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Hola from NICARAGUA (finally!)
So I only have a few minutes but I thought I would update you on my adventure. I arrived safe and sound!! Our flight from DC to Miami was delayed. So we were stranded in Miami forever and I had only had about 1 hour of sleep, not even and was feeling pretty drowsy. About 3 hours after our original take-off time, we got on the plane. (We being myself and 38 other environmental and english teaching volunteers from an assortment of other states). The flight was uneventful with a bumpy landing and a few gulps to go with it. We were greeted by cheering Peace Corps staff and after 10 minutes of standing at the baggage claim area, found-out that our luggage was in Haiti! So apparently it had traveled more than we had! However, they assured us that it would be arriving the next night and would be delivered by the airport to our resort. Bad omen? Let’s hope not. Then, we all pilled into a van,chugged down the provided chilled bottled water and traveled to our training center. We were fed a lunch, a scrumptious mixture of rice, veggies, French fries and a small salad. Nothing out of the ordinary and besides the ride to the resort which displayed a desolate setting, nothing has seemed like we were in a 3rd world country. After that we were taken to a room, introduced to our training crew, filled-out a few forms, and then informed that tomorrow ,(which is today) we would be having medical interviews and our Spanish interviews/conversations, YIKES. After that , we talked with a few current volunteers who showed us their pictures of their current experience in Nicaragua. When my eyelids could hardly be held open, I knew I needed to go pass-out, which I did and slept like a baby!
Day 2 started early with a pancake breakfast at 7am followed by an ice breaker on the basketball court. The game, which I hear is fairly popular here, is where we sit in chairs in a circle and someone in the middle says something about themselves. Everyone that it applies to, then has to run to a new seat and the person who couldn't find a seat has begin the process again. It was fun and SWEATY!! Then we went in the meeting room and met the new DIRECTOR OF PEACE CORPS, Director Williams. He explained how he is hoping to receive more funding from the government to expand Peace Corps since “we have the wind in our sails from Obama.” Pretty cool to have a president gung-hoe for the cause that I am currently enduring! Following that we had our medical interviews, rabies shots, and an informal Spanish interview to determine our spanish levels and thus those who are considered at your level will train with you during training. Following that we had more lectures on health and safety, money, project overviews, and sang happy birthday to a fellow trainee. Now we are sitting around about to eat dinner and luckily my luggage just arrived and I hope to finally shower my stinkiness away!!! Tonight we are also having a movie night of a special on Nicaraguan cuisine that featured some Peace Corps members and was shown on the Food Network Channel. Yeah! Besos…