Two Down, Two More to Go

I have a secret wish.

And it isn't anything complicated.

I have four best friends in the world and I want all of them to visit me here in Nicaragua.

After August, I am happy to report that I am halfway to my goal because my buddy Albert showed up for a two week visit. He was preceded by Darren, who has come three times.

That only leaves Ron and "The Weasel."

Hurry it up, guys. I'm waiting.

Albert and me, Nicaraguan Airport (August 2012)

Just When I Thought . . .

Community service has been an important part of BECA from the beginning. Why was community service included in the BECA program? You know I can't really remember, but it had something to do with introducing the concept of "giving back" to these young people.

We began in 2008 with individual projects. They were difficult and costly to supervise.

We moved to a group service model in 2009.

Every student is "asked" to participate in two Saturday morning service outings per month that are organized by BECA Coordinators.

Since reassuming the Directorship three months ago, I've been attending these things as much as I can to see if this core program component is working.

Yuck. Not too impressive.

And I was starting to get a little depressed about the lacklustre participation and the eager clock-watching of our students.

It was obvious that most of the students didn't want to be there.

And I'm not sure I blame them. Way, WAY too much cleaning and cutting grass. Of hospitals. Of schools. Of public health centers.

What adolescent, or young adult, -- or human being, for that matter -- likes doing boring stuff like that?

And then, as my fog about all of this thickened, along comes last Saturday; a visit to a home for high-risk girls in Granada.

Folks, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

I was moved to tears by the power of this simple gathering and exchange of fellowship between BECA students and the 23 girls who live there.

The beaming faces on those girls -- and on our students -- made every previous grass-cutting, trash-picking, and wall-scrubbing activity worthwhile, if it all led to a day like this.

So why does community service remain in the BECA program? I'm still not completely sure, but I think the answer lies somewhere below.

BECA Students Larry and Heissy with friends. See more pictures here.

It's the Culture, Stupid!

Adapting to a new culture is enjoyable but remains challenging from time to time.

One of the things that my visitors notice is that Nicaraguans don't have the regular custom to say "thank you."

When food is involved.

Let's say you buy someone here a slice of pizza. He or she will gladly accept the pizza slice. He or she will eat the pizza slice. And he or she will look happy eating the pizza slice.

He or she WON'T be saying thank you after the snack.

I can vouch that the issue is definitely not a lack of manners or decorum.

It's the culture, stupid! :)

The reality is that Nicaraguans are extremely polite. For example, Nicas are meticulous about excusing themselves when leaving a gathering of people, regardless of the size. I don't see many Canadians doing that. We're too busy rushing to the next item on our to-do list.
 
Over all, I figure that Nicaragua would win the silver medal in the Politeness Olympics. Costa Rica would win the gold. (The "standing in line" competition would do Nicaragua in, but that's another blog entry . . . )

Here's a thought. On your next trip to Nicaragua -- you're coming soon, right? -- leave your big bag of "food thank you expectations" behind.

And get ready to learn a different culture of courtesy and civility.

And, no, you don't have to thank me for the tip. :)

A Visit to a Nicaraguan Cockfight

!!! WARNING !!! This blog entry contains a photo that some may find offensive.

Cockfighting is very much well and alive here in Nicaragua. And, yeah, the idea repulses me too, but I had to go!

Cost of entry was about $5. I'm guessing the venue housed about 250 spectators, mostly men in their forties and fifties.

The Nicaraguan cockfighting is all about gambling. It's a haphazard, informal gambling.

Pre-match, while the handlers are "warming up their chickens," spectators look for others in the crowd to place bets with. There didn't appear to be any middle man. I picked a chicken, and placed a bet of about $10 with a fellow located a couple of rows down. My chicken won.

I was curious if this stranger would pay up. (Nicaragua is after all the home of the social movement "We don't pay!")

He did. Without hesitation. And I saw absolutely no indication of any squabbling over wagers in the stands.

The cocks didn't fight to the death even though the raucous crowd was certainly urging it. Both chickens were chewed up pretty good at the end so I can't possibly see how they could live to fight another day.

The answer became clear when I noticed the juicy drumstick in the mouth of the person beside me.

All in all a fascinating peak into the culture of this interesting land.

Yes, the man in the orange shirt is attempting to breathe new life into his chicken (mouth-to-beak resuscitation?) Meanwhile, the opposition -- the fellow in the red hat -- doesn't look all that too concerned by the desperate measure. See more pictures here.

giving adVICE

It's fun to ask people what their "secret of success" is. Whither that be career-oriented, spiritual, or matrimonial.

So when I heard about the book that Katie Couric put together, "The Best Advice I Ever Got - Lessons from Extraordinary Lives," I didn't hesitate.

(7.5 /10, for those that know that I like to score almost anything and everything.)

As one might expect, the bestest advice was all over the map:

• Be bold. 
• There is no substitute for hard work.
• The best learning lesson I can give you on accomplishment is to listen.
• There is no success without failure. Period. And usually a lot of it.
• One person with passion is better than forty people merely interested.
• Sadness is the soul recognizing change.

I like the last one, but my favorite . . . (by far!):

• Don’t give advice.

Not sure why. It just is.