Conversation with Jorge was actually awesome today! I felt like I understood quite a bit and enjoyed the class and soon it was 10 AM and snack. First we talked about how the word “maje” means a distracted or not focused person. The phrase “ponte las pilas” or something like that basically means that the person receiving the command should concentrate more on the topic. The word “hembra” also is used to talk about a beautiful chick that is also friendly. It can also be used apparently to describe feminine animals (macho describes masculine animals). We then talked about the various types of soap operas (telenovelas) and how the Brazilian ones are the best (grammar wise) because us gringo newbies in Spanish can actually listen to the clear Spanish with few idioms. This is in contrast to the Venezolanas, Cubanas and Columbianas which apparently use tons of idioms and are harder to understand. The Brazilian ones are also aimed at the middle class while some of the American ones are aimed at the lower class apparently. We then talked about how the government is trying to plant trees in Matagalpa because so many people cut the trees down to build houses (and thus the climate is heating up with more trees gone). Another interesting fact is that last year San Juan del Sur had the masters surfing championships (which involves all those old heads over 30 (waterproof oxygen systems available upon request)). We then started talking about the new canal project that is now either green-lighted or getting close to it. Anyways, the canal project is expected to start construction in 2015 and last for 10 years before completion (this canal has been in the works for 15 years already). There are several scientists against the canal project because the canal is slated to use part of Lake Nicaragua as the travel route for the boats. The Spanish word profundidad means depth. The proposed canal would start in Bluefields (a town on the Atlantic coast). The canal would then go across land to the southern part of Lake Nicaragua and then across the land to San Juan del Sur. One huge problem with the proposed canal is that the boats traveling in the canal need a minimum depth of 45 meters, but Lake Nicaragua is at most 35 meters (metros) deep. The canal also needs larger depth pools at the entrance and exit of the canal (dos puertos profundos) so the boats don’t drag in land from the oceans. Another ecological problem is the impact on wildlife and the ecosystem of the lack from passing this new boat traffic through the lake. The Nicaraguan government is trying to minimize the anticipated impact, but rest assured the impact will be definitely tangible and unwanted. Another part of the canal plan involves building a “dry canal” (railroad) from Bluefields to above San Juan del Sur for faster tourist transport and general improved transport across the country. The plan also includes provisions for an “oleoducto” an oil pipeline from Bluefields to San Juan del Sur or abouts to transport the oil across the land instead of through the lake. The canal would require all boats carrying consumables of this nature (oil, gas etc) to transport their contents over this pipeline instead of across the lake as to avoid a huge oil or gas spill (Exxon Valdez, but worse since several countries live off the water in Lake Nicaragua). There would also be two zonas libres (tax free) ports where goods could enter the country. The sponsoring company for this is the China Continental company. The project is expected to cost $40 billion and China Continental is doing 60% of the work and Nicaragua is doing 40%. The 10 year project includes the RR and the pipeline and the canal. The RR would offer safer travel too. This project would also finish the construction of the airport in Bluefields which could then become an international airport. If there were a huge catastrophe, Ometepe could become an island and Costa Rica doesn’t approve of the project because of the potential danger to the San Juan River (running directly into the country). We also talked a bit about hurricane Mitch and how the fishermen went out in the storm to fish as the hurricane struck land and turned from a category 3 to a category 5 hurricane O.o many died this way. We also covered the story of King Solomon’s wisdom (with 2 mothers claiming to own a kid, until Solomon decided to half the baby and the one was cool with it and the true mother said the other woman could have the kid (instead of cutting the baby in half). Problem solved). Snacks today were different and were these apple lattice things and meat rolls that looked like cinnamon rolls. Grammar was uneventful. Lunch was pretty good, although we didn’t have any silverware, so Dan and I ended up using tiny coffee stirring spoons from the school. The lecture was on ESU (electrical surgical units) and was quite interesting as these units use electricity to cut and cauterize veins etc (talking tons of refined electrons here). We discussed how to build a tester out of a bar of soap (slightly moist) and some metal. After that we had a lab on building a full wave rectifier (using a diode bridge) to convert an AC wave of 30 V rms to a 38 V DC signal. That was fun but it took a while to complete (like until 5:20 PM). After that I headed to Euro Café to get on WiFi, but it died shortly thereafter (sorry y’all I was talking to!) and I left after eating the good turtle cookie I bought (cookie covered in chocolate then some caramel and walnuts and more cookie crumbs).
Back at home we headed out to play some soccer with the other guys from the street (Nicaraguans) in the street in front of the church. It was quite the workout and we were playing 4v4 and doing alright. After that we came back and have been chilling since (after some good diner of R&B, chicken gumbo-ish thing and bread). Good news too! My homestay may be getting WiFi at home after Thursday or Friday! Anyways, gotta get rolling and planning my trip to León! Sorry for not getting this up on the actual day! Paz!
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