leon

chris and i have spent the last few days studying spanish in the university town of leon. there are too many new words and new rules to fit in my brain. and when we are not in class, we are interviewing locals for chris´s film. which means that i am the translator, stretching my spanish to its limits with each new conversation. today i am tired. my brain hurts.

there have been some fabulous interviews though. we spend yesterday at the Casa del Cultura, where we met with the director of the centre and a social action promotor who has worked at the centre since its creation in 1979. it is our favourite arts centre in nicarauga, and the kind gentleman took us through slowly, explaining the historical, political, and cultural significance of the various works of art. we have a blown up photo of chris´s favourite piece in our living room at home: ronald regan with guns strapped to his back, sitting on the shoulders of a campesina woman, who is bleeding from both wrists. at her feet are two clowns, one with the face of dick cheney.

yesterday the profesors from our spanish school agreed to be interviewed, and they shared their thoughts on everything from the privatization of electricity, to their memories of childhood during the revolution, to the new law making abortions illegal in nicaragua.

this morning we interviewed our favourite nicaraguan painter, alejandro cabrera. he sat in his doorway for two hours, painting and talking to us about his life and his art.

tonight we meet with a soldier who fought in the revolution. he is taking us to the local ´legion´where we will see images from the contra war, and hear his stories about the struggle and the aftermath.

we are so blessed to be here, and so lucky to have all of these people opening their hearts to us, and telling their stories. people want to be heard. to feel as though they have a voice.

i am so lucky to have the opportunity to record these voices, and to learn from these stories.

i cant wait for the girls to arrive and for the clinic to begin!

tomorrow we leave for esteli, a town in the mountains known for it´s fabulous political murals.

abrazos,
jania