I have decided to us tumblr. instead of blog spot because I’ve been turned on to the awesome layout and the fact that downloading pictures is supposed to be a LOT easier there. I will also (supposedly) be able to download videos… So here is the link to my new blog: http://gillianrosegaldy.tumblr.com/
Hope to post pictures soon! I love you all.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Febretto and Beyond
Hola Familia y Amigos!
Yo escribo a ustedes para una escuela de Fabretto circa Managua. Mi Espanol es mejore pero yo necissito aprendir mas. Especial mi SPELLING (yo no se en Espanol.) Yo voy a ensenar arte aqui y yo vivo con mi amiga Bridget de Estades Unidos. Mi gusta la casa y los maestros aqui. Los estudiantes no comprendo que ellos va a aprendir con migo. Despues Fabretto (por cuatro semanas), yo voy a viajar Guatemala por un autra Escuela de Espanol.
Ok... so now in English. For those of you who understand Spanish, I am SO sorry for my spelling and grammar.
I am writing to you from one of the Fabretto schools near Managua. My Spanish is better but I need to learn more. Especially my spelling. I will be teaching art here and I am living with my friend Bridget who is from the United States. I like my house and the teachers here. The students have no idea what they will be learning with me. After Fabretto (for four weeks), I will travel to Guatemala for another Spanish school.
And now for the big update:
My last week in San Juan was bitter sweet. Especially Thursday and Friday. Thursday was my last day on the farm with Franklin and Friday was my last day of class. I spent a lot of my time with Jason, who has become one of my best friends here. My last day of class I spoke entirely in Spanish for two hours with one of the professors Jenny who just came back from maternity leave. I was really sad to leave everyone but of course excited to start the next chapter of my time here. A little about the school: My favorite teacher was Chester who can't be more than five years older than me. He studied in Alaska (God knows why) so he spoke pretty good English which was helpful for me in the beginning. Towards the end we spoke mostly Spanish, using English only to help with some of the grammar. As for my other teachers, I switched up a lot for conversation class and my favorite teachers besides Chester I only had for one day each. One was Jenny, the prof I had for the last day, and the other was Elizabeth (Jason's cousin by marriage... EVERYONE is family here.) Neither of them speak English so it was the most challenging for me but obviously the most rewarding. With Elizabeth I spoke about education and poverty in the US and in Nicaragua. Heavy topics in general but especially for someone who is just learning Spanish. In my last week I got to visit Masaya with Jason. We went to the markets there. There are two: Marcardo de Gringos y Marcardo de Nicaraguence. A.K.A. The Market of Gringos (white people, Northern people, Westerners) and The Market of Nicaraguans. I got lots of fun things there. It was good to have Jason there too because he was able to make sure I was getting a good price. After Masaya we went to a little town the had the most incredible view of that area of Nicaragua. I kid you not, there was a full rainbow over Laguna de Pollo (si, the same place I went with some of the girls from the school to have that amazing relaxing day.) You could see the big volcanoes in the distance and Granada. It was one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen. After that we ended up meeting with with Bergman Sr. and some of the other students and going to a bakery where I got lots of tastey treats. The next day I went to Jinotempe to print out photographs for my Nicaraguan family and for Franklin. I figured that would be the best kind of gift for them. I wrote a little note in Spanish for my family and made a few drawings on it and wrapped it around the photographs and gave it to them on Sunday. I didn't wait for them to open it because it would have made me cry.
This weekend was a lot of fun. Friday I went to Managua for my interview with Karla from Fabretto who immediately hired me as an art teacher. I get to do whatever I want... muahaha. I am signed up for four weeks with them. Another perk is that I don't have to pay for housing. After my interview I met up with Alana and we went to Masaya with her host brother and a friend of hers from her dance troop to see one of the Halloween parades. We thought it was going to be this huge street party but it was a freaky parade of wakadoos throwing red paint everywhere and scaring babies. It was interesting none the less. After we went to a disco and danced the night away.
Saturday Alana and I didn't wake until noon and then met up with Jason and her friend David and did a mini tour of Sandino landmarks. Sandino, for those of you who don't know, is the political figure of Nicaragua. He was the revolutionist, the fighter, and bad ass extraordinaire. He is who the Sandinista party is named after. (There is no other relation besides using his name. The current party is heading towards tyranny.) Sunday was really great as well. We went to Granada and did a tour of a cathedral, a graveyard, and central park. The cathedral was one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. Which is saying something because I've seen some incredible cathedrals in my travels. It wasn't the architecture, it was how it was decorated. The colors and the art were phenomenal. I fell in love with Granada and I plan on returning at some point in my life to live there. I'm actually already trying to figure out how and when to come back to Nicaragua this summer. We'll see what happens.
On our way home from Granada we stopped by my house in San Juan to get all my things and say good bye to my family. Bergman Sr. was so sweet and told me that I always have a place to stay with them whenever I want. That I MUST return soon. Jason was really sad but I know I'll see him again either in Managua or back in San Juan. Franklin in turn was also extremely sad and gave me a beautiful letter. I was so touched by how loved I am by this family. I love them too and was equally upset to leave them. I'm pretty sure I'm going to visit them in a few weekends for an evening and then maybe take a trip with Bergman Jr. and his friend Jorge to the North.
Yesterday I moved into my new house, which is really nice. No t.v. or internet but we have running water and air conditioning when we want to use it. It's fully stocked with appliances and bedding. I get a closet!!! Hoorah! Last night Bridget and I watched episodes of Friends. I had an American moment and I loved every second of it. The only real sad part is that I have to cook for myself. I will sorely miss my family's cooking. Back to cereal and PB & J.
So now for the big news: I'm a big idiot. Dad- remember when I burned the shit out of my leg on your motorcycle. Yeah... I did that again last Tuesday. I got off on the wrong side of the bike and burned my leg really bad. Now for why I'm an idiot: Thursday I was driving the motorcycle (not fast, just learning) and when I was braking I tipped the bike and the exhaust hit my leg AGAIN in the same spot. So I ended up with some serious burns. The last time I had a motorcycle burn I was told to let it be, just to keep it clean. So I thought I'd do that again. Well that tactic only seems to work in the States because AQUI it gets infected. It was really painful Sunday after Granada and I knew I needed to get it looked at. Monday (yesterday) I went into the hospital with Alana and her dad's friend (one of the heads of the burn unit Aproquen) looked at my leg. Good thing I went in because she said it was really infected and was pretty bad. WARNING PEOPLE!!! THIS IS ABOUT TO GET GRAPHIC: She scrubbed out the infection and scrubbed off the bad layer of skin. It hurt more than I could have imagined. She kept smiling and saying I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Alana looked like she was about to throw up. I was just in shock by the amount of pain this 4'6 woman was inflicting on me. After all was said and done she said it wasn't as bad as she initially thought and that it will heal just fine. I have to keep it covered with this thick cream on it and clean it once a day. I have to go into the hospital Thursday morning for her to look at it again. Bridget thought it was hilarious because she had the EXACT same thing happen to her. I'm in a good amount of pain right now but it's nothing crazy. I just wont be able to run for a little while.
I don't have much to write about when it comes to the school just yet, but once things really get going I'll update you all. I miss you all so much and I am sending all my love.
Yo escribo a ustedes para una escuela de Fabretto circa Managua. Mi Espanol es mejore pero yo necissito aprendir mas. Especial mi SPELLING (yo no se en Espanol.) Yo voy a ensenar arte aqui y yo vivo con mi amiga Bridget de Estades Unidos. Mi gusta la casa y los maestros aqui. Los estudiantes no comprendo que ellos va a aprendir con migo. Despues Fabretto (por cuatro semanas), yo voy a viajar Guatemala por un autra Escuela de Espanol.
Ok... so now in English. For those of you who understand Spanish, I am SO sorry for my spelling and grammar.
I am writing to you from one of the Fabretto schools near Managua. My Spanish is better but I need to learn more. Especially my spelling. I will be teaching art here and I am living with my friend Bridget who is from the United States. I like my house and the teachers here. The students have no idea what they will be learning with me. After Fabretto (for four weeks), I will travel to Guatemala for another Spanish school.
And now for the big update:
My last week in San Juan was bitter sweet. Especially Thursday and Friday. Thursday was my last day on the farm with Franklin and Friday was my last day of class. I spent a lot of my time with Jason, who has become one of my best friends here. My last day of class I spoke entirely in Spanish for two hours with one of the professors Jenny who just came back from maternity leave. I was really sad to leave everyone but of course excited to start the next chapter of my time here. A little about the school: My favorite teacher was Chester who can't be more than five years older than me. He studied in Alaska (God knows why) so he spoke pretty good English which was helpful for me in the beginning. Towards the end we spoke mostly Spanish, using English only to help with some of the grammar. As for my other teachers, I switched up a lot for conversation class and my favorite teachers besides Chester I only had for one day each. One was Jenny, the prof I had for the last day, and the other was Elizabeth (Jason's cousin by marriage... EVERYONE is family here.) Neither of them speak English so it was the most challenging for me but obviously the most rewarding. With Elizabeth I spoke about education and poverty in the US and in Nicaragua. Heavy topics in general but especially for someone who is just learning Spanish. In my last week I got to visit Masaya with Jason. We went to the markets there. There are two: Marcardo de Gringos y Marcardo de Nicaraguence. A.K.A. The Market of Gringos (white people, Northern people, Westerners) and The Market of Nicaraguans. I got lots of fun things there. It was good to have Jason there too because he was able to make sure I was getting a good price. After Masaya we went to a little town the had the most incredible view of that area of Nicaragua. I kid you not, there was a full rainbow over Laguna de Pollo (si, the same place I went with some of the girls from the school to have that amazing relaxing day.) You could see the big volcanoes in the distance and Granada. It was one of the most spectacular things I've ever seen. After that we ended up meeting with with Bergman Sr. and some of the other students and going to a bakery where I got lots of tastey treats. The next day I went to Jinotempe to print out photographs for my Nicaraguan family and for Franklin. I figured that would be the best kind of gift for them. I wrote a little note in Spanish for my family and made a few drawings on it and wrapped it around the photographs and gave it to them on Sunday. I didn't wait for them to open it because it would have made me cry.
This weekend was a lot of fun. Friday I went to Managua for my interview with Karla from Fabretto who immediately hired me as an art teacher. I get to do whatever I want... muahaha. I am signed up for four weeks with them. Another perk is that I don't have to pay for housing. After my interview I met up with Alana and we went to Masaya with her host brother and a friend of hers from her dance troop to see one of the Halloween parades. We thought it was going to be this huge street party but it was a freaky parade of wakadoos throwing red paint everywhere and scaring babies. It was interesting none the less. After we went to a disco and danced the night away.
Saturday Alana and I didn't wake until noon and then met up with Jason and her friend David and did a mini tour of Sandino landmarks. Sandino, for those of you who don't know, is the political figure of Nicaragua. He was the revolutionist, the fighter, and bad ass extraordinaire. He is who the Sandinista party is named after. (There is no other relation besides using his name. The current party is heading towards tyranny.) Sunday was really great as well. We went to Granada and did a tour of a cathedral, a graveyard, and central park. The cathedral was one of the most beautiful I've ever seen. Which is saying something because I've seen some incredible cathedrals in my travels. It wasn't the architecture, it was how it was decorated. The colors and the art were phenomenal. I fell in love with Granada and I plan on returning at some point in my life to live there. I'm actually already trying to figure out how and when to come back to Nicaragua this summer. We'll see what happens.
On our way home from Granada we stopped by my house in San Juan to get all my things and say good bye to my family. Bergman Sr. was so sweet and told me that I always have a place to stay with them whenever I want. That I MUST return soon. Jason was really sad but I know I'll see him again either in Managua or back in San Juan. Franklin in turn was also extremely sad and gave me a beautiful letter. I was so touched by how loved I am by this family. I love them too and was equally upset to leave them. I'm pretty sure I'm going to visit them in a few weekends for an evening and then maybe take a trip with Bergman Jr. and his friend Jorge to the North.
Yesterday I moved into my new house, which is really nice. No t.v. or internet but we have running water and air conditioning when we want to use it. It's fully stocked with appliances and bedding. I get a closet!!! Hoorah! Last night Bridget and I watched episodes of Friends. I had an American moment and I loved every second of it. The only real sad part is that I have to cook for myself. I will sorely miss my family's cooking. Back to cereal and PB & J.
So now for the big news: I'm a big idiot. Dad- remember when I burned the shit out of my leg on your motorcycle. Yeah... I did that again last Tuesday. I got off on the wrong side of the bike and burned my leg really bad. Now for why I'm an idiot: Thursday I was driving the motorcycle (not fast, just learning) and when I was braking I tipped the bike and the exhaust hit my leg AGAIN in the same spot. So I ended up with some serious burns. The last time I had a motorcycle burn I was told to let it be, just to keep it clean. So I thought I'd do that again. Well that tactic only seems to work in the States because AQUI it gets infected. It was really painful Sunday after Granada and I knew I needed to get it looked at. Monday (yesterday) I went into the hospital with Alana and her dad's friend (one of the heads of the burn unit Aproquen) looked at my leg. Good thing I went in because she said it was really infected and was pretty bad. WARNING PEOPLE!!! THIS IS ABOUT TO GET GRAPHIC: She scrubbed out the infection and scrubbed off the bad layer of skin. It hurt more than I could have imagined. She kept smiling and saying I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Alana looked like she was about to throw up. I was just in shock by the amount of pain this 4'6 woman was inflicting on me. After all was said and done she said it wasn't as bad as she initially thought and that it will heal just fine. I have to keep it covered with this thick cream on it and clean it once a day. I have to go into the hospital Thursday morning for her to look at it again. Bridget thought it was hilarious because she had the EXACT same thing happen to her. I'm in a good amount of pain right now but it's nothing crazy. I just wont be able to run for a little while.
I don't have much to write about when it comes to the school just yet, but once things really get going I'll update you all. I miss you all so much and I am sending all my love.
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