THE TIME HAS COME

ALRIGHT, so I have yet again been absent for a while. I hope ya'll had a good time looking at the recent pictures that I put up. Later today I will be on my way to El Salvador. I will be indulged into an intense week long coverage of El Salvador's history; along with its triumphs and challenges it has gone through and is currently going through. These past few weeks I have been busy with papers, presentations and working on what my independent study will be. Once I return from El Salvador I will have a week of preparation for my independent study which will begin November 6, 2012. After much thought into what it is that I want to focus my studies in for this small time in Nicaragua I have come to the conclusion that ...

My study goal is to narrate the family and social influences of four to six youths whose parents and or grandparents may or may not be politically active; or might or might have not been politically active through out their youth or in present day; and to investigate the phenomenon of the gap between generations concerning the ideals of the revolution including Nicaragua's present regime.

(I know that there is space for questions and conserns so please feel free to comment. I would greatly appreciate any feedback and recommendations.) The reason I am focusing on a theme of politics in generations is because I want to take advantage of the time, space and place. The generation that lived through the Contra war of the 1980's is todays older generation. I am a student and therefore am seen as a neutral party and therefore will encourage a safe space to share personal thoughts and refelections. Nicaragua has a very recent history of civil war and so, because of my presence here I am able to communicate with three generations whose perspectives are nurtured through family and social issues and have led to ... well, this is what I want to find out.

I have yet to find an advisor for my independent study, I need one to guide me with my research and be able to provide connections to what might be helpful for my investigation. I bought a very expensive voice recorder today. I might be crazy buying it but I will aim to use it restlessly and make it worth the cost. I figued that since I will be making many interviews I will need something to help me remember things I miss for when I go over my notes. I will use it in El Salvador to see how well it works and to test out its battery and proficiency.

Early this week I skyped with my older brother and started to brag a bit about my professors and lecturers. I guess I will mention the few I can think of right now just to provide an idea of how intense and well credited the program is:

Comandante Dora Maria Tellez, the women who dealt with negociations during the take of the National Palace which was the turning point to the fall of the Samoza regime (1978).

Comandante Eden Pastora, aka Comandante Zero during the take of the National Palace (1978).

Johnny Hodgson the father of autonomy of the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua.

Simone Zenon Morales the only (Garifuna) snake doctor in Orinoco and surrounding Bluefields.

Antonio Lacayo, Engineer that served as the right hand man of President Chamorros' during her presidency.

Zoilamerica Narvaez, step daughter of current President Daniel Ortega. She is an advocate for peace and a victim of sexual assult and abuse from her step dad Daniel Ortega.

Maria Teresa Blandon, strong feminist and founder + regional coordinator of La Corriente

Luis Fley aka Comandante "Johnson"  de la contra (CIA)

Araceli Alfaro VERY VERY VERY interesting woman!!! She is my Spanish professor with a strong not really horribly complicated but yet very very very much so (see how complicated that is?). She also happens to be the god daughter of President Daniel Ortega. She also has a military background.

And many more that I cannot remember right at the moment!!!


CANNOT WAIT FOR EL SALVADOR!!!

El Camino... regresando a Managua de la Costa

Volcan Masaya

Granada, Nicaragua

PICS

On my way back from the Atlantic Coast. Four hours by land and another two by water.



We spend a day in a private island in the Caribbean Sea.



This bird is alive! Here I was visiting a home in Orinoco to learn about the Garifuna culture, Identity and way of living in Orinoco.

One night in Orinoco watching the stars and moon come out.

Invited to the open ceremony of Festival de Cine Independiente USA by the American Ambassador of Nicaragua at Gallerias.

GIVING IT A SPIN

Today I have been reflecting on what it is that I want out of Nicaragua. I have been brainstorming some really crazy ideas. I want to challenge myself and proof to myself that I can achieve what is nearly the impossible. I accompanied TayTay today on an interview with a Catholic Sister of Ines. In my short stay in Nicaragua I have been in Managua the capital and also my homestay. I have been to el Eden in Matagalpa which is in the campo up in the mountains north east of Lake Managua. I have been to Orinoco on the Atlantic Coast by Pearl Lagoon where the greatest population is Garifuna. I have even been in the Caribbean on a private island. I have met Campesinos, Mestizos, Garifunas, Politicians, Revolutionaries, Professors, Sandinistas, Danielistas, Catholics, Evangelicals, Humanitarians, etc. But I yet feel like I have not seen Nicaragua. I have not touched the soil that needs to be seen. Something is missing and I have the opportunity to investigate what that missing puzzle piece is.

I was told today of a place where there is no electricity. I was told today of a place where children are born without shoes and die without shoes. I was told today about a place where paper money does not circulate, where mothers and soon to be mothers walk six hours to a place where medicine and medical attention is being provided at no cost for a few days. I was told of a place where the roads end and time seems to go back and the government has nothing to do with it. I was told of a place that makes up part of Nicaragua whether the government wants to recognize it or not.

Do I dare go where neither Spanish nor English is spoken? Do I dare go where the dirt road ends? Do I dare go and ask about things that are nonexistent?

PACKING

ONCE again I have to pack my things. Tomorrow I will be leaving early in the morning to the coast. First stop will be in Bluefields. As part of this study abroad course I will be working on an independent study project during the my last month in Nicaragua and I am still brainstorming on what it is that I will concentrate on. I know that I will be writing my research essay in Spanish but the topic I am a bit loose on. After the coast I hope to have a better grasp on what my main ideas are and which I will pursue.

Today I met with Philip Montalban. He spoke on peace and love. He spoke of the forgotten past and about our connection to nature. He even sang some songs and asked us to join in on the last one. I wished we could of sat down and talked a bit more about this secret past that he know about. It was fun meeting Philip Montalban he is from Pearl Lagoons which is the second stop I will be making!

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