Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

July 11, 2005 - Jinotega, Nicaragua

Almost a week ago, a half-Ecuadorian muchacha from Dallas arrived. She'd lived in Quito a bit, so her Spanish is great. Natalie (20) is her name, and having her around Sandy's house has made the translating and the dealing with Ana expontentially easier. We executed the usual: went to the dump, painted the guest house (definitely not as easy with two people), and watched a bunch of movies in our free time.

(Including some of The Returner... oh, sweet holy awesome yes.)

Also, I saw Sr. y Sra. Smith last Sunday, and the dialogue was consistently written and executed perfectly. Oh! And School of Rock again, which made me lament to no end that there was no AC/DC, Zeppelin, Iggy Pop, etc. on my ipod. Incredible film. Near perfect, if you ask me. Also, directed by Richard Linkladter of Dazed and Confused, Waking Life, and the upcoming A Scanner Darkly fame. The latter of which was written by Philip K. Dick (Blade Runner, Minority Report). What portfolios. My new list of favorite directors, off the top of my head: Linkladter, Pedro Almodóvar, Baz Luhrman, Robert Rodriguez... that's all I can think of.

We watched the new Peter Pan, the live action one, and it was fairly good. It made me really, really, want to do a semi-contemporary version, about a boy that refused to grow up (constant contempt for authority, constant drug use almost keeps time from passing) who won't accept that he feels any emotions. And I think the Wendy character should go to private school. And pixie dust should fuck you up good, baby. Make you fly. Make you think happy thoughts. ...I'm sorry, I got carried away.

Natalie and I have been talking a lot. About very real things, you know? It's been really nice. I've still had to watch my tongue, but not as much. So much judging, by everyone... always so judgemental. Anyway, the subject we keep coming back to is living simply, without unnecessary things. It's a tempting, romantic idea. I really want to try having nothing more than a tent and some clothes and travel around the Americas, Europe, wherever. This magazine that she brought, Relevant, (I guess it's a youth culture magazine for Christians, but they're really on top of things for such a magazine. Reviews and reccomendations of Sigur Ros, the Arcade Fire, Flaming Lips, Bright Eyes, Iron and Wine... the list goes on. Plus, there's articles about how conservatives are using Christianity to demonize liberals and choosing just a few key issues to fight about that make them look bad, and it ends up hurting everyone when you assign a religion to the Republican part. And how Jesus would have been a liberal, anyway. Rob Adair would totally dig it.) The point I was making a million years ago is there was an article about backpacking through Europe and staying in youth hostels, and how to sustain oneself for supercheap. There are even websites that can sign you up for housesitting jobs all over the world and you can get paid to just stay at someone's house in Munich, and all sorts of things like that. Totally incredible and feasible.

On Friday we went up to Mombacho, an active volcano here. It was sweet and rainforesty and the crater was large. There were holes in the ground that exumed clouds of hot steam. Rock.

I have been eating ridiculous amounts of food and napping from lunch until dinner so I don't have to work. >_<... I think I either have a stomach parasite or I'm about to go into hibernation.

On Sunday we headed back up to the orphanage in Jinotega and picked up the newest team from the hotel. They're from near Raleigh, NC, and they're like foot-washin' Baptists, but crazier. Most are fairly nice, though. Names and descriptions to come if I learn them or care.

Oh, and I started writing some poetry again. It's a little rough around the edges, but it feels good to write again, and it's not really too bad.

(p.s. la muchacha tiene hombre. que mala suerte.)