have always had an understanding when it comes to the number 11.  Many of my accomplishments, candidate number(s), days after an open-hearted prayer to God have revolved around or included the number 11. So, I definitely look at this as a confirmation to be here and will maintain obedient and let him work his favor on my life…

God always has something up his sleeves and that I will never doubt this because He is always preparing me for the next task as I surrender as His servant. It was also enlightening to see how much of an impact and a relashionship that I have built with my family. After I informed my Host mother that I was going to stay for an extra week, she squeezed me lifeless with happiness and told me she was elated that I was staying (in Spanish of course). Shortly after she asked me if I was leaving to go hang out because my friends had showed up right as I was about to eat dinner. I informed her that they had come to watch a tv show with me (Orange is the New Black) which is the first time in a long while that I had watched a t.v show in English.   Toward the end Jones put soo much into perspective about perspective. I knew that I came here to benefit the lives of others, not considering that helping others benefitted me the most. It is all about perspective. Rest in Him because work is still being done.

Signed   --ReceptiveSoul

Laugh at the Little Things in Life...No, Really!

The second week of training was almost a hard pill to swallow because I had officially come to the realization that I would be living under these conditions for the next two years (dunn, duuNNN, DUUNNNNN!!). Being broke was something that I had been used to during college, but not quite like this. This is a different level of poverty. We currently get an allowance of about $12 a week which is technically approximately about $C300 of Nica dollars which helps pay for transportation, and small odds and ends that we may need during the week since our family provides us with three meals per day.  By Wednesday afternoon, I was nearly choking in tears from being overwhelmed by the language barrier and culture shock. It can become quite frustrating when you are not able to pick up to phone and call your best friends, Fraternity/Sorority sisters/brothers, or church or family members to support you when you are basically being stripped from what you are used to doing or knowing and encouraged to adapt rather quickly to a different cultural perspective and language. Thank God I pledged a Sorority….several times on so many different levels!

Over this week however, I have built quite the “confianca” or trust with my training mates who are completely awesome by the way (Traci, Preston, Emily) and I wouldn’t change them or my training site (Catarina) for the world.  There were definitely several things that bothered me during my second week of training that I so graciously tried to ignore like the unidentified flying insects that randomly circle around my room only to be conquered by a surreptitious Geico who’d been chilling behind my curtain awaiting his next victory (named Jose by the way). 

Or the phrases that do not translate to English whatsoever but makes perfect sense in the Spanish language. Or the Piropos (Pee-Rhope-Poes), known as womanizers, that constantly undress women with their eyes and limit their vocabulary to short phrases of “Que Rico”, “Hola, Morena”, “Princessa”,”Hermosa” and occasionally a disgusting air kiss at the end.  Or itching myself to death from the side effects of our potent Malaria medication (which is truly helpful, yet has annoying side effects). Or finding out that real roosters can “alarm” you at ANY time of the night to inform you that they are indubitably awake. Or lastly, the infamous ice cold bucket showers that I have now created the name “Buckeeta” as the fun verb to use while referring to my bathing process. I have realized that this is my life and a darn good one at that because I am learning to laugh at smallest things in life and be content with what I don’t know how to say or do.Lesson of the week: Learn to laugh at the small things that life gives us…including yourself.

#thelittlethings....