Wednesday, May 23, 2007

I gave my first Charla (lecture)

Yesturday, I taught 4 classes in the local school. The classes each had around 40 to 50 students who were very interested in the gringos(myself and my fellow trainees) coming to teach. Each class was only 45 minutes...and I had to speak all in Spanish! The subject of our class was "thinking about the future." The kids were funny, creative and made us all feel very welcome. Overall, it was a great experience and I am getting really excited to jump into some more teaching. After training is finished (in 2 months) I will be sent to my sight where it will be my job to teach several classes. Everyday, I learn more about our goals and tools to use to help me reach those goals. That is all for now!

Monday, May 14, 2007

My town

My town is rather small when you compare it to Managua, but it still has a lot to offer. The town has a central park and Catholic church. There are pulparias (small stores similar to 7/11) everywhere you look. The people of the town all know where we live but I am not sure they all understand why we are here in their pueblo. There are dogs running free everywhere you look.

My family consists of my mother, my 3 brothers (ages 20,22, and 24) and many neighborhood kids that come around looking to play games. I am still considered a PCT (Peace Corp Trainee) and I will be an offical volunteer after I complete my 3 month training class. My day involves getting up around 6am to a rooster call. Next, I study and eat breakfast. My family owns a small business in town and therefore they get ready for their day around 7am. My Spanish class starts at 8am we break for lunch and continue with class again around 1pm. Finally, class finishes around 4pm! The day is still far from over because we meet with a local youth group to work on community projects. I eat dinner around 8pm and study well into the night, until I can no longer open my eyes! Then it is goodnight and I get to listen to the sounds of pigs, roosters, fireworks, loud music etc. that continue on throughout the night (and never stop). Nicaragua is a loud country but that is part of what makes it so great!! The people, the sounds and the smells are all Nicaraguan.

The food here is interesting as well. I eat beans and rice for breakfast along with a banana. For lunch it is fried chicken with rice and beans. For dinner I eat a meal of tortilla, rice, beans, and various veggies. It is good food and the people here like to make sure you eat it right away (even if it is still very hot).

I am really enjoying my time thus far. Next week we will teach our first class...but it will be pretty basic because our Spanish still needs work. I am looking forward to visiting the Laguna later this week and hopefully next week I will take a trip to the beautiful city of Granada. Pictures to come soon of the active volcano that is across the street from my pueblo...I still have to buy a flashdrive to transfer the pictures from my camera to the computer.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Host Family

My 3 month training has begun. I have moved in with a host family, which consists of un madre and tres hermanos (3 brothers). Everyone, is very nice and welcoming. My new pueblo is close to the town of Masaya and it is quite a busy place. There are American influences everywhere you go but it still remains very Nica! I am still getting used to the accent. I have an internet cafe 1 block from my house and 2 other volunteers within walking distance. So far so good!! I did have to take a bucket shower, which was an interesting experience...but no problema!

Friday, May 4, 2007

I have been given a host family

















It was a very early morning for me on Wednesday…I awoke at 2am to get ready to board a bus at 2:30am that would take us to the airport. We boarded to plane around 7am to be flown to Nicaragua. I arrived in Managua, Nicaragua around 11am and I am back in the Colorado time zone (because in Nicaragua they do not have day light savings time). Therefore, it gets dark earlier and lighter earlier. Today I have to get around five vaccinations! I have also begun my malaria medication and will remain on the medication until the end of my service (getting malaria would not be a very good experience).

The hotel we are staying at is very picturesque and therefore I have decided to post some pictures! I hope to be posting a lot more pictures in the future. I will be placed with my Nica family on Saturday and I am looking forward to finally unpacking all of my bags and settling into a more permanent location. I will also begin my Spanish lessons soon and feel very hopeful that I will not only be able to communicate with the local people soon but may be able to venture out without having to bring a translator along with me everywhere I go!!

I have been placed at an intermediate level for my Spanish language group (which really surprised me)! Tomorrow morning (Saturday) I will be leaving for a pueblo near Masaya to stay with my new family. Then we will have Spanish lessons for the rest of the day and hopefully I will be able to unpack my big bags.


Thursday, May 3, 2007

I have arrived

I am in Managua, Nicaragua now and I am awaiting final placement with a Spanish family, which will happen on Saturday. So far, the food is great and my surroundings are beautiful. I am make this a quick entry because tomorrow I plan to post pictures and more fun information about my journey thus far!