Once in a While a Picture Comes Along . . .

I must admit that I have been feeling a little weary lately.

A few complaints can wear you down.

I understand it. I liked to complain a lot when I was a teenager.

Nevertheless, at times it depresses you when you think that you are trying to do something positive.

It makes you question things. Is BECA -- this dream of mine -- really needed here in Nicaragua?

And then a beautiful picture comes along . . .

BECA graduate Seferina Amador with Family (February 2013)

. . . to remind you that it is all worthwhile.

This photo was taken by one of our Coordinators recently at the graduation ceremony of BECA student Seferina Amador (and now Nursing Technician!)

I'm assuming the gentleman in the foreground is Seferina's father, but it could be an uncle. It doesn't really matter.

Look at that face! The satisfaction. The joy. The pride.

Do you see what I see?

Congratulations, Seferina. We know what a supreme challenge it was for you to finish.

Thanks, Seferina. For helping me understand what this BECA thing is all about.

Loving Good Design

Some companies take the time to think before they produce something.

We are talking about a mentality.

And that mindest translates into a product family that is well-designed.

The classic modern-day example is Apple and their ipods, iphones, and ipads.

How can you tell a well-designed product when you see one?

For me the answer lies in the ease-of-use of the product (or service).

That is, the manufacturer has taken into consideration every minute detail before launch.

The details matter!

The same applies to a non-profit organization like ours, BECA.org,  and the programs we offer and the projects we execute.

I try to impress upon our team that excellence is found in the details.

I am happy to say that they are responding.

And I can now direct more of my love of design on our very own initiatives instead of elsewhere.

The Nicaraguan Peacock

It still makes me smile. 

I call it the Peacock syndrome - Masayan-style. (I can't confirm that this phenomena occurs in other Nicaraguan cities, but it probably does.)

Man standing idly on a street corner. Pulls up his t-shirt so it rests slightly below his chest. Man sticks out his "beer belly" for all to see (appreciate?). Man smiles.

Something you would never see in Canada. 

Most Canadian men would run for cover before showing their fat belly. Or, in some cases even their love handles, right?

Here it's a different story.

I must admit that it is a custom I used to find rather odd. No longer. 

Coming from a weight-super-obsessed culture, the practice is kinda refreshing, isn't it?

These Nicaraguan peacocks could give a crap what other people think of their pot bellies. 

I'm gonna make it a New Year's resolution to give it a try. 

Just not this year. :)

3 Compliments

Often overlooked is the power of the sincere compliment. A sincere compliment:

• can put a smile on someone's face. 
• can put a smile on your own face.
• doesn't cost anything.
• can make a lasting, positive impression upon someone. (I'm not sure about you, but I can still remember some compliments I received when I was a kid!)

Where exactly is the downside here?

Despite all of this, I don't hear too many of them being passed around. From other people's mouths or from my own mouth.

Last January I tried something. I made it a habit of giving at least three sincere compliments each and every day.

[The key is that the compliment be sincere and unsolicited. This usually isn't too hard. It means one just has  to pay attention to other people, instead of only yourself. (Another upside!)]

I encourage you to give it a try and see what happens.

I have a feeling when you see how a sincere, unsolicited compliment can light up someone's face, you may think about making the habit permanent. 

"He's a Perfectionist"

This is something I hear quite a bit around here, mostly from BECA students.

"How would you describe Walter?"

"He's a perfectionist" might very well be the first thing out of their mouths. Throw in a "roll of the eyes" and you get the picture.

Eventhough I don't agree completely with the assessment, It doesn't bug me.

Not in the least.

The reality is that I refuse to accept mediocrity from the educational institutions we do business with in Nicaragua.

I expect good service from professionals and companies.

And I demand excellence from the members of my staff.

My perception is that BECA students (and their families) have been subjected to enough mediocrity in their lives.

The issue alone that these bright, young people in BECA didn't have an educational opportunity has "mediocre educational system" written all over it, doesn't it?

I mean it's what got me thinking about this whole BECA thing in the beginning.

So, yes I'm a perfectionist.

And thanks for the compliment!

Special Moments

Some say living here in Nicaragua has changed me. Others disagree and say that I haven't changed at all.

I'm not sure who is right.

One thing that has definitely changed are my "special moments."

When I think back of my "previous life" the special moments in my life mostly revolved around big events.

A birthday, a retirement party, a trip abroad, a marriage, a second marriage [gulp], you know, stuff like that.

That is no longer the case.

My special moments are now subtle, refined flashes of time usually no longer than a few minutes and sometimes lasting no longer than a few seconds.

The grandiose fireworks of special moments past have been replaced by an unassuming candle flickering in the wind.

I can't explain this turn. It could be because I just don't have any more big, special events in my life anymore.

I had a couple more of these new special moments this month involving two people I know here. That got me thinking of this change in my life.

What are your special moments like?

"Now I Have a Bank Account!"

I'm not talking about me.

I've had one since I've been five, or maybe six years old. It's something we take for granted in Canada and the United States.

But it's far from a given here in Nicaragua.

Actually it's pretty darn complicated.

I don't know what the numbers are but I'd say the majority of Nicaraguans don't have one.

Yep. Don't have a bank account.

The reason? The requirements to open an account are completely out-of-reach for Nicaraguan working class people (with outrageous initial deposits, minimum balances, etc.)

So when the Nicaraguan bank BAC (Banco de América Central) offered BECA the facility two years ago to transfer money to our students via the formal banking system I jumped all over it.

Not only can BECA get money in the hands of our students in an efficient manner via electronic transfers, but it gives the family of the student -- yes the family -- a footstep into the formal economy.

It's a progressive feature of our program that we don't talk about too much, but should be.

And I always look forward to this time of year to see the faces of the students with their new debit cards.

Everyone on the BECA team believes in these young people 100%. And this is BAC's way of saying that they believe too.

Don't the faces of Juana, Kevin, and Luvis say it all. Felicidades!