With a grain of salt

On my way back to Denmark, I try really hard to be fashionably disappointed about it but I can't. What is there to like...definitely not the weather, the prices, the taxes, the rules and sometimes not even the Danes themselves depending on which time of the year.

A lot of my Filipino and expat friends in Denmark have heard me complain numerous times about how hard it is to get a foothold in Denmark. My last sojourn in the country has changed all that and have made me realize the good things about living in Denmark. The fact that I get thrown into the circle of Danes, Scandinavians and Northern Europeans in general when we are out on posts, for one, helps a lot not only in understanding and getting used to their way of thinking but most importantly to feel comfortable within it. Call it a sense of belongingness, if you will.

Though not instantaneous and mostly by luck, I can safely say that I have met the most wonderful Danes (at the risk of sounding like sucking up to a culture), not just outside Denmark but also within which of course, is an important key to a happy existence in an adoptive country. In Denmark, what you see is what you get (which may not sit well with some) but at least you know exactly what you're up against. No two ways about it.

I love how Denmark brings out my creative and resourceful side when it comes to saving money without having to give up what's important in life. I love how it forces me to be organized (about everything) including the most mundane like my grocery list, afterall, I plan our material acquisitions based on what's on 'tilbud'.

Life outside Denmark (mostly in 3rd world countries) can be easy to the point of (at times) being meaningless. You do things and spend on things because you can. In Denmark, you have to choose wisely and therefore end up prioritizing.

Most of all, I miss bantering with the Danes on how Denmark may NOT be the best at everything but definitely the best at some things. At the end of the day, it's intellectual stimulation that gets us at some point. Danes are good sports if one can defend ones theories. At the very least, they are polite enough to end a discussion with a 'skål'.

Lastly, if and when I do get to speak fluent danish, how many can say that they speak a language that only 5 million others do.

Is this me?

I have seen this video floating around the internet but have never really checked it out. What could a mom's song be anyway? A lullaby ala 'Rock-a-bye-baby' or something or other. I sure have heard them all or so I thought.

Now, how it reached me is a totally different story. Busy, busy bee hubby (not me - the mom (operative word ahem) - in this case) not only received this on email but surprisingly found the time to play it. It must have reminded him of something or...someone that he thought he should forward it to V, the son, instead of.....me! I imagine a lot of chuckles went on behind my back...I smell conspiracy. Finally, for unfathomable reasons, V himself forwards me the video.

I don't think of myself this regi-mental but since hubby and son seem to think so, then maybe I am. I love this video and I guess it doesn't hurt to chuckle together, afterall, the family that chuckles together....

Evolution of an Expat Spouse part II

I thoroughly scan my favorite Expat Resources links - apart from occasional visits - as is my wont when getting ready to relocate to read up on relevant and up-to-date information. Yes, the 3 years we have given ourselves is up this September. Although the option to stay 1 more year seems appealing, we have opted to move on.

In one of these forays, I stumbled on this old question in one of my favorite sites about expat spouses' desperation of....being just that, an expat spouse, bringing to mind a recent unpleasant experience.

To deliberately digress, I found myself looking back into all the years I have been an expat spouse, what it meant to me, the person I was and the person I have become because of my situation. A situation I have bought into, afterall, no one put a gun to my head. This is going to be a long one (headache). In examining the past, I was brought back further than the 7 years I have been an expat spouse. Do I miss that life? Did I lose my identity in the process? Am I now less the person I was then? Am I now just a rat mooching off my husband whom I have vowed to be with for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, 'til death do us part? Okay that last bit was an attempt at melodramatic.

Part of that past is why I have turned to blogging about my life. More than wanting to help new expat spouses get a grip about their own situation, it was to help me understand mine by putting my activities and thoughts into words. I'm glad that people bother to visit at all but this is more for me to look back on and see what have transpired and enhanced my life.

As to the allusion to an unpleasant event, it refers to a perfect example of a state of mind of a new expat spouse. I am not one to give unsolicited advise (or so I hope), I am just too lazy for that. How do you cope? I was asked and in relaying exactly how I cope, I was projected to be supercilious. Not her exact words but close. As I never thought of myself as such (duh), I got into thinking? Am I?

Okay, more flashbacks. The biggest thing to discuss which also happens to be the hardest not to mention ugliest, are finances. I, afterall, used to earn a decent income and the way we divided our bills back in Manila was...he pays the rent (paid for by his company, anyway) and I pay the rest (utilities were split), school, groceries, maintenance, household help, (2 maids and a driver - hey we're in the Philippines, remember?) etc, except for our respective vehicles that we had to pay ourselves (company issued - his, although I opted to drive my own - we get free gas, therefore, not much there to spend on). We pooled our savings, a certain dictated percentage of our salaries.

I did more work related travel as our company covered Southeast Asia and my job as Business Development Manager required the rigors of it, while his position did not entail such (VP for Finance). Let's just say I was used to a certain lifestyle and thought process. When hubby first mentioned the desire to diversify and spread his wings and seeing him so unhappy, I weighed my options, when life played one of its many practical jokes. I was pirated. A bigger salary, a position hard to refuse and very tempting perks. That one was actually easy to hurdle, or so we thought. In tempting fate, we (he's the finance guy not me) negotiated the contract to almost unbearable (for the company, that is) and by golly we got it. I saw no reason to say no, anymore. In fairness to hubby, he saw the opportunity for me and without much ado, relented, I signed a 2 year renewable contract with the company (a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems). I, of course, had to work my a*s off for that negotiated deal. The company did squeeze what they can out of me. In return, I hardly took a vacation, worked until 5 in the morning to finish a presentation only to present it 3 hours later. I brought home work, my family can hardly talk to me and if in their audacity, they try, I can only talk about my job. I was never 'there', not for birthdays, reunions, outings, family planned vacations, school meetings, holidays and sometimes our own anniversary. Still, I loved my job. I was 33 and on a roll!

I was tired but happy or so I thought...T, he was miserable, which by the way, I tried to ignore. When my 2 years was up, I was offered an extension, I declined (I was exhausted and thought I needed the break) and was kept on as a consultant with a 6 months renewable contract. In slowing down, I begin to notice a lot of things. I hardly see my son and my beloved hubby is very unhappy. It was difficult not having the same to preoccupy me 24/7...I, this time, felt how unhappy he was and all that I have been missing. Immediately after came the realization...what is important to me?

I decided to give T his due, and my son, the mother he sorely needed. I was then 36 years old. I prepared myself by putting up a consulting firm and getting more clients in that capacity. That was when the offer to run a start-up company came, twice the salary and 10 times the responsibility...another cruel joke life has decided to throw at me. This time I was steadfast in my decision and firmly said no, on my own accord. I left the Philippines as a Marketing consultant and carried with me clients up until I was in Kenya.

The 6 months we stayed in Denmark was not an easy time for me. I was just grateful to work and derive income as a consultant overseas in a country where I first had to learn the language before I can find work, hurdle the intimidating but mostly humiliating immigration process, tackle the pre-conceived notion of East and West marriages and where, as a professional, I also had to start over. It was daunting, overwhelming and exhausting all at once. Before the most challenging 6 months of my life came to an end, T has already secured a job for posting to Kenya and there began my adventure as an expat spouse. I trailed.

To be continued...

Decluttering one's life

My more favored phases in the life of an expat (spouse or otherwise) are the preps for expatriation and repatriation or just moving on to another post, while the process of settling or resettling comes a close second.

Every 3 years or so I get to declutter my world in many ways. I do have a lot of 'crap' (as opposed to 'full of...' I hope).

For a long time decluttering to me meant travelling light - which by other people's standards, is not at all that - getting rid of unnecessary things (or least favored), mostly but not limited to, documents and furniture and a gamut of others in between.

I see it as a personal triumph being able to reduce a 20ft container (that we came with) to a 10er for instance (yes that much crap)...to make room for newer, more 'useful crap' (am pulling a Yogi Berra here, people) that I may or may not get rid of at the next post.

Only recently have I realized (late bloomer, that's me) that baggage can mean different things to different people. I, of course, know the likes of emotional baggage, chip on one's shoulder and other cliches referring to different forms of burden but have never equated it to something that can be decluttered from my life, the process of which is not unlike getting rid of crap.

Clutter closely associated with or borne out of the 'Hoarding Syndrome' can be disturbing, stressful and even dangerous according to this Reader's Digest article (shudder).

On a more upbeat note, clutter according to Marcia Francois of Professional Organizer is: ANYTHING you don't love, don't use or doesn't make you feel happy.

...makes perfect sense to me and below her sensible advise (or hacks as she calls them) on how to go about decluttering.

1. Have a place for everything
Clutter builds up because you or your family doesn't know where to put it.

2. Before you buy something, decide where it will go
Right there in the store, while you're admiring it, decide exactly where that thing you absolutely must have will go.

3. One in, one out
If you buy 3 long-sleeved tops, get rid of 3 from your cupboard when you unpack your purchases.

4. Contain your stuff to the storage space you have

It's very tempting to expand to more cupboards or buy another chest of drawers. I say that's a perfect time to declutter!

Become ruthless when things start overflowing.

5. Make regular decluttering time for maintenance
You don't need hours and hours to get started. While you wait for the kettle to boil, go through a drawer or cupboard. While your computer boots up, tackle a file. Or better still, take the file and sort through it in front of the TV.

My post is not to describe how I intend to declutter my life but identifying those that clutter it and the resolve to get rid of them. A greater realization is that not only things burden me but PEOPLE too. This realization came about through a deep bonding discussion with D a newly acquired dear, dear friend - as per Marcia's #3 hack, should I then get rid of one friend having acquired a new one? I consider myself very fortunate to acquire great friends at each post. Being on the same boat and with lifestyles that bring us similar, if not downright eerily identical challenges can bond people like no other.

This lifestyle has afforded me the luxury of choosing friends, an entitlement I have come to embrace. I live a life where I have very limited time to enjoy another person's company and therefore will have to choose carefully. After that, you move on choosing who to keep in touch with and who not to bother with. To some who has never lived this life (or can't imagine living THIS kind of life), will find my statement very harsh, indeed.

Just like changing tastes in clothing, decor, food, etc, people too change. When I hear people say 'wow, you haven't changed at all since the last time I saw you', where last time could be anywhere between 5 and 20 years ago, it could only mean physical (and an exaggeration - ok, everyone knows that). I know I have changed as a person, afterall, all my experiences would have all come to naught if there hasn't been an iota of change in me.

I'm obviously rumbling now trying (really hard) to get to my point, the realization of the changes in me. It is not easy to acknowledge the fact the I have become less tolerant of:

Frivolity
Pretentiousness
Childishness as opposed to being childlike (I value highly as a trait - maybe not mine, but nevertheless...)
Immaturity
Irrationality
Unreliability
Ficklemindedness
Deceitfulness
Enviousness
Extreme Insecurity
Being inconsiderate
Pettiness
Selfishness
Arrogance

...and therefore have made the decision to purge them from my life. An uncessary burden that will only slow me down in my pursuit to enjoy the only life I know and devote quality time to the people who matters most to me. Of all the people around me at this moment, regardless of geographical location, they are less than 1% of my world. I put this in writing to remind myself that never again will I allow myself to be dragged into situations that will only limit my growth and development as a person and more importantly, waste what I consider my precious time on this earth. One always hopes to evolve into a mature, responsible and reliable individual but as the world being as it is, alas, not everyone does.

To quote another friend, L: I am entitled to my anger, my hurt, my pain as much as I am entitled to my joy, my success and all other positive things. Amen.

I am not being selfish (as far as I am concerned), only trying to survive the best way I can and if someone decides to do the same thing to me, I will definitely understand.

Halloween in Managua

It's never too early to celebrate anything....specially if it means partying!

Happy Halloween everybody!

Now for some laughs

I was forwarded by an acquaintance a commercial (in mpeg) for a Dutch insurance company which read: For you to smile a bit....well that was what the person who sent it to her said, anyway. She probably did and thought that she should spread the joy a little.

The commercial was brilliant, albeit thought provoking and both with little and at the same time a lot to do with insurance. You probably have been forwarded this already. Moving on....as my computer generated a small screen to view the attachment, I decided to search for it in You Tube, as is my wont, and in doing so stumbled upon these other hilarious commercials that are actually banned (yep, the same with the above)! Now, I don't know squat about the criteria for banning commercials or the liabilities for showing (making public) banned commercials....but since it was in youtube anyway (ergo, public access), I thought....why not.

Not only do I think them hilarious but effective as well. I also don't see anything wrong with them...or is it just me? I sure would remember (not necessarily patronize) the companies that came up with them if I've seen them myself on TV.

This has been posted in youtube a year ago and therefore not new.

The Irreverent Expat

This promotion is, in fact, long overdue. Robin Pascoe's Expat Expert website has tremendously helped me during my fledgling days as an expat spouse (not that I consider myself an expert now, far from it...just slowly getting into the groove). I have read many articles in her website that prepared me for life as an expat spouse (not trailing, mind you - it's as much my decision as his, truth be told) that is clearly not for everyone.

What I really want other expat spouses to read at Robin's site is the segment 'Irreverent Expat' that had me in stitches. Although fictional.....sometimes oh so true. The characters and events are just so very much like our lives, you can't help but name them after some people you actually know.

I personally like Robin's approach to expat spouses' real or perceived problems - very positive and diplomatic. I hope to one day get her books and meet her in person. For the moment, I enjoy lurking in her site and learning all I can from it.

Here's an excerpt from her 'Irreverent Expat' that I find particularly apt (sometimes) and funny:

Expat Etiquette

“Have we met before?” one expatriate woman asked another, a cocktail glass in her hand.

“Only on about seventeen other occasions,” answered the second woman, trying hard not to throw the contents of her own glass in the woman’s face.

“Really?” said the first woman, nonplussed. “I can’t seem to remember your name.”

Before the second woman could supply the information that seemed so difficult to commit to memory, the first woman spotted someone whose name was obviously worth remembering and moved on. Feeling abandoned, the woman of no apparent importance gulped down her drink and went looking for another. She found one, as well as her husband, who was standing conveniently next to the bar.

He was chatting amicably with another man, so she chose to just stand self- consciously beside him like a fountain, albeit one with liquid pouring in rather than out, and watch the expatriate community swirl around her. It was like a ballet, she thought. Everyone knows their moves. They stake out their territory to ensure no interlopers cross the invisible lines. Oh what the hey, have another drink she told herself.

Continue reading here.

I must admit that I thank the high heavens that I run with the crowd that I do. The Danes in particular are helpful and supportive. The Diplomatic Corps, NGOs and International Organizations are themselves in tune with the real world, therefore down-to-earth and very open.

These fictional characters could therefore be easily based from those within the private sector...or maybe not, hard to say but I do have some run-ins every now and then. Very few but nevertheless notable.

Why, oh why?

I sometimes, out of curiosity, check out the search words people use that land them on my blog and some results are:

1. Funny
2. Real needs seeking information
3. Real problems seeking advise
4. Travel information

5. Unbelievably scary - although very few (thank god), I am still reminded that perverts do abound on the internet, lest I forget (which I do sometimes).

The #5 people don't stay long in my blog (1 page view / 0:0), immediately figuring out that my content serves them no purpose AT ALL. That I have chosen to make this blog public for the convenience of my family, friends and people who might actually benefit from the information here (travel, cost of living), of course doesn't help. It's a choice I've made and like all choices carries with it some consequences.

When checking search words, one is presented with other 'results' that sometimes make an 'information seeking' search funny enough to write about. Take for instance search words used for 'seeking a BETTER half coming from a specific industrialized country by someone who currently is residing in a country with a weaker economic performance' (or probably seeking information on how it is to be married to these men) ok, you have to read between the lines and convert all that into just 3 search words.

What was funny were 2 other search results:

When the day comes that words (and homecooked meals...and globetrotting) aren't enough to profess my undying love for my viking any longer, I (sigh) may be forced to shell out $25 for this:

And if that doesn't work, I still have this as an additional option (and additional $16)....If I really, really need to protest it:

If in dire need, you can order them here and here, respectively....no kidding.

Laguna de Apoyo

An impromptu day trip yesterday landed us in Laguna de Apoyo, an extinct volcano crater lagoon nestled between Granada and Masaya not more than a 45-minute drive from where we live in Managua, therefore, perfect for day trips or weekend get-aways. Although the rim of the lake is populated by various restaurants and resorts, we have so far only patronized 2. Norome Villas Resort (check updated rental prices here) and The Monkey Hut.

There's 2 ways to enjoy the lagoon: as a breathtaking view from the Mirador in the town of Catarina or in partaking of what the 'blue lagoon' has to offer from the various resorts down at the edges of the lagoon itself.

The Monkey Hut - Although equally enjoying the pristine setting of Lago de Apoyo, is considered more rustic compared to Norome. A picnic place (that nevertheless offers lodgings) more than a full-blown service resort is more favorable for day trips where one can bring picnic baskets and for $6.00 per person can enjoy all the facility of the place like Kayaks, a row boat (partially decommissioned for the moment - use at you own risk as it sinks after 10 minutes of use due to holes), floating tubes, kitchen (including condiments!!!), bbq grill and the biggest offering of course...a day's frolick in the warm lagoon. Best I think, is that you can bring your pet dog/s. A real family-friendly place. The relaxed atmosphere and reasonable dormitory and cabaña rental prices make it a favorite for backpackers as well.

Clockwise: V & M kayaking with Mancha; the parents catching up with each other; the girls having their own chat; T & H marvelling at the view from Monkey Hut's main veranda; the laid-back management staff of Monkey Hut (seriously...but kidding aside, very acommodating and friendly).

Sunset in Managua

We may not have dramatic sunsets here like the ones they get in San Juan del Sur (Pacific Coast of Nicaragua - where the beaches are), but we do get our share of beautiful ones.

It's amazing sometimes how the sky turns Orange that gives an illusion of a sky so near, it's tempting to reach up and disturb the clouds.

More than watching the sun go down on the horizon, our sundowners (cocktail parties) are hinged on the atmosphere sunsets here in Nicaragua in general offer....a very languid and relaxing time to enjoy with friends after a hard day's work, brought about by a play of soothing colors.

It is indeed a beautiful country that I one can only hope it's people know too well.

I love the way light and shadows play against our dining room window....who needs an expensive painting?

An ideal time to play with the other members of the family

If sunsets are the only thing to live for then I can live here forever....alas, no.

Nicaraguan furniture

As mentioned in my previous post, Masatepe is where one can find local furniture shops lining the streets. I went there to look for a 'Mimbre' (wicker) set for la terraza, below are some of my finds:

My choice would be the bottom-right photo (yes, I needed a model to see that), with D's help. They don't differ much from each other except in price and workmanship. This set costs around $C 13,000 (down from $C 15,000, after haggling), which is about $721.00 at today's exchange rate plus delivery charge of around $C200 and most likely, additional cost for a glass top for the center table to render it useful. I may also need to buy 2 rocking chairs (a favorite furniture here), in addition, to be able to host coffee or tea mornings for about 10 people. A rocking chair here depending on the kind of wood used and material for the seats, may cost anywhere between $200 - 400.

We have bought furniture from stores in Masatepe where our favorite would be one that's called Muebleria El Chele. This particular shop is 'supposedly' known for their workmanship in indoor furniture using hardwood.

Quality and price are sadly the 2 things that are not consistent here in Nicaragua (from my experience) where the term 'preferred customer' doesn't exist.....yet. Therefore, be prepared to haggle each time (regardless how many times you have bought from that store) because the mantra seems to be: a foreigner is a foreigner and will (or should) always pay (a lot) more. Eventually, one gets used to it and becomes second nature. It has never been a problem for me, coming from Asia where haggling is considered a sport, but when the price quoted is 50-100% more than what it's normally sold for, even I get uncomfortable.

My advise would be to go around and get a 'feel' of the prices before committing to anything and that goes for most of the purchases you would do here. You'd be amazed at how much the prices for the same item varies once you've been around.

If it's quality of wood, design and workmanship we're talking about, the best place in my opinion to buy from would be Simplemente Madera.....if money is no object, that is. Hmmmm, why do does it remind me of Scandinavian design...(?)

Finally - fruitful blog hopping

I eventually found what I was looking for! I may have the gift of gab (sure, my mother said so)....which is really just that...gab, but definitely not the gift of articulation and prose. I have these jumble of thoughts and emotions yearning to be put into words....coherently, I might add, regarding being an expat spouse. Why it works for me in mysterious ways - I do know that I will not exchange this life for anything, regardless of all my complaints, insecurities (self-doubt in perceived loss of identity) and the challenges I have faced in the process.

In acceptance of the fact that it is not something I can share to help new expat spouses or others in the same situation, while sounding intelligent and non-pompous at the same time, I have gone on a personal quest to hear (or read) what other serial expat spouses (those who have survived it) have to say about it.

Here's one that echoed my sentiments precisely:

"In the Foreign Service, as we routinely move to a new country after two or three years, we are given that rare opportunity to live many lives. If one doesn't appeal, chances are the next one will. With this opportunity comes the temptation to re-create ourselves, the idea that "this time, I will be different."

One can immediately see both the good and bad sides to this unique lifestyle. That neighbor who talks your ear off every time you pick up your mail, the principal of your child's elementary school who doesn't seem to share your enthusiasm for your child's "learning style," the house with the leaky pipes and the drafty windows and (perhaps the main complaint) the mortgage or rental payments -- before long, you can just walk away (well, fly, actually) from these and other problems with a sigh of relief, heading to some new, even exotic locale to start a new life. How many people can do that?"

An excerpt from:

The Trailing Spouse as Chameleon

By Francesca Kelly

Read the rest here.

The week that was

So many things to share, not enough brain cells to process them all at once and less energy to put them in writing. I have been in a languid mood, to say the least, after coming back from the beach. I am in fact pushing myself to sit down and write, only to be able to say that there is indeed ONE thing that I have followed through with diligence, albeit intermittently....this Blog! I need a muse.

To tag the other topics properly and for coherence sake, except for the reason why we went to the beach so soon after summer vacation and the practical information regarding the beach club itself, let me just describe how my week went:

Gym

I joined the gym....after 12 years (it's true!!!) of procrastination and guilt in denying my body the exercise it needs. The last time I knowingly went somewhere to purposely stretch, move and sweat was to a taebo class back in the Philippines and only for 3 months (1 hour x 3x a week to me was already a lot). Even then, I would have excuses to miss some classes - I don't have time outside of work, finish a report, I had a headache or a party to go to (I took the evening sessions). My only other form of exercise was playing tennis....sometimes, and golf ...less than sometimes (too hot to walk 18 holes but wouldn't be caught dead (too young) riding a golf car).

When I stopped working, my excuses changed (depending where I was) too, of course. Expensive and too cold (Denmark), too far and too dangerous (Nairobbery, umm Nairobi, I mean). My excuses in Denmark held some truth while the ones in Kenya were obviously lame as the security situation there did not deter us from having an active social life. I don't have any valid reason not to go to the gym here in Nicaragua. I have plenty of time on my hands, nice temperature almost whole year round, reasonable gym fees (except for Club Terraza where membership starts at around $10,000 + monthly dues) ranging from $20-50 a month.

As I'm a sucker for recommendations and a firm believer that exercise should be fun, an excuse to meet new friends and should not be a tough regimen (unlike: 'give me 50 soldier' - I'm a lame duck, I know) and least of all, a financial burden, Club Terraza is out of the question - even if I live only a few blocks from the place. It is afterall a club but apparently a very cliquish one at that.

Finally, after almost 2 years of (non) looking, I found the gym I wanted to join, courtesy of my fave dama and salsa classmate, S. Studio-Gimnasio Illusiones that can be found at:

Frente a la UNI (In front of UNI)
Tel No.: (505) 277 5557

I swear, that's the listed address, UNI being a well known university here in Managua. I know how to get there from my house and at the risk of coming by my place first before arriving there, if interested, call them at their listed number above for specific directions.

I like the atmosphere in Illusiones, cozy and friendly, like all other Pellas owned companies (i.e Casa Pellas - car dealership; Vivian Pellas - Hospital; etc). Although modest in size, Illusioness offers many different types of exercise (aerobics, rythm, gym, step, belly dancing (?) Flamenco ) and dance classes (ballet, jazz and jazz for teenagers) with a modest but sufficiently equipped gym.

Price ranges from $35-50 monthly depending on which combination of classes you want to take. I took the the $50 a month to include everything except jazz and ballet, just to be flexible. The belly dancing poses a dilemma as that's one part of me (on top of a host of others) I wanted to lose in the process...less to jiggle with. FYI, they give a $10 /month discount if you sign-up for the $50 combo for 3 months ($120 total). If there's anything that will make sure I consistently attend classes (right now, besides the gym, I attend step and aerobics) is ......advance payment.

Influenza

There is an epidemic going around, influenza, as La Prensa reports, which has claimed the lives of a significant number of children. Known as the 'flu', I think and 'trangkaso' in the Philippines. This is one virus that, as we know it back home, never leaves the house until everyone has been struck by it. A tropical virus, I surmise, that lasts for 5 - 7 days, accompanied by muscle pain, fever, throat infection and phlegm. T has been struck by the virus (along with some of his colleagues at work). I myself have had it many times before back in the Philippines and normally doesn't pose any real danger except to undernourished toddlers or younger and very old people (pneumatic complications). Cure normally consists of Paracetamol, a lot of rest (staying in bed), sleep and loads of water (there is real danger in dehydration specially for young children).

So, 5 days babysitting so far (including today).

Catarina, San Juan de Oriente, Masatepe, Lago de Apoyo, Masaya Revisited

It's been awhile since I've been to these places, no more than 30 mins away from Managua. We have a new spouse (D) in town at the Danish Embassy and since I was looking for outdoor furniture, I thought it was a good time to take her along. For furniture (whether indoor or outdoor), I really only needed to go to Masatepe to see what they have (anything new), new supplier to order from (my own design) or how much they go for at the moment. But since I was taking D with me, why not make a sight-seeing trip out of it. These are the same places I take visiting relatives and friends to for a half day's trip.

Catarina, a town one will have to pass through going South of Managua (alternative routes are the Granada Highway and Jinotepe). Catarina has a highway that connects to the Pan-American Highway that eventually brings you to Rivas (where most of the Pacific beach resorts are) and all the way to the Costa Rican border (about 4 hours away from Managua). Some call it the 'hell road' (besides Diriamba) because of the potholes (centimeters apart) that littered the semi-paved and truck abused road. A really bad condition for such an important thoroughfare. Amazingly, this is a thing of the past (like 2 months ago past) as it has now been paved and therefore a breeze to traverse.

Catarina is where one can buy various plants for the garden and all other accoutrement to beautify the same (where I got my bird bath and ethnic inspired plant holders). It is also in this town (near the iglesia - church) where one finds the 'Mirador' over looking Lago de Apoyo (Lake Apoyo), A mere 20 mins from Managua.

Masatepe, the furniture mecca of Nicaragua.

Masaya, is the town where one can find the Mercado de Artisania, everything Nicaraguan, from hammocks to cigars, leather and woodwork - all in one place. This is a very touristy place as these products are brought to Masaya from all over Nicaragua so make sure you haggle.

San Juan de Oriente is only worth going to if you are passing through Catarina, anyway. It is a block of stores selling artesanias of mostly clay. you will find the usual clay wind chimes (god forbid the winds of Nicaragua actually touch them as they will break and pulverize - I hang mine against the wall....inside the house - pretty to behold). Again, haggle as if your life depends on it.

Mirador de Catarina (shown in an old photo - taken Dec 2006 - on the right) is where one can have a breath taking view of Lago de Apoyo. On higher ground, therefore pleasant temperatures all year round. We make sure that we are there near lunchtime to partake of lunch while enjoying the tranquil sight of the Lake.

As for the route itself, I normally do it in this order:

1. Masaya Highway (Carretera a Masaya - Highway to Masaya)
2. Masatepe (off Catarina Road)
- go back to Catarina Road
3. San Juan de Oriente (off Catarina Road)
-go back to Catarina Road and turn back towards
4. Catarina
5. Mirador
6. Masaya

Ladies' Coffee Morning (Danish Embassy spouses)

It's not as formal as the title implies nor is it a regular thing. It's one of those times when you say, let's meet up one of these days and have coffee. Well, this one pushed through. It was actually G's idea, our ambassador's wife (a formidable woman in her own right), held at D's place (remember the new comer?) and attended by 5 people, yes, we are one of the smaller (only by number of expats and not as a donor - I believe Denmark is one of the top 3 donor countries in terms of aid to Nicaragua) embassies here in Managua, after Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Luxembourg. It was cozy and fun and hopefully becomes more regular than it is right now.

I remember when I first came and inquired about meeting the other spouses (which was understandably, first and foremost on my list), I was asked which group I wanted to join...the English or the Spanish group(??????) I thought I would do well as I still spoke a higher degree of fluency of danish at that time, in a Danish or English group (until I can chit-chat in Spanish, of course) ...but there were only 5 of us altogether with 2 of them men. Why the divide? Language does play an important role in one's social life here in Nicaragua.

For the curious, let me just breakdown the current spouses' language prowess:

G - Danish, English, Spanish - fluent
D - Danish, English - Fluent; Spanish - In the process of learning but picking it up fast (she just got here)
I - Originally hails from Argentina but is a Finnish citizen - is fluent in Spanish, Finnish and English
M - Although not a spouse (she's the expat - her spouse is from Chile and is fluent in both Spanish and Danish) is fluent in all 3 languages like G
And then there's me who speaks this and that but can better express myself if I can use all of them.....in one sentence, sigh.

English (all Danes speak english but not so many Latinos do) being the language we had in common helped...so, english it was.