Buses and Chickens

During our MCC orientation, someone said to us, "You haven´t ridden a bus if you´ve never shared it with animals!" I don´t think this is true, as we´ve had plenty of interesting bus rides (both here and in the US) without animals. But today, we had our first experience sharing a bus row with a chicken. It´s unlikely that the chicken will survive the week, as many Nicaraguans prepare a special chicken dish for Christmas. But the chicken didn´t know that and was well-behaved, and so were we.

Managua has a well-developed bus system, serviced primarily by handed-down buses from US school districts (our first week here we saw a bus with `Harrisburg City Schools´ painted on the side). Some buses, like the one in the picture, are in good condition. Others are bone-jarring buckets of bolts that make riding quite an adventure.

The chicken on our bus is not pictured. However, the two roosters in the photo are from our neighborhood, perhaps some of the ones who announce the day around 4:30 every morning.

--Alan

Pre-Christmas celebration (La Purisima)

On Friday, Dec. 8, many Catholics celebrate the Conception of the Virgin Mary. In Nicaragua, those celebrations, called La Purisima, last nearly 2 days, not counting the nearly 2 weeks of pre-Purisima celebrations. How do Nicaraguans mark the occasion? Fireworks, fireworks, and more fireworks! There were so many on Thursday night and Friday morning that we could smell the gunpowder in the air. And I think my ears are still ringing. Thursday night also included a combo of Christmas Caroling and Halloween - families went door to door singing carols about Mary, and each house then passed out treats (mainly candy and fruit). Friday was a national holiday (no work) and many attended special masses honoring Mary´s purity. It´s interesting to reflect on this holiday in light of Beth`s comments about the role and strengths of women here.

I´ve been helped by Henri Nouwen´s perspective in his book ¡Gracias! A Latin American Journal, and his entry for Dec. 8. He reminds us that in the midst of poverty and heartache, Mary´s words in Luke 1.52-53 ring with hope, "He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty."

The photos are from a parade that passed our house Sunday a week ago as part of the pre-Purisima celebrations.

--Alan

Mujeres Fuertes, Part 1

I have many thoughts and questions about the "strong women" here in Nicaraguan culture! The sociologist, woman, theologian, granddaughter, and wife in me have been emerging and intersecting many times recently as I´ve thought about the roles of women in my life and in society. But for now, I'll keep it brief (but expect more later :)).

We are thoroughly enjoying our "mother" and "grandmother" here in Nicaragua--two delightful and strong women. Leonor, a hard-working, faithful, 84-year-old saint, is in the picture.

Last Tuesday, my Grandma Claassen, another octogenerian saint, died in Kansas. While it has been difficult to be away from family, it has been wonderful to reflect on her life and her incredible mixture of intelligence, compassion, and gentleness.

Mujeres Fuertes, Part 2

Warning: I (Elizabet) am getting more verbose now. :) I don´t have too many answers or insights . . . just some thoughts and questions for sharing:
-Demographically, I keep hearing that the ratio of the country is 5 or 7 women to every one man (depending on the time of year and immigration patterns). As a result, women often fill both bread-winning and care-giving roles. (At least, here in the city . . . I haven´t had too much opportunity to observe rural life yet). Several of my female Nicaraguan friends recognize and sigh about the remaining problems of machismo here--and get caught between the machismo and the demographic reality of the power and influence of women in the society.
-Families also take on a very different structure as women (and men) attempt to balance these roles. Birth control is not widely used, and abortion was just made illegal (with the punishment of 3 years in prison falling on the woman). Families with a mother and father together are not common--grandmothers and aunts are very important.
-There have been multiple models of women in power. Nicaragua had a female president in the early 90s, and last week I met a couple women who are major leaders within protestant denominations here (one is a bishop).
-There are interesting linguistic changes happening in the academic settings here. I´m hearing and seeing the use of tod@s (for "todos y todas"--to include both genders linguistically).
-Mary is clearly an important figure--relgiously and culturally (see Alan´s thoughts above).

Flan

Many of you are aware of my (and our) love for ice cream and pudding. One of my favorite dinners here is flan-from-a-box, which is susupiciously identical to pudding. Here Alan enjoys a bite.

-Elizabet