My new year’s resolutions:
1)Stop lying. All of the packages that get sent to me are addressed to Pastora Brie Johnson, which translates to either Pastor or goat herder…I am neither. Although, having the title goat herder/pastor has helped navigate packages quickly through many treacherous sticky fingers it has also forced me to assume two alternate identities. I am now fully capable of participating in a conversation solely about goats; as well, I have acquired the skills to bless tiny infants. Quite frankly, I feel like I have become caught up in a web of lies. Although, I have noticed some packages have not made it through, and I have reached the conclusion that postal workers must enjoy stealing things from goat herders.
2)Smile less. A smile indicates that you are a happy and pleasant person that would be willing to participate in a conversation. While this may not be looked upon as a bad quality (the quality of smiling too much) to those of us that do tend to smile too much (such as myself) it unknowingly draws in the crazies. In the last few years, I have found myself sucked into hour long conversations with: a toothless crazy, a divorced drunk crazy ex-pat looking for roast beef, a board-short Hawaiian t-shirt wearing crazy wanting to know how to get a ticket to China, an English slurring slang throwing crazy that used to live in New York…and this list goes on and on.
3)Run less. I forgot that a workout routine should not involve running for your life from a crazy dog (although that is a great way to build up a good sweat). During my brief return home to the USA I entered into a 24 hour fitness center, which I can honestly say took my breath away. Inside there were hundreds of machines at my disposal and 0 dogs, drunks or other unruly obstacles that normally make up my typical workout routine.
4)Stop being so patient. Whoever said that patience is a virtue was mistaken because you know what? It’s not. Stepping back into the US made me see what not having patience can bring you: a free non-fat no whip extra hot latte, an upgrade into first class on the airplane, you also get to drive faster than everyone else on the roadway and arrive at your destination a full 30 seconds before everyone else arrives.
5)Update my blog.
My students and I in the city of León after their Regional Business Competition
Graduation celebration for my students (I am pictured with a fellow teacher/friend Eva)!
Finally, a 20 second update (with pictures to follow) of the past year. I went to Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala and saw rainforests, rivers of crocodiles, monkeys, exotic birds, Mayan ruins, volcanoes, oceans, and a bull fight. Although, I technically should have finished my Peace Corps service in July 2009, I decided to stay a bit longer in order to witness some of the following events:
I went to a bunch of 15th birthday parties, 1 wedding and baby shower after baby shower. I had 4 of my student groups win their local business competition. I had 3 student groups participate in a regional business competition and I had 1 group continue on to the national level where they took 1st place and were featured in the newspaper. I finished the school year in November with all of my counterpart teachers and watched my kids graduate. I saw the business course, which I have taught through my entire Peace Corps service, get indoctrinated into the national Nicaraguan school curriculum…talk about sustainability! And most importantly, I have been able to share all of the highs (and some lows) with my great Nica friends, counterparts and neighbors!
My doggie, Alteza, all grown-up
Standing at the base of a temple in Tikal
In 2010, I will be officially finishing my service, moving back to Colorado for a few months and then plan on seeing the rest of the world!
