A Moment in Time

L to R: Eliezer, Urania, WH, Ana, Maryury

Event: a dinner to celebrate the success of BECA marketing in Masaya

Invited: all the members of the BECA Nicaragua team

Not in attendance: Antonio Rodriguez, the "gran queso" of BECA.org Nicaragua

Context: We're on the second floor of a restaurant wondering where Antonio might be. Suddenly, on the street below, a school parade passes. And who might we see? No one but the gran queso himself, shepherding along his youngest son.

The magic of the moment: Despite all going around him, Antonio pulls out his camera and snaps this photo from the street. How many people would have the kindness of spirit and foresight to stop what he was doing -- minding his distracted child in a parade -- to take a picture of a celebration in which he couldn't participate? Voila, an instant classic, taken by one of the most thoughtful men I know. BECA is blessed to have him.

What I Learn From Sudoku

I've written before that I'm a Sudoku nut.

And sometimes people look at me funny when I confess my passion for it. ("Sudo-who?")

I start every day with Sudoku. About an hour or so.

I want to share three things that I've learned from Sudoku, and that I try to apply in my life, occasionally with success.

1. There are no shortcuts. I have a tried and true routine to solve my puzzles in an efficient manner. Whenever I deviate, or try to implement some kind of "faster-quicker" idea, the results are mixed at best.
2. Be satisfied with a good result. It isn't necessary to beat a record every day. No crime to quit with a solid, but perhaps not outstanding result. ("Quit while you're ahead?") The next solving time could be much worse.
3. There is always a solution. My average time to solve is 8 minutes. My record time is 4 minutes, but it can take as long as half an hour sometimes. Sometimes the answer doesn't appear right away, but it will come eventually if I remain patient.

Now, don't get me wrong, to me Sudoku is very much a hobby of pleasure. And I don't do it to garner deep insights.

But like my Dad used to say, you can learn something from everyone (and everything)!

Could this be the solution to my Spanish problems?

Sometimes It Feels a Little Uncomfortable

Currently BECA Nicaragua has about 60 students in the classification stage.
 
I try to keep a low profile and let the BECA team handle things, but it's such great fun paying these young people a visit.

17 of the Current Crop of BECA Nicaragua Candidates (June 2012)

I get a big kick out of these visits, but there are some fidgety moments.

You see, they can be a little effusive.

"Thank you so much for showing up here in Nicaragua". . . "Thank you for this incredible opportunity" . . . "Thank you for saving my life" (!!!), etc.

It's really really nice hearing those kind of things. That isn't the uncomfortable part.

Things get uncomfortable when I try to share my point of view.

"Hey you guys, I feel like I'm the fortunate one here, because look what I get to do."

BIG BLANK STARES

And I have an idea what they're thinking. Another nutty gringo. Or he sounds like a politician. Or what a phony. Like they want to say "cut the crap."

I guess it may be better to keep my mouth shut and accept their gratitude without responding.

But you know, I want them to know what an honor it is for me to be involved, and how much I learn every day, about myself, and about the world . . . from them!

Either way, it's all very interesting (to me).

25,648

Photos, that is.

Yep. As of May 31st, 2012, BECA has taken some 25,648 photos. That's twenty-five thousand six hundred and forty-eight, for you banker types. 

In the four and a half years since the BECA idea was hatched, that works out to 15.6 photos per day

All are in our online photo gallery.

But if you're not like me and you don't have the time on your hands to look at 25,648 photos, you can check out some of my favorites.

The album is here.