Week 2 and finally pictures

Week #2

Have been so tired from being involved 100% every day that I usually fall asleep while writing in my journal at night.  Friday was an early morning (4!!) to get on the bus back to the Conference Center in Managua, followed by a day of charlas, or lectures, on everything from Project Objectives to Common Illnesses and Diarrhea to Community Banks. Each group has a bank and I’m the secretary of the Aggie group. Saturday was a training day in the field. It started humid, then rained, then humidity kicked in again, then it was just hot. Lots of water. It was very informative. Traveled down the main road to a small farm that is being supported by a research and development agency for agriculture. The farmer allowed us to use his land to practice examples of community gardens, drip irrigation systems, and compost piles. Nothing like hacking pieces of platano with a machete in the morning. It was fun to see all the other training groups again too. Everyone compares and contrasts their family and Spanish experiences.

My training group had our first youth meeting last Wednesday, where we introduced ourselves in broken Spanish and talked briefly about the various projects we will be completing in the community during training. The youth decided they wanted to meet on Tuesdays and Sundays. Unfortunately, found out this Sunday that most of the older youth play soccer during the same time. Fortunately, the group that came was about 15 youth and they have since come back on Tuesday too, so here’s hoping they will stay interested. Spent about an hour straight playing ultimate Frisbee with the boys and makeshift volleyball with the girls. LOTS of fun!! Nice reprieve for us as trainees too, since most of us haven’t exercised since arriving. Worked to prepare the community garden at my host house after the youth meeting, which was also a reboot for the group. I think that’s what we imagined we would be doing as Agriculture Volunteers so it’s a bit more tangible or stereotypically agricultural. My host mother reminded me that we were headed to a girl’s night out at the Masatepe ferria, so I finished preparing the soil and quickly changed. Everyone but my brother-in-law and my host father took a mototaxi to Masatepe park where there was a big stage set up with lights and dancers and a huge crowd. Lots of street vendors with food and trinkets (bracelets or pulseras and wooden figurines, hamocks and traditional clothing). Meli and I danced in the street like no one was watching. Went to church too- nice building with beautiful lighting and statues. Also showed pictures of my states family to the local kids before it started raining. They really like the pictures of the cousins playing football in the snow and of the moose in Vermont.

Monday body felt good sore after having worked in the garden.  My host mother laughs every time I turn down coffee. It is now the family jokes that everyone but me has coffee on their way to bed. They also tell me that the volunteer before me called and says that she has coffee everyday at her site, so need to start getting my stomach accustomed to it now I guess. We’ll start with just Fridays. Got some more bug spray, but my legs still look like they’ve been hit with buckshot. At least I’m a little used to it from all the Keewaydin and Maine summers. Nephew has an ear infection and my host family was worried he was keeping me up, but I’m just that tired at night. Especially Monday night, when the malaria meds are kicking in. You get enhanced dreams as a side effect- oh boy! The Agriculture Specialist came today to check on our garden progress and help us out a little bit. He is great, really positive and supportive for everything related to Peace Corps. We worked for 5 hours and the garden doubled in size. We also planted tomatoes, peppers, radishes, spinach, and squash. We have a little greenhouse and a chicken wire fence to ward off all the livestock my family has. The radishes are already starting to show their first leaves!! It’ s really exciting to see even one little row of leaves. The Training Specialist says that Training is like Finals Week for 3 months- that sounds about right, with a few breaks in between.

One break is every weekday, my host family and I sit down to watch Fureza del Destina, a telenovella that is absolutely incredible. I could take up a whole page with the rather crazy plot, but the context clues are really easy for me to pick-up and my host family gets a big kick out of my parsing phrases together to check my understanding during commercial breaks. It’s rather addicting to the point where I actually run home so I don’t miss it.

Wednesday took a walk after class with one of community leaders and 2 youth from our group. They were distributing abate, a powder they put in any container with standing water. It makes it impossible for mosquitoes to lay eggs for a few weeks at least, thereby reducing some of the malaria and dengue hatching holes. The Ministry of Health distributes the material and there is a big push right now with the start of rainy season. This directly related to the Malaria and Dengue charla we received that afternoon. The Computer and Cell Phone talk followed, with us receiving our chips. Basically, all of Peace Corps is on a family plan, so we can call each other for free. Any incoming calls and texts are free from anywhere and it’s about .17/min to call the states. I do not have service everywhere though. It’s a lot like Vermont in that there are several windows I can stand next to or just outside my house and get service, so emailing ahead of time might be the better plan at first. Vale la pena (We’ll make it work).

This weekend is a 2 week point so the bimonthly training report is due. We are also meeting on Saturday to make an improved oven at one of our host houses and we need to decide on a  baked good for the youth to bake for the end of training competition (they really like chocolate and bananas and coconut).  And this Sunday is one of the biggest Patriarch Festivals, so more dancing with the family. Yay!!