The final countdown

Towards the end of the 80’s, a Chinese restaurant called Yang Tse caused furore in Chihuahua; the reason for this “uproar” was a simple architectural idea: A small pool was built around the restaurant, a pool in which Koi fish lived (Koi are the typical orange fish we know from Chinese or Japanese films or restaurants).
Even though I was only 7 or 8 when the Yang Tse opened, I clearly remember ordering my food as quick as I could just to run outside the restaurant and see the fish with Carla, my cousin and childhood sidekick.
In that restaurant my sister always had Cantonese chicken wings (fried with ginger and soy sauce) which she loved dipping in a red sweet-sour sauce.

The Yang Tse, as many Chihuahuan Restaurants in the 80’s and 90’s, offered live music on Sundays, this meant a pianist playing cover songs from 1 until 4 p.m.
One Sunday, the whole Castro family (the maternal fraction of my extended family) went there to have lunch, and while eating, my granny (mamá Bertha) asked me to deliver a message to the pianist: He should play “Ballade pour Adeline”, this is the oldest memory I have from that song.

I love picturing these moments; situations in which the best elements in one's life are included: People I love, places which no longer exist and food. Yes, I adore nostalgia, maybe that’s one of the reasons I no longer live in Mexico, to love it and recall it as an old, romantic memory.

In the Teatro Nacional Rubén Darío, I saw the man who sold 22 million copies of "Adeline"; the concert was amazing, although I have to admit that at the beginning I was slightly disappointed when I saw Mr Clayderman on stage playing a black piano wearing black trousers and a blue blazer; however, my frustration vanished instantaneously when I hear the magnificent playback coming out of the speakers. Imagine my situation: I was sitting with my mom in one of Latin America’s best theatres (the acoustic elements are German/Austrian). We were on the 12th row, the curtains opened as esoteric tones were played, synthesizers, wind instruments and harps. Then, the best came: a deep male English voice announced that Richard Clayderman was going to play variations of Titanic. The entire theatre was on seventh heaven.

Through the entire concert there were several incredible moments, all of them unforgettable: He performed a disco version of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (only comparable to the one featured in Family Guy, know that one?), he also played a medley of “Don’t cry for me Argentina”, “Love story” and “Chariots of fire”. If we exclude the best piece of that evening “Ballade pour Adeline”, the evening’s crown was Ricky Martin’s “Living la vida loca”.

People, believe Wikipedia! Richard Clayderman IS the most important pop pianist alive. The Rolling Stones did creative and good stuff, but 50 years ago, however they are still important, they are a “living” legend and they have influenced more than one generation with their music; Richard Clayderman did a similar thing with the perfect blend of pop-music-covers and kitsch arrangements all this on a grand piano. Richard Clayderman rocks.

My mom’s visit lasted only a week, and it went by very fast, I wish she could have stayed longer, but I’m pleased she came; it was great having her and Helena as guests. I am already looking forward to see the entire family in eight weeks, at Tita’s wedding in April.

About my work? Yesterday I had one of my last project presentations, I was well prepared and the presentation was good received. From now on, the countdown to leave Nicaragua has started, in less than four weeks I will be back in Innsbruck.

P.S. I will upload videos and pics from the concert this summer!

a summary of my two lifes

Currently, my life in Managua consists of mainly two things: Interviewing people and cooking with the children from the SOS village. The first one is the reason I came to Managua; the second is an activity I choose because of a number reasons: I love cooking; I love kids; and the most important one: I want to be part of the SOS Village. I prefer to be called by my name rather than being the Mexican guy who lives at the guest house.
One of the best things I’ve experienced at the village is when a child or an SOS aunt or walks by and say ¡Hola!

On weekdays after work I often play and cook with the children and each night, Felicia, the village director, and I talk for hours about the funny, the weird and the difficult things from each other's work.

In Managua I spend my time either at the office, chatting with Felicia or playing/cooking with children; while in Innsbruck I live a completely different life: After work I go home, cook and dine with Marina (my flatmate) and one or two of our usual dinner guests (Hannes, Verena or Isabella). At night I work a while on the los gurkos activities, which is mainly organizing electro-pop gigs and a yearly short-film festival. I also attend several concerts, about 2 or 3 a week; actually, I don’t care much about the music style as long as it’s good, but I have to say that I can’t stand salsa and funky jazz, not to mention music involving the most hippie instrument of all time: didgeridoo.

In Innsbruck I am more involved in cultural activities and have a considerable social network, but in Managua I live a more quiet life, which I truly enjoy. I love the evenings on the porch, the nights zapping on cable-TV (I don’t have a TV in Innsbruck) and the fact that I have ninety cheeky and funny neighbours.

My calm lifestyle will change within the next 24 hours: My mom is coming along with two friends and will stay for a week. It may sound awkward, but I really enjoy being with her; it is surely different as when I’m with Tita and Tomás, but it’s still cool. The best part of her visit will be Richard Clayderman’s concert this Saturday. I can’t wait to see his half-long blond hair waiving besides the red roses over his piano...

…I just received a phone call from a not-identified number and they hang up before saying anything. I hope that was no warning call from the jealous boyfriend. Today I saw Ericka, she was in the village and I said “hello” to her, maybe this triggered the macho-beast inside his fiancee…or are they already married?

P.S. Noticed the new pic? That's me with my best friend under 5, Martin and two other guys from the village in Estelí

This weekend may be crap, but next Saturday will be memorable

It's Friday night. My second michelada is almost gone (Michelada is beer served on ice with lime juice and salt) and I am thinking of having fun next weekend. Do you think this sounds strange? I think it’s pretty sad; Tomorrow, I will wake up at 8 and leave for Ometepe, where I will meet a group of children I am supposed to interview on Sunday, right after that I will travel back to Managua. Sound amazing isn’t it? This weekend will be so short and shitty, that even writing these lines with sarcasm is not helping…

Ometepe is the volcano island in the middle of the Nicaragua Lake. It is in fact a beautiful spot, but going there to spend the weekend in front of a microphone and a questionnaire takes away all the charm. Yes, Saturday and Sunday will be the golden crown of a terrible week: I had 16 interviews and it was hell to conduct them; I transcribed several interviews into text documents; and finally, I prepared and chaired a meeting with my project’s consultative group (representatives of SOS, Universities and other NGOs).
This week was really hard and I didn’t get as much sleep as I wanted, each day I woke up willing to stay longer in bed, but…duty was calling

I just finished my michelada and with it, the remaining drops of fun just vanished.

The next chance to enjoy the company of another human being will be next Friday, when my mother and Helena, one of her best friends, land at Managua’s airport. My mom is visiting me, and that’s great! But that’s not all, on Saturday we are going to see Richard Clayderman live. Can you believe it? The world’s most known pianist is performing at Nicaragua’s National Theatre, and we will be attending this glorious event.

Sincerely, I don’t like Richard Clayderman at all, but how often can one get the chance to hear “Ballade pour Adeline” (the most kitsch ballad of all times) performed live on a grand piano? Just to think of Monsieur Clayderman on a glitter suit playing on his white piano takes me into an almost spiritual voyage. Oh yeah!

This weekend may be crap, but Mr. Clayderman’s concert will be memorable