Stock Family Trip : End of the school year party

Monday, May 30, 2016

End of the school year party

This is Mike...
We went to the end of school year party on the shores of Lago Colcibolca (Lake Nicaragua). The center of colonial Granada is situated just west of the lake within walking distance. The party was potluck style with the primary focus on games, challenges, and eating contests to keep the kids busy. We had fun and unbeknownst to us, Zoe always wanted to do a watermelon eating contest while Sierra always wanted to do a potato sack race. We never knew that they wanted to do these things and of course were happy to see them have fun. It is amazing what you find out about your kids when the surroundings change.
   Zoe has made a good friend through school and like Zoe, her friend likes to climb trees. Her friend lives in the forest on a farm, and has a pet squirrel named Oreo. Sierra plays with more kids at school, but as yet, has not made a good friend. Seeing our kids interact with the other children was a nice sight. Some of the adults organizing the games said commands in Spanish and our kids responded to them in real time. Our kids could not repeat what was said but they understood what was said. This is the beginning stages of them learning another language and Elise and I were thrilled.
   As for the surroundings, we were at a beach park near restaurants and playgrounds. A unique aspects of partying at a beach park in Nicaragua was how the school put up barricade tape around the perimeter. I originally thought it was for the kids, to keep them corralled, but soon realized it was to keep the beggars and sellers out. After the kids played their games we had them queue up for food. Like clockwork the homeless grabbed plastic plates out of a trash cans or paper plates blowing along the shoreline and stood as close as they could to the food while still being on the other side of the barricade tape. Strange as this was to me, the Nicaraguans are used to it. I learned a good lesson and in the future, going to the beach with food will require barricade tape. The homeless were respectful enough and after we were all fed, the staff gave some food to the patiently waiting hungry men, other side of the barrier.
   For Elise and I, it was enjoyable meeting so many interesting parents from around the world. Conversations swirled over subjects like, living in Mozambique, as Sierra's teacher lived there for a year. The school director's sister sold an Avocado grove in Chile and is moving to Nicaragua as well. We spoke of interesting things, hopeful things. The people we met were truly worldly in their subjects and views. And finally, another unique thing happened at the park, which would not happen back in the states. After we cleaned up the food, took down the barriers, packed up all the stuff, and were standing their chatting. An unattended horse walked right through our site and continued straight on to the beach. We all chuckled at the horse realizing how different our world has become.