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