July 8/2011

This morning began with a run, followed by our orientation week spanish lessons yet again for the morning. Afterwhich we had an"amazing race" which involved us running around Jinotepe doing various tasks like buying 6 bananas for twenty cents, mailing a postcard to canada, which was fifty cents, and taking pictures in various areas of Jinotepe. It was very fun, but we did not finish everything in the alloted hour. Afterwards we went to the market and bought a few snacks and drinks, had supper, and now may potentially be going out for an evening beverage. The more time I spend here, the more I grow fond of the people here. Initially I was scared of everyone, but have since come to realize (while you still have to keep your guard up) Nicaraguans are very friendly but very curious people.

July 7/2011

Today was really fun! Had spanish class in the morning, and then this afternoon took a minibus ride to the pacific coast. There we built sand castles, jumped in the four foot waves, and I had a cold beer in a hammock under a tiki net overlooking the ocean. This is the good life. Went for banana splits this evening also. Just so everyone understands this is orientation week and i will actually begin my volunteering next week. This afternoon was a "cultural" experience as we went to a non-tourist beach, where apparantly girls in bikinis are unheard of . Most nicaraguan women go swimming in gigantic t-shirts and shorts.

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Check out this website. It will be where I add all of my pictures

July 6

Today began with a run followed by spanish lessons that involved an overload of vocabulary (vocabulario). After a delicious lunch of drumsticks in a kind of spicy sauce, we went to a fortress near Massaya. This fortress was initially used for military purposes, was then used as a cruel prison for military and political prisoners, and then more recently a satanic cult. This fortress was used as a prison until the eighties at which point they practiced many inhumane torchure methods.

Market

Today we had a tour of Jinotepe, the town we are staying in. It seems like a lovely city despite the fact that they do not take cleanliness and garbage disposal as seriously as we do at home. I exchanged money into the nicaraguan currency (cordova) and then after lunch, went off to the market in Masaya. Masaya is know for having the highest rate of aids, and being a place where people chase you and try to prick you with their aids infected needles. So of course it seemed like a natural place to practice bargaining(of which I am quite talented if you ask me). I bought chocolate, an orange juice, and sunglasses that dye my nose pink. It was really fun but the hour minibus ride there and back in a steel van with twenty people inside was very unpleasant. I felt quite sick by the time we got home. Had supper of fried cheese and fried bananas that while good, had to be supplemented with a couple tablespoons of the peanut butter I brought. The people here are very nice, but very forward towards blonde white girls, yelling things like chalita or gringa!

Day 2

Woke up this morning to eggs and toast for breakfast. Had spanish classes until lunch, and then ate the most delicious salsa ever with meatballs and rice! It was so good! Had orientation this afternoon which involved us going to the hospitals we will be working at. The hospital I am at is apparantly run by nuns. For supper was enchiladas and then we talked about places we are going to go see for the rest of our orientation today. It gets dark here really early, in fact it has been dark here since six. Jam packed day and now I am very tired, will probably read a bit and call it an early night. May go for a run tomorrow morning, we will see!

Day one

I have arrived safe and sound! Not finding my luggage in the nicaraguan airport for half an hour was a bit scary, but found my bag so no harm done. As soon as I arrived in Nicaragua I was picked up by jose (basecamp coordinator) and his friend. Met his friend's wife and her sister (both from georgia and married nicaraguans) and drove back to the house. The house is quite large and has tonnes of room. With a huge walk in closet I think this trip is gonna be better than I thought! I could hear the sound of bands playing while I showered and party rock anthem even played in spanish! Turns out there is a festival going on in Jinotepe right now and is a horse festival. Horses and their riders are dancing up and down the streets to music. And there has got to be more horses here than people! (The horses of course look very abused often bleeding and frothing at the mouth). We are about to go out for spagetti somewhere nearby. There are three others here from canada and one from florida who is an absolute hoot! Ta ta for now!