La Estatua de la Madre en El Centro-Granada

These 2 photos were taken in downtown Granada at El Centro. How awesome that Rotary invested in a statue that honors mothers. Thanks, Rotarians! (By the way, the Rotary Group from Boston has arrived and I will have more on them later this week)

A Fun Bus Ride

So, I was on my way back on the bus from Managua to Granada, doing my usual - reading my book for Women's Health Care, PC 615 (Contraceptive Technology), when a mom and her baby sat beside me. He was so cute! He would look at me and then reach over with his hand and gently touch my arm, then he would look at me with his big, brown eyes and smile(: After awhile he tired of this game. He reached over and put his hand on my chest, then he laid his head on his mom's chest, and I could tell that he wanted to nurse. So, in the Central American manner-she breast fed him. I couldn't help but congratulate her and tell her how wonderful it was that she was doing such a healthy thing for her son, Derik. Marlen proceeded to tell me that he was eating other foods and still breastfeeding too. OK, so I was very excited that here I am in Nicaragua, sitting next to someone who is uninhibited about her health choices. The AAP, the Healthy People 2010, and the World Health Organization, and I would love for this to spread to North America! Anyway, we had a nice chat and she took a picture of me reading my text book, and of course I had to get a pic of her and her son. It was was a very pleasant bus ride.

Rotarians in Granada

Remember in my last post I mentioned that a "quinta" is a lake home and Peck was the maiden name of Karla's mom, so "Peckita"refers to the children. The lake home has been passed down from Evita's parents to her family. Karla says that she has lots of fond memories of good times at the lake. Her parents are very generous in sharing their hospitality with others. For those of you who may not have read previous posts, Karla runs an hospedaje (lodge) here in Granada, Hospedaje Ari, where I stay. Karla and her family, Bosco, and Ariana, are wonderful and it has been great staying with them. Pictured here at Quinta Las Peckitas is Evita, Karla, and Evenor. (Karla's parents) Karla was the president of Rotary in Granada last year, and her parents are very active Rotarians. There may only be one Rotary Club here, but they have done the work of 20 clubs! Karla has shown me DVDs with Rotary assisting to dig wells - the gift of life here for many-water. In addition Rotary has donated computers to public schools, built schools, donated medical and dental services, and constructed clinics, in collaboration with other local clubs, as well as clubs from the U.S. As I mentioned, there is a group that will arrive this week from Boston. This group includes medical personnel, and I cannot wait to see them and to go to the clinic in Pantanal with them. Thank you, Rotary!

Today was a fun day at the "Quinta Las Peckitas" ( a quinta is a vacation home, and Peck is Karla's mom's maiden name) on Granada Lake, also know as Lake Cocibolca. The lake is beautiful and is guarded by Mombacho, a once active volcano. Lake Cocibolca is the only freshwater lake in the world that has sharks-yes, bull sharks. (makes me NOT want to swim; although I'm told that the sharks are only in the very middle of the lake) It is interesting because the lake actually appears more like a small ocean, with its numerous waves that come to shore. The lake has over 360 islets that were formed when Mombacho last spewed lava into the water. I have read that the little islands are quite beautiful, and look forward to exploring them soon.

Catedral de Granada

An interesting view of the Catedral de Granada, near the Parque Central; taken from the restaurant window of El Zaguan, which by the way, has excellent food and service.

New Friends

This is a cool doctor couple from Oregon- Erica and Jesse. They are general practitioners, and although they "do it all", Jesse enjoys psychiatric medicine and Erica enjoys birthing babies. We had a great time hanging out and talking. Erica has practiced medicine in Guatemala and she and Jesse have practiced together in New Zealand as well. Erica joined my Spanish class last week, and I learned a lot from her questions, as well as the phrases that she uses in her practice. Sure wish I had a great couple like them to team up with in Eastern NC! Also pictured is my instructor, Sergio, with his wife Karen, oldest son, Sergio, and youngest son, Gadiel. Sergio is a very good instructor and is very active with his family and with basketball here in Granada.

Rotary in Granada

These pictures were taken at a school in a small village, Pantanal, which is near Granada. The School, Escuela Jose de la Cruz Mena, was constructed with the help of the Rotary Club in Granada. Students from our school, Casa Xalteva, visited there this week to see how the school is coming along. Students from the school, along with the director of Casa Xalteva, Juan Carlos, (in pic-left, with teacher, Sergio)plan to return to the school to donate school supplies for the students. The director gave us a tour and told us that the school has students from preschool to 6th grade. Most of the students live in close proximity to the school, and more than half of the students finish the program. She said that many students move to another village and have to switch schools. They have a small library in the building that they are trying to get stocked, and they are hoping to get a small air conditioning unit because it is very hot. Next to the library was a sewing room with women at work on the machines, sewing clothing to sell. They had cute pajamas and other clothing. Having machines donated and learning how to sew helps the community to prosper and supports their economic growth. There is also a medical clinic in Pantanal, which was constructed with the support of a Rotary Club from Boston and Rotary of Granada. The Rotarians from Boston are arriving next week, and I look forward to meeting them and to going to the clinic with them. Thank you Rotary for all of the beautiful work that you do here! Because of you, many children are learning to read and many families can have their health care needs taken care of. Your support has made a tremendous difference in the lives of people here in Nicaragua.