I Love It When I Hear These Three Things

I'm not really sure when it happened.

Last year?

Five years ago?

Maybe it was 1986. (I doubt it though. I was a very late maturer. Ahem. I am.)

Anyway, I can't quite remember.

But this happened.

I began to appreciate and admire when people admitted their failings.

I realized this the other day when I was spending some time with a couple of BECA students here in Nicaragua.

One of them tried very hard to answer a question, and eventually made something up. They thought it better to take a wild stab at it than admit that they really didn't have the foggiest idea.

(His wrong answer almost led us into a lagoon, but that is another story.)

I suggested that sometimes it is better to say "I don't know."

Him and his buddy marvelled at the concept, like it was some kind of Einsteinian revelation.

The funny thing is that I'm positive I used to think that way too. And, like I say -- I don't know exactly when -- I changed my tune.

I find myself attracted to the people who unreservedly offer any of the following:

1. I was wrong.
2. I don't know.
3. I'm sorry.

[Honour roll: "You're right." "I have no idea." "I screwed up."]

In closing, allow me to turn the tables and make mention of one of my least favorite: "I am a humble person." Fodder for another blog, I suppose . . .

Picture of my Spanking New Blackberry . . .

. . . pouch. [laughing hard]

Well, I find this funny.

My Main Man

I've been grumbling quite a bit lately.

It's time to take a moment to appreciate some of the good things BECA has going for it. And it has many.

But one thing stands out from all the others. By a long way.

Antonio Rodriguez.

He's anointed Executive Director of BECA Nicaragua, but, more than that, he's my main man here in Nicaragua.

He's been with me for more than two years now doing everything from chopping grass with a machete alongside students to making strategic plans for our future.

Moreoever, the poor guy has to put up with listening to all my crazy ideas. Worse yet, he has to implement some of them. [jajajaja] (And there have been some doozies!)

And he always does so with such grace, with such aplomb. He never complains. He just gets the job done.

I tell people his hiring was a curse. Why?

I thought all future employees would be like him. 

Antonio Rodriguez, with "Becados" Jhelem and Martha, Matagalpa, September 2011

The future of BECA Nicaragua is in great hands.

I Have Two Questions for You

#1) Would you give this Nicaraguan girl a buck if she approached you?

"María", Matagalpa, Nicaragua (September 2011)*

#2) Would it change your mind if I told you she was actually asking for five cents? Should it?

*Permission granted to take photo.

Do You Believe in Tough Love?

Wikipedia says that "tough love is an expression used when someone treats another person harshly or sternly with the intent to help them in the long run."

Do you believe in tough love?

It is something I've been thinking about quite a lot lately.

Quite a few of the young people in BECA have a lot of problems or "challenges" (for those of you who write me to say that "problem" is a negative word.)

We know that they have serious economic issues, but I didn't realize how many health issues, learning issues, and other family issues they also bring to the table.

At times, it's a little overwhelming.

What's BECA to do?

The tendency is to stick our nose in and try to help them sort everything out.

But . . . and here comes the hard part . . . we really can't.

It is a wonderful idea, a beautiful concept, a noble goal, and on and on, but it ain't realistic.

I've come to the conclusion that BECA's life expectancy as a sustainable organization is greater if it sticks to the knitting: giving an opportunity for serious-minded Nicaraguans to get a technical career.

Here's the cruel bottom line. BECA is not in the saving lives business. 

More than anything, it means that if you can't attend school on a consistent and regular basis, then we can't help you. Period.

And believe you me, it isn't easy to watch.
 
Now, is that tough love?

You tell me.

I Deconstruct a Nicaraguan Parade

September 15th is Independence Day in Nicaragua. They have a parade and every school is obligated to send a delegation.

I took it in. Here is what I was thinking . . .

Funny Names

They give their children interesting names in Nicaragua.

Yeah sure Nicaragua has it's fair share of Josés, Juans, Anas, and the ubiquitous Marías. (Fun fact: 6% of BECA female students are "Marías.")

But then come the Adalias, Arelis, Arlens  . . . the Elidas, Maximas, Kelins, Igdanias . . . the Jhelems, Lisllems, Kelins . . . the Lesbias, Seferinas, Tirsas, and Zenias.

And I'm just getting started.

As far as I can tell, parents have a refreshingly freewheeling attitude when it comes to naming their children, that's all.

During house visits, I've asked the parents where the names come from. The most typical response: "I heard it somewhere."

Most of the time I leave scratching my head, wondering . . .
     heard it on television? 
     in the market? 
     saw it in a newspaper? 
     saw something like it in the bible?

Jorge and Family (August 2011)

Sometimes, I am not left to wonder.

Last week I asked BECA student Jorge's mother -- who is a single parent -- the same question about Jorge's sister.

The father chose her name. 

Henike.