To play a little bit of catch up. August 2014 flew by. I really do not where that month went. I knew my birthday was included during that month, but what happened?!
A lot of people including my friends I have imagined them celebrating their 30th birthday somewhere big or extravagent and hanging out with their friends. I mean completing 30 years of life is a big deal, right?! I celebrated 30 years of my life here in Nicaragua as Peace Corps Volunteer. The two days leading up to my birthday I spent in Boaco Boaco with my buddy Chris. Chris was my site mate, an Agriculture volunteer who completed his two year service and applied to be a Peace Corps Volunteer leader. He moved to Boaco and found himself a nice third floor apartment with a terrace on top. I spent two days there and hung out with a few other volunteers exploring waterfalls, hiking mountains, dancing, and kareoke out in Boaco! My birthday was the following Sunday the 24th of August. I wanted to spend it in site with my Nica friends from Esquipulas. My time is growing shorter here thus I felt it was appropriate to celebrate my last birthday in Nicaragua with my friends in site. It was chill and low key, but great to be around these guys. I´ve met some awesome people in my site and glad they could be apart of my life.
It is now September and my local business competition in Esquipulas is creeping up! I am nervous because this is the first business competition with the Emprendedurismo program in Esquipulas. I am the first business volunteer in my site and want to not only make a good impression here in site, but with MINED, and Peace Corps. My students are slowly (como tortugas) moving along. It has been difficult working with them at times because they are realizing the long hours of work that they will have a head of them plus the year is coming to an end and they are seniors and ready to graduate. Yes, I understand, I was there at one point to. The thing I do not understand is the constant complaining by some of my students, the lack of respect, the NOT wanting to do work, and the difficulty I have maintaining my students for 90 minutes. They are litterally in class for 4 hours of the day. I only work with them once a week. Why is it so painful for them? Ok, my Spanish is not 100% but they understand what I am telling them. It is the complaining that kills me. A couple more months of class and it will be over.
This month is "las Fiestas Patrias" so the high school kids are constantly practicing in the band. It is not a complete band like we have the in states. It is more drums than anything. Imagine trying to give a class while the drums are being beaten as loud as possible right outside of your classroom? You cannot get mad nor upset. So what do you do? I turn to my yelling voice...and that is how I give class. My throat is sore by the end of class, but I do it. For the kids...right?
Ok...on top of this, you have the kids that are still not paying attention. They are talking to the kids on the other side of the windows which are open (you have to keep them open because it will get hot inside the classroom), kids on cell phones (I always walk up on these kids and they hurry and put them away), kids talking to other kids (I have to get the teacher to help me with this part) and kids not paying attention (this is inevitable as it exists across the globe). Time is closing in on the local business competition and I feel that I am cramming in as many subjects as I can so I can readily prepare my student groups (who are now close to considering themselves a business) for the competition. I have a feeling it will all come together at the end. It is just hard coming from a person who is very organized and detailed in the states (me). This is where patience is tested. Somedays I just end my days saying " Ni Modo" or " whatever ".
On top of this I am working with Team Emprende helping organize and budget for the National Competition we have each year in Managua. I recently applied for a grant and am in the middle of revising it and making corrections. I will soon submit it and cross my fingers and hope that we will receive the money. All money goes towards the National Competition for our wonderful kiddos that make it. Only 12 will advance, but there is ONLY ONE winner of the National Competition! I have seen some impressive products in the past. Unfortunately, my student teams are sticking the the food groups and trying to impress people with their baking skills. This is not exactly what we are looking for, but hey, it is my first rodeo here in Esquipulas. You can only learn from your mistakes!
I wish I could keep writing as I have much more to say. I have a little more than 8 months of service left. I am looking forward to taking advantage of every second I have left. It has been an incredible experience both physically and mentally.
Challenge yourself and listen to the needs of people. Listen to what they have to say. Allow people to touch your heart and give yourself a chance to grow. There are people who are looking for you to help them or even just to talk to them. Give up 30 minutes of your day to make a difference in someone´s life. Relax and breathe. It´s not that bad.
Kyle
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