Where I Come From, You'd do Time for That...

Here’s my kids getting their diplomas:


30/June/2010

Last weekend I went back to my training town to visit my old host family. It’s always fun to go back and visit and be reminded of the certain quirks of the family and the town. Every time I go back to visit, I’m surprised by how much more I understand everyone, and can participate in group conversation, even when everyone is riled up and talking over each other. It rained pretty much the whole time I was there, as pre-hurricane Alex passed our way. Although I was bummed I couldn’t run, the weather was so cool and beautiful! And the reason I went was to hang out with the family, so I didn’t mind being stuck in the house with them. Going back to that town is so fun, everyone remembers you, and it’s just a little Nicaraguan Utopia!

The day after I got back form Santa Teresa, we had our “acto” (like an assembly) for Teacher’s Day. The kids put on the acto and gave us little gifts. They started off by playing music and handing out treats, and then things got really weird, for me anyways. So, in our American culture, teachers and students don’t fraternize, male teachers will never be caught dead in a classroom alone with a female student (and vice versa), teachers/students don’t ever comment (at least to their face) about physical appearance, and, well, the following scenario would result in expulsion of the student and firing of the teacher (and perhaps maybe a trial?)

…after the music was played, a male student came out lip singing love songs with a microphone. He serenaded each female teacher, and tried to get them to dance with him (only successful with half). Then he came gave me a flower and a passionate serenade., along with a kiss on the cheek. I was so embarrassed. Not just for myself, but for the general state of things in this strange world. After the lip singing portion of the acto was over, it was the girl’s turn to present an inappropriate form of entertainment. The girls came out with their uniform skirts hiked up and tank tops. They performed a dance typical of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast. Just think of a rap video, mixed with hula dancing. It was all good and fine until they started each giving the male teachers lap dances. No, SERIOUSLY. It was something that looked like it would normally be paid for. I was mortified. I had brought a camera to school because I thought the kids were going to be doing something cute for Teacher’s Day. I never took it out, because everything was too inappropriate to take a picture of, and those memories are forever burned in my brain anyways. After the madness was finally over, I asked my counterpart if anyone would get in trouble for what had happened (I knew they wouldn’t but you have to think of different ways to ask “What the heck just happened here? Are you people out of your freaking minds? How is this ok on any level? What happened to respectful student/teacher relationships?!” before your head explodes). And yes, the response was that this was totally normal.

This weekend I’m going to a nearby Podunk town with some other Americans for 4th of July. I’m just excited to be speaking English (not just using simple terms) and having real conversation on the most American day ever! I will be dreaming of family and friends, apple pie with ice cream, watermelon, and backyard grilling while I sleep outside in the campo in a hammock.

Happy Birthday America!