A Letter From Ryan in Nicaragua

Amigos y familia!,
I am in rural Northern Nicaragua.  I have already been to Granada to
drop off two duffle bags of donations.  On my way here, everytime the
bus that I was on slowed down, or before it took off, women and young
girls would come on selling water in a sealed plastic bag, gum,
pastries, and other things I wasn't particularly interested in.  I
gave them colored pencils and pens and soon another set of little
girls arrived at my seat after they got word.  They were so happy with
even a pen. I gave one girl a tennis ball.

I am visiting my canadian friend Ramond. He and I are the only white
people in the town.   Trash along the road sides does not concern me
as much as the mountain of trash out-of-site and out-of-mind like we
have in the states.  They also toss food scraps on the ground to
immediateley return to the cycle of life and death(much better than
locking up that fertility in plastic bags. Where I am however, the
locals really don't create much trash.

It is  midway through the dry season.  The roads and path ways are
dirt and very dry. The air is also dry. However under shade the breeze
keeps you cool.  Life is much slower paced here and very relaxing.
Raymond is a very generous host.  I haven't payed for a single meal in
3 days. he also gives me his room to sleep in, while he sleeps outside
in one of the other hammocks.   He does not mind this however because
it is very nice outside.  I don't remember the last time I saw so many
stars in the sky.  there is no significant light pollution where I am.
The smells and sounds are very nourishing.

I have already met some incredible local people filled with passion
and working toward improving livelihood.  For instance, Adin sang a
song last night that he wrote about sound agricultural methods. He
mentioned countour lines and mulches.  Another group is building more
effiecient wood burning stoves.  They use less wood and burn hotter.
The hotter the cleaner, which means less smoke. Much of the mortality
in Central America is caused from cooking on woods stoves with smoke
in the air.

One unfortunate thing I have witnessed is Nicaraguans can be very
hard on their animals.  Also, there is some inequality between men and
women.

Although these people are very poor they work with appropriate
technology that I admire.  I have attached a picture of a cement
dishwasher/sink.  I washed my clothes and It was wonderful.  Most of
my conversations revolve around plants and water harvesting
techniques.

The Nicaraguans in this area speak kind of a lazy spanish often
dropping the "s" of completely. I love it!
Adio,
Ryan Barr

p.s. I have much more to share including pictures but time is limited
and the internet connection is weak.