Kodak Moment

After Spanish class, the students and teachers climbed into a van and drove to Rivas, a larger town about a one hour drive inland. There we stopped at a supermarket to buy large quantities of candy, soft drinks and ice cream. Back on the street, we found a store a few doors down selling piñatas and bought a huge, red one in the shape of a dog. Once we had loaded the dog with candies the van took us to the shores of Lake Nicaragua and an orphanage operated there by a U.S. based baptist ministry.

Forty shouting, jumping little children greeted us while eying our presents with greedy anticipation. The piñata didn't last beyond its sixth assailant, a tiny boy with the swing of Barry Bonds. As it contents spilled onto the floor, the kids swarmed the scattering goodies, pulling up the hems of their shirts to make baskets for their loot. I've seen unfortunate children before in heartbreaking circumstances, so it was a special joy to see these happy little ones with their bright, smiling faces. The place has a good feeling to it that makes you believe these kids are well cared for and truly loved. Its location is certainly gorgeous, with geese, dogs and pea hens wandering the grounds. There was dancing, games were played and many pictures were taken. Outgoing ones who reached up their arms were picked up and held while shy ones had their nervous tears wiped away and were gently encouraged to join in.

I discovered that some of the children resident there have been orphaned and others have been abandoned, a situation that has sadly become more common in recent years, since the government outlawed abortion. Oddly, Nicaragua is one of only three countries in the world in which ending a pregnancy is illegal under all circumstances.

On the way back I spoke with a newly arrived student, Laurene, a middle-aged earth mother type who owns a store on one of B.C.'s channel islands, selling handicrafts to the tourists. She is in town for a couple of weeks with her daughter, Mandela (yes, really), visiting her two sons who are surfing real estate agents, or perhaps real estate selling surfers. The sons could be the local contacts I need to help me purchase a motorcycle and Laurene also informed me of a local dance teacher who gives private salsa classes for $20 per week. Lorene has invited me to visit the house where her family will be staying next week on Ometepe, the island in the centre of Lake Nicaragua crowned with two volcanoes. My calendar is filling up.