Mi Casa Su Casa

My time in Leon was just Oh so relaxing in the sleep department.  My little 7 year old friend went to bed at 9 and woke up at 5, but she was always peeking in to see when I would be up.  It was so cute having that relationship where we both couldn't wait to wake up and see each other.  When I opened the door, she would casually walk by give me a big hug.  She would ask me where I was going and what time I would be back.  The time coming back was never consistent-poor Elizabeth. 

There was little noise and I slept very well going to sleep by 10.  There was just one thing that I was curious about....
One day I asked her, "Elizabeth, why are you always running back in forth in front of my room?
She puts her hand over her mouth.

"I'm suppose to be quiet in the morning. You hear me?"

I respond, "Yes, I hear you little feet slapping against the pavement. Then I know that your up."

She responds, "I'm sorry it's just that I'm running."
There is no one for her to play with as her sister does not live in the house. 

I ask, "Why are you running?"

She responds, "Well my mom told me that I better run otherwise I'm going to get fat. And I need to watch what I eat because the food is fattening here and not organic."  

She was wearing leggings and pointed to her adorable thighs. 

She says, "These are a problem."

I say, "Ohhh I see. You know there is one thing between being healthy, but worrying about your body at 7 is another."

She says, "Well I can't go outside and play so I have to run around inside."

I agree, "Yes, this is true, but have fun doing it and don't over do it."

I told her she was beautiful just the way she is, but that line doesn't really work when your Mom is drilling you to stay thin at seven years old.
My poor pequena amiga leading her way right to an eating disorder at 7.  Thanks Mom! Oh and thanks Miami for the need for perfection!

A Fight She Won't Win

Sometimes the fight feels like a hard one to win. While nothing will be perfection and progress does occur, when will the brick wall come down?  As a human being, I fight hard for people and I believe in their potential to rise despite the way the world perceives them. Sometimes people cross my path and I wonder if they are going to win the battle against a world so cold.  

When it comes to the underprivileged community abroad, there is such disregard for their being by community and governments. The government has little to no consideration about their food, education, and shelter.  Community NGOs, various local organizations, and the church advocate for their rights, but the negative perspective of  the world leaders remains the same.  When it comes to their personal struggles: alcoholism, drug addiction, poverty, and the psychological consequences-people are lost. That person with depression should get out of bed. That personal with Bipolar disorder should control their mood swings. That person with schizophrenia should put on headphones to get rid of the voices. I have to work all day and these people should too.  The hospital is there to treat them if they are sick. While I try my best to educate others by making real analogies, demonstrating internal struggles, and giving them step by step ways to assist. And it's my belief that the change is truly made one human being at a time, which keeps me going within my work. 

Although, the overall population in the world does not get it and some days traveling make it difficult to believe.  People choose to label this population-those who are underprivileged encountering mental illness as "crazy, sick, or pathetic."
When it comes to Mental Illness, it takes a person who has a personal experience with it or a mental health professional to even begin to understand. These who do have a family member or friend may be blind at first, but the time with individual becomes a learning experience. 

If it's not you're family member or friend, are you willing to take the time to learn or will you choose a label? These people are human beings with feelings, dreams, passions, creativity, love, and curiosity. They want to see the world and be a part of it just as much as the Sally with the Yale degree, the perfect job, and recent engagement. They are not given an equal, fighting chance.  When these people are seen talking to themselves on the streets, standing in line at the church for food, or crying for love and affection.  The light bulb needs to go off that these people are human.  They are human beings who deserve acknowledgment. They deserve a hello, a how are you, a question about their life and interests because they are human.  There is no reason to discard their feelings and give them a dirty look as you are superior.  This mentality will not get the US or the world anywhere.  It's the mentality and the superiority that are true barriers towards reaching significant progress. 

Each day I will keep fighting for this population because I believe in them... I always have and I always will....

                      Think before Judgment

Shiny Happy People

LOVE THESE SIMPLY HAPPY SOULS. MAY GOD BLESS THEM ALL WITH SAFETY, SECURITY, LOVE, AND PEACE. 

La Isla Foundation

Of all the wonderful NGOs that I come across, I realize that I definitely do not mention them enough on this blog. La Isla Foundation is one that truly touched my heart because it works with a population that may be forgotten about without their assistance.  It's mission is to help advocate rights for those that are have Chronic Kidney Disease(CKD) and are out of work. The population they work with is a small village called Chichigalpa just outside of Leon.  

Older age males and females engage in strenuous labor in hot climates leading to sickness. CKD is diagnosed and the access to proper treatment is near impossible.  These people can not afford dialysis and kidney transplants. There is also no way to slow down the process of CKD.  It leaves human beings just waiting around for death. In the last ten years, 46 percent of deaths were caused by CKD in Chichi(www.laislafoundation.org)
Unfortunately, this is happening throughout Central America, Sri Lanka, and India killing thousands of people each year.  People are leaving their families behind dying too young for a disease that can be treated. 

You can be part of the solution by donating today. 

https://laislafoundation.org/

Churches of Leon

Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of León, typical colonial baroque building built between 1747 and 1814. Because of its solid, anti-seismic construction its walls have endured earthquakes, volcanic eruptions of Cerro Negro volcano, and bombings during civil wars. Several cannons were placed on the roof both during the siege of the city by conservative forces in 1824 and during the Revolution of 1979 against dictator Anastasio Somoza Debayle.

The Assumption's is the largest cathedral in Central America while it has been the first episcopal seat of Nicaragua since 1531, making it one of the oldest dioceses in the Americas. In the cathedral's crypts are buried several illustrious figures such as poet and diplomat Rubén Darío, at the foot of the statue of St. Paul. Darío is the leading figure of the Modernism Poetic Movement of the late 1800's to early 1900's and was declared the Prince of Spanish Letters by literary figures of the Spanish speaking world. Other illustrious figures buried at Leon's cathedral are poets Salomón de la Selva and Alfonso Cortés, father of independence Miguel Larreynaga, classical composer and musician José de la Cruz Mena, and several bishops.

There are a number of tunnels that connect the Cathedral with other temples that were used as hideouts or escape routes during terrorist attacks by British, Dutch, and French pirates. However, the tunnels are not accessible to the public for some have been converted to the sewer system service. In the early 20th century the first bishop of León and last in Nicaragua, Archbishop Simeón Pereira y Castellón (the same who presided over the funeral of Darío on February 13, 1916) commissioned Granadan sculptor Jorge Navas Cordonero to make a statue of the Virgin Mary to crown the top the façade, and two pairs of Atlanteans to support the beams that connect the central gable to the flanking bell towers. Navas also sculpted the statues of the Twelve Apostles inside, along with the columns of the central nave, and the lion at the tomb of Dario, which resembles the Lion of Lucerne, Switzerland. Navas also created several moldings in the interior walls and built the Tabernacle Chapel.

• Church of Subtiava was considered the main temple after the cathedral. Its construction began in 1698, during magistrate Diego Rodríguez Menéndez administration and was completed August 24, 1710. In 1844, during the war with El Salvador, the tower dome was destroyed but it was re-built in the early 20th century.

• Church of San Francisco is part of the convent of San Francisco, one of the oldest in Nicaragua, founded in 1639 by Friar Pedro de Zúñiga. In the interior remain two good examples of plateresque altars. However, its main attraction is the outstanding courtyard. Built in pure, Leonese colonial style, this is a grassy expanse with an ashlar fountain at the center from which four radiating walkways, flanked by manicured lemon trees, lead to the surrounding porticoes where some of the columns are covered in red bougainvilleas. Towards the south, a line of Royal palms shade the roof and complete the peaceful ensemble.

• Church of la Recolección, construction began on December 5, 1786, by Bishop Juan Félix de Villegas thanks to contributions made by parishioners. Its outstanding Mexican baroque façade is considered one of the most important in the city. The interior also contains one of the best baroque altarpieces in the city highlighted with paintings and silver engravings.

• Church of la Merced, in 1762 the Mercedarian fathers built the first convent and church but these were demolished later. In the 18th century the present Church of la Merced was erected with drawings attributed to Mercedario Friar Pedro de Ávila and conducted by master builder Pascual Somarriba. Adjacent to the north side of la Merced is the Paraninfo (former Mercedarion convent) built in beautifully delicate Baroque style which is now UNAN's main administrative building.

• Church of el Calvario, a fantasy of textures and colors of pure Leonese baroque. The façade consists of a central body, painted off-yellow with white trimming supported by white, half columns. The gable contains high reliefs of the passion of Christ. The two flanking bell towers painted Burgundy red and highlighted with white grooving, are made up of righ reliefs representing bricks. The central body contains a central Roman arch door flanked by two smaller, flat ones. They are all separated by columns, topped by a frieze covered in white garlands. The interiors are a pleasant soft white to keep them cool during the long, hot, and dry Leonese summers. The ceiling, also white, is highlighted by red and yellow outlining in the shape of crosses, leaves, and flowers. Built by the illustrious Mayorga family, el Calvario dates from the first half of the 18th century and it is one of Leon's architectural jewels at the east end of calle Real or "Main Street".

• Ruins of the Church of San Sebastián, built in the late 17th century as a chapel of the Cathedral, San Sebastián's was one of the first religious buildings in the city. Re-built in late 18th century by Colonel Joaquín Arrechavala, it was bombed during the siege of León by airplanes of the regime's Nicaraguan Air Force (FAN) in 1979. Since it was built with adobe bricks San Sebastián's was easily destroyed, unlike other churches built in brick or stone which endured shootings and bombings.

• Church of Guadalupe, built in the late 19th century under the auspices of father Villamil replacing an 18th-century hermitage, it is of simple construction, in keeping with the sobriety of the Franciscans.

• Church of Zaragoza, with an atrium and lateral corridor, its construction began in the late 19th century and ended in the mid-20th century by Bishop Salmerón, the façade was designed by Dr. Francisco Mateo.

• Church of San Felipe, a large building that occupies an entire block, it was built in 1685 for blacks and mulattoes worshipers. In 1859 it underwent an extensive expansion that gave it its present form, whereas the tower was restored in 1983.

              (Wikipedia- Leon, Nicaragua)

                      

                     

                                 

Pan and Paz

When you travel, you will find that tourists do not just eat the local food, but they share their own food with a city.  Many of the establishments founded or created are "tourist friendly" with "higher prices," but locals are introduced to foods foreign to them.  Many locals may not be able to travel to France, India, Thailand, Spain, or Poland.  These tourists(aka expats or foreigners) open up restaurants, cafes, markets, health food stores in territory that is foreign to their own.  The business start up is not easy, but they make it happen.             
When it comes to the quality of these places, some can be wonderful and possibly affordable for a local person.  Others can be so expensive it would take a week's pay for a local to eat there. Many places truly integrate themselves into the community hiring local staff, having local customers, and they make a name for themselves in a small city.  In Panajachel, there was one South African lady who opened this tiny coffee shop with her husband. It was always packed full of locals, the energy was electric, and she had a 15 year old girl working by her side. She also played religious music and was a true believer. Regardless of this, this was a fantastic place to grab a fresh cup of coffee, a slice of carrot cake, and sit down and get to know a local-fantastic. 

In Leon, the place that everyone(mostly tourists) seemed to know and talk about was a café named "Pan and Paz." 

Here's a little history I enjoy from website:

In the year 2008 we (Frenchman Christian and Dutch Miranda) met and fell in love with each other in Granada, Nicaragua.
Shortly after, we visited León for one day and both of us immediately also fell in love with this very special, cultural and historically rich city. Little did we know that about one and a half year later we would open our own bakery here.

Christian was born and raised in the most famous bakery of Mayenne, a small historic city in the north-west of France. Already as a child Christian knew he wanted to explore the world, but his father (obviously a wise man) told him that he first had to learn a profession and this is how Christian became a baker and learned all the secrets from his father. Besides that he also went to school to become a master-baker.The following years Christian travelled the world and baked bread in many different places, so he learned to adjust his work to local circumstances like ingredients, temperature and humidity. Now Christian is the baker for Pan & Paz and teaches his Nicaraguan workers the French way of making bread.

Miranda was born and raised in Halle, a tiny village in the east of the Netherlands. After her studies she worked for several years with a lot of pleasure as a software- and business process consultant. When she was fed up with this stressful life and the traffic jams in the Netherlands she decided to quit her job and give up her house in order to travel and spend time writing. At Pan & Paz you’ll find her most in the shop, patiently explaining to the locals what the (for them unknown) products are and in the mean time babbling in different languages with all the international guests. Besides this she does all the design stuff (logo, flyers, website) for Pan & Paz.

This couple had love, passion, and persistence making a great relaxing bakery. They have an interest in "familiarizing the Leonese with the French culture of bread." This is something special that they want to teach people about French bread. 
Inside there is a beautiful courtyard where they have nice seats to relax-it's a great place to write.  They play international music including Spanish and French.  They also have Decaf coffee, which is hard to find in Central America so I was content with my pastry and coffee. 
     

It's common to hear expats (couples, a family, or individuals) who fall in love with a city, decide to move there, and pursue their passion. This passion may consist of many things, but food is regularly seen.  This is an expat who is thinking outside the box. They are prepared for a challenge, which many face significant challenge working with a new culture.  Usually, those who are American suffer from the most difficulties, but they work through it. They made a commitment for a new life outside the "American Dream."
These expats who sell their houses, cars, and move their whole life to a new city to open a new business in a foreign culture-my hat goes off to them.  This is what traveling is truly about when you are sharing your own culture everyday with someone else. 

Haponese Haponese!!

When I get older....
Hmmm I sit and analyze my life as I am sitting in the rocking chair in front of the Old Cathedral.  How can you not ponder your life while sitting in a rocking chair? It's mandatory to sit and think on a rocking chair- okay semi-mandatory. 
Francisco is sitting and building a rocking chair and I am just talking with my thoughts out loud. Singing and singing away the only Spanish song I memorized. They are getting their daily dose of entertainment for the day, which is nice for them.  It could also be annoying to hear my singing, but that's the way the tourist goes. 

Clearly, I am also trying to entertain myself. I'm feeling like I need some attention or action of some sort.  As I am sitting there I see two large tourist buses pull up in front of the Gran Cathedral. I am thinking, 

"Oh great my lovely view of the church and park has been tainted." 

I was enjoying my time with the chair builders and all Ado about morning. Sunday was quiet and not a tourist day? 

Directly in front of me, I see the man on the loud speakers in the front of the bus. He is dressed nice and wearing a nice navy shirt and pants with white tennis shoes. He comes off the bus first to inspect the area. I am thinking that these people must be important. Of course there are the black shaded windows giving me no visibility.  

Another gentlemen hands him a large bottle of hand sanitizer.  Who would be smart enough to give hand sanitizer to each person who walks off the bus??

The Japonese!!! 

Oh one of the most amazing cultures is Japanese. I am sitting in the chair shouting, "Yaay Haponese." " I love Haponese."  The H is for the Spanish so I was emphasizing the "H.

Francisco Making Rocking Chairs 

They hurry off the bus with their cameras and wearing their large sun hats and big smiles. How could someone not love them. They are seriously the cutest and most curious tourists ever. They always ask questions, want a good bargain, and enjoy exploring all over. Their culture is completely fascinating and everyone says positive things about it. 
It was my time to make a move and interact one on one with the Haponese. I wanted to help them get those bargains they desired.  
First, I helped out the big lady sell her hammock.

This was a special hammock that she was selling for $20. For this hammock that was a huge bargain. These go for $50 in the big tourist cities. The Haponese girl wanted $14. The lady wanted $15. They kept going back and forth over $1. I finally convinced her that this was with the extra $1. She say, " Okay okay I buy." 

I asked her where this lovely group of people were coming from and she said the,"peace boat." This a boat that goes for peace missions over a 3 month journey in 20 countries. That is incredible and my first thought was "Where can I sign up?" They explained that it is only a Japanese thing. Also, besides a few young people, it was mostly older people.

Next, I helped a cute couple pick out a ring. My sales skills were in "Full power." It was one sale to the next and since some people did not speak Spanish, I helped them out a bit. It was so fun spending time with these lovely people. 
They hopped back on the bus with hand sanitizer being pumped into their hands. I went back to my rocking chair and waived at them while driving away. This is such a great culture and I was so happy to see some Asians. 

                         Peace out Haponese!

             

Love you Haponese! Hope to visit you one day in Japan!