I continue to feel
so alive and whole
here in Nicaragua,
hence the delay in getting a new blog post up. I have been spending my time in community, at
work, and with Nicaraguan friends growing deeper in my relationships. The
school where I work, Guadalupe, has been a very positive and affirming
environment for me. I am teaching all of primary (elementary) this year which
is literally 4 times the number of classes compared to what I taught last year.
This year, I have pre-school through 6th grade and at least 2
sections of each grade level. It has provided me with many new challenges and I
am trying my best to tap into my creative, childlike side. Many little kids
have a strong desire to learn and I am constantly being reminded, “Hoy nos
toca con usted” (“Today we have class with you”). I receive numerous hugs
and saludos (greetings) everyday from my students. It's pretty different
from my interactions with my older students. Time with coworkers is often
filled with laughter, jokes, and good conversation. I was recently told that I
am not seen as just another volunteer but as a part of the team of teachers...
so affirming. When we went on retreat back in the beginning of March, we had an
opportunity to take almost half a day for silent reflection. During that time,
I wrote the following poem thinking about my students and coworkers.
Running
towards me
with arms
outstretched,
eager to
embrace me and disappear
into my arms
Big
toothy grins smiling up
at me
Heads
that find rest on
my stomach
Wishing
I could tell them,
all of them,
how much
they mean to me,
to the
world
that the
littlest things they do
brighten my
day
The
joy amidst all of
the things that just
aren't fair
trash everywhere
on the streets
lack of
resources
being told
that they have to
accept things as they
are
And
yet, listening to them as
they allow themselves
to dream,
to wonder, to imagine
Being
surprised how deeply connected
I can feel to
people who come from
a completely
different culture, background
who live
such a different reality
than I will
ever understand
or even see
But
despite all the differences
there is a mutuality
a give
and take
sharing in
daily experiences and core beliefs
laughing at
jokes
and
when words fail to
capture it all,
there is
the hope that my
gratefulness is understood through
exchanged handshakes,
fist pounds and hugs
time together
presence
I also had a great birthday, complete with
our dog Muneco jumping on me to wake me up accompanied by my community mates,
birthday dinner, carrot cake, phone calls, cards, and visitors. Thank you all
for all the calls and cards! A couple of my coworkers came over and gave me
fruit, which was so generous.
Just a couple weekends ago, I went with
coworkers and students to a special mass where one of the nuns who is the vice
principal at my school made her perpetual vows. It was a beautiful mass with so
many people. Afterwords, we were able to briefly visit the Mirador Katarina
which is an impressive lookout over the Laguna de Apoyo, a volcanic
crater lake. This is a picture of a few students and I looking out at the
incredible natural beauty.
Thank you all for your love and support.
Until next time.
