Creative Education begins the Countdown...

My most recent accomplishment and most likely my last, was a billiards tournament that a local youth leader, my sitemate and I put on to promote HIV/AIDS education. At first the concept of just entering the billiards hall was intimating. After all, that is a men’s only area in Nicaragua, (generally). However, that also means it is the best place to educate men on healthy sexual lifestyles since in their machista culture they make the decisions. This is why peace corps promotes this type of event. So we pitched the idea in our town and received immediate support from the mayor’s office and a local nonprofit organization. So with their support, last Friday we successfully threw the first Educational Billiards Tournament. And it was a hit. We (meaning a visiting health volunteer, a representative from the health center, and a youth group representative) gave five minute lessons between all rounds. Then in the last round, the two winning players had to answer questions every time that a ball went into the pocket in order to win. We had 16 players and about 50 other men that were just watching. HIV/AIDS education is important in Chinandega, since it is has the second highest rate of HIV/AIDS cases when it comes to departments (similar to states) in Nicaragua. In Tonala itself, there are only a few cases, but the point remains the same -prevention. We have already been approached to have events in the future so the youth group leader is already planning one for November in a nearby town. I think this event may have been the most sustainable thing I have done during my service.

So the days are ticking away and I finally can start to think about all the wonderful things that await me in the United States. Warm water. Cereal. A comfy bed. Clean elbows. Internet. Coffee shops. Non-leaky roofs. ….and of course friends and family that I miss a ton. However, I am going to miss it here. A lot. I have made some great relationships and had amazing experiences. I feel that I have really grown as a person. And the best part of it all. Michael Newton finally gets to have a dog in his house. His lifelong dream. 