I'm pretty Lucky

I feel really lucky…

So far I feel really lucky to be here in Nica.  Sure most of my days have their ups and downs and I miss Aaron constantly bur for the most part I’m really enjoying life here.  My family is amazingly nice and It didn’t take long to adjust to no running water and sleeping under a mosquito net.  After Im done with class, which normally ends at 3 I either venture to the cyber, study some more or take a nap before heading out for a run around 4…it’s too hot to run at 3 or even four sometimes…Spanish class is going well.  I still think I need to study more and that Im not learning at a fast enough rate but I know that with patience and time the language will come.  I have gotten to meet some amazing people here especially the student s and the teachers that I am working with.  I am really enjoying meeting the students and getting to work with them.  They have been so welcoming  and the girls in the class have even taken to hugging me when they say hello and or goodbye J

Some things I’ve noticed:

My Nica mom is the head of my family for sure…as petite and nice as she is I can tell that no one in the family would ever want to get into an argument with her…this could be because she has an Indaina Jones style whip she uses on their dogs when they beg for food.  As much as it pains me to see a dog getting whipped I know the use for their dogs is much different then how we use dogs in the states. Their dogs serve solely as protectors of the family compound at night and scare off cats and rats and protect us and the chickens from strangers.  I feel much safer with the dogs here. 

Another element of Nica culture that I’m loving and getting use to is the slow paced lifestyle.  When I wake in the morning I am in no rush to head out of the house.  For the first time in my life, since I was a child, I am actually sitting down to eat my breakfast and have my coffee.  I get out for breakfast around 7:20 and my walking commute to Kyle’s house (the other trainee in my town) is less than a minute which is really niceJ.  Even studying Spanish is more relaxed.  We study on the balcony of Kyle’s house and there is always a cool breeze blowing which makes it ideal for studying.  In the afternoon we normally walk around the small pueblo meeting new people and introducing ourselves and we try to explain what our mission in Nica is. 

Nicas are very proud of the way they dress.  You will never ever see a Nicarguan dressed in nike shorts and a tshirt at a college or school.  Nicas only where shorts, tshirts or flip flops around the house when they are not expecting company.  When the kids go to school their uniforms are always pressed and very clean.  Shoes are even shined.  When my host sister goes to university she wears nice slacks and a nice top.  Nicas would take offense if someone showed up in shorts, chanclas and a tee to class.  I really like how much pride they take in what they wear.

Rolling blackouts…Now I know how Californians feel…

I experienced my very first blackout last night.  Luckily I had my headlamp and 2 other flashlights.  My family on the other hand had 3 maybe 4 candles to light the outdoor living room.  The outage brought the family closer together and instead of complaining about the tv not turning on they serenaded each other with songs and talked.  Even though the power was out my mom still managed to get the entire family fed.  It was pretty impressive and made me think if that had happened to me in the states I would have been complaining for sure…

Everyone has been really friendly….When I go for a run or am walking around town everyone says hello or “adio…” some of the kids even run alongside me  for a while.  Of course there are the occasional whistles/catcalls but they don’t really bother me as I have been told they are all too common here. 

Only issue so far…and not really an issue….the mosquitos.  I have been bitten all over my legs and of course the bites have swelled and turned red.  Knowing my body I figured it would go away in a week but so many people told me to call the PC medical office so I finally did.  The doctor has prescribed medicine that I will get tomorrow but they are pretty confident they are just mosquito bites.  I’m actually really impressed with the Peace Corps staff.  I feel I am asked constantly if I’m feeling ok and healthy and safe.  Its nice knowing so many people care.

And finally…

I have a cell phone!  I still can’t call out to the states but I’m able to text which has been so nice.  Even though I miss certain things in the states...I’m enjoying the new adventure and I am excited to get through training and into my permanent site.  For the first time in my adult life I feel like I’m accomplishing something every day and it’s an awesome feeling!  And today when I was running I realized I'm living my dream...I'm finally getting to live abroad :)

Next week begins Semana Santa or the beginning of Easter and the celebrations here in Nica are supposedly huge.  Can’t wait to see and tell you all about it!

I miss you all and send my love!

My Site and My first Nica Family:

My Site and My first Nica Family:

Saturday, The day we meet our families has arrived.  We departed Hotel Ticomo at noon and boarded buses to drop off the other trainees in Niquinohomo, and Masatepe, before getting to my pueblo, San Juan de Oriente.  After we dropped off Kyle at Dona Sylvias the bus went across the street and dropped me off with my family.  I got out of the bus with my language teacher, Blanca, and she introduced me to Lucia, my Nica mom.  Lucia is very petite and friendly woman.  She proceed to introduce me to her giant family.  The family goes something like this:  Lucia Ruiz is the grandmother and Justo is the grandfather…they are my parents.  They have 2 sons and a daughter I think.  I don’t really remember there children’s names but one son has a son named Kenny who speaks a little bit of English and has been helping me with my Spanish.  Kenny is 29 and his wife is 29 and they have 2 sons.  Kenny has 2 sisters one who is 22 and one who is 12 and they are really nice to me and have been helping me a lot.  When you enter the house on the right side is a “comedor” where the family sells lunch and dinner plated but it is not a restaurant because you pick up homemade food and there is only one item or plate on the menu.  That being said the food here is amazing.  Anywho you enter the house between two large gates, that are locked at night, and as you enter the gates you are inside the families living and dining room which is all outdoors and faces the kitchen which is also outdoors and has a tin roof.  Everyone gathers here because it’s the coolest, Temperature wise, place in the house.  There is no floor as its outside so the dirt is the floor.  The bedrooms surround the outdoor living space and they are somewhat inside except the roof doesn’t attach so there is a breezeway between the ceiling therefore I have to use my mosquito net when I sleep.  My room is orange and there were Christmas decorations on it when I entered so I take that as a good sign. The room is small but clean. They gave me a fan and I have electricity which is better than a lot of other people.  Kyle’s house is really nice and everything is indoors except the shower but he has a really nice balcony that we overlook the town and we will be having class there.   Saturday night was pretty interesting and I found it hard to sleep.  It was fairly warm and the dogs were barking and roosters were crowing constantly throughout the night.  Saturday was spent getting to know everyone and they served me lunch and dinner.  Today, Sunday, I got up “late”: 8:30 and ate breakfast: eggs, avocados, bread and fruit from our property:  mandarins, mangos, and bananas.  It was delicious …and coffee.  Kyle and I went for a long run around town and back.  After we came back I took my first bucket bath since my family doesn’t have running water.  This consists of me standing in a shower and getting a cup and dipping it in a water bucket and pouring it on myself.  Because there is no hot water this is kind of nice because it’s not cold water spewing at me constantly.  After we ate lunch I met Kyle and Janelle, the other trinee, and we took a moto taxi to Catarina.  Catarina is a very tourist town with amazing views of the lake and volcano.  We tried to find a cyber to get wi-fi (Kyle has a girlfriend he was trying to get a hold of (they’ve only been dating a month!)) and we walked for an hr looking for it and trying to explain to people in broken Spanish what we needed.  When we finally got there it was close.  Apparently it doesn’t open until 6 pm and we have to be back home by 5.  After our exploration we came back and I studies some more then was taken out to dinner by Kenny’s dad, mom, his sisters, Kenny’s wife and the babies.  We drove to Niquinohomo to eat.  I sat on the back of a pickup and it was awesome …the sun was setting and it was breezy and just so nice.  Upon entering the restaurant there was a guard with a rifle guarding the restaurant… CRAZY!  But the restaurant was good and I had some of the best tortillas and fried chicken ever.  You’d be jealous.  Now it’s time for bed…Spanish class at 8 am then I’m going to try to go to the cyber after class to email you this letter.  I just want you to know that Friday I get my phone and I will be able to text and call you once I have it.  Kyle is trying to figure out how to turn his iphone into a hotspot?? Can I do that with my phone?  Or do I need to upgrade?

Leaving the States, Staging and Pre-Service Training:

Leaving the States, Staging and Pre-Service Training:

So far the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life is leave Austin. By leaving Austin I left my boyfriend, my family, friends and the city I love and have lived in for 10 years.   As Aaron drove me to the airport, and my family followed, we talked about everything else besides the fact that I would be leaving for 2 years.  As we all said our goodbyes the hardest one to say goodbye to was Aaron. I cried so hard by the time I got to security I was afraid they weren’t going to let me on the plane for being too emotional.  One of the security guards even came up to me to ask me if everything was alright and when I couldn’t respond he smiled and helped me with my luggage. I boarded my flight and left for DC, where I would spend one night before meeting the other volunteers.  I awoke on Tuesday morning, went for a run and at noon was introduced to my fellow business and health trainees that would be serving wih me in Nica.  Some of the volunteers I had met though a facebook group so that was comforting.  We were introduced to Peace Corps rules and we did what felt like a million ice breakers.  We were told we would be leaving our DC hotel at 2am to get on a flight for Miami at 6am.  When we left our DC hotel it was snowing and then we waited at the airport until 4am when the American Airlines desk opened.  No sleep Tuesday nightJ …We got out of DC just intime…apparently other flights had been cancelled do to the snow storm.  We arrived in Miami for a very brief layover before departing for Nica!  To say the weather was night and Day between Nica and DC is an understatement.  Just hours before arriving to Nica I had snow in my hair and walking out of the MANAGUA AIRPORT I WAS SWEATING IN PLACES I DISN’T KNOW EXISTED.  We  were greeted by a very enthusiastic PC team that consisted of fellow volunteers and our trainers.  We boarded buses and we were driven to Hotel Ticomo, our training site for the next 3 days.  Our hotel in training was definitely eye opening.  The courtyard area was huge and beautiful but walking into our rooms was an experience.  When we first got to our room we had no electricity and there were giant ants on all of the walls.  As someone who had never stayed even in a la quinta this was crazy to me.  We did have running water, not hot water but it was running.  Throughout training we had classes on safety, health and language interviews.  I can honestly say I’m most excited to learn Spanish!  On the third day of training we got a tour of the PC headquarters in Managua and then found out where we would be living for the next three months.  All of the volunteers are separated into groups of 3 or 4 people and sent into towns to study Spanish each day with each other.  My group was being sent to San Juan de Oriente and I would be there with Kyle and Janelle.  Two other Business trainees.  I was told the family I would be living with was huge.  This was no lie.  In total I have 27, or 28 including myself living in our house.  My host mothers name is Dona Silvia and my fathers name is Justo.  They live in a compound with their children, their grandchildren and their great grandchildren.  Lots of people compared to living with 1 roomate who was never at home. I was definitely nervous for the next day and meeting my family.  The nice thing about our hotel was the Wi-fi.  I was able to facetime with Aaron every night which made me feel closer to him.  I was told that San Juan de oriente does not have wi-fi and we don’t get our cell phones until the following Friday…so I may not be able to talk to him until then. 

I will say that so far I find Nica to be beautiful.  The food, smells and people are so different yet comforting.  I have moments of sadness, mostly when I think of Aaron, but I’m happy here.  I feel like I’m accomplishing something just by being here and trying something different.  Can’t wait to see what the next 3 months brings.

Also, if anyone wants to send me anything heres a list of things I could use:

Wet face towlettes

Almond or trail mix

Pretzels

Crystal light packets

And any info on how to get wi-fi on my laptop?? Turning my phone into a hotspot??

My address is:

 Marisela Tamez
Cuerpo de Paz ~ Nicaragua
Apartado Postal # 3256
Managua, Nicaragua, Centro América