I’m sorry it’s been so long. Let’s start with the fiestas patrias, which basically translates to “Patriotic Parties” and they’re independence day celebrations. I don’t remember which is which, but one of the days, September 14th or 15th, is celebrating the independence of Central America, and the other the independence of Nicaragua. This year the days fell on a Wednesday and Thursday, so naturally we lost the entire week of class. Monday and Tuesday were spent on band and marching practice, because every single student is required to march, both days, and Friday and the following Monday the teachers had off because they were technically working on the actual days helping the students march around. So basically I had a week off. I decided to go to Leon for three of those days, which is a big historical city a little north of where I am. Like a 3 hour bus ride in total. It was just a group of 3 girls, and we stayed in a hostel and partied too hard. Saw some sights too. One day I visited Julie and Matt who were taking a break from their isolated site and staying in a fancy hotel in Granada. Since I had gone on one of the actual holiday days, the 15th, I asked the bus driver when the last bus left from Granada to Jinotepe (back to my site), because schedules are different on holidays, and he said 5 o’clock, and I said “Are you sure?” and he said “Seguro” and so I came back at 5 and there were no buses so Julie paid for my taxi home, calling it a belated birthday present. I spent a night or two in Niquinohomo too, of course. The week after that, because of a long list of reasons, I made the decision to move! Also, that same week, the majority of the new TEFL trainees (because there is a new group every year) came and observed 4 of my classes. Then the week after that, I gave them a lecture on “Your First Class” and I moved! The new place is pretty expensive, but I think I can manage if the landlord doesn’t decide to make me pay for water and electricity separately. I don’t have internet in my house, and I don’t plan to get it. Anyways, it’s an actual house, not just a room. I don’t know when I’m going to post pictures of it because my camera battery is messed up, but I will eventually. I didn’t have to pay anyone to move it, Luis and his friend carried all of my stuff the 5 blocks to the new place. I moved in October 2nd, so it’s been about 2 weeks. This past week, a storm, I think its name is Irwin, decided to come in, and there has been no class for 5 days. Basically I just sat in my house watching movies all day. It was nice the first few days but now I’m done with it. Dolores literally has seen no sun in 7 days. Work, before this week of no work, has been going well. This Friday I arranged for another volunteer that works in a university in Leon to come give a lecture on pronunciation to the English teachers in Dolores and Diriamba, hopefully the rain lets up so everyone can come…I’m kind of excited for this school year to be over, so that I can start the next one fresh with everything I’ve learned and can implement my new plans. Like an English teachers conversation group. And a better organized youth group. And a real BEGINNER’S English class. And spending a little less time with Tania and a little more time with Gilberto and Jose Antonio, who definitely need it more. And having free weekends so I can FORCE my teachers to make materials with me. I don’t know if I mentioned it here, but I’m going to be working on the Peace Corps youth leadership camp, which should be some time late January or early February, which should be really challenging and fun. In addition to all of this I have COMING HOME to look forward to! In less than two months!!! I should probably start making plans…
Luis and his friend have been spending a lot of time here in Dolores, because Luis is super Catholic and somehow became BFFs with the pastors here, and there is a big Catholic…spiritual center, I guess you could call it, here in Dolores called Betania, and he brought his friend to some event there and then he got all religious and recently got baptized. It reminds me of high school and middle school when everyone was discovering God and all my friends were taking me to church with them and people were getting serious and baptized.
I hope to plant some basil and oregano and cilantro and spinach in my front yard at some point. And maybe get a pet bunny. I was seriously considering a puppy but that might be too much responsibility than I want. And I’ve never been much of a cat person.
I suppose this is all for now, here are some pictures:
Luis and his friend have been spending a lot of time here in Dolores, because Luis is super Catholic and somehow became BFFs with the pastors here, and there is a big Catholic…spiritual center, I guess you could call it, here in Dolores called Betania, and he brought his friend to some event there and then he got all religious and recently got baptized. It reminds me of high school and middle school when everyone was discovering God and all my friends were taking me to church with them and people were getting serious and baptized.
I hope to plant some basil and oregano and cilantro and spinach in my front yard at some point. And maybe get a pet bunny. I was seriously considering a puppy but that might be too much responsibility than I want. And I’ve never been much of a cat person.
I suppose this is all for now, here are some pictures:
Ready to start marching after singing the national anthem.
Big band drums.
Little girlies dancing in skimpy outfits.
Marching.
Luis serenading Alison (an environment volunteer who was in Dolores visiting her training host family; she got to Nicaragua the same time I did) during a little dinner party I had at my old house.
