The Chavalos story ...

It's always nice to see that several of the Chavalos are doing an effort to have a better life.
It's also true that so many just accept their faith without doing any effort at all.
Some shine shoes, others sell chewing gum, and some make drawings of churches to earn some money for food and a drink.
Whatever they do, I think it is a great initiative.
Some go to school in the hope to find a job. One of the guys whom went to school here in Granada has moved to a different town. He's been trying to get hold of a copy of his report card, something they need to present when changing schools, since March.
Unfortunately, his profesora always tells him "I will call you back", but never does so.
This guy, whom really wants to learn is loosing a full year because of this, probably without her realizing it.
We probably will ask a lawyer to get hold of this piece of paper.
One might think that a teacher wants to get people ahead in life, but they don't seem to care too much about that.
A lawyer will cost between $10 & $15 to do this.
Luckily the fees aren't as high as in the US or Canada!
Let us hope that he can do what the kid has been trying to get for almost 5 months now.

Colleges are demanding more and more that their students do research on the Internet. You are reading this, so you probably have easy access to it! A lot of students hardly have a dollar for the daily bus to school. Buying a computer or having Internet access is out of the question for them. I try to help out as much as I can finding information on Ruben Dario or poetry by a long forgotten writer, ...
I have printed numerous tareas (homework) for a lot of students.

I just wanted to let you know that I have been helping out in this area as well. Just now, Jhonny (yes, with Jh) came by with his buddy from college. He is one of the hard working poor people of Granada.
Although he's only 18, he has a wife and a son.
And he's still attending college, which is good. His wife also studies very hard. Both hope to make something of their lives. Usually, when the city has enough money to pay their workers, he cleans the streets with a broom and a wooden push cart.
He gets $1 for every cart he fills up.
It's not much, but it gets him and his family enough rice & beans to get by.


I saw Gabriel selling refrescos in the streets. GOOD, I thought, at least he's earning some money so he can eat. NOT.
Later on, I saw him walking around with a fresh jar of smelly glue.
No wonder everything hurts, he's as thin as a twig and feeling weak.
The guys KNOW it is bad for them, but can not give it up.
When I ask them for a sniff, they tell me "NO, it is really bad for you!!"
So, it is not that they don't realize the dangers of it.

Tomorrow, Doña Esperanza will come by to pick up the money to go shopping for her ingredients!
She is doing remarkably well on her food stand here at the market.
One of our guests was disgusted by the "dirty market".
And I can understand that is different from shopping at Wallmart!
But Nicaragua is really poor, and it is all they have.
And for the Chavalos, it means a whole lot!

Thank you for visiting... hope to see you soon!