Everything got here ok, thank goodness. I was worried. Managua is a crazy city, we got out of there as fast as we could. The traffic cops are corrupt and kept stopping us as they could see we were in a rental and the only way to get rid of them was to pay dineros!!! There are no street names so it took us a day and a half to find the Casa Canadiense we wanted to visit. They also have special rules for round abouts, but who knows what they are!!!
Yesterday and today I have been to 2 schools, one with 90 students and one with 40 students, all mixed ages. The one class we had outside with a portable white board they hang outside I taught the older kids portraiture and the younger kids stillife drawing. Today we did lines and they painted with all different things from feathers to pom poms. And then we did some landscape painting. They think I am crazy. All the supplies have been very well received and welcomed.
The basic level of education is not at all bad but sporadic. If the teacher is sick then school is cancelled. Yesterday school closed early as the fumigators came and all the kids had to go home. I did not ask what they were fumigating against. I have had an interpreter come with me each day as I am finding the spanish very difficult. But I am improving, by my return I should be able to give a solid art class in spanish!!! I am working in 3 schools outside old San Juan del Sur, about a thirty minute drive on incredibly bad roads, I am not sure that the rental car will still be in one piece by the time we return it!!!!
The rest of the time we have been swimming at different beaches and eating. We went fishing and caught a Mackarel which we later bbqed! Very delisiousa! I will send some photos for the blog (Nicaartnews) very soon , the kids are adorable and very polite. Good times!
Love to all and I wish you could all be here experiencing this wonderful place. Mucho love and hugs,
Sue
