Nicaragua - Day 3 - Nagarote/Leon

We had another great and VERY hot day...I can't believe how much water I'm capable of consuming. I might secretly be a camel.

We we started out our day with a smoking volcano again. Turns out- it wasn't a big deal when I saw it the first time...it happens often. I still took approximately 100 photos of it today, and I still believe it's a big awesome deal.

Momotombo back in action.  

We got back to work with the kids first thing this morning, and I really can't get enough of them. They're so sweet, and I'm having fun with the fact that they don't really seem to know what to make of me. 

-they're surprised that I speak Spanish

-they like my style of singing

-they're super impressed that I can play the piano AND guitar (and are so excited to learn!)

-they love the silly vocal warm-ups that I make them do

-and they cannot stop playing with my hair. 

I'm smitten! 

On Monday, we came up with our own verse to We Shall Not Be Moved (a.k.a. No Nos Moveran). So today- each kid came to tell me, 'remember how I helped write a song yesterday?' Pretty cute. Here's a photo of us 'writing our song'.

"Writing" We Shall Not Be Moved/No Nos Moveran with the kids.  

Between rehearsals we've been working on piano. (There was one donated to NicaPhoto, one of our tour partner organizations.) Because the piano just arrived, everyone's very curious about it, and it's been really fun teaching the notes and making 'maps' so people can find their keys again.

And SOMEHOW, these giggle girls started doing all kinds of gymnastics, so tomorrow, I'm bringing my yoga mat.  

Aymi, Paula and Sarai showing off their back bends...tomorrow - Eagle and Warrior 2! 

After our day was done, we went back to the city (Leon) for some meetings (turns out the government wants to make sure that I'm not going to try and start a revolution while I'm down here...).

To get there- we had to ride in an old (non-air conditioned) school bus! It was such a fun, albeit steamy ride. 

(From the bottom left, Angie, Maria Mercedes, Karen and Anibal enjoying the school bus!) 

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's adventures! 

Thanks for reading, and thanks for all of your emails. 

Talk soon, Kristen

Nicaragua - Day 2 - Nagarote/Leon

It's pretty hot and humid here in Nicaragua! You know that when the evening low is 77, you're gonna have pretty hot days... 

Today was awesome because we met and rehearsed with our Community Choir in Nagarote. It's an all ages choir, and it was so much fun meeting everyone! We're partnering with a fantastic organization called NicaPhoto. I can't wait to add them to the Just Be Nice Party!

This is my favorite photo of the crew, because one little boy is punching his friend right in the face.  

After our rehearsal and some impromptu piano lessons (everyone wanted to learn!)  we took a walking tour of the town. 

It was amazing! 

-I saw my first volcano. (It's called, Momotombo.) It even started smoking just for our viewing pleasure! 

-I found a tree (a few, actually) painted Packers' green & gold.  

 -I rode on the back of a horse cart to make sure that we returned in time for dinner. 

Photos of all of these shenanigans are below. 

Tomorrow, we go to visit some of the children's neighborhoods (they want to show us where they live) and get back to more music making. I'll make sure to post some video of our songs soon! 

Cant wait to see what Day 3 brings... 

Talk soon, Kristen

With our lovely (un)official tour guide (and fab singer), Gema.  

Green & Gold trees! 

Volcano selfie (I had to do it!) 

Nagarote, Nicaragua

It's hard to tell- but we're freaking out on the back of a rickety, wooden horse cart in this photo! 

Nicaragua - Day 1 - Managua

Well- almost on a whim, I was invited and agreed to come on a two week tour in Nicaragua. Those of you who know me, are most likely not surprised by this. 

I'm here as a part of the Intake Ensemble, representing Intake Music (bringing traditional and Classical music together through cultural exchange & education) and officially here as a cultural representative of the United States. 

It's official- I was even picked up in a US Embassy van!

If Dan Malloy could see me now... 

Happy on the flight...they let me keep my guitar with me. That ALWAYS makes me happy.  

I'm going to try and post a blog each day depending on our access to wifi, so visit often for photos and stories. I think this is going to be yet another grand adventure!

And, if you're curious about where Nicaragua is...I took a screen shot of the map. I won't even tell you where I thought it was...

I'll post more soon!

Kristen

We're the blue dot! 

My Gaby

A lot of you know who Gaby is - I’ve written a lot about her, and she’s been to a lot of my shows. Many of you have had the opportunity and good fortune to meet her.

For those of you who haven’t been lucky enough, Gaby is a friend of mine that I met in Oaxaca, Mexico, 15 years ago.

Gaby and I met on my first trip to Casa Hogar, a children’s home in Oaxaca, Mexico. A place I’d never heard of, and couldn’t pronounce.

Though I didn’t speak Spanish well, I connected with Gaby one night while we were making spaghetti. She was an incredibly capable 12 year old, and I was a 19 year old college kid who could barely boil a noodle.

We’ve been thick as thieves ever since.

Through the years, Gaby and I grew closer and closer. 

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-She knew me before Bryan did.

-I borrowed a skirt from her sister so that I could go to her high school graduation. 

-And we used to take shifts in the middle of the night when kids at the children’s home were sick

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So, when she had the opportunity to come to study in the United States, it made perfect sense that she would come and live with Bryan and me. We were already family.

Gaby moved to Connecticut in 2008.

We made a ‘no Spanish’ rule, to help her advance through her English classes more quickly...

Drove her to class until she learned the bus system....

And had Gaby as one of the few family members at our wedding.

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Very often people ask me about Gaby:

“So she’s like your daughter?”

Well, no.

“So she’s like your sister?”

Well, not exactly.

She’s my Gaby.

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That’s it. That’s the only way that I know how to explain it.

She’s my Gaby, and I’m her Kristen.

Chosen family is a phrase that I use often, and in this case, it fits perfectly.

To call each other family, just feels right.

We may not be related in the traditional sense, but we’re connected through humanity, and to me, that’s enough.

So on this, her Passport Birthday (that’s a story for another time), I’d like to wish Gaby (my Gaby!) a Happy Birthday!

Love you.

Valentine Video (#ShareTheLove)

Today is the day!

Today, I'm releasing a music video for my favorite love song I’ve ever written, ‘Swing’.

“Like a rope needs a swing...A bell needs to ring...I need you.”

I wrote this story on my way back to Minneapolis after singing at a wedding in Northern Minnesota. I actually wrote the entire thing sitting at a rest stop next to a huge statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.

I was in such a loving place.

I had just witnessed two people pledge to love each other forever. I had seen friends that I hadn’t seen in nearly a decade, I was just really happy, at peace, and felt a lot of love.

It’s so wonderful to feel love and give love.

And that’s how I wrote the song. 

The song ended up on my latest album, I’ve sung it at many weddings, and I’ve dedicated it to many different couples.

So, this year, I thought it would be so great to celebrate love OF ALL KINDS on Valentine’s Day.

I believe in given and chosen family, and I believe in many kinds of love, so I wanted this video to be about not only romantic love, I wanted it to be about family love, friend love, rescue pet love, ALL love. 

So, here we have it. That’s why this is happening.

And today is the day that you can click on a youtube link and see the many amazing and different ways that people love.

Here it is!

I hope you enjoy it!

LOVE,

Kristen

#ShareTheLove