Cliff's Arrival

Just a note to let you know I got here safe and sound on Sunday, and am here in Granada learning Spanish and getting to know the area.  I´ve met a lot of student volunteers who are working at various schools in the area, and am getting a feel from them of what the education system is like.  Here in Granada my perception is that the schools are more rigorous, i.e. teachers tend to show up for school most days, and the great majority of kids you see on the streets are wearing school uniforms, so school attendance seems to be better here in the city.  The shool bands and drill teams are all practicing out on the streets for some kind of upcoming competition.  It´s quite noisy outside right now with drums banging from one of the schools out in the central plaza next to the cathedral.

I´m staying about 2 blocks south of the plaza, boarding with a local family.

Oh, one piece of info is that Nicaragua isn´t on daylight saving time now, so the local time is the same as Mountain time in the U.S. - 2 hours before EDT.  Sunrise is at 5:15 or so, and sunset about 6:45.  And yep it´s hot like a steam sauna, and rains about 9pm most nights, but not any during the day so far at least.

What´s sad is that so many people are very under-employed here.  Even the people who have an education barely make any money, and it seems like everyone just survives from one day to the next.  On the other hand, the people don´t seem angry or depressed (much), although nobody seems to have any aspirations or much hope for the future.  Everything and everybody moves slowly, because hey, what´s the point in hurrying?  Well those are my impressions so far - I could be way off, I may have a totally different perspective a week or two from now.

Well I just wanted to touch base with you.  It will be good to see you and the team next weekend.