The Beginning of the End

Tuesday I marked my last First Day of School in Nicaragua. Yes folks, my time here is coming to a close. With my exit date of November 18th, 2011, I'm embarking on the first of many “lasts” here. It's at the same time bittersweet and encouraging- even the irksome things turn a bit nostaligic when you realize they're fleeting.

That being said, I relished the piñata, reggaeton music and overall disinterest that is the start of classes here. Not only do a vast majority of students not show up the first day, they technically don't even have to register til mid-March to be counted on the roster. So you can imagine the hubbub of the first day of school- buying flashy notebooks, backpacks, shining up shoes, etc- but framed with an alarming lack of participation. I realize the same goes for the States sometimes; there are always some students more interested in the social event of going to class instead of actually studying. But I'd venture to say in Nicaragua it's taken to new heights with the mini fiesta on the first day of school and sparse attendance.

I finally have a schedule, and I'm content with it. Working Monday and Wednesday afternoons with Profe Walter at Anne Frank, a rural high school and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings with Profe Jenny here in Diriá. Heeding the advice of the coordinator of La Casa de la Mujer (a Nicaraguan government-sponsored women's refuge/technical school with branches all over the country) I've decided to consolidate my classes. There I'll be teaching two classes of Beginning English, one in the morning and one in the aftenoon to accomodate those who work/study/tend the household, and a yoga class just for kicks. I'm keeping my English 2 course in a nearby preschool where we meet Tuesday and Wednesday evenings- the first being a theory class, the second conversation only.

It only sounds like a lot. Really, it's a feasible schedule. And when I'm in site, I like to be kept busy. It's not like my town is teeming with recreational opportunities...although I have been making many jaunts to the laguna lately, and I realize how much I love it. In a country that's etched with natural beauty, yet strewn with trash, the laguna is an exquisite piece of nature that in my mind is underappreciated. I for one will never find a swimming hole of equal splendor in the States, so I'm taking advantage while I can.

Likewise, I am making a Nicaraguan “bucket list” so to speak. At the top is learning to ride a horse. Let me preface this by saying that I have a bit of practice under by belt, but only if you count sharing the saddle with somebody else holding the reins. I might or might not have made an epic appearance in the hípica in Diriomo a few weeks back. An hípica is essentially a parade of horses where Nicas convene from all over to flaunt their horses, make them dance, trot etc. They go hand-in-hand with the fiestas patronales of every town, so to the horseowners it's like a year-long sport. It's a spectacle fueled by immense crowds, the occasional stray horse careening into said crowds and liquor all around. Words really don't do it justice, you'd have to see it with your own eyes to fully comprehend the thrilling chaos that it is. So anyways, one of my goals is to ride a horse in the hípica in my town in June. Two students of mine have offered to teach me, but so far no lessons. Vamos a ver.

Also included on the bucket list- climing the Maderas and La Concepción volcanoes, going to Corn Islands, quitándme la pena and actually learning how to dance, going to a quinceañera, making a homemade soup (preferrably sopa de albóndiga) and finishing the upcoming half marathon in Jinotega, among other things.

Today I invited my host family from Dolores over for lunch. They've only heard tell of my casita bonita but haven't seen it before, so I'm excited to play hostess for the afternoon. On Tuesday I'm heading to a Project Development and Management workshop with the Peace Corps. It's basically a three-day intensive grant-writing workshop. The idea is volunteers arrive with an appointed project-counterpart...could be a community leader, mayor, principal or in my case teacher counterpart- Jenny. We're trying to build a virtual classroom at our high school with ten new computers, a printer, internet, headphones/speakers for Skype, a digital projector and an air conditioning unit to keep it all from melting in the ungodly heat here. I'm excited to be onboard for a big project, though I certainly can't say I say this coming. If our training serves us well and we get the grant, it would be 25% contribution from the community (aka our Daddy Warbucks mayor here), 25% from Peace Corps and 50% from Plan Nicaraguan, an NGO.

Also it doesn't hurt that his 3-day training happens to be at the same beach resort PC sent us to before. Thanks again, US taxpayers ☺ I'm reaping the benefits down here.

Will keep you posted on mis asuntos, both work-wise and otherwise.

It's getting HOT here. Enjoy your dewy spring stateside while I'm roasting here.

Liz