It's that time again!

For those of you dying to know what's been playing on repeat on my iPod ever since they hit the radio waves of Nicaragua, here's an interactive (hyperlinked!) updated list of JM's NICA jams:

note: Those with a [¡Caliente!] rating are my particular favorites as of right now.

-Agarra mi mano, Sean Paul - Spanish version of "Hold My Hand" [¡Caliente!]

-Dile el amor, Aventura - the quintessential bachata group never ceases to amaze [¡Caliente!]

-Cuando volveras, Aventura - not quite as good as Dile el Amor, but this one is in Spanish and English

-Sobala recojela, DJ Albert - don't ask what this one means, just feel the beat

-Tu primera vez, Hector Acosta "El Torito" - the title says it all [¡Caliente!]

-Agua y guaro, Jr. Ranks featuring Mach & Daddy - good luck getting this one out of your head [¡Caliente!]

-Anything by Lady Gaga - [¡Caliente!]

-Mi cama huele a ti, Tito "El Bambino" featuring Zion & Lennox - My bed smells like you may not be the most creative lyrics, but this song is addictive nonetheless [¡Caliente!]

-El doctorado, Tony Dize - swoon [¡Caliente!]

Oh my! I just realized this update was quite overdue. I'll add some more that, although are already "old" by now, I'd still like to share.

-Colgando en tus manos, Carlos Baute

-Mi niña bonita, Chino y Nacho

-Tocarte toa, DJ Yamo featuring Calle 13 - [¡Caliente!]

-Tu no eres para mi, Fanny Lu

-Te mando flores, Fonseca - could you be sweeter, Fonseca?

-Yo no sé mañana, Luis Enrique - so. good. [¡Caliente!]

-Que vida la mia, Reik - makes me smile [¡Caliente!]

-Pegadito, Tommy Torres - the remix, with Hector "El Father" is even better [¡Caliente!]

-Sexy Robotica, Don Omar - I like running to this song. Random. [¡Caliente!]

-Wisin y Yandel (with songs like Abusadora, Rakata, Anoche soñe contigo, Hace calor) have continued to make appearances. Go figure.

A final note, I actually más o menos stole this playlist (at least the 1st half) from my good friend Anina. She's the one with a true appreciation of la música Nica.

Dale pues,

Jan Mar

Perritos

My perritos (little doggies)! Or, more accurately, my perrotos (big dogs)!

Love these guys. They keep me safe, gracias a Dios.

Enjoy!

Puppy love,

Jan Mags

p.s. The blog seems to be cropping out the right side of the video. Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7NA9M5btxc to see it full screen!

The Wonderful World of Nicaraguan transportation

Upon my arrival to Nicaragua, one thing immediately stuck out: the potholes. Those have since been filled in, but I have yet to drive down the Carretera Vieja a Leon without passing a plethora of mediums for transport including oxen, bicycles, trucks, motorcycles, buses, and cars. Don't forget your horse or your own good pair of feet either - there are many ways to get around Cedro Galan/Chiquilistagua! I've already got great memories of transportation in Nicargua: learning to drive stick shift, passing cars while facing oncoming traffic, my first (and only) motorcycle ride, driving singing chavalos to and from Kid's English at the Land ("¡La Rebeca! ¡La Rebeca! ¡No se olvide la Rebeca!"), trying to board a bus amidst a slew of hecklers calling out "Manawaaa - Manawaaa - Manawaaa," "Chinandega - Chinandega - Chinandega," or my personal favorite, "¡Masaya - Masaya - Masaaaayaaaaa!" Anyway you look at it, getting around Nicaragua is interesting. Depending on your perspective (and your day), it can be thrilling, terrifying, or frustrating, and it's almost always hot. There's a good chance you'll get pulled over by the police: If it's a long sleeves shirted cop that gets you, watch out for a ticket. If he or she is wearing short sleeves, you can't get a ticket (and you better call their bluff for a bribe). Needless to say, I've learned quite a bit just by riding around Managagua/Nicaragua/Central America. Please enjoy my video, a highlight of my adventures with transportation in Nicargua (and a few of my favorite students, too!).

Transportation from Jan Margaret Rogers on Vimeo.

Amor y paz,

Jan Maggi

over-the-hump month (February!)

I'm over halfway through my 13 month stint in Nicaragua, and it's just now starting to hit me. I live in Central America. Wow. One would think these things would have sunken in ages ago...

Another thing I wish I'd figured out from the beginning is how to work my iMovie magic. After being inspired by a friend's blog, little white lights, I decided to make a video highlighting some little things I've learned, things I appreciate, and places/people I have grown to love. I hope to make even more of these videos (shorter, I promise!) to feature aspects of life abroad in Nicaragua.

Abrazos,

Jan Maggi

Life (in Nicaragua) is Beautiful

Stealing a blog idea from my fellow PD Anina, here are a few pictures of Nicaragua because, well, life is beautiful.

Church in Estelí, Nicaragua (I later received a handmade, stone-carved replica.)

Beach at Pochomil, Nicaragua

Beach, Bicycle, Horse, and Dog - Pochomil, Nicaragua

Neary Tisey Nature Reserve (Outside of Estelí, Nicaragua)

My rooftop view of the sunset - Managua, Nicaragua

Volcan Masaya - near Masaya, Nicaragua

Statute of Sandino, Nicaraguan flag - Managua, Nicaragua

El Salero Community Center - Managua, Nicaragua

Be still and know that I am God ... Psalm 46:10

Sometimes, it's good to just be still and enjoy the beauty of creation. Can I get an "Amen?"

The Monkey and The Elephant

Today while Kelly was helping one student with his social science homework, I decided to practice writing with another student, a little guy I’ll call Pedro. Pedro can be quite stubborn in his desire to not work and not write, but we decided to tag team on a project to write a story. He had to incorporate the following characters: a monkey, an elephant, Pedro, the President, and a princess.

Here’s the story, titled...

“The Monkey and the Elephant”

One time there was a princess who had a big monkey and a small elephant.

And the elephant ate the princess.

This made the President mad, so he decided to incarcerate the elephant.

And the monkey went to the jail to save the elephant from the prison.

Mr. Elephant was very sick from the poor conditions in the jail, so he vomited. Out came the princess!

And Pedro arrived with a shotgun, and he killed the elephant with one shot.

The end.

The Wheels on the Bus...

It was a 1988 Blue Bird Bus from Georgia with typical DAWGS stickers posted in the corners. However, it was also decked out in “Jesus en mi corazon,” Cars the movie, and Tazmanian devil stickers. The big yellow-turned-neon bus cruised out Carretera Vieja a Leon past horse and buggies, pedestrians, and cars. Words like “amor,” “siempre,” and “corazon” frequented the radio as latin ballads poured loudly through the speakers. I have no idea how this bus got to Nicaragua from Georgia, but here it is...another example of typical Nicaraguan public transit. I spend my time sweating, crammed against bellies and bodies of those standing alongside me. The packed situation makes falling down an impossibility even though the bus is so full that the front door remains wide open. A colorful character swings just outside the doors of the moving bus; he whistles, collects money, makes change, calls out stops, all while dangling from the bus by a couple of fingers. I smile, wising I had a camera to capture the moment.

Such is life.