Today I had a small success: in making lunch for E., I was able to get the fried plantains--tostones, in Nicaraguan and Cuban Spanish--just about right. This seems like a small thing, but as I am not very accustomed to deep frying as a primary method of cooking, I have yet to develop that sense of when the oil is at just the right temperature--not too hot, not too cold, but just right! (My dad, of course, has the sense after years of making scrumpdillyicious homeade donuts. But I guess it's not genetic.) In the past, I usually erred on the side of too hot, which meant the plaintains came out dark, dry and tough. Sometimes, if the oil was too cold, the coveted yellow disks languished too long and absorbed waaaaay too much grease. Neither result was appetizing. In any case, I was pleased that I managed to pull off the tostones, refried beans, roasted pork and rice all almost up to local snuff, and with the right timing. Hurray!
Several people, in particular my favorite former boss Mary Jean, have commented that they can't quite imagine what my daily life is like here in SJdS. One very short answer is that it involves a lot more manual labor and domestic tasks than I ever did in the U.S., and that's one of the things that I enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I've had a number of interesting and challenging jobs that have (mostly) kept me out of trouble and paid my bills, but I was just plain tired of sitting in front of a computer all the live long day. Such is the nature of white collar work. Now I can choose when and for how long to connect...this is why I'm not blogging constantly.
Today, for example, went very quickly--starting at about 6:15 a.m. when I had to leap out of bed and run next door to beg for a bucket of water after E. was left all soaped up with no water from the shower. The rest was taken up by buying, cooking & delivering a couple of meals to my love, who is trapped behind a desk at the Internet cafe; doing several loads of laundry in spite of the slow trickle of water; ditto several rounds of dishes; tracking down and conversatin' with four different lawyers to see how much they will soak me for to get my residency straightened out; prepping for & giving an English lesson; taking my favorite young kitty to the vet for follow-up from spaying surgery; and...I don't remember what else. But I find it sort of amazing that so many hours can pass just doing mundane tasks. And only about two and half hours of that would qualify as "work" by U.S. standards.
12 June 2009
07 June 2009
In case you were wondering...
The title of my blog refers to one of my favorite passages from the Tao Te Ching, specifically the 1989 translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English. I first read the text for a course in Japanese religion in the spring of 1992, and it's one of the very few books that's accompanied me during the ensuing 17 years of peregrination.
While I don't subscribe to any particular religion, Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism in particular, holds a lot of appeal for me as a source of wisdom and comfort in navigating life's challenges. One of these days/weeks/months/years I need to make time and space to study it in greater depth.
I've come back to this chapter again because, as I try to adapt to the Nicaraguan lifestyle for the second time, I find myself constantly having to revise my expectations and stopping myself from reacting to situations in the manner I might if I were in the U.S. One of the things that has always struck me about Nicaraguans is that the majority seem to believe that they have very little control over their own lives. Either God, some other higher power, or simply "fate" is running the show. This is comforting in some ways, because it makes it easier for people to accept the many, many obstacles they face here; however, I think this mindset also holds them back from achieving a higher, more sustainable standard of living. On the flip side, the majority of U.S.-ians probably feel that they have 100% control of their lives. In my opinion, neither viewpoint is entirely correct.
All this to say that I am trying to be a bit more flexible and relaxed when things don't go the way I anticipate. I am trying to yield, to bend, and let things happen as they will, all the while keeping some semblance of a smile on my face. This is often far easier said than done...
Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight;
Empty and be full;
Wear out and be new;
Have little and gain;
Have much and be confused.
Therefore the wise embrace the one
And set an example to all.
Not putting on a display,
They shine forth.
Not justifying themselves,
They are distinguished.
Not boasting,
They receive recognition.
Not bragging,
They never falter.
They do not quarrel,
So no one quarrels with them.
Therefore the ancients say, "Yield and overcome."
Is that an empty saying?
Be really whole,
And all things will come to you.
While I don't subscribe to any particular religion, Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism in particular, holds a lot of appeal for me as a source of wisdom and comfort in navigating life's challenges. One of these days/weeks/months/years I need to make time and space to study it in greater depth.
I've come back to this chapter again because, as I try to adapt to the Nicaraguan lifestyle for the second time, I find myself constantly having to revise my expectations and stopping myself from reacting to situations in the manner I might if I were in the U.S. One of the things that has always struck me about Nicaraguans is that the majority seem to believe that they have very little control over their own lives. Either God, some other higher power, or simply "fate" is running the show. This is comforting in some ways, because it makes it easier for people to accept the many, many obstacles they face here; however, I think this mindset also holds them back from achieving a higher, more sustainable standard of living. On the flip side, the majority of U.S.-ians probably feel that they have 100% control of their lives. In my opinion, neither viewpoint is entirely correct.
All this to say that I am trying to be a bit more flexible and relaxed when things don't go the way I anticipate. I am trying to yield, to bend, and let things happen as they will, all the while keeping some semblance of a smile on my face. This is often far easier said than done...
Yield and overcome;
Bend and be straight;
Empty and be full;
Wear out and be new;
Have little and gain;
Have much and be confused.
Therefore the wise embrace the one
And set an example to all.
Not putting on a display,
They shine forth.
Not justifying themselves,
They are distinguished.
Not boasting,
They receive recognition.
Not bragging,
They never falter.
They do not quarrel,
So no one quarrels with them.
Therefore the ancients say, "Yield and overcome."
Is that an empty saying?
Be really whole,
And all things will come to you.
One small reason to love SJDS: cheap ice cream!
Yesterday was one of those icky, sticky days. Paradoxically, "winter" here is more unbearable, weather-wise, than "summer"--while we wait for the rains to start, the humidity and pressure build and build until you are left praying for a downpour. Of course, you have to be careful what you wish for, because rains often mean extended power outages, i.e. no fans to cool off, no showers to get clean. Well, you either learn to live with it or run screaming back to northern climes.
In any case, I was happy to visit the nearest Eskimo store--about the only commercial brand of ice cream that exists here--and pick up a double scoop for 15 cordobas, or about $0.75. Can't beat that! Mmmm....coconut....
In any case, I was happy to visit the nearest Eskimo store--about the only commercial brand of ice cream that exists here--and pick up a double scoop for 15 cordobas, or about $0.75. Can't beat that! Mmmm....coconut....
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