2.Unterstuetzerbericht Halloele,
here my 2nd Unterstuetzerbericht from mid-May. Soon there new photos. Kind regards
Swantje
San Pedro, Lago Atitlan, Guatemala, 16 May 2008
Dear supporters, relatives, friends,
The resting time. When people ask me: And how long you stay still, I'm always a bit uneasy, because there are now only just 4 months old. 4 months, which are also still pass by quickly. And again see and experience something new, be it relates to what new places or cultural differences. Since December
much happened. I have attended several conferences had added visit my parents, some meetings because of our voluntary service here and finally started the job properly. And while all these events, so in February, I suddenly had the feeling: now I'm at right, I understand how things work here.
cultural differences
It is always talked a lot about culture and differences, but what that means in practice is an idea for some perhaps only dare. I find out the differences here every day on my own body, and some Cultural characteristics, you take over, others leave a desperate, they are incomprehensible to our way of thinking and living.
These differences are as low as trifles, such as point to other people. In Germany they used his index finger, in this case the mouth, which is pushed forward as kissing. This is a pretty weird at the beginning before and one wonders what the person really wants from a.
The eating habits are different. Here on the Costa often you eat with your fingers and there are three times a day, hot food, which is usually greasy, because almost every dish cooked with plenty of oil, or fried.
Overall, the whole life here forward rather slowly, also in terms of work, permanent arrangements to be taken as seriously, meetings often start with one-hour delay or invitees will not appear at all. So it is difficult to organize anything, because to most people just can not rely. Also often lack the communication of people with each other, information is not shared and communicated. Also, I've found that people work together here a little, as we know it. That concerns such as the allocation of responsibilities. Many here do everything alone and not together.
is another problem that people do not discuss here and try to compromise and find solutions to when there is conflict. The problem is simply hushed up and acted as if nothing that leads to organizational failure and strife. In this regard needs to be done very much, what you remember, however, be is that the standard of living is low here, there just are not all in abundance, and so it is quite human that everyone looks for the first time on his own well-being.
In my last report I have already told you that the Nicaraguans are a very hospitable and open people against strangers. Quickly become a conversation on the street or in the store, people are curious and want to know where you come from, what are you doing here and how do you like Nicaragua. But richtige, tiefgründige Freundschaften zu schließen, ist sehr, sehr schwierig. Die Leute lassen nur bis zu einem bestimmten Punkt an sich ran, dann geht es erstmal nicht weiter. Es ist gerade andersrum als in Deutschland, wo man zunächst eher distanziert ist, doch sich mit der Zeit öffnet.
Englischunterricht
Zum einen aufgrund dieser Unterschiede was Organisation und Kommunikation betrifft ging die Planung des Englischunterrichts für die Jugendlichen von AJECIM (Jugendorganisation der Iglesia Morava) ziemlich langsam vonstatten. Zum anderen weil die Region nach dem Hurrikan im September ein bisschen wie gelähmt war und weil wir so gut wie keine Unterstützung seitens der Kirche bekommen haben. Doch im März of the classes finally started after we were engaged in January to its organization, promotion and preparation. I give two times a week classes in the morning, two hours each Monday and Thursday. Moritz is the course in the afternoon. My students are mainly young people of the church, but I have an older lady in my class and a girl of 12 years and generally everyone can join in, which is motivated. The course costs a monthly fee of 30 Cordobas, or about U.S. $ 1.60. This money we use for the materials we need, such as markers for the acrylic board and copies of work sheets and vocabulary. Furthermore, this is an undertaking by the Students that they are really regular basis. 30 Cordoba are not as much, but you can buy at least three cola or 15 small loaves of it. For example, of my presence on the paper close to 20 students regularly so 10-15; for the situation here is not that bad, for perseverance, self-clamp behind it and desire to learn is for a great many foreign words. Actually, the lessons are going well, only my students learn very, very slowly. On the one hand, because most do not learn vocabulary nor their homework, the other because they do not recognize the system and the logic of the language (where: most of them speak even two languages: English and Miskitu). This shows we clearly get to the huge difference in levels of education in Germany, where you get taught from childhood, and to record things. Here, however, this area is still totally under-developed, as there are good resources and trained teachers. Blame for the lack of achievement is also my opinion that the families are very big here and so every child gets the attention it needed. Also, read here at all, or read, such a wonderful reading culture in Germany does not exist. The only book that is important, and almost everyone has is the Bible. Apart from the
lessons for the youth of AJECIM we would have long ago with English lessons should begin in prison. Problem this time was the same as already mentioned in cultural differences: poor organization on the part of the pastor, the initiates, and the dates that were not met. In mid-March was then controlled everything, we had a contract that was finally signed by all, including the judge and the police chief. But because of disturbances in the city we could not start then, the start was postponed on the grounds that the police would be needed in the city and for our security no stands available. During these protests led to violent clashes between demonstrators and police, the town hall was demolished and the road to Managua blocked, so no vehicles could pass. Ground of protest was the announcement by the Government of the RAAN (North Atlantic Autonomous Region) in the coming elections be postponed by one year to donate the work on the Hurricane Help / finish. Many of the demonstrators were involved but not from this political motives in the actions, but to make it easy and drunk with lust rampage. The riots have now decided when we now start classes not specifically clarified, as is always something unexpected happens, but the end of May when I come back from my holiday.
Some of my work I am busy now, to give English lessons and, prepare all that is, to plan the lessons and to prepare work sheets and vocabulary, which takes some time. To help, we have only a few textbooks from Germany, a dictionary and our own experience of schooling.
Teaching I really like my students are glad to have the opportunity to learn English. Now and then I also teach them games or songs in, like My Bonny is over the ocean, which goes pretty well. For just sing here is extremely valuable. No matter where thou wilt, people always want what you audition them.
conferences and krisi siknis
consists addition to English classes, our work or our peace service darin, an den Konferenzen von AJECIM teilzunehmen. Im Dezember waren Moritz und ich mit in Puerto Lempira, Honduras, im Januar auf der großen Jahreskonferenz des Distriktes in der Gemeinde Wawa Bar und Ende April in Halover. Diese Konferenzen dauern mit Hin- und Rückweg zwischen 4 und 6 Tagen, wobei die Reise zum Konferenzort, wenn weit weg, meist ein ziemlicher Akt ist.
Nach Honduras sind wir insgesamt 12 Stunden in einem Jeep gefahren, zu 14. auf Ladefläche und vorne drinnen, über eine einzige Loch- und Modderstraße. An der Grenze haben wir in einem Panga (schmales, langes Holzboot) den Río Coco überquert.
Puerto Lempira liegt genau wie Puerto Cabezas an der Atlantikküste und wird ebenfalls zum größtenteil inhabited by the Miskito. So the kind of life is similar, the houses are built of wood and on stilts.
The theme of the conference there was "AJECIM" that exists in Honduras only recently and we "Nicas" this should help with tips and advice. Moritz and I also had to be working with AJECIM report as volunteers, leading to the at that time was very difficult, we had hardly begun to work and settle us. We have then made a group game with the people, with the beautiful message that you should try to solve problems together. Otherwise, we
have spent most of the conference in the Church what for us was pretty boring, because everything was on miskitu. Morning and afternoon talked about AJECIM, a few group games made every evening worship service was held. However, we also had lots of fun with our Nica force and on Sunday we even had the good fortune to be able to witness four weddings that were celebrated there in the church. The interesting thing: all the wedding couples were already in advanced age. Overall, the wedding party quite a ceremony, white with a number of bridesmaids and gentlemen of all, after the ceremony there was eating and drinking on the grounds of the church (which may be missing the way, never), more stress, but as a joyful celebration for the couple.
The next conference of AJECIM was in January, located south of the heavenly community of Puerto Cabezas Wawa Bar and accessible only by boat. After 8 hours of waiting at the wharf (the organization here) we took the road to the lagoon and meddled with the more than 1,000 young people who had come from all over the district at this annual conference.
The program of conferences is always prepared by the board of the district to take care accommodation and food supply to the community. Usually, each group (eg, a congregation or the people of Puerto another municipality) located in a house that represents the poor family is available. Moritz and I have, however, in the house of the uncle of our friend lived, where I've felt at home. The food at the conference is quite simple, consisting of rice, bread, beans, meat (beef or turtle) or fish in different combinations and is cooked in huge pots over the fire. Problem is that the hygiene and no drinking water but untreated well water is used. So had Maurice and I both have often struggled with stomach problems and parasites already had.
normal day at the conferences is usually the same: you start the morning with a little service, then the young people in groups on various topics is taught, lunch break and, teaching again (in an afternoon sports), dinner and worship. For us, nothing very interesting, because as I said, everything is not meant to miskitu and for us (although I understand and speak a bit, but not sufficient), the themes are also very religious.
Our assistance in this conference was unfortunately in the design of children's program in an afternoon, and a group game, which we have conducted with the heads of the respective youth groups throughout the region. It would have been even more job opportunities for us, for example in the form of lectures on social issues (environment, AIDS, drugs, etc.) can give us in advance what to mehrmaligem Fragen, wie wir mitwirken können, jedoch nicht aufgezeigt wurden. Diese schlechte Kommunikation gestaltet die Zusammenarbeit mit der Kirche als schwierig, was eben auch zu der schon genannten Verzögerung des Englischunterrichts geführt hat, weswegen wir diesen mehr oder weniger auf eigene Faust geregelt haben.
Aufgrund dessen und weiteren Schwierigkeiten in der Kooperation hatten wir im Anschluss an die Konferenz einige Besprechungen über den Freiwilligendienst hier, an deren Verbesserung wir stetig arbeiten.
Trotz wenig Gelegenheit der Mithilfe für uns und viel Gottesdienst verbrachten wir diese Konferenz in Wawa sehr schön, haben die Gemeinde mit Strand und Kokospalmen kennen gelernt, diese, die Kokosmilch (die übrigens klar und nicht weiß ist) zu genüge gekostet und uns mit den Jugendlichen ausgetauscht sowie ihnen einige Wörter deutsch beigebracht.
Ein Ereignis gab es bei der Konferenz, das uns ziemlich grübeln und ungläubig schauen ließ: krisi siknis. Diese „Verrückte Krankheit“ ist ein Phänomen, welches wohl öfter bei solchen Konferenzen auftritt und hauptsächlich junge Mädchen und Frauen betrifft. Diese verfallen dann in eine Art Wahn, schreien, schlagen wild um sich und versuchen wegzurennen. Dabei entwickeln die sie, „Befallenen“, eine solche Kraft, dass es mehrerer Männer benötigt um sie festzuhalten und zu zähmen, bis der Anfall nachlässt. Die Miskitus glauben, diese Wahnanfälle werden durch einen Hexer mit einem schwarzen Buch, der im Namen des Teufels dunkle Magie betreibt, ausgelöst. Während der Anfälle sprechen manche der Betroffenen über eben diesen Hexer und wie viele Leute insgesamt von der Krankheit befallen werden, dabei nennen sie teilweise deren Namen. Zur Heilung wird den Erkrankten eine Mischung aus Knoblauch, blauem Pulver und ein paar Kräutern auf Gesicht und Brustkorb aufgetragen. Am Ende der Konferenz hatte sich die ganze Situation dann wieder beruhigt und es wurden auch nicht siebzig Personen von der Krankheit befallen, wie die Betroffenen vorhergesagt hatten. Für mich war dieser ganze Spuk ziemlich unbegreiflich und ich weiß immer noch nicht genau, was ich davon halten soll. Ich 'm that grew up in a world in which reason is above all and there are all logical and rational explanation. The people of the Miskitu is very superstitious, believing in Sirens (women) in waters, the men into the depths, demons and spirits of the dead who wander about at night and people who can transform into monkeys. "Krisi siknis" also seems to be a cultural phenomenon, it is also the director of Preparatoria says the local university.
occurred at our next conference in late April in Halover this phenomenon does not occur. This conference was a fairly small, with only about 50 participants, but ein wunderbares Ereignis. Halover liegt noch ein Stück weiter südlich als Wawa Bar zwischen der Atlantikküste Nicaraguas und einer Lagune. Die Anreise im Panga dauerte sechs Stunden, bei praller Sonne über Lagune und Meer, doch der Ort und der Empfang ließ das vergessen. Bei Sonnenuntergang erreichten wir die Comunidad, wo uns eine Horde Kinder, Frauen und Männer freudig erwarteten und uns sogleich unser Gepäck zur Kirche, dem Ortszentrum, trugen. Zusammen mit fünf anderen Teilnehmern aus Puerto übernachteten wir in einem der typischen auf Stelzen gebauten Holzhäusern.
Der Ablauf der Konferenz war ähnlich dessen in Wawa, Unterricht und culto; wir hatten diesmal auch einen Vortrag vorbereitet, und zwar über Environment and its protection, which is not written here very large. Garbage lying around everywhere, whether on the street, on rivers or on the beach, empty gas can be thrown from the boat into the sea and, therefore, come gasoline, even if only in small quantities in the waters. The problem is the extent that free-run around these pigs eat garbage, and get in fish and crabs, the decomposing waste materials and thus bacteria that lead to diseases in humans. In addition, the groundwater is polluted, which is considered by most people here drink untreated. Diarrhea and stomach problems are therefore not uncommon, not only because non-habit-foreign stomachs are affected. Our presentation was well received on the subject in itself, it was also much in demand, but by leaving the church (where we had argued), probably directly be removed from the brain. For example, has less than 10 minutes later one of the leaders of AJECIM again threw a plastic bag just like that on Earth, which has made us very angry.
During this conference we also have an afternoon with about 50 children of the Comunidad played some games, such as catching, cat and mouse as well as a singing and clapping game, which was super fun. A friend helped translate for us, because most people speak in the remote communities only miskitu. Although I am here to lernen und habe auch einige Fortschritte gemacht, kann mich mit den Kindern unterhalten, doch zum Spiele erklären reicht es leider noch nicht.
Zurück nach Puerto sollte es am Montag morgen um 3 Uhr gehen, schlussendlich starteten wir um 6 Uhr vom Strand aus, bei gutem Wellengang, der unseren leeren Mägen ein gewisses Unwohlsein bescherte. Proviant hatten wir keinen dabei, daran wird hier generell nie gedacht; nur Moritz und ich hatten eine Flasche Wasser.
Internationale Konferenz ID (Identität)
Eine weitere Konferenz fand Ende Dezember, Anfang Januar statt, keine gewöhnliche AJECIM-Konferenz jedoch, sondern die Internationale Konferenz ID, von der ich in meinem 1. Unterstützerbrief berichtet habe. Hierbei we could apart from the preparation involved, unfortunately, not in form, as we had imagined. However, we have helped in the kitchen, took part in the talks, and accompanied the participants from the United States, Congo and Sweden and animated, and exchanged experiences.
Smaller works
Otherwise, I assume from time to time minor works arising in the office of AJECIM, such as invitations to write or help in preparing the church volleyball league. In January, after the talks concerning the voluntary service, and I have Moritz also supports the organization of a brigade consisting largely of young people from here and Americans.
Visitors from Germany
the start of the international conference in late December, I had the luck to have my parents here, who in mid-December came to visit me. One week we spent together on the Pacific coast, the cities of Managua, Granada, Masaya looked at and some nice days on the island with two volcanoes - Ometepe - removed. Then we are together in my new "home" is carried, where we have lived together in the family pastor of my church community, so my parents got a pretty good insight into the Nicaraguan life. Christmas and New Year we have celebrated, but the atmosphere was pretty funny, un-Christmassy ohne Kälte und Plätzchen von Oma.
NicaNetz-Seminar und die Art des Reisens
Eine weiteres Mal bin ich im Februar an den Pazifik gereist. Grund diesmal war das NicaNetz-Seminar, welches 4 Tage lang in der Nähe von Managua stattfand. Doch statt zu fliegen bin ich dieses Mal zusammen mit Moritz per Bus gereist, was, trotz einer Distanz von nur 517 km, eine Fahrt von 20 Stunden bedeutete. Denn die Straße von Puerto nach Managua ist nicht geteert, besteht nur aus Sand, Staub und riesigen Löchern und die Busse, die eingesetzt werden, sind die ältesten Amischulbusse überhaupt und müssen teilweise alle 40 Minuten anhalten (wie bei mir auf dem Rückweg), um Kühlwasser nachzuschütten oder sonstige Reparaturen make. On the way we have also had the bad luck that was a strike in Rosita, which earned us a waiting time of four hours (the road was blocked), and lobsters in Siuna smugglers were transferred, which cost us another two hours. The seminar and the rest of the day there, but stressful compensated for travel. Nearly 20 German volunteers from various parts of Nicaragua had come (but we were the only Costeños - could report to our "colleagues" according to a lot) to catch up on work, problems and exchange experiences and to listen to some lectures. And I realized that it was once again beautiful, with many of his countrymen to be sharing the odd lack of understanding about Nicagewohnheiten as the mobile phone, TV and stereo system are important as a solid house with four walls, drinking water (treated water) or the school fees of children. At the end of the seminar we had the honor to be still in the German embassy to be allowed to host and take a German lunch discussion with the deputy ambassador.
Costa and their "autonomy"
A few days of the "West holiday" used Moritz and I add a side trip to San Juan del Sur make it, swim through the canyon of Somoto to climb the volcano of Masaya and exclusives such as pizza yellow to enjoy cheese and McDonalds. Things here are not or only very expensive on the Atlantic coast. The reason is that the nominally autonomous region of North Atlantic, actually quite dependent on the rest of the country and has hardly any factories and industry, but many things imported from Managua. Even basic things like milk, eggs, chicken and tomatoes are expensive (note the street and the petrol prices) from the Pacific Ocean brought in what for me is quite understandable, you could grow them but here and breed. So the milk is, however, twice as expensive as the Pacific and almost no one paid, the chicken prices are rising steadily. This is a Example which shows that people here often do not-or after-thinking forward. Semana Santa
Some beautiful days we spent here in March during the Semana Santa, the Easter week to have almost all the work was technically released in Puerto. We got to visit the occasion of very many cheles (White), two volunteers from the Pacific plus appendix and a friend of Moritz from Germany. During this week in a part of the beach up eating and beer stands, ie there is late-night fiesta. Normally, this is only at night or walk on the beach are not possible due to loitering thieves.
fall
A not so happy event happened to me two weeks ago. I rode in the evening with the bike home it was dark, and probably have a hole in the nichtasphaltierenden but missed only of dust existing road, so I fell and fell directly on his face. I'm riding my bike then probably home, I can not remember, because in the fall, I suffered a 5-hour blackout. Moritz me then taken to the hospital was where I spent the night. The following days I spent at home in bed to recover. Studies were not performed in the hospital in Puerto, I was only given a date for June with some specialists, which is of course much too late. So I'm Now last week to Managua to the hospital, "fly" and let me by check. In the fall I have probably suffered a concussion, but now it is all right.
Yes, I flew on the plane and that the special forces of the Army, once a week from Managua to Puerto and flies back, while passengers are on the way back with it. You just have to have relations, so can fly a plane ticket and permission was usually 500 Cordoba (= U.S. $ 26) costs to get hold of. Great, I'm with the help of our neighbors, who works with the Government in the field of public relations, within 2 hours of this permission the Gobernador of the RAAN apply for leave and the colonel of the special forces can confirm. Thus, Moritz and I flew the next day and have the flight even still get nothing, we as "dear brothers and volunteers from Germany".
view
When I was in hospital in Managua, I am a friend, also German volunteers traveled to Matagalpa, where I spent almost four days. Then I took the bus to Guatemala, where I will spend short 12 days of my vacation.
Right now I'm on Lake Atitlan, where I will travel to Antigua to Tikal to visit the ancient Mayan sites.
Then, back to the Costa, is my service dann auch schon langsam dem Ende entgegen. Was noch ansteht ist eine Reise nach Musawas im Juli, eine abgelegene Gemeinde im Zentrum Nicaraguas, die wir für zwei Wochen besuchen werden. Darüber werde ich dann aber ausführlich in meinem letzten Unterstützerbrief berichten.
Ansonsten werde ich aber auch weiterhin Neuigkeiten auf meinem Blog
http://swanny-in-bilwi.blogspot.com/ hinterlassen sowie Fotos online stellen.
Über Post, ob elektronisch oder auf dem alten Wege, freue mich immer.
Zum Schluss möchte ich Euch allen nochmal von Herzen danken, dass ihr mir mit Eurer Unterstützung dieses Jahr hier in Nicaragua ermöglicht. Während der bisher verstrichenen Zeit habe ich realized how important it is a cultural exchange, for the people of Puerto, in particular the young people with whom we have to do well for myself. Often people have never spoken to a foreigner who only know their own little world. Thus, the exchange and communication was an important part of our ministry here, so is not called Peace Service. Through conversation, doing things that run at us differently (whether better or worse), clears and can explain any Voruteile or misconceptions (eg Germany to the U.S. is). Whether that creates peace? In my opinion, yes, it definitely carries some help, because peace means auch Verständnis der Völker und Menschen zwischeneinander, Toleranz, Offenheit und Geduld.
Liebe Grüße
Swantje
