As I sit here listening to the Mars Volta I felt inspired to write a blog post. I know I don't post like I used to when I was in Nicaragua. The truth is, I don't really have as much to write about. Nothing here is particularly out of the ordinary for me enough to write a post about. But meh, I shouldn't keep you all in the dark, after all.
So this week at work was quite productive. In my committee (the public engagement committee) we did a couple of presentations at my school. I believe I've already mentioned the one we made with the 8th grade class on Tuesday. We has another one of Thursday with the 1st grade class. Naturally we didn't talk about the same things that we did with the 8th graders. We told them a little bit about Nicaragua and how there are only 2 seasons there instead of 4, like there is here. And how winter in Nicaragua is in fact hotter than summer. After we taught them some spanish. They loved learning about new places and new words. Now every time I walk by a first grader they say hola to me, haha. I also showed them some of my pictures from Nicaragua and tried to help them understand that many people in the world do not have all the luxuries that many people in Canada have, and that we are very lucky.
Last night Michel, Romain and myself went out to see a local metal show. It's been a very long time since I've gone to a show. It was nice to get out some aggression and release my inner beast for a few hours. There were three bands that played. We headbanged, we moshed, we screamed, we had fun. Today my neck is quite sore, but it's all good. The bands were pretty decent. I had fun.
This week we don't have much else planned, but I will be letting you guys know what's going down asap.
Ari
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Beep
I haven't made a normal blog post in a while. I suppose I'm over due...
Well lately we've gotten a whole lot of snow. Yesterday and the day before we got snowed in at home, so we were basically cooped up on the farm for a couple days. It's not too bad... it gets a bit tedious, but hey. It was nice to take a visit into the city yesterday night though, once everything was cleared up.
This morning, Lake, Jorge, Thelma and myself made a presentation to the 8th graders in my school. We talked about our program, Nicaragua, the U.N. as well as Millennium Development Goals, that were set by the U.N. in the year 2000. These goals are suppose to be achieved by 2015, but let me tell you, they are far from reaching these goals. Finding a cure and reversing the HIV/AIDS pandemic by 2015? NOT happening. Sorry... I'm not a huge fan of the U.N. and I'm a bit of a pessimist as far as MDGs go... The intentions are good, but these goals are unrealistic. If you're interested in learning more about the MDGs, please click on the following link.
http://www.undp.org/mdg/
click on the little icons with numbers to view each of the 8 goals that have been set.
Tomorrow night Thelma has english class. She's trying really hard to learn english, but sometimes I think I'm not giving her enough oppertunity for her to speak english. When her and I have a conversation together, I'm always speaking spanish. Yes, of course, I want to keep practicing my spanish as best as I can while I still can, but I know that part of how I learned how to speak my spanish as well as I do now, is because I practiced speaking spanish in conversations. My spanish isn't super broken like it once was, but my grammar still sucks. I feel in a way that I'm depriving Thelma of being able to practice having a conversation in english. Thelma can speak spanish to me at regular speed or a bit fast and I'll understand about 95% of what she's saying to me. But if I do so to her in english she hardly understands anything. I have to speak extremely slow and use very simple words with short sentences. I try not to translate for her at work because I know she can get along just fine.
Eeek, I have to go. Talk to you all soon!
Ari
Well lately we've gotten a whole lot of snow. Yesterday and the day before we got snowed in at home, so we were basically cooped up on the farm for a couple days. It's not too bad... it gets a bit tedious, but hey. It was nice to take a visit into the city yesterday night though, once everything was cleared up.
This morning, Lake, Jorge, Thelma and myself made a presentation to the 8th graders in my school. We talked about our program, Nicaragua, the U.N. as well as Millennium Development Goals, that were set by the U.N. in the year 2000. These goals are suppose to be achieved by 2015, but let me tell you, they are far from reaching these goals. Finding a cure and reversing the HIV/AIDS pandemic by 2015? NOT happening. Sorry... I'm not a huge fan of the U.N. and I'm a bit of a pessimist as far as MDGs go... The intentions are good, but these goals are unrealistic. If you're interested in learning more about the MDGs, please click on the following link.
http://www.undp.org/mdg/
click on the little icons with numbers to view each of the 8 goals that have been set.
Tomorrow night Thelma has english class. She's trying really hard to learn english, but sometimes I think I'm not giving her enough oppertunity for her to speak english. When her and I have a conversation together, I'm always speaking spanish. Yes, of course, I want to keep practicing my spanish as best as I can while I still can, but I know that part of how I learned how to speak my spanish as well as I do now, is because I practiced speaking spanish in conversations. My spanish isn't super broken like it once was, but my grammar still sucks. I feel in a way that I'm depriving Thelma of being able to practice having a conversation in english. Thelma can speak spanish to me at regular speed or a bit fast and I'll understand about 95% of what she's saying to me. But if I do so to her in english she hardly understands anything. I have to speak extremely slow and use very simple words with short sentences. I try not to translate for her at work because I know she can get along just fine.
Eeek, I have to go. Talk to you all soon!
Ari
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Some more mid-way campness
My last two videos from this week's mid-camp... I think...
Shayne didn't really crush her dreams.... in case you were wondering.
Ari
Shayne didn't really crush her dreams.... in case you were wondering.
Ari
Friday, January 22, 2010
Half way camp fun!!!
Videos from our tubing extravaganza! Enjoy. Again, check out my youtube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/user/deadlyxballerina
Hope you like. I really like making vlogs, so expect more.
Ari
http://www.youtube.com/user/deadlyxballerina
Hope you like. I really like making vlogs, so expect more.
Ari
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Announcement!
I have many videos from the half way camp that will all be posted soon. This video was the last one I recorded but I just ended up posting it first... so yeah. Enjoy!
Ari
Ari
Monday, January 18, 2010
Because I know how much you all love videos
So one of the projects that I sort of took upon myself was to make a video/slide show for the group to have access to. I have finally completed my video/slide show last night and I have now posted it on youtube. I will now be posting this here and possibly on facebook also. I really hope you enjoy this.
De plus, un petit quelque chose en français pour faire changement. Je sais pas pourquoi dans le passé j'ai jamais fait de poste en français, mais bon. Voici un vlog avec Véro à l'appareil, quand on était à Masaya, lors de notre trajet vers Montelimar. Ceci est reconnu comme le mirador le plus impressionant au Nicaragua. Amusez-vous!
Here is another video from our first week in Nicaragua. Here you will see Leo and some of the kids he teaches how to play the grandfather drum. Some of the people of our group got to participate in this...
I know that the blog's frame kind of cuts off a part of the video on the right side. If you want to watch it properly, you can always check out my youtube channel. Here you will find all my videos in one convenient playlist! Feel free to subscribe.
http://www.youtube.com/user/deadlyxballerina
more videos coming soon.
Ari
De plus, un petit quelque chose en français pour faire changement. Je sais pas pourquoi dans le passé j'ai jamais fait de poste en français, mais bon. Voici un vlog avec Véro à l'appareil, quand on était à Masaya, lors de notre trajet vers Montelimar. Ceci est reconnu comme le mirador le plus impressionant au Nicaragua. Amusez-vous!
Here is another video from our first week in Nicaragua. Here you will see Leo and some of the kids he teaches how to play the grandfather drum. Some of the people of our group got to participate in this...
I know that the blog's frame kind of cuts off a part of the video on the right side. If you want to watch it properly, you can always check out my youtube channel. Here you will find all my videos in one convenient playlist! Feel free to subscribe.
http://www.youtube.com/user/deadlyxballerina
more videos coming soon.
Ari
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Lazy...
Lately, I have really had not felt much reason to post... but it's been quite a while, so I guess I'll make an effort.
Well this week at work was quite productive. In one of our kindergarten classes there was a supply teacher who didn't seem to be all there... the kids didn't seem to care for her much either.
Friday was Thelma's EAD on history, and it went quite well. We had a pow-wow performed in front of us. It was pretty intense. The dancers talked to us a bit about their regalia as well as the type of dance that they interpreted for us. They seemed to be very honest and open people, and I have found a whole new respect for aboriginal people. After the EAD, the girls are kind of starting a new tradition that we have girls night. We head over to the Boston Pizza and then walk across the street to the movie theatre. This week we saw The Lovely Bones. It was sooo good. I would see it again. I tend to hate suspence/murder mysteries, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was kind of avant-guard... in the same way that Across the Universe was... so yeah.
Yesterday we went to someone's cabin next to a lake and took the Nicas skating, ice fishing and snow shoeing. It was so much fun watching them skate. We had to hold their hands and help them along. Josue was actually quite good and independent. After we went in and sang some songs... as usual.
Today has been a pretty lazy day at home. I have a book that I started reading like the week before we left Somoto and I'm only like just past half way done, so I really want to finish it. I like it, but I just never take the time to read anymore... oh well.
Tomorrow is Alex and Josue's EAD. Then on Tuesday is half way camp. We're just about done the program, and it's really starting to sink in. I don't necessarily want this program to end, but I do want to get back to my life in Ottawa. Sometimes the things we do in this program can be a bit tedious. I miss my independence and being able to do and go where I want, when I want. I miss school and my job. I am excited to go home, but I don't want to leave these people who have affected my life so greatly in such a short period of time. This camp should be fun and relaxed. It will be a nice vacation and a time to get back in touch with the group again, since we have been spending so much time apart lately.
I'm still trying to get a hold of more videos from the mascot mayhem. So stay tuned!
Ari
Well this week at work was quite productive. In one of our kindergarten classes there was a supply teacher who didn't seem to be all there... the kids didn't seem to care for her much either.
Friday was Thelma's EAD on history, and it went quite well. We had a pow-wow performed in front of us. It was pretty intense. The dancers talked to us a bit about their regalia as well as the type of dance that they interpreted for us. They seemed to be very honest and open people, and I have found a whole new respect for aboriginal people. After the EAD, the girls are kind of starting a new tradition that we have girls night. We head over to the Boston Pizza and then walk across the street to the movie theatre. This week we saw The Lovely Bones. It was sooo good. I would see it again. I tend to hate suspence/murder mysteries, but I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was kind of avant-guard... in the same way that Across the Universe was... so yeah.
Yesterday we went to someone's cabin next to a lake and took the Nicas skating, ice fishing and snow shoeing. It was so much fun watching them skate. We had to hold their hands and help them along. Josue was actually quite good and independent. After we went in and sang some songs... as usual.
Today has been a pretty lazy day at home. I have a book that I started reading like the week before we left Somoto and I'm only like just past half way done, so I really want to finish it. I like it, but I just never take the time to read anymore... oh well.
Tomorrow is Alex and Josue's EAD. Then on Tuesday is half way camp. We're just about done the program, and it's really starting to sink in. I don't necessarily want this program to end, but I do want to get back to my life in Ottawa. Sometimes the things we do in this program can be a bit tedious. I miss my independence and being able to do and go where I want, when I want. I miss school and my job. I am excited to go home, but I don't want to leave these people who have affected my life so greatly in such a short period of time. This camp should be fun and relaxed. It will be a nice vacation and a time to get back in touch with the group again, since we have been spending so much time apart lately.
I'm still trying to get a hold of more videos from the mascot mayhem. So stay tuned!
Ari
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Inside the locker room...
My thoughts and comments on the mascot hockey game at the Mascot Winter Games Olympics! Team two won, thanks to Buckles (Luke), the mascot from the Red Cross... This is my attempt at being Don Cherry. Haha...
There will be more videos soon on the mascot events. They were so much fun for everyone! A true highlight of my Prince Albert phase. More hilarity from the mascot mayhem to come!
Ari
There will be more videos soon on the mascot events. They were so much fun for everyone! A true highlight of my Prince Albert phase. More hilarity from the mascot mayhem to come!
Ari
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Lets be more thorough for a change!
I know I've been making pretty small posts lately, but hey, what can you do? I have quite a few things to report now, so lets see if I can get it all... here goes!
Well this week we had a good first week back at work. Thelma's english has improved dramatically. She can actually have decent conversations is broken english and doesn't rely on my translation as much anymore. It's really great.
On Friday was the first EAD, which was Jorge's and mine. Shayne and Ruth had so many things to do with us that we really didn't have that much time for our EAD. Our topic was media, so we had a press conference in the afternoon announcing our arrival to Prince Albert. Afterwards we watched a documentary on people who took a film making workship to help end their drug addictions and motivate them to get off the streets. We all thought that the documentary was going to be horrible, but it turned out to be really interesting and I think everyone appreciated it.
Today was a busy day. This afternoon we headed over to the "friendship centre", which is a community centre for aboriginal people. It's a really fun place to hang out. Today we learned how to make dream catchers. We aren't all finished, as it is a long process, but we'll be finishing them on Tuesday. Here's a vlog to accompany this post, of us making the dream catchers.
After that, we headed over to the local arena to watch a hockey game. It was the nica's first hockey game ever. We watched the Prince Albert Raiders play the Moose Jaw Warriors. This league is the WHL, a western canadian league. Some of our group tonight were mascots, and some of us were their helpers, myself included. I was in charge of Luis Carlos, who was dressed as Scooby Doo and wore a CWY shirt, to represent us. Kayla was dressed as Pat the squirrel for Prince Albert Tourism, with Alex as her helper. And finally Michel was dressed as Fat Cat for the Credit Union, with Jorge as his helper. Before the show the mascots and helps went out and mingled. They gave hug, high fives and took lots of pictures. During the first intermission of the game, the mascots and the helpers had to go out on the ice. The mascots were split into two teams (there were 12 mascots in attendance in all) and had to do a relay race on a tricycle. It was great fun. It was my first time ever being on the ice in front of a crowd like that. At the second intermission we went out again on the ice to just wave at everyone. Afterwards we were able to watch the game, that went into over-time. The Raiders won finally.
Tomorrow we have more activities up at a place called Little Red, which is a "ski hill". I can't believe they have skiing in Saskatchewan... but the truth is, it's only one hill, and it kind of looks like a bunny hill, haha. So tomorrow there will be the Mascot Winter Olympic Games. I will be accompanying Luis again, as he will be Scooby Doo. All of the group must volunteer tomorrow, and everyone has been assigned different jobs for the smooth running of these events. The Olympic torch will be in Prince Albert on Monday, so the city is having quite a few preparation events, like the one today and the ones tomorrow. The torch will be here at night and will be carried in downtown Prince Albert. Tomorrow should be a really fun day, and everyone is quite excited, I think.
Well, I need my rest for tomorrow! Talk to you all later!
Ari
Well this week we had a good first week back at work. Thelma's english has improved dramatically. She can actually have decent conversations is broken english and doesn't rely on my translation as much anymore. It's really great.
On Friday was the first EAD, which was Jorge's and mine. Shayne and Ruth had so many things to do with us that we really didn't have that much time for our EAD. Our topic was media, so we had a press conference in the afternoon announcing our arrival to Prince Albert. Afterwards we watched a documentary on people who took a film making workship to help end their drug addictions and motivate them to get off the streets. We all thought that the documentary was going to be horrible, but it turned out to be really interesting and I think everyone appreciated it.
Today was a busy day. This afternoon we headed over to the "friendship centre", which is a community centre for aboriginal people. It's a really fun place to hang out. Today we learned how to make dream catchers. We aren't all finished, as it is a long process, but we'll be finishing them on Tuesday. Here's a vlog to accompany this post, of us making the dream catchers.
After that, we headed over to the local arena to watch a hockey game. It was the nica's first hockey game ever. We watched the Prince Albert Raiders play the Moose Jaw Warriors. This league is the WHL, a western canadian league. Some of our group tonight were mascots, and some of us were their helpers, myself included. I was in charge of Luis Carlos, who was dressed as Scooby Doo and wore a CWY shirt, to represent us. Kayla was dressed as Pat the squirrel for Prince Albert Tourism, with Alex as her helper. And finally Michel was dressed as Fat Cat for the Credit Union, with Jorge as his helper. Before the show the mascots and helps went out and mingled. They gave hug, high fives and took lots of pictures. During the first intermission of the game, the mascots and the helpers had to go out on the ice. The mascots were split into two teams (there were 12 mascots in attendance in all) and had to do a relay race on a tricycle. It was great fun. It was my first time ever being on the ice in front of a crowd like that. At the second intermission we went out again on the ice to just wave at everyone. Afterwards we were able to watch the game, that went into over-time. The Raiders won finally.
Tomorrow we have more activities up at a place called Little Red, which is a "ski hill". I can't believe they have skiing in Saskatchewan... but the truth is, it's only one hill, and it kind of looks like a bunny hill, haha. So tomorrow there will be the Mascot Winter Olympic Games. I will be accompanying Luis again, as he will be Scooby Doo. All of the group must volunteer tomorrow, and everyone has been assigned different jobs for the smooth running of these events. The Olympic torch will be in Prince Albert on Monday, so the city is having quite a few preparation events, like the one today and the ones tomorrow. The torch will be here at night and will be carried in downtown Prince Albert. Tomorrow should be a really fun day, and everyone is quite excited, I think.
Well, I need my rest for tomorrow! Talk to you all later!
Ari
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
A real post for a change...
I know I've been swamping you all with semi-posts and vlogs, but hey. I'm not always inspired to make a post. So I suppose I shall give you the low down of what's been going on lately.
Well new years what quite a time. Our whole group was invited to a Latino party here in Prince Albert. We had so much fun. We all had to pay a ticket price and this price included food and alcohol. I then spent the night at Alex's house with Thelma.
The rest of our holidays consisted of watching the world juniors, eating lots of fattening foods, and being extremely lazy. It was awesome. I was pretty bummed that the canadians lost the world cup though... oh well.
Today was Thelma and I's first day back at work. Not that many kids showed up, as expected. Thelma and myself were dead tired all day, so it was a little tough at times to keep up with the kids.
Tonight Cecilia has invited the entire group over for a big dinner. We're super excited. All the group has been dying to see our house, because I speak so highly of it all the time. Tonight they will get their chance!
Tomorrow I might go to the movies but we might also take Thelma skating for the first time in her life! I'm hoping for either or... All I know is, I definitely want to take her skating before the end of this program!
Anyways, that's all for now. Laturrr
Ari
Well new years what quite a time. Our whole group was invited to a Latino party here in Prince Albert. We had so much fun. We all had to pay a ticket price and this price included food and alcohol. I then spent the night at Alex's house with Thelma.
The rest of our holidays consisted of watching the world juniors, eating lots of fattening foods, and being extremely lazy. It was awesome. I was pretty bummed that the canadians lost the world cup though... oh well.
Today was Thelma and I's first day back at work. Not that many kids showed up, as expected. Thelma and myself were dead tired all day, so it was a little tough at times to keep up with the kids.
Tonight Cecilia has invited the entire group over for a big dinner. We're super excited. All the group has been dying to see our house, because I speak so highly of it all the time. Tonight they will get their chance!
Tomorrow I might go to the movies but we might also take Thelma skating for the first time in her life! I'm hoping for either or... All I know is, I definitely want to take her skating before the end of this program!
Anyways, that's all for now. Laturrr
Ari
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Another list
In correspondence to my last post about things I do not miss about Nicaragua, I thought I would make a post about things I didn't miss about Canada that I remembered upon my return, which was just over a month ago. So lets get to it!
1. -40C with wind chill... WTF IS THAT
2. Being fat and tempted by delicious processed food
3. Lady Gaga
4. Wet boots
5. Static hair
6. Dry skin & chapped lips
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know lol.
Ari
1. -40C with wind chill... WTF IS THAT
2. Being fat and tempted by delicious processed food
3. Lady Gaga
4. Wet boots
5. Static hair
6. Dry skin & chapped lips
If I think of anything else, I'll let you know lol.
Ari
Monday, January 4, 2010
I need to vent
The other night I was thinking about how I cannot wait to return to Nicaragua... but then I also got to thinking about the things that I do not miss about it. So here it is, my list of complaints.
1. Mass amounts of bug bites all over my body
2. Cold showers
3. Being whistled at all the time because I'm a white girl
4. Sleeping with a mosquito net
5. Latin American soap operas
That being said, it's the little things that annoy you that complete an experience like the one I had.
Ari
p.s. a new video on my facebook. a small montage I made with scraps of videos from the cookie affair. C:
1. Mass amounts of bug bites all over my body
2. Cold showers
3. Being whistled at all the time because I'm a white girl
4. Sleeping with a mosquito net
5. Latin American soap operas
That being said, it's the little things that annoy you that complete an experience like the one I had.
Ari
p.s. a new video on my facebook. a small montage I made with scraps of videos from the cookie affair. C:
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Lake and Jorge's EAD
This is a video from Lake and Jorge's EAD. Their topic was art, so they invited Ernesto, who is a local musician. (He was actually my neighbour in Somoto) This is a very famous nicaraguan song.
This is only a fragment of the song. Sorry, I didn't record the whole thing.
Ari
This is only a fragment of the song. Sorry, I didn't record the whole thing.
Ari
Excusion vlogs!
Romain had organized this activity for us. We climbed a small mountain with a guide. I believe most of the group was there. It was really fun with an awesome view.
after we've climbed the top...
I think I only have a few vlogs left to post. I have a few other random videos that will probably just get posted on facebook. We'll see. C:
Ari
after we've climbed the top...
I think I only have a few vlogs left to post. I have a few other random videos that will probably just get posted on facebook. We'll see. C:
Ari
Friday, January 1, 2010
Feliz nuevo ano!
A very happy new year from all of us to all of you.
this is from the latino party we went to last night. we had a lot of fun.
Today the Nicas have a skype conference with their families in Nicaragua, so Thelma is super excited. I finally figured out skype for myself. Woo
Talk to you all soon.
Ari
this is from the latino party we went to last night. we had a lot of fun.
Today the Nicas have a skype conference with their families in Nicaragua, so Thelma is super excited. I finally figured out skype for myself. Woo
Talk to you all soon.
Ari
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