Pun-demonium in our second week in León (Now with pictures!)

Well what a rice week this has bean! Actually to be honest it’s been pretty damn hectic. We’re tortillaly knackered!

We’ve still been working our metaphorical goolies off with the kids at El Barilette but this week has consisted of a butt load of shows as well (including two at the obscene time of 8:30am!). We have been performing all over the hood from schools to dusty barrio streets and last night had our biggest show to date with a proper soundsystem! Complete with spontaneous narration for the visually impaired audience members..

So after a little recuperation on the weekend (consisting of Oihanna riding a horse we think is named Bruce, Paddy falling victim to a pick pocket on the bus and Josh using his masterful charades skills coupled with his less than masterful Spanish skills to book a room in a hostel) we were up bright and early to do our first show in a local school called SOS. We arrived to discover that the space we were performing in had.. (suspense building drum roll) shade AND a flat floor! We very quickly came to the decision not to get too used to the luxury and lo and behold a few days after that we were back on the barrio streets with dust in our mouths and all over our costumes. What can I say these are just the things we fill-thee days with here.

The crowds we have been performing for are absolutely great, they’re supportive and really appreciate the chance to see something very out of the ordinary for them. Though personally I would have thought they were used to seeing tourists falling over and acting silly on their street.

In Barrilette the kids are really improving especially as we’ve now worked out a rota for looking after the younger ones (munchkins) who have barrels of enthusiasm but don’t quite have the motor skills to back it up yet.

We are looking over the next week to start whittling down what skills the individual children will be performing in the show which isn’t an easy task as there tend to be skills favoured by a lot of them such as hoop and diabolo. While we’re on the subject of diabolo something I’ve personally found quite challenging is teaching diabolo with the very limited spanish I have in my arsenal. Turns out it’s a much more complex process than I’ve ever given it credit for. But what the hey, I knew it wouldn’t be easy work, and it’s worth it to be plantain the seeds of knowledge..

We have also started to touch the surface of acrobatics/acrobalance with them. Their high levels of energy and enthusiasm coupled with a massive lack of regard for personal safety make for some interesting sessions. Because of this we have been trying to stress the importance of safety and spotting which I’m sure they’ll all appreciate when they get older and lose the unparalleled elasticity children’s bones seem to have.

One of my highlights of this week has been a new game I have decided at this moment to call Punionetta. The rules are simple and are as follows:
1. Take the word camionetta
2. Make a pun out of the word camionetta
3. Justify your pun
4. Tell the closest team member and explode in fits of raucous laughter
5. Get looked at strangely by the locals

These are some of our favourites so far:
One that sells sea food – Clamionetta
One full of old people – Granionetta
Pretty much just a normal one – Cramionetta
Spiderbaits tour bus – Wham-Bam-Alamionetta
One that’s full of cheese – Camionfeta
One that stars in action movies – Jean-Claude Van Dammioneta
The one that conquered fear – Batmanionetta
No food or drink allowed on board – Ramadanioetta
Dr Zeuses personal lift – Sam-I-Amionetta

So as you can see we’ve been using our journeys too and from the school very productively as well..

This weekend off began with breakfast outside due to the house being fumigated. It also included a SPECTACULAR fall by me off the back of a chair into the dirt. Guess you could say I rock a bit too hard.. Most of the team took a visit to the museum of legends and folklore to find out a bit more about the culture and history of Nicaragua. Including the story of an ugly woman with giant breasts who’s father tried to bribe men into marrying her..

All in all an eventful week, big up ya bad British selves, catch you on the flip flop and all others sorts of good wishy type sayings.

PWB Nica 2015

Paddy