With one week remaining until the start of classes, I am getting geared up (no pun intended) to go out to all my schools. As part of my preparations, here is a pic of my snazzy new bike.
Yes, I know, it looks expensive. That's because it was a little more expensive than the standard model. But it was the only kind in the whole place that had a low cross bar. Four different stores and all they had was men's bikes with high cross bars. I can't deal with that. I fall over. I hurt my groin (already did it once on a borrowed bike). I was confused by how the Nicaraguan women do it, but the answer is they either start standing up or with their bike next to a curb, in front of someone's house etc. So I bought the low cross bar since I am much less skilled than they. They also must all have behinds of steel because I rode around for a bit yesterday and today it hurts to sit. The padded seat is not known in these parts and the roads are a mixture of dirt and very large rocks. I am very out of shape due to all the polvorones and such I've been chowing down on during my time of relative ease. I'm thinking I should have bought my bike sooner and practiced riding to get back into shape. After all, one of my schools is 10K away and I can ride a bus with my bike halfway there, but I have to come back the whole way on bike. That might not seem like a lot to some of you, but think of me, and my soft fleshy academic's body that has little balance, little heat tolerance, and absolutely no muscle to speak of. It's going to be a steep adjustment curve. But I will prevail. If there are no more posts after Feb 5 (my first day at that school), you'll know I didn't make it.
This week we have teacher meetings/trainings, and Feb 4 is the first day of classes. I'll keep you posted on any other exciting events.
And finally, here is a picture of me with some of my nieces and nephews in our "couch", which is basically the purpose of a hammock here. They are a wild bunch! From the left to the right is Lucia, Henry, Kati, Fernando, and Ernesto. The gringa is me. Lucia and Kati are sisters and Henry and Ernesto are brothers. We're missing two more brothers of Lucia and Kati. Also, notice my enormous hair.
Yes, I know, it looks expensive. That's because it was a little more expensive than the standard model. But it was the only kind in the whole place that had a low cross bar. Four different stores and all they had was men's bikes with high cross bars. I can't deal with that. I fall over. I hurt my groin (already did it once on a borrowed bike). I was confused by how the Nicaraguan women do it, but the answer is they either start standing up or with their bike next to a curb, in front of someone's house etc. So I bought the low cross bar since I am much less skilled than they. They also must all have behinds of steel because I rode around for a bit yesterday and today it hurts to sit. The padded seat is not known in these parts and the roads are a mixture of dirt and very large rocks. I am very out of shape due to all the polvorones and such I've been chowing down on during my time of relative ease. I'm thinking I should have bought my bike sooner and practiced riding to get back into shape. After all, one of my schools is 10K away and I can ride a bus with my bike halfway there, but I have to come back the whole way on bike. That might not seem like a lot to some of you, but think of me, and my soft fleshy academic's body that has little balance, little heat tolerance, and absolutely no muscle to speak of. It's going to be a steep adjustment curve. But I will prevail. If there are no more posts after Feb 5 (my first day at that school), you'll know I didn't make it.
This week we have teacher meetings/trainings, and Feb 4 is the first day of classes. I'll keep you posted on any other exciting events.
And finally, here is a picture of me with some of my nieces and nephews in our "couch", which is basically the purpose of a hammock here. They are a wild bunch! From the left to the right is Lucia, Henry, Kati, Fernando, and Ernesto. The gringa is me. Lucia and Kati are sisters and Henry and Ernesto are brothers. We're missing two more brothers of Lucia and Kati. Also, notice my enormous hair.
Comments
Wow, that is not what I imagined when you said you bought a bike. Its much nicer than mine. I like the pic. What cute kids!
T