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| The shorter version--I wrote this in my travel journal about halfway
through my trip. I started a more complete version, but I haven't
finished it yet. I'll post that version when I finish.
I'm having an amazing time here in Central America (mostly Nicaragua),
so you don't need to worry about that. My stomach seems to have
adjusted, I'm relaxed, and I've fallen into the pattern of life here
pretty quickly.
I spent a week in Costa Rica visiting family and friends in San Jose
before coming to Nicaragua. My first full day there I hung with
some friends from my church there for most lof the day and realized
that I like Ticos (Costa Ricans) much more than I remembered. I
think I'm accustomed to the gender issues now, probably because I know
how to handle it without letting situations get uncomfortable
now. Anyway, with the gender issue out of the way, I really like
Costa Ricans. I appreciate that my church there can debate about
abortion and bioethics and domestic violence without things getting
nasty, and that they tend to be open-minded and think before they speak.
My next few days there I finished up some homework and went out with a
half-Tico/half-Russian friend there. Wandered the town, got some
last minute (before Nicaragua) shopping done, and hung around talking
for a long time. It was a very relaxing week and a nice time
before heading out for this trip.
Now I'm in Nicaragua working in a microfinance/business development
nonprofit. I live with a family here and spend most of my time
when I'm outside of work either with my family or with other people in
my program. I was placed in the family and with my organization
by an NGO called Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) based in
San Francisco, CA. I couldn't be happier with the program. It has
attracted a really incredible group of girls (well 12 girls and 1 guy
who I saw once) who are motivated, speak good Spanish, and love
Nicaraguans. We're all working in different NGOs, but those of us
in the same towns see each other almost every night. I've been
going out to salsa lessons pretty frequently (every night this week),
and we all go out on weekends to dance, go to the beach, or chill in
the woods or the mountains.
I'm very pleased that in this internship I'm actually developing useful
skills and working on projects I love. I'm working more in the business
development part of my organization since the microfinance part is
basically a bank, and I'm not into inputting data or collecting
money. So I'm working in course development and publicity
mostly. I'm team designing and teaching a business training
course for young adults and working one-on-one with them to develop
business plans that they will be able to present to the microfinance
part of my organization (or other financer) to ask for loans. I'm
also making a brochure and a webpage for my organization so they have
something to present to people who ask what they do.
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Anyway, it was a lot of work but an amazing time overall.
My family came down near the end of my trip and travelled Nicaragua
studying some Spanish and getting to see the country. When I
finished, we met up in Managua (the capital) and then spent a week on
the beach in Costa Rica.
We're all back now and getting ready for school. I need to get to
bed to get up for RA training tomorrow. Take care all.
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| Okay, sorry I haven't written more in the past, but I just had to say this.... I have never seen this much water flowing down a street before. There is a foot deep, 15 foot wide river flowing dow the street outside of this internet cafe in Masaya, Nicaragua. It's amazing. Not necessarily in a good way. But its incredible from the point of view of a relatively wealthy and protected foreigner whose material possessions are mostly in another country right now. There are still a few 4 wheel drive vehicles passing through, and a bike. I think thats just because it stopped raining and the water level is gradually decreasing. Anyway, I'll be in this internet cafe for a little while longer, but I need to get on to my work. For the short version of my story for now, I'm having an amazing time, I love Nicaragua, and I'm keeping very busy with my work.
Amor. | | |
| Hola todos...
I got to Costa Rica just fine on Saturday, and I´m staying with my family here. This place is prettier and more friendly than I remembered it to be. Maybe because I already know people and I know what to expect and I have other places to compare it to. And maybe because I already speak the language. But whatever the case, I´m having a great time here. I´ve gotten to relax a bit, and I´ve almost finished my papers that should have been turned in a long time ago. Well, they´ll be done soon enough and it´ll all be okay.
I´m going to Nicaragua on Thursday. I have to go get my bus tickets today. One of the girls from my program will be leaving from the same place as me, so we´ll be able to go together, which will make the 10 hr ride and the hunting for a room in Managua much more pleasant.
Since I´ve been here, I´ve slept a lot, spent some time talking with the family, and I went out to church where I used to and then went out to eat with some friends from there. They´re a great bunch of people. I´m going out with a friend for lunch today and I´m gonna try to meet up with the girl I´ll be traveling with sometime soon. Other than that, I´m relaxing, reading up on my organization in Nicaragua, and taking a quick summer break before getting going again. If I had to choose somewhere for relaxing, this certainly isn´t a bad choice.
Okay, take care of yourselves wherever you are, and I´ll keep you posted on my whereabouts.
Ciao amici. | | |
| Hi there folks!
I still owe you some stories from the DR, I know, but I finally got my acceptance to my internship in Nicaragua for the summer, so I just wanted to let you know that I'm going so you can get excited about it too!
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| Hey everybody!
Back in Santo Domingo after a little more than a week out in the middle of nowhere with solar energy only. I was really missing modern civilization at first, because the place we were staying was really rainy and muddy and cold and I didn't bring enough clothing. But after lots of trudging through mud, we got most of the work done there and then headed back to Santo Domingo to shower, wash clothes, and sleep for the night, and then headed out bright and early in the morning for a significantly warmer and dryer town in the southern part of the country. The lack of rain was really nice, and there was a river nearby for bathing, with made the experience quite a bit more comfortable. They kept themselves busy there, at least at night, with big dance parties every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night. Anyway, have to go call home before the place closes.
See you soon, having an amazing time here.... Much love to all you folks back there! | | |
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