Three Tech Gadgets I Can't Live Without in Nicaragua

Some might say I lead a simple life.

But I can't do without these three tech indulgences.

1. Noise-canceling headphones. I've written about this before . And my opinion hasn't changed. I'd recommend them to anyone who needs occasional "quiet time" while in Nicaragua for an extended stay.

Don't get me wrong, the birds are nice at 5:30 in the morning.

But the neighbor's stereo system? I'll take my salsa with dinner, thank you very much.

2. Ipod. For listening to various podcasts, more than anything. Interesting how some voices can put you right to sleep.

3. Kindle. Originally a reluctant gift. Now a treasured keepsake. It still befuddles me how this thing can download a book anywhere I go in Nicaragua.

I mean anywhere.

Meanwhile, the cell phone is "out of service"! I consider this to be one of life's great mysteries.

Okay, make that a simple and unmysterious life.

They Know Better

One of the things that is becoming clearer to me with each passing day here with BECA: "They know better."

I'd like to think my intentions are good, but most of the time I am only guessing on what will or won't work in our program.

We know that BECA students don't have many financial resources. Many of them (and their families) are just scrimping along. 

That doesn't mean they're dumb!

In fact, the reverse is true.

They are smart. And who knows better about what will work or won't work than them?

If anything -- and this is only speculation -- what may have been missing is that they haven't had many opportunities to exercise their intelligence.

My challenge is to somehow convince them -- yeah, convince them -- that "they do know better."

This isn't such a simple matter. Growing up in their circumstances often means a lack of options and choices. That translates into a lack of opportunities to exercise the intelligence that all of them possess.

We'll start by creating a student advisory council. And take it from there.

First BECA Student Council Meeting, December 2011

And to those BECA students who are using the Google translator and trying to make sense of this narrative, I say to you:

"I believe in you."

How Do You Define Success?

"He's successful."

I think many of us have heard someone described in this way.

Or maybe we've even done it ourselves.

And it isn't hard to figure out what the speaker is referring to.

The person in question has got bucks.

Oodles of cash.

They're "loaded." (Do people still say that?)

And we don't question this modern-day definition, do we?

But maybe we should.

Author Peter Buffett thinks so.

He challenges the popular understanding of the term "success" in his book "Life is What You Make It."

And so I ask all of you, my loyal 3 readers, "How do you define success?"

("In twenty words or less" is how I would define a successful answer.)

The Manhattan Project Revisited

Another observation from my trip to the Big Apple.

Starbucks is in world domination mode in Manhattan.

It is absolutely mind-boggling the market penetration that this company has achieved there. (And this is saying something. I'm very familiar with the Canada / Tim Hortons love affair.)

Everyone and their dog (don't ask!) walking around drinking the brown koolaid.

Who are all these people waiting in these LONG lines? Are they tourists? Are they New Yorkers? Are they regular Starbucks clients? Do they do this everyday?

Questions. No answers. But many questions.

Beats me, but of course I was reminded of my (largely failed) marketing ploy to lure in a portion of those Starbucks bucks for BECA last holiday season.




P.S. Okay, since you insist on asking, the dog('s owner) wanted water. (No space for cream necessary.)