MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1999
Ocotal in 1987
By Bob Leslie[Bob Leslie teaches math at the PolytechnicUniversity (UPOLI) in Managua on a Fullbright fellowship.] I first came to Nicaragua in May, 1987 just after the death of Ben Linder. I was with a group sponsored by the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America. We went to Ocotal in the northern mountains and spent two weeks living with families there. I remember most vividly visiting a family who had just received the news of the death of their son in the contra war. At night we heard shots and realized quickly how close the war was. All night long we stayed awake attending the wake of the son. Neighbors and friends came and gave support. It was a draining experience, but one typical of Nicaragua in this time.
The next day we heard reports from mothers of AMNLAE who also had lost sons and daughters. The process was for each to stand in front of the group and tell how their son or daughter had died. Many cried of course, while others, very deliberately, recounted what had happened. We cried too, and as painful as it was I realized that for them it was a necessary part of the grieving process. We were there to receive their stories and to grieve with them. I think many of us in the US, over the years, accompanied many Nicas in many ways. We could not end their pain, but we could ease it if only by listening.
Now I am teaching at UPOLI in Managua and will be here for a semester on a Fulbright. I am working with professors here and in other universities on innovative ways of teaching university level mathematics. We are sharing experiences in teaching and working with lots of eager students. Ever since I first came to Nicaragua in '87 I have been trying to find ways to get back. This is my latest and probably most successful experience. Vamos a ver.
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