Stories
written by children at the La Chispa Library
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Here in Nicaragua, water is not in
abundance. In some parts there is a great shortage. Even the people who have
water at their homes are not sure that the water will always be there because
sometimes they wash the water distribution tank and must shut off the water
that goes to the households. Sometimes we have to fill buckets and bottles
because if the water gets shut off, we won´t have any to drink.
In past years, the water would only be turned on for a few hours, once or
twice a week. During those time, people would fill up their “pilas”
or water storage pools save the water they would need for the rest of the
week. With the new water project, usually there is running water when you
turn on the faucet, although it is more expensive and some families have a
hard time paying for their water. People still fill up their pilas, in case
the water is suddenly shut off. They draw water from the pilas to wash clothes
and dishes and to take baths.
Here in Nicaragua we wash clothes in a cement washboard sink. Very few people
have washing machines. Sometimes I was the clothes by hand and sometimes my
mom washed the clothes by hand. We take turns to try to wash all the dirty
clothes in our house. The dirty water runs into the street. Sometimes we have
to carry the water from the pila to the sink or in buckets to mop the floor.
When the water is shut off for a long time, many people go to the river to
wash their clothes and bathe.
Primary Education in Nicaragua
by Cindy Raquel Melendez
Arauz, Age 12
Education primary begins with preschool, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade. All the students in the public schools in Nicaragua wear a school uniform. For the boys, this uniform is a white button-down shirt with navy blue pants. For the girls it is a white button-down shirt with a navy blue pleated skirt. The shirts usually have the school’s insignia sewn on the pockets.
We receive two classes in 1st grade, three classes in 2nd grade, and five classes in the 3rd grade and up. In all the grades we receive physical education and practical activity. In 1st and 2nd grades, students are taught: Spanish, Mathematics and Morality and Civics. We are taught five classes in 3rd thru, 6th grades. The classes are: Spanish, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Morality and Civics. The most fun class is Physical Education. That’s my favorite class.
When the sixth graders finish their last year of classes they have a big graduation ceremony. At the graduation, there is a mass or other religious ceremony, the presentation of grades and diplomas and a party. There is also a fun end of the year party for all the grades, but especially 6th grade. For the graduation ceremony, students wear their school uniforms, sometimes with a graduation cap.
Work in Nicaragua
by
Julio Ramón Lopez Espinoza, Age 17
I began working when I was 9 years old. My first job was in a basic grains distribution center (corn, beans, rice). I was new there and the work was hard, but I got used to it and worked there for 2 year. With my first paycheck, I helped my mom buy food for the house and other things. In the morning I went to school and in the afternoon I worked. The people I worked with were good people we treated each other like family. After 2 years of good sales, sales started going down and the distribution center went out of business and we were out of work.
I had no work for one year, until one day my cousin asked me to go with him to look for work in the market. When we got to the market, I was lucky and a lady asked me if wanted work . I asked her what kind of work she told me it would be helping her sell produce from her vegetable stand . There the work wasn’t hard. I helped her to weigh and hand out the vegetables. Since the lady didn´t have any children, I had to help her close the stand and night and open it in the morning. I had already finished elementary school, so I was able to work for the whole day. The lady and I got along well. She didn´t scold me if I did something wrong.
At that vegetable stand, I met a man who used to come to buy vegetables for his restaurant. We got along well and had good talks. I helped him carry the vegetables in the pick-up truck. One day, he offered me a job at his restaurant and I told him I´d have to let him know, since I already had a job. He offered to pay me well, so I resigned from my other job and was given the new job. My new boss explained what I had to do. My job consists of buying the vegetables in the market, doing errands and replenishing the cups and plates when we run out. I work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week. I´ve been working there for 9 months and I get along well with my workmates and my bosses. They like me a lot and I also like and appreciate them.
I am happy at my job and I hope
to continue working. I recommend to all the teenagers like me that if you
want to work, never stop studying, because it´s important to study.
Typical Nicaraguan
food and drink: The “nacatamal” and “pozol”
by
Arlen Daniela Rizo Zeledon, Age 10
The “nacatamal” is a popular meal in Nicaragua. It contains potatoes, rice, a red spice called “achiote,” meat from pigs or chickens, corn dough, green peppers, onions, coriander, mint and tomatoes.
All of these ingredients are mixed together and wrapped in a banana leaf and then tied together with a string. The little package is put in a pot of water to boil over a fire. After it’s all ready, get ready to lick your fingers!
“Pozol” is a drink made with corn, milk and sugar. The corn is cooked and then ground at a mill. You then add the milk and sugar. It gets put into bags and chilled and then you have the delicious drink. Both pozol and nacatamales are traditions that began long ago with our indigenous ancestors in Nicaragua.