I Have Two Questions for You

#1) Would you give this Nicaraguan girl a buck if she approached you?

"María", Matagalpa, Nicaragua (September 2011)*

#2) Would it change your mind if I told you she was actually asking for five cents? Should it?

*Permission granted to take photo.

Do You Believe in Tough Love?

Wikipedia says that "tough love is an expression used when someone treats another person harshly or sternly with the intent to help them in the long run."

Do you believe in tough love?

It is something I've been thinking about quite a lot lately.

Quite a few of the young people in BECA have a lot of problems or "challenges" (for those of you who write me to say that "problem" is a negative word.)

We know that they have serious economic issues, but I didn't realize how many health issues, learning issues, and other family issues they also bring to the table.

At times, it's a little overwhelming.

What's BECA to do?

The tendency is to stick our nose in and try to help them sort everything out.

But . . . and here comes the hard part . . . we really can't.

It is a wonderful idea, a beautiful concept, a noble goal, and on and on, but it ain't realistic.

I've come to the conclusion that BECA's life expectancy as a sustainable organization is greater if it sticks to the knitting: giving an opportunity for serious-minded Nicaraguans to get a technical career.

Here's the cruel bottom line. BECA is not in the saving lives business. 

More than anything, it means that if you can't attend school on a consistent and regular basis, then we can't help you. Period.

And believe you me, it isn't easy to watch.
 
Now, is that tough love?

You tell me.

I Deconstruct a Nicaraguan Parade

September 15th is Independence Day in Nicaragua. They have a parade and every school is obligated to send a delegation.

I took it in. Here is what I was thinking . . .

Funny Names

They give their children interesting names in Nicaragua.

Yeah sure Nicaragua has it's fair share of Josés, Juans, Anas, and the ubiquitous Marías. (Fun fact: 6% of BECA female students are "Marías.")

But then come the Adalias, Arelis, Arlens  . . . the Elidas, Maximas, Kelins, Igdanias . . . the Jhelems, Lisllems, Kelins . . . the Lesbias, Seferinas, Tirsas, and Zenias.

And I'm just getting started.

As far as I can tell, parents have a refreshingly freewheeling attitude when it comes to naming their children, that's all.

During house visits, I've asked the parents where the names come from. The most typical response: "I heard it somewhere."

Most of the time I leave scratching my head, wondering . . .
     heard it on television? 
     in the market? 
     saw it in a newspaper? 
     saw something like it in the bible?

Jorge and Family (August 2011)

Sometimes, I am not left to wonder.

Last week I asked BECA student Jorge's mother -- who is a single parent -- the same question about Jorge's sister.

The father chose her name. 

Henike.

Is a Train Always Coming?

I love many things about the Nicaraguan people I've met, but one seemingly insignificant detail of life here never ceases to impress me.

"Nicas" will almost never be the first to terminate a personal face-to-face conversation.

They wait for me to say "adios" and pull the plug. (And I usually indulge them.)

I am awed by this unselfish act of grace and respect I encounter on a daily basis.

It ain't so easy. Go and give it a try.

I challenge you to go 24 hours without being the first to end any of your one-on-one personal interactions.

Let me know how it works out for you.

My own experiment bombed. Mind you, I was up against the masters.

What's the hurry? Is a train always coming?