From the Desert to the Tropics a Peace Corps Adventure

2012-10-06T14:10:00.003-07:00

Well this has been a hard week. I had my second site visit from my sector boss that did not go well. She said the majority of negative things. The only thing I was doing right was i had good ideas. This put my spirits down alot even though i was very motivated and excited before the visit. This is not the typical ocurance usually they encourage you and give you good constructive advice I know that she is stressed and busy right now but so are the volunteers there was no need to take it out of me.

I guess it did get me thinking about what i could do better since i was obviously doing everything wrong. After feeling sorry for myself I got of my chair and began to plan some some things to do with the kids like a belly dancing class, a vegetarian cooking class and a mural. I want to start these in the next month or so. This will give me more things to do an prove that i can be a good volunteer not just good be great!

Well one good things this week was my first meeting with my leaders for my ecological burgade. Even though one of the people didn't show up it was still a good talk. The one man that showed has alot of good advice and ideas. I think that he will be a great addition to the group. I hope I can work more with him on other projects as well. It will be a big success, I can't wait to get started. i think I will be starting earlier than i originally thought. The only issue that i am running into would be the dry season and the kids not waters the plants. For this reason I might not be starting now.

I think i will have to move again. This time i am going to look for a casita or a small house connected to a family This way i can have my own privacy and maybe my things will be a bit safer I love my family now but it is not a good living condition. They keep taking my things and now they have started to pick my locks. I feel back since Peace Corps just put bars on my window for protection and i would be moving but life goes on.

There is not much more to share talk to you all next week.

2012-09-29T14:26:00.001-07:00

Hey a lot has happened since i last wrote. I got to see three rainbows and one of which was in a cloud no not in the sky but just the cloud it was so cool. It must be my month or something for me to see such a beautiful rarity three times in a row. I also go to feed and touch a monkey at a monkey park in Matagalpa. In Matagalpa we got to see a beautiful waterfall, and ate some really good food. We also saw the bands for the day in Independence This is when all of the schools in the town put on a show and march through the streets of town. It is always very fun to watch and they have some very creative skits if not two provocative.

Lets see what else happened there was the national day band for my own school happened this week. I am glad that i got to see it since i missed the independence day one. They were amazing and i have some pictures posted on facebook of them. I then went shopping and come back for the 6:30 bus into site. It never came he apparently decided not to run the last bus today. By that time it was dark out and I did not feel safe walking the 6k into my site on a unlit street with a few houses spaced out over the distance. I called a few volunteers to see if I could crash at their houses for the night. I got some positive responses but luckily a truck came by and offered me a ride into my site. The next day i had to get out of my site for an appointment but the bus left early and i missed it. I began to walk to 6k to get stopped my a man on a bike. I was offered a ride by sitting on the front bar the connects the handle bars to the seat. It was a very uncomfortable ride but the man was nice. I got to the meeting on time which was great! Welcome to the fun adventure in the Peace Corps.

I have two leader for you ecological brigade and will be having the first leaders meeting soon! I am very excited about this it should be great. My research on malaria and dengue has been very interesting and informative i am learning a lot of things i never knew like mosquitoes sip pollen form flowers and it takes one week for the malaria decease to develop in it's host.

My family is good but there are still thinking disappearing from my room. I dont' know who is doing it so we are now taking more precautions to protect it. We are installing bar on the windows and I am making sure the room is locked at all times. I'm sure that everything will be ok in the end.

until next week bye

2012-09-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Well update on everything that is going on with the volcano and evacuation. We are still all stuck and the volcano is still erupting and the sulfur is doubled reading and there are a few new blockages. This was caused by the explosion blocking three of the gas vents. There is a fear that there will be more blockages. This is creating pressure to build up and might explode to release this blockage. I am safe but restless. We were in Managua the capital since Sat and just got the permission to travel to other areas not the costs, Atlantic area and near the volcano. So at least I am not stuck in Managua anymore. Isn't fun to have a all paid vacation. I am with a bunch of friends and we are having a blast. I don't think i will be going back soon.

I really miss my site and I just hope that things are still going to be running when i get back. Like my English class and my manualidades class. I want to get involved with my teachers classes again. I was to implement a test but I fear that i will not be able to do that. I also have a lot of ideas to do with the kids and i need to get there to do them. You can't change things so I just have to make the most of this situation. I am also meeting a lot of new people and getting some ideas from them. My planning has not stopped at least. I jsut have to get back soon to implement these ideas.

Love you all and miss you. XOXO

http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/nicaragua.html

2012-09-09T15:45:00.002-07:00

Hey, this has been an interesting week. As I am sure that a few of you have seen on the news there has been a lot of disasters close to Nicaragua. I am fine! I did feel the earthquake that was in Costa Rica but there was no damage in my site or anywhere near me. All of the volunteers are fine it was just a shock. Yesterday the volcano San Cristobal erupted we were evacuated from my site. It is the region next to Leon. We are all safe and my village is safe too. There was no real danger there was a lot of smoke and ash a few random lava but it didn't really effect us at all. We are being held some place safe and waiting to make sure that there is no more after problems. I have this feeling that this will not be our last evacuation for and environmental disaster I hope that I am wrong but we are on vault lines and the land of volcano.

School has been going well I have gotten out garden close to done at my second school and the kids are very excited about my manualidades class (arts and crafts). I have been doing many things with the third grade teacher. I am creating one of the final exams with him and will be giving it. This should be fun to do and i have some great ideas. I think he will let me at least help out with the science one and I will be implementing the ECA (Arts and culture). There was an teachers meeting which are usually boring and long but i got a lot of Spanish lessons in. I brought my grammar book with me. I have also taken the initiation to read one thing in Spanish everyday weather it is a few pages of a book or a national geographic magazine in Spanish. I also am having Spanish tutoring classes every time I am in Managua. I hope that this means i can at least get up to advanced when I leave in a year. That is my personal goal if i get higher that would be amazing to.

I have gotten a person who is interested in helping me with my ecological burgade. I am very excited and hope that this will get going pretty soon. I just want to talk to one more person to see if she is interested and have a group meeting. Then i can finish the grant form and hopefully get it posted on line. My process with the fair is going well and have great ideas to start with that. I feel that things are coming along nicely with my side projects. I want to see if i could start some rain gardens to help solve run off problems I will see if i can do a small scale one on my property or maybe in the school to see how it would work out. The only problem would be the dry season and everything dies. I will need to do more research on it.

Love you all talk to you more later

One Year In Country!!!!

2012-08-31T12:39:00.002-07:00

Well this week has been boring there has been little to no class. The kids are practicing for the the independence parrade. Also know as band practice and marching. With the little kids trying top copy the older ones. Very annoying very loud but the band is good and fun to watch. Testing is comming up so there is some reviewing and stuff. I have been jumping for class to class doing what i can. I have been asked to come up with a arts and cukture test. This should be fun. One of my teachers dad died so there hasn´t been class in my far school.

Things are going great with my family. I seem to be gettin g along well and learning more spanish every day. The dog had puppies three of them. They are so small and cute! They told me I can have one but I´m not sure if i want it. I have Miles and he is enough work as is. A horse also backed up into my fence to my garden and nocked out one of the posts and loosened another so I have animals in my garden. I will have to start over after the rainny season since the rain is also washing way my seads. But i do have some flowers on my canolope so hopefully i will get soemthing if the pigs don´t eat it all.

My counterpart has had her baby but it´s a premi about a few months early or something. I think people said it was a girl i am excited about seeing it. Don´t know what they are coming home though. not much more to report bye for now

Nicaragua vs USA

2012-08-22T19:22:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking about this blog for a while since I have time I figured I would write two blogs this week. It is the differences between Nicaragua and the USA.

1. Pizza Hut is good pizza

2. The sound of Roosters is a wakeup call

3. Beans and Rice is almost all you eat

4. Kisses on the cheek

5. Cat calls

6. Glue sniffers

7. Overly packed buses

8. Very skinny pets

9. Mosquito nets

10. Cleaning at least 4 times a day

11. Bucket baths are preferred

12. No running water or electricity for half or more of a day

13. Latrines being preferable to toilets

14. Most of food is bought in outdoor markets

15. Only 5 TV channels

16. School is half a day

17. School is maybe 4 days a week

18. Teachers can leave class rooms

19. Clothes never dry

20. Washing laundry on a wash board

21. Very tight clothes that don’t fit their body

22. There are only two religions catholic or evangelical

23. Doors are left unlocked

24. You are expected to walk into houses without invite

25. Mode of transportation is a horse

26. Roads turn into rivers when it rains

27. Walk 6k to get to your house

28. AC is too cold

29. A fan is your new best friend

30. 70F is cold

31. A rain storm sounds like the house is falling apart

32. There is dirt yards not grass

33. Horses are the main source of transportation

34. All schools wear the same clothes

35. Hitchhiking is welcomed

36. Parasites and Bacteria are your babies

37. Food on wood fire tasts better

38. The oven is a storage place

39. Dogs and cats are anorexic

40. Traficlights are just for show

41. What is a speed imit?

42. All clothes are ironed

43. Salt sugar and oil are their own food groups

44. What is a trashcan?

45. Not greeting someone is an insult

46. Reading is not a pastime

47. Hitting kids and animals is the norm

48. Food, rent and utilities are only $65 a month

49. There are no prescriptions just go and ask for what you want

2012-08-15T15:05:00.003-07:00

Well this has been an interesting time. Let’s see I have 14 kids in my manualidades (arts and crafts) class. I have talked to the teachers about having SONATI a NGO from Leon come and do a class about the environment. They agreed on a topic and we are now having them come twice! The first time I will have to change because I will not be in my site. They will be doing the charla your responsibility to the environment and animal trafficking. Those are rough translations of the Spanish version. It should be fun and I can’t wait to see what they do. The best things is the only thing that we need to pay for is the transportation.

I have been having problems finding times to help the high schoolers with their projects. When they are out of class and doing most of the work I am in class. As well when I am out of class they are in class. I am still trying to figure this all out. I really want to work with them just haven’t figured out how yet. My English class had gone well and I think I am really getting the handle of things. I hope that all of the students show up again. I need to remember to get their numbers I have to be able to call them to tell them about any cancelations or changes in times.

Classes are going relatively well I have taught some cultural and art classes. They did a picture using three of more different types of materials. They could go out and look for the materials in the school then they had to make a picture using said materials and different colors. They were graded on the number of material their creativity and participation. They loved it and the teachers loved it too. I have fun doing it and did a really good job. I even had teachers bragging to the other teachers and I did in their classes too! It feels good to be appreciated.

I am also helping another volunteer with their youth group and we are having a blast doing it I can’t wait to help more. They kids are really nice and she is giving me a lot of ideas about things that I could do. While I am on the topic of helping volunteers I will tell you what I did this weekend. I went to my friend’s house and helped her with a fair she was putting on. It went great but I was so tired after it. We woke up early every day and worked for most of the day. The kids were great and they had a blast. She also lives next to a river so we got to go swimming something I really miss. It was nice to get cooled off and hang out with a great friend. I think I will do a fair of my own around the topic of malaria and dengue. It will be done after school gets out giving the kids something fun to do. Maybe I can get the help of other volunteers of community members.

I have a lot of new ideas of things that I want to do. I am planning for a baseball competition with HIV and AIDS theme. I am also working on the ecological brigade like I mentioned before. I think that it will cost will be a about 1,000 dollars so I think that I will post a partnership through Peace Corps that will allow friends and family to donate to the event. I will keep you updated if this is something that I will do and when I post it. Tell me who is interested in giving some money I need to know for the grant process.

Thanks and I love you all.

2012-08-04T14:30:00.001-07:00

This has been a very productive week and I am finally starting to feel like I am accomplishing something. I am beginning to feel like a real volunteer which is nice. Just as everyone said it will take a year and in one month it will be a year in country. Time as gone so fast it feels like I just started here. So let’s get on to the week shall we.

Monday classes were canceled so I cleaned my room and did a lot of prep work. I just printed off the syllabus that all of the teachers get about what they need to teach in a year and when they have to teach it. I was looking at that and making activities that would fit with the upcoming semester. I had a few ideas and wanted to see if they would fit into the year. They did so I had a lot of fun writing them down. I then played with my siblings and had some me time. I found out that my counterpart was worried about me because I forgot to tell her I was back from Managua. I called her the middle of last week telling her about the extension. She thought I was sick again and called Peace Corps to find out where I was. Peace Corps said that I had left all ready and she called me. It turns out that she has a project for me. I talked with her next day.

Tuesday I had class and helped out a lot with math class. I am now the official go to for answers and works checking when I don’t know the topic that will be taught. I also put in my own two pieces when I can. That afternoon I went to the high school to meet the new English teacher. The old one is in the US for 6 months. I introduced myself saying that I was interested in helping her teach some classes. We then hit it off well. She is my age and we seem to have a fair amount in common we talked all through recreo when I had to go and talk to the other classes. The project that my counterpart was talking about what helping the high schoolers do there senior/final project. There are three classes and I will be helping each one. One is doing a garden of some sort in the school, second is making things out of garbage and the last one is doing some sort of trash pickup. I need to talk with the kids to get more information about their ideas. I ended up staying the whole day.

Wed is usually my day of no classes I went because I was to work with one of the high schoolers but no one was there. So I went to work with one of my teachers instead. He had me teaching almost every class, Language, Science and I helped with math and discipline. It was a great day went back and relaxed. I get a call from my assistant director of Peace Corps asking to come out to my site. The first thing that went through my mind was oh no what did I do! Nervous I gave him my schedule and would see him the next day.

Thur. I want up to my second school where we started the school garden it went well but we still have a lot of work to do. I get a call from the director saying that he would be there in about 10 min. I was a 4K walk from my site. He ended up picking me up at school. My fears were for nothing! All he walked to do was see how I was doing and see my site. So we walked around my site. I had an appointment with one of the neighboring volunteers and he drove me there. We did a youth group with manualidades (arts and crafts) and it wants over really well. I walked about her town and used the internet to do some research for tomorrow class. I get on the bus and go to the empalme (entrance) to my site. I was about 1 ½ hours early for the next bus so I decided to walk. And walk and walk. I finally hitch a ride for the last k maybe to town. I find out that it is 6k to my site. I was exhausted and in pain. I cooked dinner and went to bed. I figured out that I walked about 9k that day with is about 5.5m.

Fri. I was in so much pain it felt like I just did the marathon or something I dragged myself out of bed early to get to the early class at school. I was exhausted from the day before. I arrive on time after falling back to sleep. Just as class was about to start one of the students fainted, there was a ton of people to help her. I gave my water and phone to call her mom to come get her to the clinic. She was pretty bad I’m not sure how she is I will have to ask on Mon. Class starts and we were finishing up the abonera (compost) which is a lot of shoveling dirt into bags. We ended up with about 4.5 sacos (sacks) full. This is great because I can use them in the school garden. I then quickly went back to my house to get my forgotten computer and returned to school to teach my second class of the day ECA which is like an arts class. I did a wonderful job. So well that the teacher was boasting about it with the other teachers. I feel like I might end up doing it with other classes. I’m really proud of myself for this accomplishment. I was offered to go to their house later but I ended up falling asleep I will have to go day to make up for it. One the way back to my house I was stopped by my old host mother she wanted me to help teach her class that day. I politely refused and said I would do it next week and collapsed in my bed. I ate dinner and went to sleep.

It was a great week and I have a lot of things planned for the upcoming months too. I want to do a baseball AIDS completion where between the teams there would be information about HIV/AIDS. I am planning an ecological brigade involving tree planting and trash as well as some activities and a field trip. I will be starting a manualidades class at my econ school every Mon. starting next week as well as an English class. My only concern now is to not overdo it and get sick I have to remember that I am only one person and can only do so much. We get a new bunch of Environment volunteers soon so I will post likely be helping them with training I am excited to meet them. I don’t feel like I have much to offer them but I will do my best to make them feel welcomed and give as much advice as I can.

I hope that all is well and enjoying life as much as I am. Love you all XOXO

2012-07-22T10:32:00.002-07:00

Well I just got back from my trip to Granda. We went shopping, climbed the volcano Mumbacho and went zip lining. It was a lot of fun and a good break but I lost my wallet so it is been a fun time canceling all the cards and getting new ones. But that is life. All is well and I'm getting along well.

I can't wait until things start up again I feel like it's been a while since i did anything productive. I will have to crack down on the teachers and have them let me do more things in class. That way i can actually do my job. I will be restarting my after school activities when school starts too like the English class and youth group. I'm looking forward to it.

2012-07-17T21:56:00.001-07:00

Well hi everyone this was an interesting week I fell out of a animal pulled cart luckily it wasn't moving and i only skinned my leg up really bad. I have a nasty bruise to prove it. Ok this is what happened I got into the cart first to have my sister get in and i fell as the cart tipped in. Next i ran a shovel into my foot while i was working on my garden. I scrapped my hand against the wall when my sister tried to trap me in the room. i got the common cold, and what i think might be a urinary track infection. My heal hurts for about two weeks now. I have no idea why i just work up and it was hurting. I broke my glasses once again not sure how just work up and they were all wonky. I have been having diarrhea and i threw up on the bus so i might have a parasite. My brother is driving my crazy just a really bad kid. My cat scratched me up because he hates motos and i had to bring him home from my friends house. Over all i'm doing well.

i got my garden is going along well I got the ground dug up and mixed. I have a fence ready put up just have to do the door and then i can plant i am really excited about that can't wait to have yummy food. I am also happy about how great my family is.

It is school vacation and it is nice not to have to wake up for classes. I sometimes feel very useless here like what am i really doing here. I go to school and do nothing sometimes i help out the teachers in math and i have a lesson planned but usually don't get to do it because the teacher changed the schedule or just doesn't do my lesson. So i sit there doing nothing. then I go home and do some lesson stuff and try to find something to do. Once again it's usually nothing. I play with the kids in the house and work on my garden or some other mundane thing. I go see a few people in site when I feel moved to but over all i do nothing. It is very frustrating and makes you feel useless. I hope that things speed up eventually because this gets old really fast.

Even though I am having an interesting time I do love it here. The people are great and the work that I am doing is fun. I am glad to be a volunteer it is just not what i expected. Love you all until next time.

Welcome Back!

2012-07-07T13:19:00.001-07:00

Hey I got back to my site after being sick for a while. It is nice to be back and well I defiantly missed it here. Everything has been going well. It was the week of the teachers so there was no school and a lot of parties, delicious food and great company. There were a lot of jokes said on my expense which I didn’t’ understand all of but that is fine. I have learned to laugh at myself because most of the time it is something funny anyways. There was no electricity for the whole party so some kind person brought in a generator so we could have music and dancing. We ended up dancing for about two to three hours. It was a lot of fun and tiring.

I was to go to the festival in the neighboring town but I decided to spend time getting to know the family. I think it was one of the best things I could have done. We have been getting closer and the girls Reyna and Caty are a lot of fun to hang out with. There was no light again that night and we spent the time sing songs dancing and just talking. It was one of the best nights I had in site yet. I felt like a part of the family it’s amazing.

It has been cloudy here but with little rain. There have been scares like a lot of thunder and dark skies we begin to prepare for rain and it never comes. It has been very hot and humid though which is miserable. The mosquito are crazy right now as well I have been back form about three days and I am covered in bites but that might have something to do with the fact that my mosquito net is broken. I hope to get one soon but we will see when someone is coming my way. That way I can sleep outside of the sheet and not roast to death. Maybe then I won’t get as many bites. Well good news I fixed my mosquito net so now I get to not be eaten alive! It is amazing.

I haven’t really been doing much in school since break is in a week. There have need a lot of midterms and things. I have been helping some in math classes and just catching up with the teachers. I don’t really feel productive doing that but that’s ok. I’ll start doing more next semester. I want to start the school garden then and do more environmental things with the kids. There is no point in starting one right now since there will be no one there to tend it for a week.

I have stated my garden in the house. It’s a lot of work and my hands are now dead but my sisters helped out a lot as well as some boys from the neighborhood so it went fast. I have to wait a few days for the son to kill the pests and bacteria in the soil before I can plant but I’m excited to get started. The ground isn’t really good it has a lot of clay but I will have due. I have some cow manure so hopefully things work out.

I really love this new family they seem like it would all work out. There is one little boy who drives me crazy he is very nesio (bad). Doesn’t listen to anyone! Oh well he is slowly getting better though which is great. I am very happy here and am glad that I am back and getting started again. I have to leave so I’ll write to all of you soon. Lots of Love. XOXOXO

How to...

2012-04-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

1. How to take a bucket bath: First fill the trough with water. Have your bathing supplies ready get a pan and fill it with water starting with your legs pour water on them then your chest arms and back. With a full pan of water pour it over your head moving your hair around to get it all wet. Get just enough shampoo to clean your hair in your hands and lather. With the pan slowly pour water over your head as you rinse the shampoo out. I stress the slowly because if you just pour you'll never get all the soap out. Repeat until hair is clean. If need be use conditioner and repeat process. Dunk your rag into the water and soap it up cleaning your body well you want all of that sweat and dust from the day off of you for at least 5 min. start from you top down and pour water over your body rinsing off. Grab a towel and from top to bottom dry off holding the towel in just the right way so that it never touches the dirty ground. get dressed in same fashion and continue with the day.

2. How to wash clothes without a washing machine: Make sure you have plenty of water or a hose near my. Get the pile of your dirty clothes and some bar soap to wash clothes. You can a. soak your clothes in a bleach mixture before hand or b. just wash them straight away. I do option b Nicaraguans do option a. take out one to two objects of clothes and once them are soaked rub soap on the front ,back, selves, legs etc of the clothes. then take part and begin to viciously rub it on a stone slab with grooves in it. (It can be made by the handyman nearest you. Found in all towns of Nicaragua.) Take other sections of the cloth and repeat process until front an back of clothing are clean. Begin to pour water on it while you squeeze your clothing with on hand moving it around and picking it up until the water coming from it is clean. wring it out and then shake it before putting it over the clothes line to dry.

3. How to put up a mosquito net: Take net out of back and find the four corner of the net. Lay it out to the best of you ability to find out which sides are the long side and which side it the short side. Tie a long piece of string, rope, cloth or what ever you have to each corner loop. Put up four nails, find for rafter, find for hooks what ever you can in the room that is on the far wall of the four corner of the bed. Lay the net over the bed it is not already and pull one of the ties to your nail and wrap it around before doing a loose knot but not puling the last sting all the way through this allows for a quick easy take down when needed. Repeat the process with the other corners. Then adjust the tightness of the stings until it is a comfortable height from the bed. Pull the sides around the bed and tuck in three of the sides leaving one side hanging over the edge to get you enter your bed.

4. How to use a latrine: Enter the latrine and pull the door shut firmly behind you. Put your lets on either side of the front of the hole with a cement seat and squat with your hips pointed towards the back of the seat. wipe and throw tissue into the hole. Close the door behind you so the animal won't get in. Wash hands in the pila.

A day in the life of Isis

2012-04-11T20:28:00.001-07:00

I thought I would give you a day in the life of Isis:

At 7:00 I wake up sitting up and taking out my earplugs and pull out the mosquito net. I place my feet into flip flops. I kick my cat out of the way and filling his food dish. I get dress and place my PJ’s under the mosquito net before tucking it in again. I leave to the latrine opening the door and squatting over a hole in the ground with a cement seat I go to the bathroom. Going to the pilla (a stone barrel that has a wash area next to it filled with water) I splash water onto my hands and look for some laundry soap. I wash my face and brush my teeth then go to eat breakfast of eggs and rice. Grabbing my bag I swing onto my bike and leave for my school that is 6k way. Putting in the headphones I put on some music to make the ride go faster.

I get passed by a man on a moto who slows down to chat with me and asks for my number I politely refuse and we go on our way. I get passed by a guy on a horse carrying jugs that will be filled up with water later and give the basic “Adios” greeting. About half way there I am passed by my teacher on a moto (motorcycle). Swerving to avoid rocks in the road I finally make it to the road that turns up into my school. I jump off my bike and navigate it from a path or huge rocks and bump my way, up a hill to the one room school house.

Class has already started as I park my bike at the front of the school and go inside. All of the students stand and say “Buenos dias” (good morning). I respond “Buenos dias, sientense” (good morning sit down). I greet the teacher and get the lesson topic in science for the day as they continue with Spanish. I look through the book and plan my lesson for one of the three grades 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th grade. I stop to teach Math to one of those three classes and then begin the first half of my lessons which is one hour long before they have recreo (recess) that goes for over the allowed time of half an hour. I get dragged to play games with the kids until I get tired and go over the join la profesora in the shade. Class starts again and we continue with the lesson. Once school ends I get pestered by my teacher to ride on the moto back to site and I have to deny since it is part of the Peace Corps rules. She gets irritated and thinks I don’t like her and I begin the long hot ride to my site. I have to slow down for a herd of cattle that are coming my way and avoid rocks and poop again.

I make my lunch of tuna fish and rice with juice and maduros (plantains fried). I eat while talking with the kids in my house. After I finish I have descansa (siesta) which is when I go online or read from my kindle. Or I should say try to I have kids coming into my room trying to talk to me and if I go out of the room it’s worst. It can take a while to get anything done. After the hot of the day passes I would adventure out to plan lessons with my other teachers for the next day or go talk to my counterparte (counterpart). I begin to start dinner which is an American meal of pasta salad and fruit. I eat while talking to my mother.

I go to my room and give the cat his dinner while getting myself ready for a bath. I slip on my flip flops and grab my bath things and go out into the night to the bath house. I scrape the old bath water from the clogged drain and step over the wet area to get undressed in the small outhouse hut with a door that doesn’t lock. I hang up my clothes on some of the multiple nails on the wall. I take the pale (bowl like pail) that is in a corner stoned off area that has water filled from the hose. I pure it on my legs arms chest and back shivering from the cold water. I soak my washcloth in the water and begin to wash my body (once a week I would wash my hair by pouring water on my head slowly from the pale I would put the shampoo in my hair to slowly wash it out when I think it is all out I move to conditioner which I leave in until the end of the bath) I rinse off the soap and then the hair. I grab the towel and dry off wrapping it around me and rush to my room before people can see me. I finish drying off and get changed into sleep clothes. I go into the main house and watch some TV with the family as they cell hamburgers from their house. It’s more like a fried piece of meat that they put condiments and lettuces and tomatoes.

I return to my room turn on my fan if it is not already on which is usually is. I go pee on the ground outside my room because it is really dark and the latrine is on the other side of the yard. I climb into my wipe off the dirt and crap on my bed and tuck in my net. I read for an hour and put in earplugs and have my spray bottle of water with me to scare Miles off the bed at night. I turn off my headlamp and got to sleep at 9:30-10:00.

Samana Santa

2012-04-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Samana Santa also known as Easter was awesome! I went to Isla Ometepe with two other volunteers and had a blast. We kind of did a trip where we played it by ear. We left on Sunday and went to Rives and stayed that night there. We hung out in the hostel that we randomly found and ate some bad pizza and watched a movie with some sparkling grape juice. It was quite the party! The next day we got on the boat that was rockier than a baby’s cradle. They were showing Karate Kid in Spanish with Chinese subtitles and the movie was dubbed over in Spanish with a Chinese accent so no one could understand. It was a long one hour ride luckily I did not get sick. We finally landed in a not so busy port town and looked for another random hostel. We ended up with a good one. It had a private bath and a bunk bed set up where the bottom bunk is a double bed and the top a single. There was a patio that had a bunch of hammocks to read in and an upstairs area with tables, sofas and chairs. There was really good wireless but I didn’t bring my computer and I didn’t really care but my friends had fun with it. The people who ran the hostel were fun to talk to and were always joking with us. That night we went out to look for something to do but the town was dead so we ended up eating in one of the other hostels and had a fun meal chatting with the waitress.

The next day we went to the beach and met up with another volunteer that lived on the Isla. We were not out that long but we all got burned really badly. The sun here is really strong. I don’t burn easily so you know it must be strong. We swam around some and brought our own food to save on money and some amazing cheese sandwiches. That night we went to this hamburger place I got an amazing grilled cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, and grilled vegetables in it and for dessert we had hot brownies with whipped cream on top I was in heaven but that was before I knew what was to come.

The next day we traveled to the other side of the Isla and stayed at another hostel that was a 1k walk up the side of the volcano. It was absolutely gorgeous to see with beautiful flower everywhere and trails to walk through the woods and up to the top of the volcano. The accommodations were nothing to write home about but it was for the most part clean and comfortable. The day we went to a natural spring swimming hole name Ojo de Aqua. It is said to be the cleanest swimming water found in Nicaragua. It was cool but nothing that you couldn’t find in other countries. There was nothing very unique about but it was a great place to relax after traveling. We met up with other volunteers at a local restaurant which had the best food I have eaten in Nicaragua. I had a vegetable stir fry what had a wide variety of vegetables over the right amount of rice and rich flavorful sauce that was not too thick or strong. Heaven! It was so good that we went there the next day again. We chit chatted the night way before returning to the hostel for a nice night sleep.

We were planning to go Kayaking the next day only to be told that it would cause 50 US dollars. There was no busses running because of the Samana Santa and we ended up walked the 6+k to the beach before being told of the price. We stayed on the beach for a little bit before walking another 3k to the tourist part of town to eat turned around and walked halfway back before my feet died and we hitchhiked but to the hostel. By the time we got back my legs were numb and shaking I collapsed into bed after freezing my butt off in a ‘nice’ ice cold shower.

We went horseback riding the last day at the finca (farm) we thought it would be a two hour ride that turned into 6hrs. We rode to a path up the side of the volcano that led to a one hour hike up to a waterfall that the water was so pure you could drink. WE had to risk it since we ran out of water and were very thirsty with a whole ride back a head of us. Apparently he was right because I have yet to get sick and parasites and bacteria tend to show up pretty quickly. The ride up was on trails that were extremely rocky and I was scared that the horse would trip and hurt its leg. She did slip a few times be nothing bad happened. I was an amazing trip and one of my favorite parts of my vacation. We were told that there would be no hostels with room that day so we quickly went to catch one of the last boats out to the main land and stayed in Rives all over again. There we met up with a dad and his daughter that too were trapped they lived in Costa Rica and the boarders were closed. We had a lovely dinner with them and talked some of the night.

That Saturday we went to Granada to celebrate one of the other volunteers birthday we ate a ridiculously expensive lunch that was worth the end of the vacation party. Talked and caught up. WE had a blast but I was more than ready to head home and most of us were becoming grumpy and snappy. Unfortunately I could still not go home the busses were running but packed full and no reliable. I ended up staying with my only training host family.

There was a really interesting tradition in the town on celebrating the Samana Santa. Every day the week there was parades with a part of the death and resurrection of Jesus. On a huge detailed statue that they carried through the street. On one day those who want to repent their sins in a way would walk on the knees blindfolded from one part of town to the church with two people helping them. It was a big event and the town was packed. I never have seen that town like that even during the Independence Day parade. It was a very unique cultural experience one that only that town does. I am very glad that I stayed the night with them and even had some good conversation with my family which almost never happens. It is late and I must wake up early tomorrow. I will write more tomorrow I have an interesting idea of a blog to do for you all. Love you all and miss you. XOXO

HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT

2012-03-30T19:04:00.002-07:00

It is burning up here. Everyday seems to be hotter than the last. I sweat all day in the afternoon I jump into a baby pool fully clothed to cool off. Then use my wet clothes as a cooling rag an hour later. The night showers and a fan are the only ways I can get to sleep at night. It is almost too hot!

I am moving tomorrow! I will be going to none of the previous options. I will be moving to a home with an older woman 60's and her two grandchildren. A girl in high school and a little one i would say 4. The woman seems very talkative and open I am very happy and think that this will be a good change. They have so many animals which i love but little to no roosters or chickens! NO being waken up at 1:30 at night or 4 in the morning! My room has it's own entrance into the house and a window. There is another room with AC that i can go into if i need a desperate cool off. A huge kitchen which I will be cooking all of my meals.

I am using this time to start over in my service and to do things the way i would have wanted it to go before. I am taking the time to get out of the house more and meet new people. Start a few groups and be a real volunteer. I am going to put more of an effort into socializing with the family. I always think it is my fault that things didn't work out with my first family. If I only did this or that, things would have been better. But there is no point in playing the 'If I' or 'I should have' game. The past is the past and can't be changed. One can only learn from your mistakes and successes and make the present and future the best that it can be. I'll have more info after the move.

Strange Dreams

2012-03-25T16:25:00.003-07:00

I have been having these strange recurring dreams. It is not in the same place but it's the same theme. A war between Light and Dark or Good and Evil. There are almost areas of the world that are good and areas that are bad. It is usually an area that has a door that can be locked to hold in the good or out the evil. There is always children it is almost like the war is being fought by children with a few adults to help. The main character is always a teenager or young adult trying to either figure out what is wrong with the world or trying defeat evil. It starts of with the girl feeling that there is something off and begins to investigate such as there are some areas that feel different like bad or dark and some that are good or light. She then realizes that this darkness effects certain people as well. There are areas that can be closed off to just good. This started the awakening of the other good people to what is going on and the bad trying to get in to infect the good. The war is always fought by children and dark is usually a set of a few adults. The dreams always ends just before the final battle with the main character saying or crying to someone that they don't think the kids can handle a battle they have never had to go through all of this.

I guess you could say that i am writing about this because is started when I was in PC and come so in my site. It makes me wonder what is going on in site that is causing me to have a war in my subconscious. What is making feel so separated? I find it strange that it is so geared to children. Is there an issue with my teaching and the kids? I don't feel like I am resenting the children or that I am struggling with the classes. Sure there are times that I have a bad day but we all have those days. Is site really bothering me this much that I am have a war with myself because of it? I know that i don't find it as a home yet but i don't think that i thought it was really horrible just not like home. There are so many questions and no answers. Maybe moving out and starting over with a new family will help. Or maybe it is all just a coincidence and that the dreams are just dreams my imagination. I just find it weird that the same theme is recurring every week.

A stressful week

2012-03-22T19:18:00.003-07:00

Good evening everyone. This past week was rather interesting and a bit stressful. I have to move host families for reasons that will not be disclosed here. I have been taking this week to look at my options with the help of my lovely counterpart. I have about three options. I have only got to look at one of them but hopefully i will see the others soon. Here is what i can grasp from the descriptions of the homes that my counterpart has given me:

1. Is one of the teachers in the school. She lives alone and has a house complex connected to her own house in which i would be living. I would be making my own meals. Other than that i don't have much to report since i have no visited the house.
2. Is one of my friends in town. I get along well with here family and feel at home when i visit the house. I have not had the chance to talk in detail about moving into the house and I can only hope that they have room for me.
3. Is a house connected to a pulparia (small story) I would be moving in to her daughters room where the daughter would go i don't know. They have a nice house that is sectioned off into three parts. Two kitchens one with a wood fire and on with a small gas burners. I did not get to see the room since the door was locked. They have a big backyard and have about 8 people in their family. The only concern that i have is that one of the men of the house is a boracho (drunk) he only comes at night and not often. I would be able to keep my door locked but i don't know if i want to live like that for two year. I would also be cooking most if not all of my own food.
4. there is one more but we have not even talked to the family about it. It is a big house that is owned by a woman and her two children. I had one of her kids in my manualidades (arts and crafts) class. But i don't really know anything about the family.

Now for my own criteria for a house. I would want to live with a family that i feel comfortable with and that i can have a nice conversation with. That is one thing that I feel is lacking with my current family. I feel like really don't have to much n common. I obviously want a safe house and I want to be able to cook my own breakfast and dinner lunch is optional. I can find that Nica's don't always know how to feed a vegetarian. I think it would be better all around if i cooked. It would ensure that I got more then rice and beans to eat. Not my favorite dish. I would like a running shower but that is not a must. My room has to have ventilation to it. That is one thing about my room now is how stuffy and hot it can get during the day. They must accept Miles my cat. Other than that I and willing to explore my options.

Well I have started to teach more classes and i was told on a scale of 1-10 i teach at a 5. Which i think i pretty good from someone with very little teaching experience. It was on a topic that I wasn't quite sure how to teach the functioning of the different parts of the eyes and ears. Mind you it was not the structure but the function. I have taught other science and math courses that went relatively well. I do have to say that I am having a bit of fun but it is not my calling.

I finally got to right my bike to the school 6k away and the first day it broke. The bike store didn't tighten the screws on the peddles and gears. I ended up walking it half the way. I would prefer to walk to ride the bike but it is faster and the thing wasn't cheep. They got it fixed up at the school so I didn't have to walk it home too. LOL There is so much loose dusty roads almost like sand that makes it hard to peddle at times but not imposable as well as rocks I swear my rear end i raw from the bouncing. I am definitely gaining leg muscles.

Now comes the random happening paragraph. I am happy to say that I am not healthy with no stomach pains or gripe (colds) I just hope I didn't jinks myself. I might have also been proven wrong, the road blockers have not started again to my knowledge. I will give it another week but everything seems calm right now. It is sweltering here an average of 95 for the whole weeks and sometimes not electricity which means no fan! Miles has taken to seeing more of the day under my bed I think it's about a few degrees cooler there. I am realizing that my Spanish is defiantly improving. I can form sentences using the past and having them come out somewhat right. I also find my fluency is better and I can read a book aloud without sounding out every other word. I still find it hard at times to understand others but I seem to be getting the main idea of the topics. I feel like I'm begining to fit in a little bit now that I have some closer friends, I can't wait to get to know them better.

Don't think there is much more I have to see and I bit you all a fond farewell until next time. XOXO

Language training

2012-03-17T17:15:00.001-07:00

The month of observation is over i finally can start classes. I did my first class abonaras or composting. It went over well a bit hectic but well. I then got sick and I couldn't work. I have a chest cold because of all of the dust here. I was sick for a week then we had language training. The next week. I felt like i was letting people down. I mean it was my first weeks of teaching and I'm not there. But your can't help getting sick so life goes on.

Language taller was torture. It was four days of intensive training we started at 8 and went until 4 with a one hour lunch and two 15min breaks. We were so brain dead that i couldn't think in proper Spanish by the end. I was mixing up the words that sounded alike. I learned alot though which was the goal of the taller. We end over so many topics i wonder if i will remember it all. It was nice to see everyone and we got to hang out almost every night as a group. I was in a training town with four other volunteers and lived in what I would consider a Nica mansion. I lived with another volunteer who is also a veggie person. Which was nice when we had to explain that to the host mom. The house had tile floors and a real ceiling, a flush toilet, shower and screens in the windows. There was paper towels, an electric stove and washing machine. I had a real bed and the other volunteer and I shared a bathroom. The food was also amazing with freshish bread. We were defiantly spoiled for that week.

So to make matters worst i had a stomach thing the whole time i was there and I am not on a bunch a of meds to try and fight this thing. Not sure what is wrong but I'm sure everything will be fine so or so I hope.Because of this I had t stray overnight in Leon which was planing to do anyways but not i have it paid for which is always nice. There was a Jazz concert that night and I went to eat some American food. No mater how good the food can be there is always that craving for food that I know. It was a nice night and just the thing i needed after a stressful week.

I don't know if people have heard about the protesting and road blocks that are happening all over the northern part of Nicaragua AKA closeish to my area. This is the information that i have right now "The former Sandinista fighters who were demobilized in 1990, as well as a group of retired Nicaraguan soldiers from the 1990s, are demanding the government attend to their rights to a state pension, land and healthcare, among other basic services." (Ex-combatants: roadblocks will continue. The Nicaragua Dispatch. March 12 2012. http://www.nicaraguadispatch.com/breaking-news/ex-combatants-roadblocks-will-continue/2930) They stopped because the government is going to start talking but if they don't do anything they will start ups again. I don't think that this is over not by a long shot. There was a time there that all of the buses going north of Managua couldn't leave since all of the major highways were blocked. I was afraid that i wouldn't be able to get back to my site after training. I'm perfectly safe in my site so no worries there.

More lass next week and a few changes to life. Love you all

An eye opener

2012-02-22T11:57:00.003-08:00

I know I just updated but something happened today that felt was news worthy. I just hope that I am not crossing any rules with this entry. If any Nicaraguan are reading this please don't be offended by my commentary. I do not mean to speak down about the culture or the people of Nicaragua. I love the people that I meet here.

Now on to the situation. I was talking with my teacher today about dating they seem to find it fascinating that I am single and that I don't choose to date while I am here. I can't help but think that they are secretly going to start looking for a man for me. LOL. Anyways she asked about what type of guys that I like what characteristics I looked for in a guy. I explained to her one of the things was that I didn't care what the race of there person was. She then asked if I would go with and African I said of course. She acted very shocked and began to say she would never go with a black. I said that my dad was African and she seemed a bit flustered saying that no all of them were bad.

I knew over my stay here that there was racism I guess that I didn't realized how deep it went. This opened my eyes to the harsh reality of it all. There have been other situations but I found that I brushed them off. I guess this conversation shit closer to home then I thought. It got me wondering what they think of me. I have no problem with being in the sun and getting tan. They think it is a bad thing. I do not hide from them that I am black and some times I can't help but thing that they disapprove of me is some small way. They are all very accepting and eager to talk with me so I have been given no inclination of this idea but one does wonder.

A down moment

2012-02-21T16:16:00.002-08:00

One week of school has past. Most of my teacher are really good and don't seem to need my help. I still have to pick which three i want to work with. I love my second school. The kids are really good and seem to want me there. They taught me some children games and have been begging me to play with them every break. The teacher is also really nice and she could use some help as well. Imagine teaching 1-6 alone it is pretty busy in that one room class.

I find that i am feeling as though i am pleasing everyone else but me. I am doing alot of things in the school but my passion is not teaching. I want to do more environmental things I have to find a way to fit more of that in. The problem is that i don't know what the problems are. I have asked my host mother and she gave me a list of some things. I think i will use this and do a survey to give to the town. Then I can contact Peace Corps for more help on how to improve this. I want to plant trees on the road side. I just don't have to skills right now to implement things. It is frustrating and I'm not really loving it like i should. I find that Africa was a better fit for me skill wise. It's not that i don't' like it per-say but it's not was i was expecting. I know i have to make my service the way i want to and i will just have to put the effort in to do what i want to do. I knew that things will change i just wish it would change faster.

Love you all miss you and even thought this blog is negative i do like it here and do have fun. I don't want anyone to worry. All my love.

1st day of school

2012-02-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

Wow two posts in one month I never thought i would be abe to do that. So lets see I got a kitty. His name is Miles. He is just over a month old or so i think I´m not positive since the other volunteer wasn´t sure how old he was. He is a gray cat with black stripes. He is very mischivous and a bit necio or doesn´t behave. He eats a lot not sure of that is normal or not oh well if he is hungary i will let him eat. He is very adourable and I love him dearly even if he can drive my crazy at times. He is also cuddlely when he wants to be. He will climb up my leg which isn´t all that comfortable and then eather say there for a few seconds and jump off to do it again 5 min later. Or mead his claws into me as i pet him. He will then roal over and begging to bat at my hand playing. Sometimes he even sleeps on me!

Today was the first day of school which was nothing like the USA. We had a party with 6 pinatas music dancing and fun. Then the kids went back to class to copy down their scedule for the year. I will be working with four teachers in this school 3-4th grades. I will be going to my second school two days of the week and working in a school that is 1-6th grade this should be intresting. I´m a bit nervious since i have little to no teaching experiance but the teacher is great and will help me as much as she can. I am not very excited to start real classes which hopefully will be tomorrow unless it´s another party. One of my teachers won´t be there which is fine with me sinve I have her class friday.

TEPCI was horrable so very boring they only talked about what to teach the next two months and had this discussion that I didn´t understand. Pat another volunteer and I left early to do errens. I found out that the woman at the Ciaro story or the store where I bought my modem gave me the wrong one. So I had to return again with all fo my information to get the right one. I am trying to do that now but it is closed i will have to try again tomorrow.

Hi

2012-02-06T17:04:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a while by internet isn't working I have to get it checked out. Alot has happened since the last time I wrote. Lets see my youth group is over with we had a desperation or a going out party. It was a blast I made a spider wed for them which they loved. We had food and they played twister and did a singing competition. The summer tutoring is OVER!!!! I am so happy about that it was horrible. I hope that real classes aren't so bad.

Now we are starting the teachers weeks they went over the rules and doing enrollment for the up coming year. They will be doing this for two weeks hopefully people will sign up. There hasn't been a big turn our so far. I also finally visited the second school it's a 6k walk. I will need to buy a bike to get there. All of my classes are in the morning which will be nice I get to do activities in the after noon. The town is very poor and the house are just boards put together. The people are nice though and the teacher is great. I think i will really enjoy my time there.

My uncle, friend, neighbor died this week. It has been a sad hectic week. The house was full of people from all over the world. It was a bit overwhelming but a unique experience. I didn't get to go to the funeral because no one told me. They took my camera so at least i have photos to see even if i wasn't there. I did get to see the wake and viewing though. It was a sad but amazing cultural experience. Very similar to a USA viewing.

Two months in 22 more to go

2012-01-20T10:00:00.001-08:00

SO much has happened since i last wrote which would make sense since it has been a month! Wow it had been a two months already. It doesn't feel like that. At times the days drag on and the months fly by. Sort of like college. I guess i will start off with my new year.

Almost all of my group went to the beach for a long weekend. I left that Friday for Leon and stayed overnight at one of the hostels with three other volunteers it was so much fun. We cooked a dinner of spinach stuffed shells and salad and brownies. We dyed others hair and hung out talking for the whole night. It was perfect. We then left for the beach the next day. I liked in a bungalow like cabin with two other girls there was a pool and a bar restaurant area. The beach was right outside the door. The first day we swam in the pool and beach. That afternoon and evening we did a tour of the mangrove forest which was amazing. Well worth the money. We learned about the animals and nature that was in the area. We got to climb the mangroves and act like monkeys. Then there was a beach cove that we could swim in and look for shells. When we were about to leave a turtle came to shore to lay her eggs an amazing experience to watch. There was also a turtle snatcher that went by. We offered to my his eggs but i didn't have any yet.

That night was New Years night we got back had dinner and did a white elephant gift exchange in favor of Christmas. The hung out and talked until New Years where we did a Hindu tradition since one of the volunteers in Hindu of what i could grasp is washing your problems way and your wants for the new year something like that. It was very interesting to do. Then we went skinydipping in the ocean star gazing.

The next day we all just lounged around and I read a book and just hung out that night we had a bonfire and roasted somors. We did some new years resolutions mine is to become confident and to become fluent in Spanish. Both of which i think i will be able to do. I am reading books about over coming shyness and I feel like it is really helping.

In site i feel like i am making process in getting more comfortable with the people. My youth group is going well and are beginning to finish their bags. My adult English class is surprisingly fun and I fell like they are learning. There will be a test next time so we will see what they can do. I am now working in the summer school class with the students that are struggling. It's hard and not as fun as the adult class. I still can't say that teaching is my calling but it is still soon. School starts in two weeks the rumors are that it will be Feb 13th but i have not heard the official date yet. I also want to get in tough with the town leader to start the trash collection program.

That's about it just hanging out and passing the time. Talk to you all later. XOXOXO

One month

2011-12-21T08:32:00.001-08:00

Wow it's hard for me to imagine that it has been one month in site already. I still feel at times that I am not doing anything but i know that i am. It is just a very slow process. Lets see alot had happened in these last few weeks and yet very little. Life here in my village moves slower then in the US or my training site. Things happen when they happen and people do things when they want to. A different way to look at life. It is peaceful and frustrating at the same time. You have something scheduled and it falls through on that day and time. Then a week later someone says we are doing to meet tomorrow at 4. So you change a few things in your schedule and life goes on. When this happens you grumble under your breath and stomp your foot in privet. On the flip side to that you are never really late for anything except maybe work. Something starts at 4 and you either leave the house then or begin to get ready then. I enjoy this because there is no pressure to get somewhere on time.

A good example of this happening would be the No Violence event that was to take place a week ago. I was in charge of helping with the pinata and doing the games. I had my part done and when it came time to do the pinata only two people came. The date was rescheduled for the following week when no one showed. The following day was to be the meeting to put the finishing touches on the plans for the event and once again no one comes. The day of the event comes and goes and nothing happens. So i ask around and am informed that it has been moved to Jan. date and time unknown. I sigh and nod at least it is not canceled it will still happen.

I have started my group of youth we are doing arts and crafts today would be the third day. Things are going well there is only 8 people as of now but i have faith that it will grow. They all seem enthusiastic to continue and enjoy bracelet making the most so far. I am now looking for more designs to teach them. I find it hard to explain the instructions at times with my limited Spanish but i find that they eventually understand and can do the work correctly. I can only get better and teach them more things. I am using this as a way to show them that trash can be used as a product. Later on I want to teach them a small business class and encourage entrepreneurship. Hopefully this will give them some ideas on what they could do.

I am also in the process of planning an adult basic English lesson and a baking class. Both of which were requests from the community. It will also give me something more to do. The problem is that both have to be at night because that is when adults will be free. I am now currently looking for something to fill my mornings since my nights are busy.

I thinking i could do the garden and i am but there are many barriers that i am running into. The ground here is very hard almost imposable to break through. I have been soaking it with water to form a mud like mixture then breaking to soil that way. Long and hard work and very impractical. I contacted Peace Corps for an idea and got the response to get a tone of cow poop and form a mound over the garden and use that. Now I have the joy of finding and scooping cow poop. Isn't my life grand here? Once i have all of my poop I am going to recruit little ones to help me with the planting and shifting etc.

On the social end of things. It is hard to break the circle and get people to open up. It is always the same conversation when i try to talk to people. Where are you from, what is your name, what did you study, how long have you been here, do you like Nicaragua and my village etc. I wan to break out of this to get to what they like to do and have a real conversation. There is only one person in town that i really talk to. I mean like a real conversation. It is amazing and releasing to have someone like that. It has taken time to find her now i just have to find others like her. In time I'm sure all of this will work out fine and my site will become home. Now don't get me wrong i love it here and i feel happen here. Just adjustment is difficult.

My family is Jehovah Witness and I am currently going to their services which is an interesting experience. Not my kind of religion but i am learning Spanish this was and I am meeting people so kill two birds with one stone. They don't really celebrate holidays so my Christmas this year will be very different than usual. I am thinking of seeing if i can join in on my counterparts celebrations but i don't want to intrude. This will be a very delicate line that i am walking on.

I have started my Spanish lessons and it is going surprisingly well. I have them almost everyday and we are going over basic sentence structure and pronunciation. My tutor is my mom who is also the Spanish teacher at the high school. I hope that i start to improve faster now. It is tiresome not be able to say what i want to people. I also have to break out of my shell and get out more to talk to more people. Easier said then done.

Ah one last things or so i think. I have made a shaky friendship with one of the kids that lives next door. He invited me to his farm the other day. He is also the one who is going top help me with the poop. He has a bunch of cows and i got to see milking being done. Very fascinating in it's own way. As well as help herd cow to the pasture. If only i got to help with the milking didn't ask didn't want to so anything wrong and ruin things. They had a great system going.

Until next time, love you all and miss you. XOXOXO

1st two weeks in site

2011-12-10T13:23:00.000-08:00

So alot has happened i have been in site for two plus weeks now. It has been a busy two weeks yet at the same time it doesn't feel like it. I feel like I am not getting anything done and very lonely. Yet i have to remind myself that it has only been two weeks. It is hard just starting off and i knew it would be but it is not what I was expecting. I'm not necessarily sad more like just am not happy not sad, not angry not excited just am. Very strange feeling.

So I got to my site the night of Thanksgiving at about 4:00. I unpacked and ate dinner and went to bed. It takes up to 3 1/2-4 hours to get to my site and I was tired. The 1st few days was me greeting my professor and getting to know the village some. I started a community map and mama brought me around to meet some of her friends which helped break the ice.

The next week I had two days of classes where I observed classes and talked with professors. I even co-taught one English class. It went surprisingly well and i really like that teacher. I hope he is back next year. I spent this week talking with people and planning my youth group which is making arts and crafts. It will start on the 19th or December and go for 5 weeks. I still have to hand out the flyers to the youth here. I will do that tomorrow I hope that some of them show up. I went to Leon the region capital and bought some things for my room like a dresser and fan. That Friday I went to a woman's group it was very organized and had about 30 woman in it. They all did topics ranging from youth to environment and politics. There were a few woman per section. Right now they are working on a No Violence day which i am helping out in. I will be planing the carnival games and helping with the pinata. It should all be really fun and it will be my first community event. It is taking place next Saturday.

I have participated in graduation which is a bit different and yet the same here. The students are escorted to the stage by their parent either a mom or dad. They are given an certificate and some of them a ring of excellence or hard work etc. Some give presents to their teachers. It took place in the community rec center. A big area with a stage. Then the teachers (an me) are called up to sit. The first time they did that I was so confused as to why i was going up. I haven't taught classes yet and in my eyes have to position being up there but i went anyways. Afterwards the pass out food the the teachers and there is more pictures taking. Then later on is a dance! Which is loads of fun. I am being taught different dances!

This week I have the cold which is dragging my down and I have not been very productive but I have got some planning done. Next week it's back to work or so i hope this cold is gone by then. I am also helping one of the teachers daughters with her English homework. Rather hard in my eyes it's is about drugs and alcohol with alot of technical words in it. I will do the best I can to explain things with my limited Spanish.

Talking about Spanish my mom is going to tutor me in Spanish! I can tell that i am getting better just being here but i still have along ways to go. I can't wait to be fluent. That is all for now catch you up again later. Love and Miss you all.