First contributions to the community
Landing in Managua a few days ago now feels a million miles away. I have been greeted by people, whom I had no idea would remember me and a lot has been achieved already. Everything in the suitcase has been distributed and much of it proudly worn.
On Saturday I felt totally lacklustre and faint every time I bent over, I imagine tiredness and the climate change. However we gave a certificate and small prize to Kevin for his volcano painting we have been using and we visited the university where Lou had attended, expecting to be able to finalise her certification. However it turned out to be much less straightforward. It appears Lou now has to attend a further 5 months with further studies to gain the qualification. But she is happy, the fee is paid and now she has to await the next group gathered for this aspect.
We had to do this on a Saturday when the university is open, and next Saturday I won't be here as I've planned a trip to Granada. We returned for lunch, I ate very little and returned early to the hotel. All had decided that Sunday should be my day of rest. It sounded like a good idea. I decided on an afternoon beach walk in the fresh air which turned out not to be such a good idea. Unfortunately a number of local dogs had gathered and one in particular took a dislike to me. It first came at me barking, then brought friend, and as as I turned away ignoring it, it jumped and snapped at my leg. I shouted and clapped and they went away, fortunately no damage had been done, but I was preoccupied by the thought of a possible series of rabies injections and the local hospital. I decided to go along the road and visit the local supplies shop instead, taking my walking stick. In the process I bumped into Julia from comedor Julia, who immediately asked why Jose and I hadn't visited. Everyone expects to have seen me in the first couple of days!
Sunday started with breakfast with a group of San Salvadorans, very friendly and full of encouragement to visit their country. Its really great, the people you meet travelling. By now Sunday arrangements had been put in place for the family to visit. Sylvia prepared a picnic and Marvin and Jordy, Lou and Marcelo, Henderson, Jonathon and Jose all came along.
We had our picnic in the hotel dining room a lovely chicken soup with rice, then sauntered down to the beach to chat and paddle and relax!
Mid afternoon everyone began to make their way home, so I had a supper snack and prepared for my next visitors, Hemer and Marvelli. We visited the local hotel for a juice and discussed the timetable for the next couple of weeks and some of the priorities. I asked that all the head teachers put these in writing and during the week that they'll go to Rivas for instruction from MINED, we can look at these and try to reach some conclusions. It will be an opportunity for any community visits too.
Today after a transport hiccup I visited Rafaela Herrera again, this time to view the boxes that had arrived prior to Christmas. There was only one for the secondary school so I have no idea what happened to the cleaning equipment, padlock and other items. However it was obvious some of these had been sorted due to the uniform issue as some had no labels. There were several for Santa Teresa with exercise books, colouring pencils, and quite a bit of football equipment, something they had mentioned. So now I have written to the donors who will give us publicity in the County Times, once we supply some photos.
There was quite a lot of pens and pencils for Rafaela Herrera and also a printer that we have arranged for the technician to come and assess. There are both sports bags and book bags, paper and books, so we know no pens and pencils are needed. In addition there were boxes with cloth bags, part of my environmental drive and a lot of soft toys for the local children. Great fun was had as little ones arrived at Marvin's shop and were invited to choose a toy. Word got around! I remember packing some of these on a sunny day in the garden earlier last year. Some of the donors have recognised them on Facebook as having once belonged to their now grown up children.
Unfortunately we had another hiccup when Telecomunica notified us that the school Wi-Fi was being cut off due to non payment of bills. Now I knew this couldn't be correct as I had received the financial report. So after calling Hemer who returned from a meeting and produced the evidence, we were able to sort out with the company immediately. I was so glad I was here otherwise this could have been a message received late in the day in the UK and a sleepless night awaiting further information! Before returning to Miraflores we called on the family and delivered a copy of the university receipt to Lou.
Back in Santa Domingo there was no electricity, so I went off to do some shopping, rather desperate to include a bit more fruit and veg in my diet. I found pineapple, passion fruit and a cucumber, a good start, but had to buy four passion fruit as there was insuffient change in the shop for my C$100 note ( about £3). I'm not sure what I'm going to do about a $50 note. I think it will need to be a purchase at Villa Paraiso. Alternatively I can go to a bank in Granada and change some.
I decided to call in on Julia but she wasn't there so I had tea with Joanna and Julia senior. Somehow they managed to boil water. Later we were blessed with power!
On Saturday I felt totally lacklustre and faint every time I bent over, I imagine tiredness and the climate change. However we gave a certificate and small prize to Kevin for his volcano painting we have been using and we visited the university where Lou had attended, expecting to be able to finalise her certification. However it turned out to be much less straightforward. It appears Lou now has to attend a further 5 months with further studies to gain the qualification. But she is happy, the fee is paid and now she has to await the next group gathered for this aspect.
We had to do this on a Saturday when the university is open, and next Saturday I won't be here as I've planned a trip to Granada. We returned for lunch, I ate very little and returned early to the hotel. All had decided that Sunday should be my day of rest. It sounded like a good idea. I decided on an afternoon beach walk in the fresh air which turned out not to be such a good idea. Unfortunately a number of local dogs had gathered and one in particular took a dislike to me. It first came at me barking, then brought friend, and as as I turned away ignoring it, it jumped and snapped at my leg. I shouted and clapped and they went away, fortunately no damage had been done, but I was preoccupied by the thought of a possible series of rabies injections and the local hospital. I decided to go along the road and visit the local supplies shop instead, taking my walking stick. In the process I bumped into Julia from comedor Julia, who immediately asked why Jose and I hadn't visited. Everyone expects to have seen me in the first couple of days!
Sunday started with breakfast with a group of San Salvadorans, very friendly and full of encouragement to visit their country. Its really great, the people you meet travelling. By now Sunday arrangements had been put in place for the family to visit. Sylvia prepared a picnic and Marvin and Jordy, Lou and Marcelo, Henderson, Jonathon and Jose all came along.
We had our picnic in the hotel dining room a lovely chicken soup with rice, then sauntered down to the beach to chat and paddle and relax!
Mid afternoon everyone began to make their way home, so I had a supper snack and prepared for my next visitors, Hemer and Marvelli. We visited the local hotel for a juice and discussed the timetable for the next couple of weeks and some of the priorities. I asked that all the head teachers put these in writing and during the week that they'll go to Rivas for instruction from MINED, we can look at these and try to reach some conclusions. It will be an opportunity for any community visits too.
Today after a transport hiccup I visited Rafaela Herrera again, this time to view the boxes that had arrived prior to Christmas. There was only one for the secondary school so I have no idea what happened to the cleaning equipment, padlock and other items. However it was obvious some of these had been sorted due to the uniform issue as some had no labels. There were several for Santa Teresa with exercise books, colouring pencils, and quite a bit of football equipment, something they had mentioned. So now I have written to the donors who will give us publicity in the County Times, once we supply some photos.
There was quite a lot of pens and pencils for Rafaela Herrera and also a printer that we have arranged for the technician to come and assess. There are both sports bags and book bags, paper and books, so we know no pens and pencils are needed. In addition there were boxes with cloth bags, part of my environmental drive and a lot of soft toys for the local children. Great fun was had as little ones arrived at Marvin's shop and were invited to choose a toy. Word got around! I remember packing some of these on a sunny day in the garden earlier last year. Some of the donors have recognised them on Facebook as having once belonged to their now grown up children.
Unfortunately we had another hiccup when Telecomunica notified us that the school Wi-Fi was being cut off due to non payment of bills. Now I knew this couldn't be correct as I had received the financial report. So after calling Hemer who returned from a meeting and produced the evidence, we were able to sort out with the company immediately. I was so glad I was here otherwise this could have been a message received late in the day in the UK and a sleepless night awaiting further information! Before returning to Miraflores we called on the family and delivered a copy of the university receipt to Lou.
Back in Santa Domingo there was no electricity, so I went off to do some shopping, rather desperate to include a bit more fruit and veg in my diet. I found pineapple, passion fruit and a cucumber, a good start, but had to buy four passion fruit as there was insuffient change in the shop for my C$100 note ( about £3). I'm not sure what I'm going to do about a $50 note. I think it will need to be a purchase at Villa Paraiso. Alternatively I can go to a bank in Granada and change some.
I decided to call in on Julia but she wasn't there so I had tea with Joanna and Julia senior. Somehow they managed to boil water. Later we were blessed with power!
Today is the grand uniform sort out!
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