quedando en el proyecto

"...el hogar está donde está tu corázon..."

I haven't written in awhile I know, and I have learned that many people have been waiting anxiously for an update. So, here you are... I hope it was well worth the wait. I know for me what is encompassed in this blog reflects the best days I have had in Nicaragua yet... I hope you, too can feel my joy as I attempt to accurately and fully relate my fulfilling experiences.

Since I have last written, I have stayed the night at Project Chacocente twice. This simple thing is what has really made Chacocente my home, and its people my family. Mi mamá Nicaraguense is Manuela. She is married to Marcos and has 10 children (the last 5 are Marcos' children, too... the first five are from Manuela's first husband): Veronica, Jasmina, Pepé, Karyn, Uriel, Madelin, David, Darlin, Máycool, and Tatiana. Veronica is married to José Luis and has a daughter, Yamada. Jasmina is married to Rodolfo and has six children: Edwin, Gabriel, Nelson, Eva, Eveling, and Esperanza. Pepé doesn't live at the Project. Karyn is married to Juan Carlos and they have four children: Katherin, Andrea, Alinson, and Adriana. Uriel is 19, and he is my closest friend at the Project, I love to hang out with him and talk about everything. Madelin is 15, in her first year of secandario (High School). She is my roomate when I stay there, and we talk to each other about everything. David is 13... oh David. He's in 6th grade and one of my absolute favorite students. He's smart and funny, so caring and helpful... and is trying to learn English. He's really motivated, and could honestly succeed in life. Darlin is 11, she is really talented with music class, and probably the best student I have in that. She is also always out for a good time, she's fun and loud and has awesome hair (it's just like mine!). Máycool (Michael) is 7. He is so sweet, and talks with a lisp. I just love him, he's the one I wrote about in my last blog - and is so cute. The other night we were watching some silly action film before bed. He had seen it before, and every other second he was saying: "¡Mire Rebekah!" ("Look!") it was so funny. "Look at this... watch this... this is going to happen..." It was like watching a movie with my little brother. Finally there is Tatiana, she is 6. She has a lot of older brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews (most of them are older than her) looking out for her, and I think that can sometimes be stressful on her too. But she's a happy little thing, and loves to play games with me.

The house I stay in has 3 rooms, and two front doors. The main room has 3 beds, a table, a few shelves, a small television, and ironing board, three plastic chairs, and one rocking chair; the room that the other front door enters into is Madelin's room. It has two beds, a desk, and some shelves, and a small stereo, it's only door is to outside. This is my bedroom when I stay there, when I'm not there I don't really know who shares it with her, but I'm taking someone's bed. The third room is a long room, not very wide, but it is the length of the house, and it has the shower in it, and a couple shelves and a table. Behind the house outside, there's a makeshift overhang under which is the kitchen. The outhouse is also outback - complete with a telephone book for toilet paper! Materialistically, they are poor... but this family is so rich in love and care I cannot describe it in words.
The other night I was headed to bed at the Project, and as I was entering the room I noticed it was filled with smoke. I was wondering to myself why as Madelin came out with a shovelful of fire! This was what I call a "third world whoa!" What she had been doing was warming up our beds, by putting the fire underneath them, as well as smoking out the mosquitos. This isn't exactly a ritual we are accustomed to, so it surprised me at first, but it wasn't something that needed explained to me, because its purpose was obvious.

My classes have been going well. They've been rewarding,frustrating, exciting, annoying, thrilling, etc. But it's not excitement for my classes that gets me out of bed at 5:30 every morning to get ready, and take three buses, and a 2 km bike ride to the Project. It's the people that I get to be with when I arrive. Riding, or walking, into the Project is one of my favorite parts of the day. As I pass each house, or each person I receive an excited greeting... regardless of whether it's a "student" or if it's a parent. They all wish me good morning with the same happiness and enthusiasm. This makes me feel like I am coming home, every day that I go to work. When I get to La Casona (the big house) where Manuela's Pulpería is, and now Rosaura's Librería (it's a school supply store). I get to see my Nicaraguan mom, and usually Karyn and Veronica too. Visiting and conversing outside of La Casona is how I spend nearly every break, and lunchtime in my day.

Oh, so much has happened in the past couple weeks, I wish I could share everything in detail. But last night I was journaling and I covered 24 pages for just 3 days. It took me about 2 hours to write! I guess I will share a couple of stories...

When I stayed the night on Tuesday at Chacocente. It was probably about 5:00 pm, and starting to get dark. Manuela, Karyn, Rosaura, Uriel and some of his friends, and a handful of kids were all down at La Casona. I was dragged by Tatiana, Darlin, Katherin, Andrea, Alinson, Deyvín, and Adrianita to play games. We played "Tía Monica" it's a silly song where you stand in a circle, and one person is Aunt Monica, and then we all sing and dance... "Yo tengo una Tía, una Tía Monica y cuando va de compras, me dice, 'hola-la'..." it goes on and on. I also learned "Ratóncito, Ratóncito". This one one person is the mouse, and the other is the cat. Everyone else stands in a circle holding hands guarding the mouse. Then the cat and the mouse have a conversation, the cat asks the mouse what time he's leaving his hole, and whatever the hour, the circle guarding the mouse goes around that many times, counting aloud. Then the mouse has to make a run for it, and the cat chases it, if it is caught before it reaches the mousehole again, it's eaten. We had a blast.

Later that night, everyone had gone back to their houses, except for Uriel and his friends, and Manuela who was running the store. It was probably 6 or 6:30. So, I stayed with Manuela and she and I talked for near on two hours. It was such a blessing, and it made my heart so full, so whole, to listen to her. To hear what the Project, Cheryl, and we "Americanos" who come work, mean to her, and to her life. To learn about her life before the Project, and all that she has been through and experienced. This woman impresses me so much. She has such a deep faith, and is so humble. She is more generous than most of the people I have ever met, and yet she has so little to give, except her love and her time. She works hard to provide for her family, and also to serve whoever needs it. I feel her giving spirit everyday, whether she's feeding me, or giving me her seat, or making sure I am well and have everything I need. I see her apparent generosity when she is serving everyone else as well, her husband, children, son-in-laws, grandchildren, the teachers, the school, the students, her neighbors... she does it with a smile on her face, and always thinking of others before herself. Talking to her that night meant so much to me.
I was surprised to find out from Charito the next night (Cheryl came to the Project Wednesday night, and we had a little party with food and games and a piñata to celebrate everything she has done for them... they also honored me, which was so touching) that Manuela had told her the same... she, too, had really enjoyed our conversation Tuesday night. That shot my spirit to the skies. My presence at Chacocente is making a difference, I am having a positive effect on these people's lives (and not just in a classroom...) although I assure you, the impact Chacocente is having on mine is significantly greater.