Hormigas son enemigos

Making pottery, looks like a good work out
for the legs!

Happy Friday the thirteenth!  I found out that there is a superstition about Friday the thirteenth here, too.  I was really surprised by that.
Anyway, today has been a really long day.  It began with an excursion, which was different than the rest of our days here.  We went to a little pueblo called Ducuale Grande.  Despite the name, it is really small.  There is a place where some women make ceramic.  We got to watch the process, though I saw them in near reverse order.  First I watched them painting designs onto the pottery.  Next I saw the pottery being formed on these wheels that they turned with their feet.  Then I saw the oven where they fire the pottery.  It was interesting, though.  I really liked the pottery.  It's just too bad that it would be so difficult to transport.  I guess I'll have to come back to Nicaragua to live.  Then I can get the pottery and the government will transport it for me.
We stopped in a town called Condega (?) at El Parque El Avion.  It is a park built around a plane that was shot down during the Guerra Civil.  The plane was American, but it was flown by Nicaraguans.  It was a little awkward.  The plane was used to drop gasoline on the city and cause explosions.  Now it is a park.

Starting to really be formed.

Finally, on our way back to Esteli, we stopped at a Fabrica de Madera.  There they turn wood that has fallen (generally due to rain) into lots of different things.  While we were there, we saw them making cutting boards.  Later, I saw those same cutting boards in a store in Esteli.  It was interesting.
Also, while at the fabrica, I got bit by a red ant!  Man that hurt!  That is why hormigos (ants) son enemigos (are enemies).
After our excursion, I went shopping while waiting for lunch.  That's when I saw the cutting boards in the store.  I also saw the pottery for sale, too.  Then I had lunch before heading back to the school for class.
It was a little weird to have class in the afternoon.  It started raining during the class, which made it hard to hear.  By the end of class, it had also brought out moths.  I really hate moths!  They are so disgusting!  It made it really hard for me to concentrate with them flying around my face.  Ugh!

Pulling the finished product out of the oven.
The pots have to fire for 7 hours.

Some of my colleagues are going to Miraflor tomorrow.  It was a little odd because they made the decision in the moment while at a travel agency, but they could have chosen to go Sunday instead of tomorrow so that we ALL could go.  Instead, the rest of us are walking to a waterfall that is about 6 km from Esteli.  If I had to choose one, I think I would rather go to the waterfall anyway.  It'll be a nice hike, good exercise, not a long bus ride, and not an all day trip.  Our house mother is making lunch for us to take tomorrow, too, so that's nice.
For dinner tonight, we had Vigaron, a Nicaraguan dish that has yuca, churasco (? not sure about the word, but it is pork rinds), and cabbage.  I did NOT like the pork rinds.  But it was a huge affair, with all of the volunteers that are staying here, plus a few others.  Ivania sat with us, too, but at the other end of the table.  Luckily, we got to talk to her after everyone else left.  I really like her and am so glad that I was placed in this home.

Finishing the pottery before painting it.

Painting the pots

Pots waiting to be fired after being painted.

El parque El avion

View of the town from the park

Making wooden cutting boards

Fancier wood cutting board

The cutting boards in a store

Our lunch, some kind of meat roll, half chicken, half beef.

Vigaron, a typical Nicaraguan food

My starfruit key chain present from Ivania