Oh the Weather outside is Frightful

Well folks, looks like it’s officially winter here in Pearl Lagoon. Gone are the endless sunny days, the intense heat, and the humidity. Okay, the humidity is still there. But instead of sunshine, we have day after day of monsoon-style rain. Constant, drenching, pounding, unrelenting rain. It is hard to sleep through the night with the heart-stoppingly loud thunder and brilliant displays of lightning. The roads are becoming a muddy mess, the health center is flooding, the bon refuse to rise properly, and the electricity cuts out more frequently. Everything that can mold is molding. It will soon be impossible to travel into and out of Pearl Lagoon overland. At least the toads are happy; every evening we’re treated to a chorus of croaking and chirping from the newly formed pathside ponds. A few tips for surviving the coastal winter:

1. Buy good rain boots and a big umbrella. Despite the potential mocking you may endure for your campesino style, but trust me: embrace the rubber boots, because it’s very unpleasant to have to spend the whole day with wet, dirty, wrinkled toes. A big umbrella is also key; little umbrellas are great for travel, but don’t hold up too well against high winds and torrential downpours.

2. Always be prepared to do laundry. Sunny days may be few and far between. Clothing is not limitless, and there are only so many times one can acceptably wear a shirt or sleep on the same sheets (remember, it’s still pretty warm here). So if the sunshine peeking through your curtains at 5 AM wakes you up, best you jump out of bed and start scrubbing. Sun peek out of the clouds after hours of rain? Head home; it’s laundry time! You never know how the sun will last, and you don’t want to get stuck with half-dry clothes or bedding.

3. Keep that mosquito net up and tucked in. Rainy weather brings more insects. The number of mosquitoes increases exponentially, and other creepy crawlies you might not otherwise see too much will find their way into your home where it is drier. Wear your bug repellent to fend off the blood suckers, cover your water supplies to discourage insect breeding, and keep food in tightly closed containers (though it may not guarantee the protection of your food from smaller ants). Oh, and if a big bad bug happens to expire in your home, don’t worry too much about cleaning up the corpse. There’s a good chance that other creatures living in your house will take care of it sooner or later (remember the scorpion post?).

4. Try not to worry too much about the leaks. It’s inevitable. So try to prepare as best you can, and don’t worry too much about the rest. Make sure your bed isn’t under any holes (or repair the roof the best you can, even if it’s only with duct tape or tarps), keep your things on higher shelves or in drawers, and remember: if your floor gets wet, it’s just a good opportunity to mop – you don’t even have to drag in a bucket of water!

5. Try to find the good. A week of rain can be a real downer. A month (or three) even more so. So try to find the positives, such as… it’s not as hot! The mangos are coming into season! The big growing season has begun – more fruits and vegetables are on their way! It’s an excuse to drink hot chocolate or tea! It’s a good time to get friends together and watch a movie, or curl up with a good book!

6. Don’t visit Nicaragua in June, July, or August. While I would love to see you all, and hope that you one day have a chance to get to know this country, I’d strongly advise waiting to do so until the drier (yet still reasonably cool) months of November through February. Unless you’re a surfer. I hear the waves on the Pacific side aren’t so bad in winter...

Word of the week: lluvia - rain

A Very Very

Happy Father's Day!

Sending my love from Nicaragua today (and every day). Dad, you've been there for me through thick and thin. Thank you!

Miss Marcia’s Special Bon for the Thanksgiving Harvest

If I haven’t mentioned it before, the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua offers some excellent traditional foods. One of my personal favorites is the bon: a sweet, spiced bread. I recently had the pleasure of making bon with Miss Marcia, one of my neighbors and friends here in Lagoon, as she prepared for the Moravian Church’s Thanksgiving harvest. I tried to take notes of the process, which I’m sharing with you today, but keep in mind that most good cooks here don’t really work with a recipe. Make adjustments as you see fit, or just come to the coast to experience them.

Bon – Makes approximately 15 loaves

36 cups of flour

7 cups sugar

1 additional cup browned sugar syrup, mixed with approximately 2 tablespoons vanilla

1 small handful salt

2 handfuls of baking powder

Milk from 3-4 coconuts

2 sticks of margarine

1 cup shortening

4 tablespoons instant yeast

6 tablespoons cinnamon

5 tablespoons anise seeds

Allspice

Nutmeg

Cloves

1-2 cups of raisins and/or candied fruits

FOR GLAZE:

1 cup coconut cream

2-3 tablespoons sugar

Mix together dry ingredients and spices. Stir in browned sugar syrup, then stir in enough coconut milk for the dough to stick together. Knead in the shortening and margarine. Stir in raisins and/or candied fruits, if desired.

Sprinkle flour on a clean surface and knead the dough until it is soft (several minutes). Separate dough into 15 separate balls, and knead each one individually, forming each into a smooth ball. Flatten the ball, pressing any raisins or fruits into the dough. Set aside and let rise. Bake until golden brown.

Mix glaze and brush over the cooled loaves. Allow to dry 20-30 minutes, and then apply a second coat.