Do you Believe in Coincidences?

Interestingly, I have found myself involved in a series of seemingly-related coincidences recently.

The whole thing has piqued my curiosity.

I decided to investigate further the phenomena of coincidences.

It appears that there are two opposing schools of thought on the issue.

The first, which I informally dub the "scientific" school, believes that coincidences are nothing special and trying to unearth a deeper meaning in them is a big waste of time. There will be none to be found. Ever.

The second school of thought tackles the issue from a "spiritual" perspective. Roughly speaking, coincidences are messages from God (or an alternative "higher power"). Adherents to the spiritual perspective argue that everything is affected by something related to it that may be unseen or unknowable. Paradoxically then, for the "spiritualists" coincidences do not exist.

Hmmm.

So tell me. What do you think?

Should I be reading deeper? Or would I be wasting my time doing so?

Something Special About Me (If I May Say So)

According to the "experts," my extremely rare palm lines indicate one of two things:

1. genius
2. madness

Either way, I've always loved my palms.

And it's one of my lifelong goals to meet a like-palmed person.

Can you help me?

Nicaragua Needs One of These

I'm talking about a woman.

One woman in particular.

Her name is Camila Vallejo.

And she lives in Chile.

Camila Vallejo

She's one of the leaders of a Chilean student protest movement.

Their issue: fair access to a quality education.

It seems that Ms. Vallejo and some like-minded young people just got fed up with the inaccessibilty of Chile's educational system.

And they're doing something about it.

Well, more than something.

The New York Times writes that their protests, occupations, and strikes have "paralyzed the country and shattered Chile’s image as Latin America’s greatest political and economic success story."

As we know, Nicaragua is no economic success story. (Some might even say that it is the reverse. But that is beside the point.)

What matters is that the same social problem -- educational inequality -- is firmly entrenched here, too.

It's BECA's cause.

In the long term, I believe that BECA's challenge runs deeper than rewarding serious students with scholarships.

Let's level the playing field!

And I think it would really help to have a young, charismatic Nicaraguan Camila (or Juan) here to lead the charge.

BECA graduates, are you reading this?

The nose ring isn't obligatory. :)

To Bribe or Not To Bribe

"But we are not seeking to profit here. We're trying to contribute."

This is how I reacted when one of our advisors told us three years ago that a Nicaraguan government official was seeking a payment . . . to officially register BECA as a foreign-based non-profit working in Nicaragua!

Sign in Government Office in Managua

Huh?

After asking around, I grudgingly approved the "back alley" payment of around 50 bucks. I felt our hands were tied. BECA needed the registration to get our bank account. (Not that that makes it right, right?)

Payoffs to traffic cops are common in Nicaragua. Those I had heard about. And also an activity in which I have willingly participated. Otherwise, the weasels confiscate your driver's license. (Not that that makes it right, right?)

Private enterprise is in the game, too. "I'm sorry sir, but all the connections to the router are spoken for in this city block," suggested the CLARO sales representative when I ordered Internet service for the old office.

Huh?

The lack of competition forced an under-the-table payment to the señor. We really needed the service. We use technology quite a bit. (Not that that makes it right, right?)

Miraculously, a spot became available on the router the next day.

For the record, I regret every single bribe paid.

What to do? What would you do?

I'm still not sure what I'll do the next time a government official demands payment from BECA.

But I know this much.

Bring on the traffic cop. Now I always have two driver's licenses on hand when I'm driving in Nicaragua (one Canadian, one Nicaraguan).

They can help themselves to one of them.

(That makes it right, right?)

You Can't Do That Here

"You can't do that here."

I've heard this more than a few times since showing up in Nicaragua four years ago. And being the stubborn ox that I am, that's all I need to hear to dig my heels in and prove a naysayer wrong.

Here are a few examples.

1) Have punctuality as a core value of BECA and reward only those who show up on time."

"This is Nicaragua, Walter. Are you nuts? You won't have any students left at the end of your screening course."

"Just watch us."

Sure enough, Nicaraguan youth are more than happy to show up on time. And from what I've seen, they're a lot better at it than some of their teachers.

2) Have three months of social service as a component of the BECA screening process.

Here even my main man in Nicaragua -- Excecutive Director Antonio Rodriguez -- had serious doubts.

"Nicaraguans don't believe much in community service. It isn't part of our culture."

"Just watch us."

It doesn't surprise me to see a majority of our students participate, and participate earnestly and enthusiatically (albeit not initially). So much about volunteering not being part of Nicaraguan culture.

3) Project Call Center. We have a goal of training a group of ten serious-minded young people in intensive English (8 hours a day!) to help them get employment in a Call Center afterwards.

To my surprise, a representative from one of the Call Centers themselves indicated to us his doubts. "I'm not sure it's possible. You are asking way too much of these youngsters."

That's all I needed to hear. I'm not sure if it's going to work, but it won't be because of a lack of blood, sweat and tears.

Why am I confident? Because we know how to do one thing well here at BECA.

And that's believe in our students.

And believe in them as unconditionally as possible. That's basically what we down here. Believe. The students do all the hard work. Our team can sit back and enjoy their successes.

After four years in Nicaragua, I am just now coming to realize the power of this simple concept.

Unconditional belief in a person can move mountains.

So Mr. "Call Center Expert" Don't underestimate these young people. We believe in them.

So I say to you . . .

"Just watch them."

What I Miss in Nicaragua

One thing that I go without more than I would like to here in Nicaragua?

A really, good stimulating conversation.

I'm not talking about the superficial blah-blah-blah like weather, sports scores, and traffic conditions.


I mean the deeper stuff.

One on one conversations, face to face.

I love talking about deeper issues, provocative issues, current events.



It's probably my fault and I suppose there a couple of obstacles to overcome.

• Nicas say that I'm intimidating.
• Others say that my Spanish is pathetic and not worth the while.
• Still others suggest that I'm too blunt for their taste.
• It has also been suggested that "my doors appear closed."

All points well taken. I will work harder, especially on the last point.

But if you still want to talk about the weather?

It's hot. Period.

Let's go to the next topic, okay? :)

At Last, My Love Has Returned

At long last you have returned to me, the love of my life.

It feels like an eternity since I held you. An eternity of more than ten months.

How deeply I have missed the touch of your soft skin.

And how profoundly warm it makes me feel inside to have you here at my side.

My dear Rosita.

Why, I ask you, must you limit your visits so? Why must you limit your visit to a painfully inadequate seven weeks?

Why, I ask you?

And then . . . you leave me alone again. To suffer companionless in this foreign land.

And I begin again the arduous countdown of your return.

Why must love be so cruel?

Alas, it is pointless to torture myself now by thinking of your impending departure.

Allow me these seven weeks of contented bliss.
Allow me these seven weeks to drown myself in the heavenly taste of your sweet nectar.

My dear Rosita.

My precious Nicaraguan mango.

How I adore you.