I sit at the CVC (Christian Vocational Centre) on Ometepe, in Las Pilas, the island in Lake Nicaragua. It’s Saturday 20th and I have three weeks left before I return to the UK. So this is my fourth full day in Nicaragua and it seems as though I have been here for more like four months. Things change so rapidly, there is so much happening and going on, even through times of relaxation there seems to be a constant movement of thoughts, experiences and challenges. Yes the obvious is true, abject poverty juxtaposed with wealth, affluence sat alongside the corrugated steel huts with roofs covered in coconut leaves (or something like that). That I guess is to be expected when one visits a developing country, and, Nicaragua being the poorest country in Central America it is inevitable there will be such juxtapositions. This in itself is nothing shocking nor is it something I feel I am challenged about for through such poverty I see people with great families, wonderful smiles and indeed, settled and relaxed lifestyles. Lifestyles that are envious for a western man who lives in a society that runs faster at times than it is possible for us to keep up with. There is a pace here that is good, slower and peaceable. Yes there is corruption and yes there is terrible living conditions with very little healthcare, but it is good. Nicaragua joins half of Africa with only having 2.5 health care workers per 1000 people, the worst ratio for health care workers in the world along with parts of Africa. Education again is something only available to the fortunate. Again though, through all of this there is still that life that is good and acceptable to me. As I have been saying throughout my time here so far, es muy aceptable para me! Seems this is a great source of amusement to our friend Alexander who is a nurse here for the SIFT project who has been our guide yesterday since we got off the ferry from Rivas. His English is non existent and that is good as it is forcing myself and Andy to delve into the depths of our limited Spanish and try through many a gesture to communicate. It is indeed wonderful and Alexander is a very welcome friend, who just like the Elliott and the Quinn likes a Tona (pronounced Tonya) at the end of a hot sticky day (Tona is the local beer which is cool and crisp, ideal for such locations, especially with a good squeeze of lemon (Limón) and with a litre costing just over £1 what is one supposed to do? 
So then, our journey to Ometepe from Mangua. We were up early, Andy to my great surprise had found his way from his scratcher before I had and was indeed looking pretty spritely for the day ahead. Frantic packing ensued which resulted in the two of us walking down the dirt track from our compound to the bus at the end of the road with a ruck sack each bags around our necks (unfortunately Andy had been somewhat over confident about the load bearing capacity of his laptop bag which decided its handle was not at all happy about it) and a gait that confirmed we were a little over laden. The bus ride down here was interesting. Bags, chickens and food all freely available at anytime through the trip, however, my personal favourite was our preacher. On he got bible in hand, stood in the isle of the couch and belted out the Good News. Finger wagging, all the passion of a evangelist preaching to a captive audience, was fantastic. Then he launched into giving away pens, key rings little cards, toothbrushes etc whilst having conversations with our fellow passengers. It was the most interesting bus ride I have ever had, and one which I thoroughly enjoyed.
An old guy sat down on the back seat wth us and opened a little bag just wide enough to let his chicken breath. Out popped the chickens head gasping for breath. It almost seemed as though this guy had an affectionate relationship with his chicken, probably a pet or something, but when I passed him in the Street later that day in Rivas – no chicken!! Yeah, flogged it no doubt on the table by evening. 
So the ride was great, interesting and thought provoking. Not sure I am planning on getting on the 103 bus in Quinton ready to launch into a passage from the Gospel just yet.
In Rivas we got on a bicycle type taxi thing to take us to an ATM so I could get some cash. Now we tend to get a little frustrated when we have to wait more than a few minutes when getting cash out of an ATM in the UK, yet my time was the best part of 45 minutes. The queue was up the street. And yet, it was fine, no problem it´s ok. Then off in our bicycle type thing back to the bus station to get a cab to take us to the port San Jorge (pronounced San horhay).
Rivas is a bustling town, full of markets and people generally getting involved, in what they are getting involved in I am not too sure, but it is busy with the hussle bussle of people going about thier day. Music blaring out of various shops which is some kind of cheap Latin American influenced pop stuff, and yet, there is some really good music out here that I am simply going to have to acquire and take back. It’s heavily influenced by what we would call a Mexican feel and it is very good. I quite like Rivas with its street´s overflowing with people, cattle, horses and carts, motobikes etc. Had a nice feel to it.
The ferry to Ometepe was our first real encounter with the sun. We have been pretty good up to now keeping outselves in the shade, but on the top deck of the ferry we cooked ourselves rather well I think. At least gas mark 3! Both of us have pink skin, but we were lucky that it was no more than an hour so I think actually we have done ourselves no harm at all. On the lake it was almost like sailing in the Hebrides, Andy commented that it almost felt like we were sailing past the Isle of Skye, and he was right, except it is 30 degrees hotter than it has ever probably been in the Hebredes and we were on a ferry lurching its way towards two volcanoes.
Alexander met us at the ferry port in Moyogalpa and we had lunch then went down to the CVC.
Its wonderful here, I am typing this on my laptop as I watch children and adults being taught. This center is used for education to help these people get better jobs and build better lifestyles for themselves. It’s a great place, everyone is so happy, so beautiful and pleasant. Its great to see and even be a part of. Alexander is here also doing his bit of learning as he is a Nurse in one of the SIFT clinics.
Blue sky, bright deep pink flowers waving from trees, lemons growing on the tree opposite and granaria fruit on the tree off to my left. It’s a place of delights, surrounded by wonderful people. You cant help but feel your soul rise in these surroundings.
So the ride was great, interesting and thought provoking. Not sure I am planning on getting on the 103 bus in Quinton ready to launch into a passage from the Gospel just yet.
In Rivas we got on a bicycle type taxi thing to take us to an ATM so I could get some cash. Now we tend to get a little frustrated when we have to wait more than a few minutes when getting cash out of an ATM in the UK, yet my time was the best part of 45 minutes. The queue was up the street. And yet, it was fine, no problem it´s ok. Then off in our bicycle type thing back to the bus station to get a cab to take us to the port San Jorge (pronounced San horhay).
Rivas is a bustling town, full of markets and people generally getting involved, in what they are getting involved in I am not too sure, but it is busy with the hussle bussle of people going about thier day. Music blaring out of various shops which is some kind of cheap Latin American influenced pop stuff, and yet, there is some really good music out here that I am simply going to have to acquire and take back. It’s heavily influenced by what we would call a Mexican feel and it is very good. I quite like Rivas with its street´s overflowing with people, cattle, horses and carts, motobikes etc. Had a nice feel to it.
The ferry to Ometepe was our first real encounter with the sun. We have been pretty good up to now keeping outselves in the shade, but on the top deck of the ferry we cooked ourselves rather well I think. At least gas mark 3! Both of us have pink skin, but we were lucky that it was no more than an hour so I think actually we have done ourselves no harm at all. On the lake it was almost like sailing in the Hebrides, Andy commented that it almost felt like we were sailing past the Isle of Skye, and he was right, except it is 30 degrees hotter than it has ever probably been in the Hebredes and we were on a ferry lurching its way towards two volcanoes.
Alexander met us at the ferry port in Moyogalpa and we had lunch then went down to the CVC.
Its wonderful here, I am typing this on my laptop as I watch children and adults being taught. This center is used for education to help these people get better jobs and build better lifestyles for themselves. It’s a great place, everyone is so happy, so beautiful and pleasant. Its great to see and even be a part of. Alexander is here also doing his bit of learning as he is a Nurse in one of the SIFT clinics.
Blue sky, bright deep pink flowers waving from trees, lemons growing on the tree opposite and granaria fruit on the tree off to my left. It’s a place of delights, surrounded by wonderful people. You cant help but feel your soul rise in these surroundings.
We visited the hospital where Andy will be working from monday. it´s basic, it really is. Although as we walked around being shown all the rooms by the head nurse and the facilities they have, it felt right from my perspective that Andy should be here. I think he is going to be a great blessing to these people. Of course there is apprehension, but that is good, the language barrier being the main one, but I can tell you Andys language recently has gone in leaps and bounds and i personally think he is going to be great. But the hospital is basic and I think there are great challenges there in terms of getting to grips with some very basic equipment and facilities.
Anyways, I got to go, too much sun to be enjoyed so I must love and leave you all. I will try and get on here at some point over the next couple of days but who knows when that will be, the busses are not exactly regular and its all a case of well, we shall see. I love it!
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