To start off, Wednesday was Mother's day here in Nicaragua. Mother's day is HUGE here, like half the stores were closed and everyone was celebrating. We went and visited the nuns because the kids were presenting the dances and program that they've been practicing. Ashley and I had to help lead the dance, and in one case, there weren't even numbers so we had to hop in! They were all so cute, I have a bunch of pictures and videos for you all!
The awesome decorations:
Me, guarding the door to the girl's changing room:
The parents, waiting patiently for previously mentioned big entrance:
The nun, she told a mother's day story. It was about a mom who was doing all the things mother's do (washing, ironing, washing, cleaning, all that fun stuff) until one day she couldn't take it any more. Then she prayed to God that she could just be returned to her normal state. And God consented, and the next day she was pregnant.
Did I mention how awesome these nuns are? They dance, they strangle kids... and even occasionally dress up as a clown for a mother's day party. Is that even allowed?
The final dance number:
Aaand then I had to go try on their costumes :)
Oh! Also, during the middle of the program the nun got up and introduced us, and said we were going to lead them in some kind of game or activity... Yikes!.. Luckily, we had taught the kids "Do As I'm Doing" the day before. So I got up and said a bit about how our Mother's are great examples, and then we had a few of the mom's come up and volunteer to be leaders. Also, this is the only video that works.
This week we also went to an organization called "Las Barrietes." Which is similar to the nuns in the aspect that they work with at risk kids, but these kids are a lot younger, preschool-1st grade. Rachel and I helped out in the preschool class and basically fell in love with each of these kids.
The girl I'm talking to is Isa, Cecilio is trying to pull Michel off that stump and Emilio is over on the right, laughing:
Michel, Isa, Emilio and I:
Francesco didn't want to play outside, but he loved looking at this picture book with me!
Around Leon, there are these "bike taxis" that are basically a giant tricycle that a couple people can fit in. Generally, its only like three people. We fit five of us on there and Frank was still able to give us a ride. As we were starting he said in English: Look at my super tricycle!
And then also this week was Kid's Day, or dia del nino! It basically consists of lots of games and fireworks. On Kid's day Ashley and I played soccer with our new friends in front of la Catedral, which is basically a colonial cathedral, which is basically awesome.
This week we also went salsa dancing. It was so exhausting but so fun! It was also nice because we were in a giant group of gringas so nobody asked us to dance and we could just dance by ourselves :)
Then yesterday, one of our meetings got canceled, and so we stopped by an orphanage real quick. It turns out that it's a home for children who are disabled, and most of them are disabled by a sickness. There are 12 kids, and only 4 of them are really functional. We think we're going to start helping them with physical therapy or something.
Pretty much, time passes way too quick here. I always think "Oh, I don't need to shave my legs today, I shaved them yesterday." And then I think about it and it was really 4 days ago. Or I think, "Oh, I haven't written in my journal since a couple days ago." And it was really a week ago, and I only wrote the date.
I'm adding to your title....but not fast enough!
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