By Victoria Kabak, KF9, Nicaragua

I try not to play favorites, but this week I met my favorite borrower. The borrowers I’ve liked the most so far have been those who are particularly friendly, have particularly interesting things to say, or give me food. Kenia fell into that first category, and I really enjoyed talking both to her and her younger sister-in-law, who helps Kenia make the 60 lunches she puts together every day for a nearby business. Not only did the rest of her family not look at me as if I’m an alien – which I’ve actually almost gotten used to by now! – but they were very friendly as well.

Kenia and I are the same age, and I felt like we connected. I was sad to say goodbye to her and to think about the fact that I will most likely never see her again. I promised I’d make a print of the photo I took of her and her sister-in-law and get it to her loan officer to bring it to her. But there was one thing (well, probably many things but one most obvious thing) that we didn’t have in common. At 22 years old, Kenia has a 2.5-year-old son. James is adorable and smiley and lively, and he definitely added to the positive experience I had meeting Kenia for the journal entry I wrote. But I found myself thinking back to 2.5 years ago. At the end of my sophomore year of college, when Kenia and I were both 20, Kenia was having a baby. If I had had a child when Kenia did, I would have had a baby to care for all throughout my junior and senior years.

Kenia, left, and her sister-in-law standing in front of the area in their home where they make the lunches they sell

Kenia is by no means the first borrower I’ve met who had one or more children at a young age. Whether it was five years ago or 20 years ago, many women borrowers I’ve been fortunate to meet here in Nicaragua began having children when they were in their very early 20s or younger. Meeting borrowers, I have also encountered a couple of pregnant teenage girls. One was a borrower’s daughter; another, a friend of the borrower’s son.

The Guttmacher Institute, a U.S.-based nonpartisan NGO that seeks to “advance sexual and reproductive health in the United States and worldwide,” issued a report in 2006 entitled “Early Childbearing in Nicaragua: A Continuing Challenge.” The key points listed at the beginning include:

Among Nicaraguan women 20-24 years old…almost half had had a child before their 20th birthday.

A quarter of all births in Nicaragua–35,000 per year–are to 15-19 year olds.

The proportion of 20-24 year olds who had a child during adolescence is more than twice as high among the poorest as among those in the highest socioeconomic category.

Nearly half–45%–of births to adolescent women were unplanned.

These figures are staggering. Most telling, I think, are the last two. Having a child at this young age is associated with poverty and is often unplanned. And these facts lead me to my main point, because what they suggest is a lack of family planning especially on the part of the poor.

The issue of family planning is, of course, incredibly complex. It brings in not only personal values and ideology but also questions of cultural hegemony: here in Nicaragua, family is of the utmost importance. Families are large, multiple generations often share one home, and grandparents are often very actively involved in raising their grandchildren. If starting to have children at a young age is part of the culture, who are we to judge it and say it’s wrong?

The problem really lies in the association between early childbearing and poverty and in the fact that these pregnancies are unplanned. It’s certainly not to say that ending early childbearing would end poverty, but it’s easy to imagine how it contributes to the cycle of poverty. Having a child at a young age often means the end of a woman’s schooling, hindering her from attaining higher levels of education and in turn limiting the kinds of jobs she’ll be able to get in the future. And early childbearing also inherently implies that the mother or parents have had less time to work and earn money, possibly creating a more difficult financial situation for them and their child than if they had their first baby five years later instead. (I imagine there are dozens of academic studies on the topic, but I won’t go into them here.)

I think that this degree of early childbearing contributes to the cycle of poverty, and apart from the stats, just from what I’ve seen in Nicaragua in two and a half months, I can tell that this is a prevalent issue. Addressing it would be no small feat and, again, gets into sticky territory because of the ideological components. But I believe that to alleviate poverty – as is the goal of microfinance – a multifaceted approach is necessary. Microfinance institutions that are able to provide other services, such as financial education and health services, should consider integrating family planning education or partnering with other organizations that could help in this area, as contentious as it may be.

Here’s hoping that those 45 percent of adolescent women in Nicaragua who are having unplanned pregnancies will have the resources and opportunities in the future to plan, whether their plans involve having children, running a business, or like Kenia, both–or something else altogether.

Victoria Kabak is a Kiva Fellow at AFODENIC in Managua, Nicaragua. Check out AFODENIC’s currently fundraising loans on Kiva.org, or purchase a Kiva gift certificate for a loved one this holiday season!

We just got back from a fact finding mission to Nicaragua.  We left LAX at 1:00am and landed in a rainy Panama City at 7:00am.  After running to the next plane (literally) we took off for Managua.   An hour and a half later the plane lowered through the clouds, circled Lake Managua, landed and taxied to our terminal.  I was surprised how small it looked!!  After all this was Managua, Nicaragua…the capital!!

We made our way through customs, paid our $5.00 entry fee and were finally ready to go.  After collecting our baggage we headed out the front doors.  Wow!  The heat was unbelievable.  We were dressed for the cold weather we just came from.  I had anticipated this, so I had layered my clothing and just had to take off my coat and sweater. 

A truck from Nicasa Cigar factory picked up our luggage and an SUV sped us away to Estelí, our new home for the next 6 days.  On the way, we stopped for lunch at La Fogata, an all you can eat buffet.   Maria (our hostess) needed some fruit and vegetables, so we popped across the street and shopped in the open air market.  This is a very poor country but beautiful.  Green everywhere with mountains, trees and valleys that produce some of the best tobacco and coffee in the world.  That was our mission while we were here…to plan a tobacco factory/plantation tour. 

After unpacking at Los Arcos Hotel, we headed over to Nicasa Tobacco Factory where we met the owner Frank Flores.  We took a quick tour, met some of the key people and headed off to dinner at Maria’s.  Hospitality is one of the key words in this country.  Everyone was friendly and ready to help.  It was a long day so off to bed we went.  The hotel was like an oasis…beautiful rooms, tile floors, friendly employees, FREE WIFI, roof top patio, central garden, and complimentary breakfast!

The next day we visited the tobacco fields… rotating crops, barns filled with drying tobacco leaves, the nursery where they start the plants, and even being driven out into the fields to pick tobacco.  Right in the middle of that the sky opened up, so we ran for the truck to get out of the rain.   We headed back home before everything became too muddy.

At the factory, we did the complete tour.  It’s a long process to get to the end result.  All the workers have their jobs, cutting, sorting, rolling, packing, labeling, banding, inspecting…..and I took photos/videos of all of it.  Including ME rolling a cigar! 

On the last day we drove to Masaya for some Flee Market shopping and then to Granada to inspect another hotel for the last day of the planned tour.  We took a boat tour of Lake Nicaragua and saw little islands people actually buy and build houses on!!  One of the islands had monkeys on it and the only way they got fed was if tourists brought cookies, etc and fed them. 

All in all it was a fascinating trip and I’m ready to take some adventurous cigar aficionados on a trip of a lifetime.  Are you going to be one of them?

By Victoria Kabak, KF9, Nicaragua

Last week I met three borrowers who struck me as particularly interesting, each for a different reason. All three have been thought-provoking and have stuck with me over the course of the week. In their own way, each of the three represented a unique experience for me. Even though I’d been here for over eight weeks, Gregoria, Gloria, and Maria each presented something new, so I want to introduce you to these three women, whose loans are disbursed through the microfinance institution where I’m a Kiva Fellow, Kiva’s field partner AFODENIC.

Gregoria

Each time I talk with a client in order to write a journal update to send to his or her lenders, I ask toward the end of the conversation, “What are your goals or dreams for the future?” I think this question reflects somewhat western notions, and I don’t always get the most exciting answers, even if they’re still very valid goals (and sometimes I get blank stares). Many borrowers say simply “seguir adelante,” to carry on or to move forward (as Julie discussed in an earlier post). Another response I frequently get is to grow or to improve their business in general.

Last week I met Gregoria, who sells a range of goods from her home, including clothes, soda, fresh fruit juices, nacatamales, ice cream, and soup. As always, I asked her the question about her long-term goals. Gregoria told me she would like to “llegar a trabajar con mi mismo dinero”–to be able to work with her own money, rather than borrowing money. She was the first borrower to express this aim to me, and to be honest I was thrilled by it. I have felt frustrated at times when I ask borrowers if they’re going to take out another loan after their current one and both borrowers and loan officers have responded as though it is the most obvious and inevitable thing in the world–of course they will take out another loan. Isn’t a big part of the point of microfinance to break the cycle of poverty, to make these borrowers’ businesses and lives sustainable on their own? Gregoria reminded me that yes, this is the point, and the fact that she had this drive made me believe it’s possible. I don’t think I’m quite ready to move from idealist to pragmatist.

Gloria

Gloria sitting in the home of a fellow Kiva borrower

Last Tuesday, I interviewed two borrowers in the same home. It wasn’t because two people in the same family both had Kiva loans from AFODENIC. Rather, Gloria had to come down the street from her store to talk to me in the home of another borrower, because her husband doesn’t want her to take out loans, as he thinks it’s unnecessary, so he doesn’t know about the loan she has right now. I was impressed by Gloria’s resilience and determination even in the face of what her husband was telling her to do. She disagreed with his opinion and didn’t let it stop her from doing what she thought was necessary, even if it meant going “behind his back.” I imagine this risk she’s taking required no small amount of courage, and I felt a lot of respect for Gloria.

Maria

While Gloria and Gregoria left me feeling optimistic, my time with Maria didn’t strike quite as upbeat a tone. Maria hasn’t been able to make repayments on her loans and while she’s not the first borrower I’ve met who has been delinquent – not the first “hard” story I’ve had to tell – the specific details behind it were new for me, as well as one other thing about Maria.

Maria had applied for her loan in order to purchase ingredients to use in the restaurant she runs that has been in her family for 50 years. However, instead of investing in her restaurant, the money went to her husband’s squash crops. Maria said she thought the money would go to better use invested in agriculture. Then, her husband ended up losing the crop this year as a result of the ongoing drought in Nicaragua. Of course, it’s possible that there’s more to the story than she was revealing–for example, maybe her husband pressured her into giving him the funds.

Maria was also the first borrower I’ve met who refused to have her picture taken for the journal update. Even though she agreed as part of the contract she signed with AFODENIC that her picture, name, and other basic information could be used on sites like Kiva, no amount of begging could convince Maria to let me snap a photo. While many clients admittedly haven’t always looked too thrilled to have their picture taken, all of them – except Maria – have agreed. Maybe it had something to do with what’s going on with her loan repayments, but all her lenders got was a picture of the outside of her restaurant. My first reaction was to feel frustrated with Maria – that she used her loan differently than she said she would, that she was hindering me from doing my work by not letting me take her picture – but ultimately the situation forced me to step back and try to understand it from her point of view. Maybe the money really would have led to bigger gains invested in crops, and Maria had no way to predict what the drought would cause. And the loan officer I was with explained to me that many people here, including himself, don’t like to have their picture taken because they feel it violates their privacy.

* * *

Taken together, these three borrowers led me to reflect on the nature of my work here in Nicaragua and of microfinance in general. Two months in, I’m still meeting unique borrowers, having experiences I haven’t had yet, and thinking about things I haven’t thought about yet. And this is indicative of what microfinance is really about: people. It’s only because people and their lives are at the core of this work that it stays so varied, so thought-provoking, so surprising on an everyday basis. And I think this too is what makes Kiva.org exciting and makes us keep coming back to it: even when a particular borrower’s loan use isn’t the most original thing in the world, there is still something about each and every borrower that makes their story different from everyone else’s, something that makes them a new experience for us.

Victoria Kabak is a Kiva Fellow at AFODENIC in Managua, Nicaragua. Check out AFODENIC’s currently fundraising loans on Kiva.org, or purchase a Kiva gift certificate for a loved one this holiday season!

At times like this it’s easy to forget those less fortunate than us.  As Christmas draws nearer, the song, “Do they know it’s Christmas,” comes to my mind.  It reminded me of my Christmas at the orphanage of Project Papillon in Haiti in December of 2008.  If you are interested and would like to help out please visit the following web pages:

AYUI (safe house for at-risk hill tribe children in Thailand)

Los Quinchos (landfill in Nicaragua)

Planting Peace (orphanage in Haiti)

As a founder of LOVE, I have worked with these amazing organizations. The joy and life that they bring to the children is  priceless.

Los Quinchos provides more than just a meal for the children of the landfill of La Chureca, they also give love and attention to the children too.

an 8 year old boy who wants to be a garbage pick up truck driver when he grows up because that's the only thing he knows in life: picking garbage for food and recyclables and driving the truck.

Rent: $5,750
Security: 1 months
Details
Size: Three Bedroom
Ownership: Rental Property
R/B/B: 5/3/2
Availability: Immediate
Term: 12 – 24 Months
Neighborhood: Flatiron District
Apartment Features
Kitchen: Dishwasher; Window: Oversized Windows; High Ceiling; Abundant Closets;
Building Description
Cross Streets: Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue.
Concierge; Elevator; Post-war; Built 2008; Loft; 20 Floors; 100 Apartments.
Building Amenities
Bicycle Room; Fitness Room; Rooftop Deck; Common Storage Room;
Building Policies
Pets Allowed.

R.S.V.P. for a tour:
Jamie Knuckles
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com
Amenities
Brand New Building Same developers as 75 Wall Street. Condo Finishes at Rental Prices. Penthouse Great layout Small rooms but great outdoor space. Nice Amenities, but location is the selling point.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club
* Elevator

You’ll be in the heart of a dynamic neighborhood that pulses with the energy of galleries and artists, restaurants and clubs, boutiques and markets. Here, where West Chelsea meets The Meatpacking District, the urban fabric ranges from unpaved cobblestone streets.

Rent:
* $3,895 Studio available
* $7,095 2-Bedroom available

Building Amenities and Services

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Gym/fitness center (with fitness concierge)
* Children’s playroom/space
* Parking garage (24-hour attended, indoor)
* Elevators (9)
* Spa
* Lounge
* Terrace
* Library
* Business center
* Pet spa
* Bicycle storage
* Garden

Apartment Features and Amenities

* Bamboo flooring
* Floor-to-ceiling windows
* Dishwasher
* Washer and dryer
* Sub-zero refrigerator
* Walk-in closets (some units)
* Terrace (some units)

Rules and Restrictions * Pets allowed

You’ll be in the heart of a dynamic neighborhood that pulses with the energy of galleries and artists, restaurants and clubs, boutiques and markets. Here, where West Chelsea meets The Meatpacking District, the urban fabric ranges from unpaved cobblestone streets.

Situated at the nexus of West Chelsea, Gansevoort and the Meatpacking District, this luxurious residential building represents a new exciting style of living in a historic downtown location. The Building renters the unique opportunity to experience unprecedented services and amenities including the first fully integrated Equinox Fitness Club within a residential tower.
Amenities: Dining Room, Washer/Dryer, Central A/C

R.S.V.P. To Preview:
Jamie Knuckles
Nest Seekers
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com

Amenities

* Dining Room
* Washer/Dryer
* Central A/C

Renting
❚ Free of maintenance obligations.
❚ Not committed to staying in a
house or neighborhood.
❚ Can move quickly.
❚ Free of costs, such as homeowner’s
insurance and property taxes.
Buying
❚ Build equity.
❚ Tax advantages*.
❚ Stable monthly payments.
❚ Strong sense of community.
❚ Place for family and relatives to live.

The options are countless and time is of the essence in this high-demand market. Let a professional lead you through the process and help you make it an enjoyable experience.

Offering: One to Five Bedrooms, Condominiums, Lofts, Penthouses and Townhouses,

NEIGHBORHOODS: Soho, Tribeca, Greenwich Village, Upper East Side, and Upper West Side, Park Avenue, and Harlem. Also, the Hamptons offer quality living as great as anywhere else in the New York.
Have a wonderful day –looking forward to speaking with you soon.

R.S.V.P. for a tour:
Jamie Knuckles
Sales Director
Nestseekers International
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com

http://www.nestseekers.com/Company/Agent/718

APARTMENT INFORMATION:
APARTMENT Conv-4 BEDROOM
Apt. #43G
RENT: $7328.75
BATHROOMS: 2

APARTMENT FEATURES:
All apartments have 9-foot high ceilings.
Most apartments with spectacular East River and/or cityscape views.
Marble bathrooms with marble topped vanities.
Individually controlled heat and air conditioning.
Every apartment features bay or corner windows.
Energy efficient, tinted dual-glazed windows.
White mini-blinds on all windows.
Private intercom system to doorman.
Individual electronic alarm system at each apartment entrance.
Many apartments include full-size washers and dryers.
Selection of cable television hook-ups available.
Full 8-foot high doors.
3/4 inch solid oak parquet floors.
Contemporary kitchens with side-by-side icemaker refrigerators, self-cleaning ovens, built-in microwaves, instant hot water dispensers and ceramic tile floors.
Many apartments feature windowed kitchens.
BUILDING FEATURES:
Landscaped building entrance, framed with limestone piers.
Elegant lobby with domed ceiling.
Attentive, uniformed doorman at your service 24-hours a day.
Beautifully decorated corridors with designer alabaster lighting fixtures and wall sconces, crown moldings and decorative wood-framed apartment entrance doors.
High-speed passenger elevators with separate service elevator.
Separate monitored service entrance, with attendant.
Attended indoor garage.
Package room with delivery escort.
Fully equipped, air conditioned laundry facility with closed circuit TV security.
Cheerfully designed children’s playroom.
Magnificent swim and fitness center with landscaped and furnished sun terrace.
55-foot lap swimming pool.
Fully equipped exercise and aerobics room.
Recreational lounge (with full kitchen facilities – ideal for private parties – by reservation.)
Men’s and women’s locker rooms, with separate saunas and showers.
Fully furnished conference room (by reservation).
PREVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE AT YOUR REQUEST!
TO SCHEDULE A VISIT CONTACT:
JAMIE KNUCKLES AT: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com
Amenities
Full Service Luxury Building.

* Doorman
* Health Club
* Pool
* Roof deck
* Elevator

* Washer/Dryer
* Central A/C

Sutton Place! Portfolio Sensational, Remarkable Unsurpassed
3 Bedroom / 2.5 Bath
$7,500 Immediate
Large Space – Room To Entertain – Kitchen with Granite Countertops
New White Oak Strip Flooring – Marble Bath

2 Bedroom / 2 Bath
$4,800 Immediate
Kitchen with Granite Countertops – Marble Baths
New White Oak Strip Flooring – Marble Baths

4 Bedroom / 3.5 Bath
$8,900 Immediate
Large Space – Room To Entertain – Separate Dining – Eat-in Kitchen

Kitchen with Granite Countertops – Marble Baths

The building has a free health club, garage, valet service, concierge, doorman, bicycle room, storage space, a wine cellar, and it permits pets.

• FT Doorman
• Full Service Garage
• Health Club
• Elevator
• Located in Beekman/Sutton Place

R.S.V.P. for a preview:
Jamie knuckles
Nestseekers
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com
Amenities

* Central A/C

Turtle Bay Luxury*
Rent: $5,900
Lease Type: Condo Sublet
Details
Size: One Bedroom
Ownership: Condominium
R/B/B: 3/1/1.5
Availability: Immediate
SF/SM: 880/82
Term: 12 – 24 Months
Apartment Features
AC: Central; Kitchen: Windowed; Dishwasher; Bathroom: En Suite; Window: New Windows; Washer/ Dryer; High Ceiling; Powder Room; Recessed Lighting;

Exposure / View: North; West/ Open

Building Description
Cross Streets: Second Avenue and First Avenue.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 2001; Mid-rise; 20 Floors; 64 Apartments.

Building Amenities
Bicycle Room; Garage; Fitness Room; Laundry Room; Maid Service; Valet;

Building Policies
Pied-A-Terres Allowed. W/D Allowed. Pets Allowed. Sublets Allowed.

R.S.V.P. for a preview:
Jamie Knuckles
Sales Director
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com
Amenities
Bicycle Room; Health Club; Valet.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club

Clinton Hill Brooklyn Development Site!
APPROVED! In Clinton Hill
You Can Build In Clinton Hill!
$1,490,000
Development site for sale with pre-approved plans for 34 Condo units. In the heart of Clinton Hill neighborhood. The building will have 6 studios, 18 one bedrooms, and 10 two bedrooms units. Condos and co-ops average about $500 per square foot. Rentals average $1,600 to $2,000 for a one-bedroom and upward of $1,800 for a two-bedroom. The C and G subways serve the area. Both stop on Washington Avenue; the G also stops at Classon Avenue. The Clinton Hill area is one of the highest points in Brooklyn.

You are getting a tremendous deal on this development site!

Building Description:
Exclusive project for Condominiums in Clinton Hill (Brooklyn)
Investment Proposal

*Overview For Asset Investors*

82 Irving Place (Clinton Hill)
Brooklyn, New York 11238
Type: Vacant development site with pre-approved plans for residential condominiums.
•Location:Located in Clinton Hill, a few minutes from downtown Brooklyn.
•General description: Condominiums of 8 stories including Cellar; with 7 parking spaces and 34 storage bins for residents on the ground level.
•
Vacant site area:
28,103.22 SF + 6,531.04 SF Cellar = 34,634.25 total SF.

The vacant site has a proposed residential project which has been approved by the DOB; such project is of 34,634.25 SF and would maximize the building’s FAR (Floor area ratio).
•
Project: Thirty-four Condominiums (Three to Five per floor), with three Penthouses, a luxury building with balconies and some units with terraces.
Individual storage spaces for tenants and Parking.
•
Currently vacant land.
82 Irving Place is a Condominium of 34,634.25 SF of vacant development site, with 8 stories including the Cellar and Roof.
•
Presently, the development site is located between an apartment complex and mix-use buildings on Irving Place in the Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn, an area that has experienced a renaissance of growth.

The building has the DOB (Department of Buildings) approval for the construction of 34,634.25 square feet for residential use, thus maxing out the FAR. (Floor Area Ratio).
Total SF approved by DOB: 34,634.25 SF

Nest Seekers International, has exclusive marketing rights for proposed project which has been approved for residential Condominiums by the DOB ( Department of Buildings).

Project description:

Thirty-Four Condominiums, Including Three Penthouse units on the eighth floor.

Three to Five apartments per floor.

Availability of balconies and terraces in some units.

Common area with Lobby, a rear garden in the back of building.

Parking areas and individual storage.

Natural light, high-quality materials and excellent location.
Note: Set-up available upon request.

Investors R.S.V.P. for a tour of the site:
Jamie Knuckles
Nest Seekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail.com

P.S. Profitable, let real estate work for you.
Dollars make sense when invested in this project.
Investors take note! Hit a home run!
Amenities

* Terrace
* Balcony

Financials
Furnished: $7,500
Security: 2 months
Details
Size: One Bedroom
Ownership: Condominium
R/B/B: 3/1/1
Availability: Immediate
Term: 1 – 12 Months
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Apartment Features
Kitchen: Dishwasher; Bathroom: Marble; High Ceiling;

Building Description
Cross Streets: Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 1999; Mid-rise; 10 Floors; 50 Apartments.

Building Amenities
Garage; Hotel Style Service; Business Center;

Building Policies
Pied-A-Terres Allowed. W/D Allowed. Pets Allowed.
Building Notes:

* The Phillips Club offers ownership membership as well as extended stay accommodations. These apartments can not be used as a permanent residence. This building is akin to owning a time share in lieu of staying at a hotel when in NYC.
* The Phillips Club is a member-owned luxury residence combining the advantages of home ownership with the conveniences of the city’s finest hotels, The Club offers unequaled amenities, service and privileges without recurring hotel expenses.
* The Phillips Club offers 24-hour concierge, daily maid service (nightly fee during use), and privileges at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.
* The Reebok Sports Club/NY offers rooftop in-line skating and running. Music-filled, junior Olympic size swimming pool for lap swimming. 40 -foot climbing wall. Two full-court, regulation-size basketball gymnasiums. State-of-the-art 13,000 SF coed weight-training gym. Cardiovascular deck with 5,000 SF of computerized training equipment. Challenges. Muscles and mind, recharged. Complete spa facilities including steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis. Large, luxurious locker rooms with towel service. Paul Lebrecque salon and spa. Exhaustive. Fitness evaluation center. Personalized instruction. Nutritional counseling. Child care center “For Kids Only.” Landscaped sundeck.
* Business amenities include: Multi-line telecommunications system with voicemail. Dataport for computer hookup. Fax machine in each residence. 24-hour business center. Conference room. Conference facilities at Reebok Sports Club/NY.

R.S.V.P. for a tour:
Jamie Knuckles
Cell: 347-323-8671
Email: sanguinejamie@gmail
Amenities
* The Phillips Club offers ownership membership as well as extended stay accommodations. These apartments can not be used as a permanent residence. This building is akin to owning a time share in lieu of staying at a hotel when in NYC.
* The Phillips Club is a member-owned luxury residence combining the advantages of home ownership with the conveniences of the city’s finest hotels, The Club offers unequaled amenities, service and privileges without recurring hotel expenses.
* The Phillips Club offers 24-hour concierge, daily maid service (nightly fee during use), and privileges at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.
* The Reebok Sports Club/NY offers rooftop in-line skating and running. Music-filled, junior Olympic size swimming pool for lap swimming. 40 -foot climbing wall. Two full-court, regulation-size basketball gymnasiums. State-of-the-art 13,000 SF coed weight-training gym. Cardiovascular deck with 5,000 SF of computerized training equipment. Challenges. Muscles and mind, recharged. Complete spa facilities including steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis. Large, luxurious locker rooms with towel service. Paul Lebrecque salon and spa. Exhaustive. Fitness evaluation center. Personalized instruction. Nutritional counseling. Child care center “For Kids Only.” Landscaped sundeck.
* Business amenities include: Multi-line telecommunications system with voicemail. Dataport for computer hookup. Fax machine in each residence. 24-hour business center. Conference room. Conference facilities at Reebok Sports Club/NY.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club
* Pool
* Elevator
* Garage

Union Square! Obsession For Union Square!
Financials
Rent: $8,995
Details
Size: Two Bedroom
Ownership: Rental Property
R/B/B: 4/2/2
Availability: 9/7/2009
Apartment Features
Dining Area; AC: Central; Heat: Central; Kitchen: Open; Dishwasher; Window: New Windows; Oversized Windows; Penthouse; Powder Room; Abundant Closets; Floor To Ceiling Windows; Alarm Security System;
Exposure / View: North; East/ Park
Building Description:
Cross Streets: Fourth Avenue and Broadway.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 1998; High-rise; 27 Floors; 240 Apartments.
Building Amenities:
Health Club; Laundry Room; Rooftop Deck; Digital TV; High Speed Internet Access;
Building Policies:
Pets Allowed One dog per apartment. Weight Limit 20 lbs.

R.S.V.P. for a preview:
Jamie Knuckles
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Amenities

* Dining Room
* Central A/C

Upper West Side Super Gem!
Price: $2,300,000
Common Charges: $1,915
Real Estate Taxes: $82
Financing: 90%
Details
Size: Two Bedroom
Ownership: Condominium
R/B/B: 4/2/2
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
SF/SM: 1617/150
Apartment Features
Dining Area; AC: Central; Kitchen: Eat In; Windowed; Dishwasher; Bathroom: New/ Marble; Window: New Windows; Oversized Windows; Washer/ Dryer; Terrace; High Ceiling; Library/Den; WIC;
Exposure / View: North; East; West/ City; River

Building Description
Cross Streets: West 99th Street and West 100th Street.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 2006; High-rise; 37 Floors; 64 Apartments.

Building Amenities
Garden; Fitness Room; Pool; Nursery; Cinema Room;

Building Policies
Pied-A-Terres Allowed. Sublets Allowed.
Broker Summary Immediate Occupancy Ariel – Traditional living like never before! These two stunning developments were designed by renowned architects Cook + Fox and Cetra/Ruddy, and offer traditional layouts with all the modern amenities of glass-curtain-wall construction. Services and amenities abound, including 24/7 doorman, concierge services, fitness by LaPalestra with 51 indoor swimming pool and outdoor basketball court, theater, billiards parlor, residents lounge with banquet space, elaborate childrens playroom, and a pet grooming salon! Steps to the best of the Upper West Side, including Central and Riverside Parks, all the cultural gems, schools, shopping, dining, and transportation.

R.S.V.P. for a tour:
Jamie Knuckles
Sales Director
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671
Amenities
Immediate Occupancy Ariel – Traditional living like never before! These two stunning developments were designed by renowned architects Cook + Fox and Cetra/Ruddy, and offer traditional family layouts with all the modern amenities of glass-curtain-wall construction. Services and amenities abound, including 24/7 doorman, concierge services, fitness by LaPalestra with 51 indoor swimming pool and outdoor basketball court, private theater, billiards parlor, residents lounge with banquet space, elaborate childrens playroom, and a pet grooming salon! Steps to the best of the Upper West Side, including Central and Riverside Parks, all the cultural gems, schools, shopping, dining, and transportation.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club
* Pool
* Roof deck
* Elevator

* Terrace
* Washer/Dryer
* Central A/C

sanguinejamie@gmail.com

Greenwich Street Residences Luxury
Corner unit 2 BEDROOM is over 1100 sq. ft. and features an SUNNY north / east exposure, high 11 ft. ceilings, and a huge living room with ample space for a full dining area. This unit is one of our DESIGNER READY
Price: $981,000
CC: $1149
Real estate tax: $397
Kitchen has Sub-zero Fridge, Viking Range and Microwave, Fisher/Paykal 2-Drawer Dishwashers, instant hot water tap, In-wall ipod docking station, and much, much more! Marble bath with deep soaking tub has both a Rain shower, and a handheld. Unit has 5 Large closets, one of which is a Large walk-in hall closet measuring about 5ftX6ft & built out with Elfa System. Great location, near all train lines, parks, shopping, theaters, dining. Full five star Hotel-like service with concierge and 24-hour doorman… and Very Reasonable Common Charges! Free continental breakfast is served to residents Monday through Friday. Full gym access included for all residents with free trainers and abs/Pilates/yoga classes. Building has a fantastic game room with billiards, darts and large flat screen TV. There is also an Amazing common roof deck space with towel and drink service on weekends, and an indoor “Harbor Room – Sky Lounge” which is also available for private parties. Free Wi-Fi in all common areas! This is a spectacular building to live in!

Located on Greenwich Street, this building is on the cutting edge of designer development. This art deco tower rises 37 stories with sweeping views of the city skyline, Hudson River and beyond. All of the residences feature oversized windows and soaring ceilings. Enter through the buildings art deco façade into a grand marble lobby featuring a hand carved reception desk and grotto water fountain.

5-Star amenities include a café, library with grand piano and fireplace, billiards room w/ flat screen TV, Harbour Room featuring lounge seating, poker table, dining room w/ kitchen and spectacular views and SKY DECK, with lounges and day beds all in traditional South Beach style.

This unit is being offered at attractive prices. Together with our completed common spaces and 5-Star amenity program, Greenwich Club Residences is a spectacular product and we look forward to working with you and getting your transactions closed.
R.S.V.P.
Jamie Knuckles
NestSeekers International
Direct: 646-443-3760
Cell: 347-323-8671

http://www.nestseekers.com/24139/Financial_District_Luxury_Greenwich_Street_Residences_Luxury_Corner_unit_2_BEDROOM

Amenities

* Dining Room
* Central A/C

Rent: Furnished: $6,300
Security: 2 months
Apartment Features
Kitchen: Dishwasher; Bathroom: Marble; High Ceiling;
Details
Size: Studio
Ownership: Condominium
R/B/B:2/0/1
Availability: Immediate
Term: 1 – 12 Months
Neighborhood: Upper West Side
Building Description
Cross Streets: Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.
Full Service; Elevator; Post-war; Built 1999; Mid-rise; 10 Floors; 50 Apartments.

Building Amenities
Garage; Hotel Style Service; Business Center;

Building Policies
Pied-A-Terres Allowed. W/D Allowed. Pets Allowed.

Building Notes:

* The Phillips Club offers ownership membership as well as extended stay accommodations. These apartments can not be used as a permanent residence. This building is akin to owning a time share in lieu of staying at a hotel when in NYC.
* The Phillips Club is a member-owned luxury residence combining the advantages of home ownership with the conveniences of the city’s finest hotels, The Club offers unequaled amenities, service and privileges without recurring hotel expenses.
* The Phillips Club offers 24-hour concierge, daily maid service (nightly fee during use), and privileges at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.
* The Reebok Sports Club/NY offers rooftop in-line skating and running. Music-filled, junior Olympic size swimming pool for lap swimming. 40 -foot climbing wall. Two full-court, regulation-size basketball gymnasiums. State-of-the-art 13,000 SF coed weight-training gym. Cardiovascular deck with 5,000 SF of computerized training equipment. Challenges. Muscles and mind, recharged. Complete spa facilities including steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis. Large, luxurious locker rooms with towel service. Paul Lebrecque salon and spa. Exhaustive. Fitness evaluation center. Personalized instruction. Nutritional counseling. Child care center “For Kids Only.” Landscaped sundeck.
* Business amenities include: Multi-line telecommunications system with voicemail. Dataport for computer hookup. Fax machine in each residence. 24-hour business center. Conference room. Conference facilities at Reebok Sports Club/NY.

R.S.V.P. for a preview:
Jamie Knuckles
Nestseekers International
Cell:347-323-8671
Amenities
* The Phillips Club offers ownership membership as well as extended stay accommodations. These apartments can not be used as a permanent residence. This building is akin to owning a time share in lieu of staying at a hotel when in NYC.
* The Phillips Club is a member-owned luxury residence combining the advantages of home ownership with the conveniences of the city’s finest hotels, The Club offers unequaled amenities, service and privileges without recurring hotel expenses.
* The Phillips Club offers 24-hour concierge, daily maid service (nightly fee during use), and privileges at the Reebok Sports Club/NY.
* The Reebok Sports Club/NY offers rooftop in-line skating and running. Music-filled, junior Olympic size swimming pool for lap swimming. 40 -foot climbing wall. Two full-court, regulation-size basketball gymnasiums. State-of-the-art 13,000 SF coed weight-training gym. Cardiovascular deck with 5,000 SF of computerized training equipment. Challenges. Muscles and mind, recharged. Complete spa facilities including steam rooms, saunas and Jacuzzis. Large, luxurious locker rooms with towel service. Paul Lebrecque salon and spa. Exhaustive. Fitness evaluation center. Personalized instruction. Nutritional counseling. Child care center “For Kids Only.” Landscaped sundeck.
* Business amenities include: Multi-line telecommunications system with voicemail. Dataport for computer hookup. Fax machine in each residence. 24-hour business center. Conference room. Conference facilities at Reebok Sports Club/NY.

* Doorman
* Concierge
* Health Club
* Pool
* Elevator
* Garage

APARTMENT INFORMATION:
APARTMENT 5 BEDROOM Penthouse Duplex
Apt. #52G
RENT: $22458
BATHROOMS: 5.5

APARTMENT FEATURES:
All apartments have 9-foot high ceilings.
Most apartments with spectacular East River and/or cityscape views.
Marble bathrooms with marble topped vanities.
Individually controlled heat and air conditioning.
Every apartment features bay or corner windows.
Energy efficient, tinted dual-glazed windows.
White mini-blinds on all windows.
Private intercom system to doorman.
Individual electronic alarm system at each apartment entrance.
Many apartments include full-size washers and dryers.
Selection of cable television hook-ups available.
Full 8-foot high doors.
3/4 inch solid oak parquet floors.
Contemporary kitchens with side-by-side icemaker refrigerators, self-cleaning ovens, built-in microwaves, instant hot water dispensers and ceramic tile floors.
Many apartments feature windowed kitchens.
BUILDING FEATURES:
Landscaped building entrance, framed with limestone piers.
Elegant lobby with domed ceiling.
Attentive, uniformed doorman at your service 24-hours a day.
Beautifully decorated corridors with designer alabaster lighting fixtures and wall sconces, crown moldings and decorative wood-framed apartment entrance doors.
High-speed passenger elevators with separate service elevator.
Separate monitored service entrance, with attendant.
Attended indoor garage.
Package room with delivery escort.
Fully equipped, air conditioned laundry facility with closed circuit TV security.
Cheerfully designed children’s playroom.
Magnificent swim and fitness center with landscaped and furnished sun terrace.
55-foot lap swimming pool.
Fully equipped exercise and aerobics room.
Recreational lounge (with full kitchen facilities – ideal for private parties – by reservation.)
Men’s and women’s locker rooms, with separate saunas and showers.
Fully furnished conference room (by reservation).
PREVIEWS ARE AVAILABLE AT YOUR REQUEST!
TO SCHEDULE A VISIT R.S.V.P. for a VIP TOUR:
JAMIE KNUCKLES AT: 347-323-8671
Amenities
Full Service Luxury Building.

* Doorman
* Health Club
* Pool
* Roof deck
* Elevator

* Terrace
* Dining Room
* Fireplace
* Washer/Dryer
* Central A/C

Snowed here in New Jersey this weekend. Me and my little one pulled our boots and and went out to make snowballs and catch snowflakes on our tongue. We also headed to the local farm to get our Christmas tree. Had to get that ice off my porch steps before we brought it in the house.

Almost hard to believe just a few days ago I was on the streets of Jinotepe, Nicaragua, sweat coming down my face, putting the camera up to my eye. Met the “three amigos”, above, as I called them on Wednesday. They were sitting in a doorway and noticed me. They started to motion to me to take their photo but there were cars in the way. The one in the middle came running across the street to shake my hand, and speak to me in whiskey-inspired breath. Our translator, David, told me what they were saying….but I already knew what they were saying.

I went back across the street with Baseball Cap and started to shoot portraits of the three against the building. Drunk or not, they stood proudly and smiled. I liked the group photo best, though just out of frame is the Johnny Walker Red bottle. Sure, I have them 100 Cordovas for letting me shoot them, but it was the hearty handshakes and smiles that they gave me that I liked as much as the photo.

There were others, too…..like Alexander the 21 year-old firefighter who led myself and my group up some 50-odd year old cement bell tower steps to view Jinotepe. While up there, seemed like a good place to shoot his portrait.

Back at the station, though, I kindly asked his chief, known as Mayor Tito, to pose in front of one of his fire trucks. He told me, through our translator, that the trucks are donated to the station from U.S. departments and given to them through a network of websites and contacts. One actually said “Fultonville Fire Company” on it. It’s a basic portrait, but I was happy he was so open to letting me shoot it. Which reminds me, he gave me his card and I promised to send him a copy.

Sometimes a photo was just begging to be taken. The smile, the setting, the colors all came together. Like Juan Pablo, our driver, on the streets of Jinotepe.

These are just a smattering of the faces I’ll remember. I’m still working my way through some other images that I’d like to share. Stay with me….

© Mark V. Krajnak 2009 | JerseyStyle Photography | All rights Reserved
Unless otherwise noted, images captured with a Canon 50D, SanDisk digital film, finished with PS2 or PSE6 and Nik Software.

Without Thanksgiving to hold them back, preparations for Christmas actually began several weeks ago. My first hint that CEPRODEL was in on it was the beginning of last week. I walked into the CEPRODEL branch office in Managua and got whistled at by a small gnome with a pumpkin on his shoulder sitting under a Christmas tree. The whole situtation caught me off guard and I still haven’t discovered why it was a gnome instead of an elf.

Check out the whistling gnomes under the tree. They look distinctly unelf-like

The other major pre-Christmas festivity is “La Purisima” or Day of Conception which is coming up next week. For the week leading up to Dec 8 there are all sorts of parties and lots of homemade bombs (morteros) and firecrackers set off in the street. This really gets in the way of traffic which has been absolutely awful all week. People also go from house to house getting candy and gifts from their friends and neighbors. It is sort of like Halloween for us only  very religious.

This is adventurous place, Nicaragua. As I sit here typing this, I hear pop-pop-pop outside my hotel room window. I’m fairly certain it’s fireworks going off and not anything else, but in a city where you see the red and black colors of the FSLN everywhere, you can never be too sure.

In the city of Managua, you see your normal small cars and trucks. As you head out into the country, the cars and trucks are replaced by motorbikes, pick-ups, and horses. Kids, women, men, they saddle up if need be. Also donkey-drawn carts are popular as are bicycles.

Just finished Day 2 of the shoot here and our photographer, Karen, is an experienced photojournalist and knows her way around Third-World countries. And David, our translator, is really helping make things happy for us.

It’s always a challenge in my role when we do shoots like this, especially with local families. They think we’re coming in to do a few quick snaps. And while we’re not traveling with a whole boatload of equipment – Karen likes to use natural light and/or small strobes for fill – still, it’s a production. Me, my art director Stephen, Karen, the photo assistant Daniel, David the translator, Juan Pablo the driver. It can be overwhelming.

So a good bit of yesterday was getting our subjects used to being in front of the camera. Luis, age 3, was one of our subjects and when he wasn’t being photographed by Karen, he and I became close amigos. He can’t understand my English and my Spanish is decades old rusty (though much has come back to me. Miss Ondash, my freshman Spanish teacher would be proud) but I have a 2 1/2 year old. I know what makes them tick and keeps them occupied. He’s a sweetie and terror at the same time.

After a while, we let Karen do her thing and I ducked out to explore some of the local markets. Much selling of clothes and spices and fruits and veggies.

Reminded me somewhat of the Indian marketplaces I was just in last month, but unique nonetheless. And some timeless people with timeless faces.

Kind of a neat highlight of the day was to get an impromptu tour of the local firehouse and a trip up some 50-year old cement steps to the bell tower overlooking the whole city. All happened because I was photographing a volunteer decorating one of the fire trucks for a Feast of the Immaculate Conception parade in a few days. I’ll write more about the tour and a couple of the firefighters I met soon. It was a cool experience and one that gave me one of my favorite images from the day.

The places our cameras take us…

© Mark V. Krajnak 2009 | JerseyStyle Photography | All rights Reserved
Unless otherwise noted, images captured with a Canon 50D, SanDisk digital film, finished with PS2 or PSE6 and Nik Software.

By Victoria Kabak, KF9, Nicaragua

Since arriving in Nicaragua for my Kiva Fellowship about two months ago, my time here has been marked by a range of new experiences. I have become surprisingly adept at pouring juice from a plastic bag into a glass. I am intimately familiar with the smell of burning garbage, the most common way trash is disposed of here in Managua. I have perfected (and passed on) the art of wagging my finger to tell a taxi driver that I don’t want to get in when he already has another passenger. And for the first time, I’ve gotten to see how some foods that I consume on a daily basis grow.

AFODENIC, the microfinance institution where I’m working as a Kiva Fellow, has a branch office in Ticuantepe, a municipality in the department of Managua, about 20 or 30 minutes outside of the city. There, AFODENIC makes loans to borrowers who work in agriculture. One loan officer works in Ticuantepe, and he is uniquely qualified to work with these particular clients, since he studied agricultural engineering. Just from spending one morning with him, I could tell that his role extends beyond the typical function of a loan officer, as he provided off-the-cuff advice to the borrowers I was meeting for journal updates.

As I mentioned, my experience in Ticuantepe was also interesting because I got to see many crops I’d never seen before: rice, beans, pineapple, pitahaya, plantains, and coffee beans. Some of these crops were definitely not what I expected – I had no idea that pineapples just sort of spring out of plants in the ground that hardly look as though they can support the weight of one pineapple, let alone many – so I thought I’d share my pictures of these crops with you. If you’ve never seen them before either, I hope you enjoy checking out what these foods look like at the beginning, long before they reach your supermarket or your plate. Click “more” to see the photos!

Pineapple grows in the field of one of AFODENIC's borrowers. Earlier in the day, I got to taste some pineapple picked fresh out of another client's fields.

Coincidentally just a few days before seeing this plant, I had separately learned for the first time that this is how coffee beans look when they're growing.

At the risk of sounding ignorant, I had no idea this was how rice grew! (I guess I'd never really thought about it though...to my defense, I've always lived in the city.) When I touched them, those little grains felt exactly like uncooked rice does.

Platanos growing on a tree, right by a field of pineapple plants and a group of coffee bean trees.

This prickly plant is where pitahayas grow--you can see an almost-pink pitahaya fruit toward the upper lefthand part of the fruit. The prickliness of the plant makes it especially hard to cultivate pitahaya, a fruit that has also been a new experience for me in Nicaragua. The flesh is bright purple and very sweet.

Unfortunately it turns out I didn’t take a picture of beans growing, but maybe I’ll get a chance next time I’m in Ticuantepe.

Victoria Kabak is a Kiva Fellow at AFODENIC in Managua, Nicaragua. Check out AFODENIC’s currently fundraising loans on Kiva, or purchase a Kiva gift certificate as the holiday season approaches!

I got a chance to go to another library book sale today. Consequently, the Library Mission now has 75 books. (I have no idea how many we are getting from Club Leo yet.) I added them on LibraryThing , so check it out. By the way, I spent a grand total of $4 for these. Not bad at all!