Pictures!!!

This is my bedroom... the wall looks gross becasue it is wet still from all the rain..
This is my bunny! his name is antonio...
These are some friends of mine dressed up for nica halloween.. i am all the way on the right.
That is my and my friend Carlos on halloween..., like my mask??

This is a pretty swimming spot near my house. I went swimming here with my students recently.
This is Franklin, the 5 yr old boy how lives next door to me. I have basically adopted him, he is obsessed with me.... his family tells me he is in love with me... he is cute, but a handful, and dont even want to start listing all the things he has broken...
This my living room! its very big and roomy. That white plastic chair is the ONLY one i have.
This is my kitchen... I cook alot and am learning alot about cooking. its fun....
This is a Nica Halloween called aguicotes.... I am on the left...

These are some of my students...

This is my house from the outside...

e-v-a-c-u-a-t-e-d!!!

Hey everyone!!!

Sorry for not writing for so long! I acutally had another blog written, but that has been completely scratched for more recent, more interesting events. I am in Loen, the department capital for the next couple days because I have been evacuated from my site. It has been raining non stop all week, and PC decided it was best to leave out sites. Most volunteers would have been fine, but I am glad I left when I did because as of right now I would be trapped in my site. The rivers have overflowed, there is flooding and landsides in the neigboring nearby communities. Its really horrible, and came out of nowhere. These people probably have no access to food and water, most are stuggling to get out. When the hurricane hit, everyone knew and was a little prepared, but this kinda came out of nowhere. What I thought was an afternoon shower turned into 5 day event and going. I am completely safe, no worries, I am in a nice hotel in the city and enjoying many commodities. Its a little hard to accept the minute something goes wrong, I just hope on a bus to safety while everyone from my community just has to deal with it. Meanwhile, I have great food and hot showers. Don´t get me wrong, I really appreciate the safety percaucions PC takes, just wish it wasnt this way.

Besides this sudden turn of events, everything is great. I am just working, finishing up the school year, enjoying life here, and looking forward to my Xmas visit to the states! see you all then! Besos!!


Irene

ants in my pants!

So, today i was picking out some clothes, and i saw a couple of little critters crawling on my jeans, and i thought to myself, "are those ants in my pants?" and then I thought, " did i really just use that phrase in real life?" yes, yes i did....


well, first of all, i am sorry for not writing... i dont know what happened, the weeks are just flying by. second of all, thansk to everyone who emailed me about the hurricane... I was just fine, just a night of heavy rain.. but it rains here everyday anyways so it wasnt a big deal.


soooo, I have been at my site for about 2 months, and everything is going great. The teaching is moving along s-l-o-w-l-y but its going. Class get cancelled for one thing or another and somtimes I feel like I am not advancing, but i am. This week there was alot of drama at one of my schools becuase they fired the principal, i think for political reason, and the kids went on strike, and have been marching around town in protest, they even threw tomatoes and eggs at the school superintendent (i think thats what i would call her position). anyways, school has been cancelled all week, the kids refuse to go to class, and I have had alot of free mornings.

But that has been ok, becuase I moved into my own place last sunday, so I have been busy trying to organize my house and get used to living on my own. So far so good. I have a little place with a big living room, a bedroom, a little kitchen area, and outside I have a bathroom and a big patio with a mango tree ( I am very excited about that) and a lemon tree. Its nice to have a little more freedom. I have great neighbors who are very friendly. I feeling pretty good about my house right now.

hmmm, what else? basically I spend my days teaching, hanging out at the schools, or chatting with random people, which is fun and I am meeting different people in the community. I sometimes make trips to the dept. capital to get some stuff I need or eat some familiar food ( i had hummus anf pita bread yesterday, it was very exciting). Also, I get to read alot, which is great and I feel like I can finally read all these books that at home I never do and always put off.

Well, thats all for now. everything is going well and I hope for you too. Summer is ending in the US... what is everyone up to? I can´t believe its already sept. Maybe you will see me during the holiday.. unless of course you come to visit me here!!

fotos! fotos!

This is the river that formed on my street when it rained... I refer to it as the rio de chocolate.

me and my training group

Me and my host sister. This is my host brother and hos mom from training. This was the day of my swearing in ceremony when i offically became a volunteer. They were a great family!

Thisis 32 lbs of frijoles (beans) that my host family cooked and sold every day in my training town! YUMM! haha

This is the Volcano Masaya and the MAsaya lake... very beautiful, but you cant swim there because is contaminated.

This is my entire business group on our first day on Nicaragua.. I cant believe 3 months have passed!

I'm a volunteer!!

My Site Visit

Hello everyone!!

So I am in my final week of training, only a few more days with my host family, then a few in Managua, then I am off to my site for a two year adventure! I can´t believe training is almost over! Don´t get me wrong, it was LONG and very exhausting and a ton of information, but I also got used to my training site, my family, and new friends, so its hard to leave. But I am excited to actually start my service and I can always come and visit.

So, I spent three days at my site this week to check things out, see the schools I will be working at, and get a feel of the place. First off, my site seems close, but no, oh no, the road there is underconstruction and its takes a while to get there. Lets just say that on my way, there was only one lane, and both sides of traffic tried to go on it. When the traffic met head to head, my bus driver gets out and has a juice. ha. meanwhile, all the ladies on my bus start freaking out, and one decides she is going to start walking to the capital city (we picked her up a little later). Anyways, I got a feeling how travelling to my site may or may not turn out to be.

anyways, my site is really nice. Its a smaller town, everyone knows everyone, and you can walk everywhere. Only the center of town is paved, and the electricity and water go out for alot of the day. Ya that is no fun, but you deal, and it really isnt that bad if you plan in advance. The town has alot going on, with different organizations, NGOs, sports leagues etc. I havent even looked at side projects yet because I am going to be teaching at 3 schools and that is already overwhelming by itself. Anyways, it seems like a great site and it definately has that element of small town Nicaragua that I havent really felt in the city during training. Oh, and since its small, its really safe (I know alot of you are worried about my safety, even though I say Nicaragua is a reletively safe country for the region, i know you worry..)

anyways, my time is almost up, so I have to wrap things up. Hope all is well and I would love to hear from everyone! Thanks for the personal emails, I dont get to use the internet that much so its hard to write everyone back, but I will soon. besos para todos!!

omg! I am posting some pictures!

Here i am in Chontales. Its cowboy country in Nicaragua. I went for a weekend, it was really beautiful! very green.









Here I am with some Nica friends on a weekend here in my training town. The weekends are pretty fun here, sometimes we go dancing, or we just hang out at a local bar











This is Contales again, as you can see, its really beautiful!













These are two of my PC friends, Kari and Georgina, they live in the same training town as me. I am gonna miss them once we seperate next week!









Here is my PC friend again, Georgina, she is from cali too! And that is my host brother Olinto, he is fun!

LEON!

sooo, sorry for the long delay in writing something on this blog. The weeks have been flying by! I just have a few more weeks of training and then I am off to my new site! I found out yesterday! It is a medium size town in the department of Leon. Its "far" in Nica standards, but in my opinion, nothing is THAT far. Basically, to get from my site to Managua is like going to San Diego from home, and there is the departmental city of Leon even closer. And, I will hardly be going to Managua anyways.

anyways, its seems like a cool site, and I am really happy with it. The Nicas do not have the most positive reaction to it, they say things like "ehhhh" or "oh no, hace calor! (its hot!) " or "uuummm, ok". I take their reaction lightly because honestly, if its not my training town, it will never be up to par, and thats ok, because my training town really is pretty great. It will be sad to go. Anyways, back to my site. Its the first time a business volunteer will go there, so that is exciting to start somewhere new, however, there have been lots of volunteers from another sector (environmental education) so PC isnt a foreign concept. I will be teaching in 3 schools on the business course, teaching english, work with various microfinance groups, and maybe working with a honey coopertive. I am excited. Sounds like alot, but I am sure it will all fall into place.

Today I am meeting my counterparts, the teachers and school directors I will be working with, and getting to know more about my site! I am a little nervous, but ready to start working at my site. Next week I will go to my site for a few days before I offically move there at the end of July.


Hmmm what else?? Well, everything is great... just used to my regular training lifestyle here. I went to Chontales this past weekend and it was really beautiful. Its cowboy country here in Nicaragua. It reminded me a little of where my mom is in Spain, it was green and mountainous, and there was lots of cows and cow excrement. haha. hey, its true! anyways, It was a nice little weekend trip.

Soooo, ummm, what exactly do you do in the PC?

Hola Hola! Como estan??

So, hey! How is life for everyone?? I am doing pretty good, I can’t believe I left over a month ago! Time felt like it was going very slowly the first week, but now its flying by… I think that is how I will feel by the end of my service... that time really flew by. Anyways, I thought I would talk a little about my actually work here, just so you guys have a better idea of what I am actually doing here, not just sitting in hammocks drinking frescos (yummy juices). Anyways, this might get a little long and boring, but hey, if your interested, keep reading!


So, we have technical training 2-3 times a week. At these, all 18 people from my group get together (we live in 5 different pueblos, my group is the only one in a city). Here we learn all kinds of stuff, from common illnesses to all the peace corps rules to classroom management and how to teach a lesson, and we do tons of “dinamicas” with are like dynamic little activities to get us motivated and to learn (we should do these in the classroom). The trainings are long, but I have learned so much. Also, its nice to see the other trainees and chat about our experiences in our home stays and towns.

Besides training, another girl and I have formed a youth group at a techincal school in Masaya. We meet up with the kids once or twice a week and we chat, play games, give them “life skills” charlas (talks), and we are also doing a project. My group is making a magazine for youth. I think it will work out well, but we are still in the beginning stages of the project. The kids are about 16-20 years old, and a little shy, but they are opening up a little. We plan a lot for the youth group, trying to make it fun and educational and productive, all in Spanish, but its all going well.

Also, I started giving charlas at the nearby high school. That was definitely an experience. The school conditions here are nothing like the States. There are no books, all the desks are falling apart, there is about 50-70 kids in the classroom, and even when I scream, you still can’t hear me over all the noise of the entire building. Needless to say, it is a challenge, but its also kinda fun, So far I have only given one class on goal planning. It went really well. The kids were behaved, I think because I was the new gringa in the class, so that will probably wear off, but I think I can handle it. I have to give 5 more classes before I become a volunteer, so I will have some practice before I get to my site, where I will teach a lot.

So when I am not in training and planning charlas, we have a couple other projects on business analysis and consulting. We write surveys and interview nearby businesses and we are also working with our host families on learning about their businesses and how they run. We have to observe, analyze, come up with suggestions. Its cool, something I have never done before, and its all in the sustainable development context. Its really interesting to learn about the whole business culture here and hopefully by the end of training I will have a better idea of what is going on.

So ya, that’s training! Its good, and I feel like I have learned more in the last 4 weeks then the past year times 100. Its nice to use my brain again.

Other then that, everything is good. My host family is great, my group of volunteers in Masaya is also awesome and its nice to have them around. Its officially rainy season (ya Patagonia jacket!) so it has cooled down a little (thank goodness).

This weekend I am going to visit another volunteer for a few days to see how life actually is at a site. I am going to Esteli, Esteli. It is totally different that training (now its all super structured). I am excited to go somewhere else in Nicaragua and get a new perspective. So I will have news on that soon.

And funny story- When it rains, my street becomes a chocolate river (no sewer system). Seriously, there is so much water rushing down the street, its crazy! And nice to see from inside. Unfortunately, the other day I got caught in a huge rainstorm, and I had to walk through the chocolate river! EWWWW! It was so gross. All these families were watching me from their doors. It was funny, after I scrubbed my feet of course.

Anyways! Happy summer! Its officially summer, right?

Irene

a plastic bag

One of the more random things that I have seen since I got here is the many uses of a little plastic baggy. You put juice it and sell it, ice cream too, soda, etc etc. You chew off a corner and drink. its interesting. Well the other day we were sitting outside the pulpuria and my sister was explaining the different kind of chocolate milk and their names, ya know, one of these nicaragua specific spanish lessons. I turn my head, and suddenly I am handed a half liter plastic baggy of chocolate milk. I will add that I NEVER drink milk. So of course I take it and say thanks, and chew off a corner and start drinking the plasitc bag of milk. jajaja So somehow I managed to consume this massive amount of milk. haha it was pretty funny, although I managed to keep a straight face and just kept thinking about how I wish people could see me at home doing these random things.

anyways, life is good, I am exhausted most of the time, but its the weekend, so I can rest a little more. The birthday weekend was alot of fun, very random, and full of stories including dancing, beverages, horse parades, fights, and other events that arent 100% blog appropriate.. hehe... just kidding! I will tell you all someday soon... and yes, it is still really hot, and I am uncomfortable, but it has started raining a little a night so think with hopefully (fingers crossed) cool down. there is nothing like a massive thunderstorm under a tin roof to put you to sleep. Training is intense, but I am learning ALOT. The info seems broad and sometimes obvious and repetitive, but its all really important and good to finally learn all the different aspects of working in development, or at least put terms to all the concepts I have thought about. Anyways, hope you all have a wonderful weekend! next weeks topics: my youth groups, giving my first charla (lesson to students), and other randomness

first week in Masaya

Hola amigos!

So its been just about a week since I arrived in Nicaragua, but it feels more like a month. I am pretty exhausted, but everything is going great for the most part. There are so many things I want to talk about; I don’t know where to begin….

My host family is awesome. I really think I lucked out big time! I think I am on a roll with this host family business, even with all the drawbacks of not having personal space and all that stuff, sometimes, families are just great. Anyways, I have a mom and dad that own a little store, called a pulperia, out of their home. They are really busy working all the time, but they have tons of business. They sell EVERYTHING- pre-cooked beans, cheese, chicken, tons of soda, candy, toiletries, milk, etc. I think this will be great in the future to see how they started and manage their business once I get into that part of training. Then I have three siblings, which are great and have been pretty welcoming. Considering I have only been here 4 days, they are very welcoming and have met lots of their friends. They are a few years older then me. Basically life here is really slow paced, and a lot of my time is spent just sitting outside of the store and just chilling. Don’t think my life is that chill though, wait till I get to the training part. I guess the funniest thing that has happened with them is my new found participation in basketball. We all know I am not a huge fan, the extent of my playing is bump and HORSE (I am trying to promote bump among the Nicas.) Haha.. well now I am playing 5 on 5 with all these random Nicaraguan friends of the fam two of the four nites I have been here, and I have no idea what I am doing, and they are coaching me and telling me court positions and how to do layups. It is all about integrating, right? So I had to play…. It was pretty funny (I was horrible) Oh, and did I mention is so hot and I am sweating buckets? Well, I am slowing adjusting to the heat, are at least getting a little used to sweating constantly. Its going ok. Ummm, what else? Oh, also one of my sisters has a 6 year old daughter. She is really cute! Haha, also something really funny! Most of the peace corps volunteers that have stayed with this family ended up staying and living in Nicaragua! Hahah, actually marriage among volunteers and Nicas is super common. Don’t worry though, I haven’t found my media naranja in this first week! Also, my family are throwing my a birthday party this Saturday.. so I am sure that will bring lots stories. It will be the first of three birthdays I will celebrate here, so I hope it’s a good way to start things off!

Training is going well, but it’s a little frustrating. Since I am in the advanced group, they expect a lot out of us a lot sooner then the other language levels. I understand the added workload, but I am pretty overwhelmed since I am still adjusting to the language differences, the culture shock, and the heat, and just everything involved in suddenly moving here. I think everything will go great, but today I had a few minutes (or hours) where I think it all suddenly sunk in and I got a grasp of everything that was happening and I need to accomplish during this training. This week we are already starting up 2-3 youth groups, organizing “charlas” or little lectures and the high schools, as well as getting a lot of technical training, vaccines, and tons of other info. It’s a lot to take in, but I think my group and I will do well. We all get along and I think we have similar ideas and goals for this training period.

Well, what else? Overall, this week has been rollercoaster of feelings, but I guess its all part of the process. I am definitely happy with my family, and am looking forward to the next few months, although they will be exhausting! I will let you know how it goes…

Bye pue…

Irene

NICARAGUA!

hola amigos!!!

soooo, I am here! yay! hooray! I arrived safe and sound on Wednesday, and they took us directly to a hotel across the street from the airport, and I have yet to leave the premisis. haha. Tomorrow, however, the real adventure begins! Tomorrow I move in with my hose family! All I know is that it is a lady, and her three older kids. Oh, and its in Masaya, a bigger city, my new home for the next three months! yay! ok, so my battery is running low, so i gotta run! man, i am not good at writing these blogs... i will improve, i swear!! ok bye! miss you all!

Irene

me voy!!

hello!

Well, during these last few hours in the United States, I wanted to to quickly update everyone! I am currently in Georgetown and finished meeting my fellow new volunteers and my pre-service training. It was all overwhelming, but great as far as all day trainging and seminars go. Anyways, everyone is great and nice. Basically, I am even more nervous, but wAY WAY WAY WYWA more excited to go! I can't wait for this experience and alot of my qualms are slowly fading. Of course, I havent actually gotten to Nicaragua yet, but I am can't wait. Well, Its about 10 here, and I have to have my luggage downstairs at 2:30am, so needless to say, I better go (since I yet have to finish packing!) Ok, love you and miss you all! muah!

Irene

Good bye Los Angeles! Hello Nicaragua!

hey! so It is officially 12am and now the day I leave for the Peace Corps! I just finished packing. After a little freak out because I thought I was taking to much, I am basically ready to go. Everything fits! Its all in a big backpack, a smaller rolly suitcase, and a big carry-on tote.

I have said goodbye to basically everyone, it was all very weird, like I don't even believe I wont see them, but I am sure tomorrow the tears will come. so it goes. Anyways, hopefully I will update in the next couple of weeks, when I will actually have some interesting stories to tell you all about. Until then!

Irene

10 days left!

Hey friends!

only ten more days and i leave for the Peace Corps! 10 DAYS! I got my plane tickets a few weeks ago and I am actually going ot Washington D.C. for 2 days before leaving for Nicaragua. I am super excited about this because I have not really been to the east coast before (apparently Disneyworld doesnt cut it). So, in D.C. I will have a 2 day pre-service training and get some more info on Nicaragua and my program. I can't wait!

Currently, I am packing, and trying really really hard not to overpack. I can only take 80 pounds in the combined linear dimension of 107 inches. ya, i know, what? but its all good, i will make it! I am shooting for 60-70 pounds. we will see..... I was reading these blogs and some people are bringing like 5 socks and 5 underwear. WHAT? am I missing something? I dont know, but that isnt enough for me! I mean, I guess you can do laundry every 5 days. soo, I am trying to figure out whats enough for ME, because everyone will have their own preferences of whats important or enough. Its hard for me figuring it out! but I am thinking everything will fit just fine, even with a little extra room, and I still have a week to organize and figure things out! I am glad I started early...

Besides, packing, paperwork, and other little details, I am so excited for the weekend. I am having a little get together at my house with some friends from college, which will be a fun way to see everyone and say goodbye before I go, and take lots of pictures so i can remember all of your beautiful faces...

On a side note, last night I watched the end of the Arrested Development series. What a great show! I am contemplating bringing season one with me. That show always always makes me laugh.

Peace out! Irene

Leaving in one month!

Hey Friends!

Since I depart for the wonderful beautiful Nicaragua in exactly one month, exactly 4 weeks from today, I thought I would officially set up this blog and begin documenting my adventure. Here is a little background:

• On April 30, 2007, I am leaving sunny, smoggy Los Angeles to join the Peace Corps!

• I am going to Nicaragua!

• In Nicaragua, I will be working in small business development as a Business Educator and Advisor providing entrepreneurial training and skills to youth and local small businesses.

• Yes, I will be trained in this topic when I get there. Thank goodness!
  

• YES! YOU CAN COME VISIT ME!!! and I really hope some of you come! you have 2 years to plan!
  

• and finally, No, I haven't started packing and I am afraid to start, hahaha

Anyways, I hope to keep up this blog while I am in Nicaragua and tell everyone my stories and adventures. I hope you all enjoy! Of course, I will also be checking my email too. Well, thats basically all for now!

Besos pa todos!

Irene