30 May 2008

Dia(s) de las Madres


True to much of our year here, Nicaraguans celebrate Mother's Day a little differently than we do in the States. First of all, the date: it is always May 30th, no matter where it falls in the month. Secondly, the government makes sure everyone visits their moms and grandmothers by making it illegal for people to work past noon. No kidding. The third and perhaps most striking difference is that while Mothers' Day in the States is a private family affair with breakfast in bed and presents at the kitchen table, anyone who has any professional contact with mothers is supposed to celebrate with them. Meaning that Marcela and I spent two full mornings this week at Mothers' Day parties in La Chureca (it would have been three, if not for rain from Hurricane Alma on Thursday).

The first was at the school, where children of all ages sang songs, danced and recited poetry for their mothers and grandmothers. Marcela and I were quite pleased with ourselves when moms in our program offered us seats close to the front... we really did know every third mother by name! My lap time was split between Blanca and Josue Daniel, while Marcela hung out with the Vanegas clan for a bit. We left when the Palo de Mayo, or booty dancing, competition began, but I'm pretty sure I know which kids won... some things never change.

Now I know that I'm partial, but I preferred the fiesta today at the clinic. Yes, just about every mom in the back room had a kid on her lap, but the fiesta wasn't about the kids or what they can do; rather, it was about the mothers and what they've done for their children, an actual celebration of motherhood. Several mothers stood up and sang or recited poetry that they themselves had learned in primary school Mothers' Day fiestas years ago. One mom danced folklore while others showed off their reggaeton skills. Two of our mothers stood and said with tears in their eyes what it means to be a mother. For many women in La Chureca, as I'm sure it is the world over, their children were the first thing that was "theirs," the first responsibility they had ever felt. When I heard that, I felt a renewed encouragement that Manna and the clinic are not working alone to try to improve the health of La Chureca. We have the moms on our side, and that's more than enough.

Moms who were part of the clinic party show (kids' names in parantheses):
Singing-- Patricia (Jorge)
Folklore-- Carmen (Mariana)
Reggaeton-- Celia (Jose Manuel), Mariela (Blanca and Maria Antonia), Liseth (Mildeana)
Speakers-- Dalia (Zayda), Virginia (Cristofer)

05 May 2008

Tranquilo en el Campo

On Wednesday and Thursday of last week, we brought the kids in our program and their mothers to the Augusts' land. Last October, our days in the "Campo" were sheer madness-- kids running everywhere, going to the bathroom on volunteers, moms yelling at the kids running everywhere and going to the bathroom on volunteers. This time, in contrast, our ninos came in, found their little chairs, and just chilled sucking on the mangoes growing on the property. The transformation was truly surreal.

Senora Soya graced us once again with her presence, conjuring recipes of arroz a la valencia and sausage out of soy. Everyone's mouths watered in anticipation and the moms scurried around in their donated aprons and head wraps. While we waited, I had a chance to hang out with the moms who weren't cooking (the moms who were cooking wouldn't let me in the kitchen because they say I have baby hands. Another story for another time). We talked about life, how they came to Chureca, what it's like to be a mom and a wife in Nicaragua. Many of them asked me if I had any children. My response was always "45," to which they would just nod. They know that I love their kids like they were mine. As we chatted, their children would crawl into my lap, no longer afraid of my white face or strange yellow hair.

Marcela and I agree that these are some of our favorite moments in Nicaragua. Please follow the links for more photos of our magical days.