Tell the World Your Story (in ten words or less)

How would you like to be remembered in one simple sentence?

Here are some examples (with some help from a recent entry in Daily Guideposts):

• “She saw beauty in flowers.”
• “He saw the courage in every elderly person.”
• “She liked to kick in autumn leaves.”
• “She cried over the wonder of words.”
• “He always wanted to live in a tree house.”
• “He was content to read and watch.”
• “She was always of two minds.”
• “He never, ever ripped anyone off.”

Or . . .

how about this one . . .
"He could never live up to his age." 

Bigger is Better

Or is it?

"Don't worry so much about the numbers, Walter. Just keep working at what you believe in and the numbers will take of themselves."

That's the advice I received a while ago from a friend.

She was probably referring to my penchant to measure BECA's success by counting stuff (whether that be bad stuff (desertions), or good stuff (jobs, life transformations).

My friend recognized that behind my logic lurks this belief that bigger is somehow better.

I wonder if that famous statistician-to-the-poor has something to say about all this?



Interesting times these as I take a deep second look at what BECA is trying to do in Nicaragua -- after spending a little while away.

Hey Walter, Chill out!

Four years down here -- hey, almost five! -- in Nicaragua and I still find it easy to get caught up in obsessing over details (of the BECA program).

Details that in the whole scheme of things don't really matter that much.

So I'm writing this blog to remind myself of something important - enjoying the moment.

Dear Walter,

Sure it's important that BECA run efficiently and smoothly but it isn't the end of the world when you encounter a hiccup here and there. Or even a hiccup "grande." It's wonderful that you pride yourself in being some kind of master organizer, but . . .

• Stop and smell the roses.
• Remember that life is short.
• Have fun!

Sincerely,
Walter  

P.S. Check out this video and learn a little bit about this from the BECA program participants, okay?

Jeopardy, Nicaraguan-style

Answer. A three month full-time volunteering stint being a teacher's assistant in a Nicaraguan elementary school.

Question. What is the BECA Brigade?

To receive earn a scholarship, all candidates must do this "gig." And if they show up late more than three times, they're out. That's three times in three months.

It isn't easy. It's tough. And almost none of the participants are happy about it. In the first week, it's fair to say most consider quitting. (How do you say "shock treatment" in Spanish?)

But -- if I may dare say so -- it remains one of my best ideas since showing up here in Nicaragua almost five years ago.

Words don't do the BECA Brigade justice.

Pictures can begin to tell the story.

So hang in there you guys! All of us at BECA believe in you.

Becados Patricia and Sergio (in the blue shirts) with some of their clients (June 2012)

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).