http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7962311.stm
This international effort is monumental, however very under reported. It seems that the overarching goal of the expedition is to raise awareness, but with such a lack in media attention the goal will be difficult to accomplish.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Back and working hard.
I have been back from my trip for some time now and am working hard to finnish my thesis in time for spring graduation. The best part is that I am heading back to Nicaragua once I graduate! I have a trip planned for May 13-July 15! Although I will be missing the 4th of july again and a wedding, I think that it will be well worth it. The big goal is to really work on spanish this go-a-round. I plan to visit Bluefields only for a short while early on to catch the world renound May Pole festive.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
A few of my recent activities
Last night (actually night before...i wrote this yesterday) I went to a local party for a boy that was shipping off to work on the cruise ship. They ship off for 8 months at a time….so there is much need for a celebratory farewell. It was in a small house; such that the 20-25 people packed the entire living room and kitchen (I think the home only had 3 rooms). There were young and old people, and everyone danced. The older ladies were so much fun to watch; they were dancing with the younger guys and having so much fun. Everyone passed around a big bottle of rum to fill their glasses and just sat back and relaxed to the music. Then they passed around soup for everyone. It was a light broth soup with some vegetables. it was really fun to experience a little local party. And even though I didn’t really know many people, I really felt relaxed and everyone was so nice to me. After a few hours everyone (the younger people) went out to the dance hall to dance.
Today I checked out the casino here in Bluefields. Mostly like any other casino, but it was really small. All the machines were 1 Cordoba (about 5 cents), and most have the actual handle you pull and the 3 things spin to match up. I didn’t win much, but my friend hit a “jack-pot” of $450 (Cordoba)….so that was about 23 dollars….not such jack-pot really. Since I supplied the money in the first place (I am the sugar-mama) we just stayed for a few hours and gambled the winnings. So that was sort of fun to do for the afternoon!
A few days ago I went to El Bluff. It is a small town on the other side of the lagoon, where the main port is. There is a beautiful beach and a big bluff where you can look out over the ocean. It was such a beautiful place. There are no cars there and it is much like Bluefields, but only about 2000 people. I met a family and they were such great people. One of the boys showed me around the place all day. It was so nice to be on the beach, and see all of the fishing industry. Although the economic situation at El Bluff is struggling a lot as well. One of the main reasons is that a fabrica for fish (canning plant) that employed about 500 people shut down a few years ago. That had a dramatic effect on the community. It was so sad speaking with the older man, as he described the bleak situation he teared up. Saying that he has seen people go hungry and it makes him so sad. That really had an effect on me, I wish so much that there was something that I could do….. The people of the Atlantic coast need jobs more than anything. Its not that they don’t want to work, there just is none to be had. Investors don’t want to put money into businesses either because of the instability of the government…it really is a difficult situation. If I had money, I would buy the fabrica and re-open it….that’s what I would do.
Last night I went out dancing. We first went to a place over the water for drinks. It was one of the most beautiful nights I have seen in Bluefields, the sky was perfectly clear and you could see all the stars. Then went to the dance place, it is a dark Caribbean style club that is about 120 degrees and was packed with people. It was so hot that I could only dance one or two songs before going out for air. Then we went to a house next to the club that sells late night food right inside their house. Everyone just comes in to the living room and buys their food in the kitchen and sits on the couches to eat…very interesting. I had hot soup again…that seems to be the favorite late night snack here. It is hot because you put pepper juice in it, super spicy!!! That will sober you up relay fast! Then we went back to dance more, but soon a fight broke out….sort of scary because the place is a bit dogey and I guess that people get shot there sometime. So my friend said we should leave before it got to that point…..
So the only thing that is not going good on this trip is my Spanish. I only am around Creole speaking people mostly, so it has been hard. Even though they speak Spanish as well, they just automatically talk to me in English…I think that my English has actually gotten worse too. I have started to talk a little Creole I tink! I find myself leaving out a’s and s’s and other preposition words: so like to say “will you come to the park with me?” I will say “come to park?” or to say “ I have a banana” I say “I have banana” or to say “my friends are nice” I say “my friend nice”….so hopefully that won’t stick for too long when I go home….I don’t know what people will think I did on this trip!
Today I checked out the casino here in Bluefields. Mostly like any other casino, but it was really small. All the machines were 1 Cordoba (about 5 cents), and most have the actual handle you pull and the 3 things spin to match up. I didn’t win much, but my friend hit a “jack-pot” of $450 (Cordoba)….so that was about 23 dollars….not such jack-pot really. Since I supplied the money in the first place (I am the sugar-mama) we just stayed for a few hours and gambled the winnings. So that was sort of fun to do for the afternoon!
A few days ago I went to El Bluff. It is a small town on the other side of the lagoon, where the main port is. There is a beautiful beach and a big bluff where you can look out over the ocean. It was such a beautiful place. There are no cars there and it is much like Bluefields, but only about 2000 people. I met a family and they were such great people. One of the boys showed me around the place all day. It was so nice to be on the beach, and see all of the fishing industry. Although the economic situation at El Bluff is struggling a lot as well. One of the main reasons is that a fabrica for fish (canning plant) that employed about 500 people shut down a few years ago. That had a dramatic effect on the community. It was so sad speaking with the older man, as he described the bleak situation he teared up. Saying that he has seen people go hungry and it makes him so sad. That really had an effect on me, I wish so much that there was something that I could do….. The people of the Atlantic coast need jobs more than anything. Its not that they don’t want to work, there just is none to be had. Investors don’t want to put money into businesses either because of the instability of the government…it really is a difficult situation. If I had money, I would buy the fabrica and re-open it….that’s what I would do.
Last night I went out dancing. We first went to a place over the water for drinks. It was one of the most beautiful nights I have seen in Bluefields, the sky was perfectly clear and you could see all the stars. Then went to the dance place, it is a dark Caribbean style club that is about 120 degrees and was packed with people. It was so hot that I could only dance one or two songs before going out for air. Then we went to a house next to the club that sells late night food right inside their house. Everyone just comes in to the living room and buys their food in the kitchen and sits on the couches to eat…very interesting. I had hot soup again…that seems to be the favorite late night snack here. It is hot because you put pepper juice in it, super spicy!!! That will sober you up relay fast! Then we went back to dance more, but soon a fight broke out….sort of scary because the place is a bit dogey and I guess that people get shot there sometime. So my friend said we should leave before it got to that point…..
So the only thing that is not going good on this trip is my Spanish. I only am around Creole speaking people mostly, so it has been hard. Even though they speak Spanish as well, they just automatically talk to me in English…I think that my English has actually gotten worse too. I have started to talk a little Creole I tink! I find myself leaving out a’s and s’s and other preposition words: so like to say “will you come to the park with me?” I will say “come to park?” or to say “ I have a banana” I say “I have banana” or to say “my friends are nice” I say “my friend nice”….so hopefully that won’t stick for too long when I go home….I don’t know what people will think I did on this trip!
Friday, July 25, 2008
180 attitude
I cant believe that I am leaving Bluefields so soon!!! I can honestly say that my attitude about this place has changed 100% from the first 2 weeks I was here… I really have had the best time in the past week, and it will be really hard to leave (I never imagined I would be saying that!). I have learned so much being here too….although the people don’t have much, they know how to be happy and the atmosphere of the place just starts to suck you in. It really was something that took some getting used to though, to look beyond the poverty was really hard to do, especially coming from a place that has so much. But even though these people don’t have much money, they are the most generous people I have ever known. Everywhere I have gone I have been given food or drink, and it is customary for whoever invites you to go to eat or drink that they pay. It has made me think about many people in the US, and how selfish many people are. I have just been amazed by how many people with enormous hearts that I have been lucky enough to get to know.
I love the atmosphere of the place when walking down the street. Even though it is a fairly large town, everyone knows each other (in the neighborhoods that I stick to). Everyone says hello and stops to chat…kids play in the street all of the time ( there aren’t many cars here besides taxis)…anywhere you are you can always hear somebody’s music playing (which is always happy music…socco, reggae, reggaetone)…everyone has their door open and people are always sitting on the porch… over all, it is just a happy place, with great, happy people….it is definitely the kind of place I would like to live someday….and the kind of place you don’t find in the US very often.
The people….they love to dance….love to “run jokes”….have a laugh…..”molest” each other (that’s what they call kidding around)…are eternally optimistic about life…love children (and start early!)…love old people and always show respect with Mr. and Miss….and the people here LOVE Bluefields (everyone I have asked tells me that they absolutely love to life here!)
I love the atmosphere of the place when walking down the street. Even though it is a fairly large town, everyone knows each other (in the neighborhoods that I stick to). Everyone says hello and stops to chat…kids play in the street all of the time ( there aren’t many cars here besides taxis)…anywhere you are you can always hear somebody’s music playing (which is always happy music…socco, reggae, reggaetone)…everyone has their door open and people are always sitting on the porch… over all, it is just a happy place, with great, happy people….it is definitely the kind of place I would like to live someday….and the kind of place you don’t find in the US very often.
The people….they love to dance….love to “run jokes”….have a laugh…..”molest” each other (that’s what they call kidding around)…are eternally optimistic about life…love children (and start early!)…love old people and always show respect with Mr. and Miss….and the people here LOVE Bluefields (everyone I have asked tells me that they absolutely love to life here!)
Monday, July 21, 2008
update from last 2 posts
Just to update…those last posts I wrote last week, just didn’t have a chance to post them.
This weekend I would have to say has been the best time I have had since coming to Bluefields! Friday was beautiful and I went running and had a few good interviews, and then went out with the one friend I have made, we stayed out dancing all night…..was really fun. Then Saturday was holiday for Sandinista revolution and I went to the park and watched some of the activities. Sunday was another beautiful day, I went for a long walk and took pictures, and relaxed the afternoon. And there was not a drop of rain Saturday or Sunday!!!! It was just a beautiful weekend here in Bluefields! So I have been out past dark 2 more times and it has not rained 2 days!
This weekend I would have to say has been the best time I have had since coming to Bluefields! Friday was beautiful and I went running and had a few good interviews, and then went out with the one friend I have made, we stayed out dancing all night…..was really fun. Then Saturday was holiday for Sandinista revolution and I went to the park and watched some of the activities. Sunday was another beautiful day, I went for a long walk and took pictures, and relaxed the afternoon. And there was not a drop of rain Saturday or Sunday!!!! It was just a beautiful weekend here in Bluefields! So I have been out past dark 2 more times and it has not rained 2 days!
Running
I have gone running a few times here in Bluefields….I guess I am going to do a ½ marathon at the end of August so I have to get started(I am not going to let Jamie beat me this time)! Running here brings a new set of challenges that I never imagined might be obstacles for the normal morning jog…..(here is just a few of the things I have to watch out for)
Stepping in dog crap
Stepping in horse crap
Stepping in pig crap
Stepping in any other unknown crap
Slipping on the sidewalk or road which is always wet and has some slimy algae growing on it in many places
Places where the sidewalk literally has chunks missing and if you’re not careful could fall into the gutter
Mangey dogs that won’t move out of the way
Other farm animals in the streets (mainly pigs and horses)
Taxi cabs that drive as fast as they possibly can all of the time, and instead of using breaks they just use the horn
Shouts, stares, hisses, whistles, and any other remarks you can possibly think of that might be said to a white gringo running down the street (I crank up my ipod and do my best to ignore)
The street unexpectedly ending at a pile of mud and dirt
Nonexistent sidewalks many places, making it sometimes necessary to dive in to the bush to avoid the rampant taxis
……and all of this is at 6 am! I was told that if I went out really early in the morning, there were people jogging all over! Well I have gone 2 days at 6 am and not seen one other jogger….i just get looks like, what the heck are you doing….(I guess I will have to go out even earlier, by 6:30 the streets get to crowded to run…mostly with children walking to school)
Some other things…
Saw a few naked people showering on their porches (their shower consists of dumping a bucket of water over themselves)
Some children tried to race me ( that was so cute)
And the best thing of all…..when I reached the top of the hill behind the city, I looked out and saw rainforest and ocean! And remembered I am in the Caribbean! Nothing better to wake up to than that...so, stepping in a little crap isn’t as bad as it seems!
Stepping in dog crap
Stepping in horse crap
Stepping in pig crap
Stepping in any other unknown crap
Slipping on the sidewalk or road which is always wet and has some slimy algae growing on it in many places
Places where the sidewalk literally has chunks missing and if you’re not careful could fall into the gutter
Mangey dogs that won’t move out of the way
Other farm animals in the streets (mainly pigs and horses)
Taxi cabs that drive as fast as they possibly can all of the time, and instead of using breaks they just use the horn
Shouts, stares, hisses, whistles, and any other remarks you can possibly think of that might be said to a white gringo running down the street (I crank up my ipod and do my best to ignore)
The street unexpectedly ending at a pile of mud and dirt
Nonexistent sidewalks many places, making it sometimes necessary to dive in to the bush to avoid the rampant taxis
……and all of this is at 6 am! I was told that if I went out really early in the morning, there were people jogging all over! Well I have gone 2 days at 6 am and not seen one other jogger….i just get looks like, what the heck are you doing….(I guess I will have to go out even earlier, by 6:30 the streets get to crowded to run…mostly with children walking to school)
Some other things…
Saw a few naked people showering on their porches (their shower consists of dumping a bucket of water over themselves)
Some children tried to race me ( that was so cute)
And the best thing of all…..when I reached the top of the hill behind the city, I looked out and saw rainforest and ocean! And remembered I am in the Caribbean! Nothing better to wake up to than that...so, stepping in a little crap isn’t as bad as it seems!
A few fun things that may (or not) surprise you:
I have a mouse in my room…I have seen it once a day
I also have 2 pet geckos in my room…to help out with the bugs
My shower is a trickle (on a good day) of ice water
I ate Turtle Fin (i know Jericho….)(it was not good either!)
I have probably eaten about 20 chickens since coming here….(I thought fish was a popular in Bluefields, but not compared to the never ending pollo!)
The Taylors have an avocado tree right in the back yard, and I eat them every day (the Nicaraguans call them pears)
It had rained at least once EVERY day I have been here (that is not an exaggeration either)
I have been to church twice…for over 2 hours each time!
I am a local celebrity….for the folks that listen to Marvin’s 7 am radio show (he has mentioned me a few times)
I have watched more US television here than in the US…CNN is the fave here (I could tell you every detail of the Madonna and A-Rod “Affair of the Heart”, or Christy Brinkley’s divorce drama, or some lady that died scuba diving in Australia 6 years ago…..)
I have been out of the house past dark 3 times (2 of them were coming home from church)
Chickens crow nonstop from midnight to 5 am…guess they don’t really know when morning is
Dogs bark all of the time….mainly with a unison morning wake up at 5 am
I try to go to bed early (11ish)but normally cant fall asleep till 1, by then the chickens start, and I am up another hour…I usually end up sleeping in the morning but that is hard too because along with the usual chickens and dogs, there is taxi’s constantly blaring the horn, and neighbors with music cranked up…but actually when I am not trying to sleep, I like all of the sounds of Bluefields, they are happy sounds, happy music, and happy people J
I also have 2 pet geckos in my room…to help out with the bugs
My shower is a trickle (on a good day) of ice water
I ate Turtle Fin (i know Jericho….)(it was not good either!)
I have probably eaten about 20 chickens since coming here….(I thought fish was a popular in Bluefields, but not compared to the never ending pollo!)
The Taylors have an avocado tree right in the back yard, and I eat them every day (the Nicaraguans call them pears)
It had rained at least once EVERY day I have been here (that is not an exaggeration either)
I have been to church twice…for over 2 hours each time!
I am a local celebrity….for the folks that listen to Marvin’s 7 am radio show (he has mentioned me a few times)
I have watched more US television here than in the US…CNN is the fave here (I could tell you every detail of the Madonna and A-Rod “Affair of the Heart”, or Christy Brinkley’s divorce drama, or some lady that died scuba diving in Australia 6 years ago…..)
I have been out of the house past dark 3 times (2 of them were coming home from church)
Chickens crow nonstop from midnight to 5 am…guess they don’t really know when morning is
Dogs bark all of the time….mainly with a unison morning wake up at 5 am
I try to go to bed early (11ish)but normally cant fall asleep till 1, by then the chickens start, and I am up another hour…I usually end up sleeping in the morning but that is hard too because along with the usual chickens and dogs, there is taxi’s constantly blaring the horn, and neighbors with music cranked up…but actually when I am not trying to sleep, I like all of the sounds of Bluefields, they are happy sounds, happy music, and happy people J
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