Notes from Nicaragua: Second and final from San Ramón
Posted by Sam Dreyfus in Central America on 11 28th, 2008I’m in town again, writing my essay. This has been a very strange process, trying to make an academic project out of an excuse to hang out with the family and community in Horno 2. I spent too much time writing in my journal to make the kind of connections I wanted to in the community, and too much time hanging out to write a serious research essay. But the experience was muy bonita anyway, and I’m glad I did it.
There were many moments when I found myself not enjoying the marvelous and new experiences — walking through a pine forest on the way to an isolated mountain community, attending a cierre de campaña (campaign wrap-up celebration) — because I was so homesick. I have never been this homesick before, and it got harder as soon as I hit the three-week mark.
Knowing that I would be home so soon, I was thinking about home all the time. Barring a highly unlikely bout of malaria, I now have only one weekly pill left to take in this country -– I fly in twelve days.
read comments (Comments)Notes from Nicaragua: Short and sweet from San Ramón
Posted by Sam Dreyfus in Central America on 11 14th, 2008Hello all! I am writing from a cybercafe in San Ramón, a pueblo of 5,000 people that is the capital of the municipality of the same name.
I have spent the past week and a half and will spend almost two more in Horno 2, a rural community an hour’s bus ride from here, with the same community I lived with for a week in September. The campo is as beautiful as ever. I eat beans and a tortilla for every meal and am loving it. My mind is being stretched in ways it never has been by the things I learn every day about poverty and wealth, nature and farming, love and family, and community and organizing.
I have very little time on this computer, so I will leave you all with the knowledge that I am quite homesick, having a truly worthwhile time, delighted to learn that Question 1 was defeated (oh, yeah, and that what’s-his-name was elected), and immensely excited to get home, see everyone, and get working in what looks like a newly electric political environment.
I will probably post again in a week.
