Five Things

Seeing Mombacho Volcano on the drive back from Ometepe.

I had the weirdest dream last night. I dreamt that I went to Nicaragua for three months and made all these new friends from all over the world and had a great time. The internet was terrible and it was really hot, but we drank cold beer, smoothies, and icy Nica libres. My house was filled with lots of vegetarians, and no one ever knew the time. I sometimes felt like my mosquito net would strangle me. I met these adorable Nicaraguan kids and hoped that I could help them in some small way. 

Then I woke up, and it wasn't a dream. Now I'm back in Abilene feeling so grateful for the last three months, and wondering what it is that I'll do next.

Here are five things that made me happy during my last few days in Granada.

My name in Russian. Thanks Beth!

Refrigerator art.

A quiet, slow morning in Casa Libertad.

The most amazing chocolate banana pancakes from Garden Cafe. What a great last meal in Nicaragua! 

To the Bat Cave!

This weekend, I wanted to do some things in and around Granada. It's amazing to think that I only have a few more weeks in this beautiful country, and of course, now I don't feel like there is enough time to do everything I want to do.

Last Friday, after an exhausting week at school, I had a relaxing afternoon then decided to get street food for dinner. Street food will no doubt be one of my favorite parts of this city because it is simple, good food for cheap. Vendors set up shop on the side of the street and sell grilled chicken, platanos maderas or verdes (bananas either fried or baked and sweetened), the traditional gallo pinto (rice and beans), and coleslaw. Some vendors sell a ton of other fried foods like empanadas, fried potatoes with cheese, Nica cheese (a salty cheese that they serve with everything here. I don't like it much..) and something similar to chalupas. One order easily lasts for two meals, and I usually warm up my leftovers the next day for lunch. All this for 115 cordobas (a little more than 5 bucks).

My friends and I then did our favorite Friday night activity: ladies' night at Reilly's. Reilly's is a pub just down the street from our house, and on Fridays, girls drink for free. Rum and cokes flow from 9-12 and the whole group gets pretty tipsy sipping the strong rum for literally nothing. After Reilly's, we headed to Kelly's, another pub that has a DJ and dance floor, great outdoor patio, and plenty of nicaraguenses to mingle with. After only a few minutes on the dance floor, I'm usually soaked with sweat. Gross, right? The lack of air conditioning and hundreds of bodies in one room will do that to a person. Not to mention I'm usually dancing my heart out. The moonwalk usually comes out at least once during a Kelly's night. After plenty of dancing and sweating, I went to the patio to sit for a minute and have some good conversation.

The next morning, a couple girls in my house went to Kathy's Waffle House, a place a few blocks away from us that serves amazing breakfast. I feasted on a bacon omelette, gallo pinto, hash browns and buttery toast. I haven't had pancakes or waffles there yet, but it's on my to do list. I'm sure I'll visit it again before I leave. 

Saturday Afternoon, a group of us decided to do the Masaya Volcano night tour. It is the most active volcano in Nicaragua, and last erupted in 2008 spewing only ash and steam. While we didn't see any lava, the smoke emanating from the crater is quite impressive. 

Completely unnecessary gas masks, and the crater behind me.

The view from the top!

No pasa, Beth!!

After the sun set, we descended into the bat caves that are connected through an intricate system to the volcano. As our guide said, we didn't need to be afraid that the bats would hit us. Since they fly using sonar, they could sense where we were and avoid us while flying around the caves. We descended 180 meters, and I admit my claustrophobia started acting up a bit. After a few deep breathes and a diverting conversation, I was okay but certainly didn't want to be there longer than necessary. Once we got to the end, our guide told us to turn off our flashlights and stay silent for a few seconds. I clutched my friend, trying to not think of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom...which only made me think of it more. We were enveloped in total darkness; I'd never experienced darkness so complete and unfiltered. The whole tour was a very cool experience, and one you must do if you ever find yourself in Nicaragua.

Oh, hey Connie.

Sunday was a lazy one. It's the day of rest, no? We had brunch at Lucy's Hostel and Restaurant, another favorite of mine. Theirs is an open courtyard with delicious breakfast for only 60 cord (about $2.25) and a nice lunch for 70. A family owns the hostel and restaurant and could not be sweeter. Then we walked through the park, among the stalls filled with tshirts, jewelry, purses and clothes. I accidentally haggled for an anklet and got it for 30 cord less than she originally asked. She must have known the first price she gave me was ridiculous, so when I put it down and began to walk away, she instantly cut it by 30. The blue beaded anklet is now on my left ankle. Every time I see it, I'll remember this weekend, and the city that has crept it's way into my life. 

Poetry Festival, School, and a Lighter in the Hammock

This week in Granada has been a slow one. Well, only if your definition of "slow" is getting up at 6am with no coffee and barely time to eat anything because you have to get to school by 7:30 and it's a 35-40 minute walk through the barrio in the morning heat. That kind of slow.

It is our first full week in school, and I'm in a different one from summer school. At first, I didn't like it. I missed my kids from summer school and was convinced I'd never bond with these new ones. Then today, a chica named Maria Jose grabbed my hand and wanted me to play with her during recess. And when Dillon, a shy 4-year-old with a bowl cut and no idea how to make eye contact, asked me to draw some letters for him so that he could then trace them, I almost cried.

Children are like that, I'm learning. They turn to trust just when you're starting to think you'll never be able to connect. Before this, my experience was limited to a few babysitting gigs in high school and college, and now I'm helping a teacher corral and teach 40 of them who do not speak my language. It gets better every day, though I'm definitely learning as I go. Among other things, I'm getting really good at saying "stop," "sit down," and "hand me your plate" in Spanish.

Besides school, life in Granada is hot, and lovely. This week is the national poetry festival, and from our house we can hear the festivities in Parque Central. Yesterday, though sweaty and tired from school, we all decided to venture out to watch a parade for the festival. It was full of dancers and bands and lots of dresses and outfits in Nicaraguan colors.

Tomorrow, we're heading north to a beach near Leon called Las Penitas. Though I've already had my fair share of beaches this year, I'm not about to say no to a weekend on the Pacific.

Spectators

The Chronicles of Nicaragua

Source

When I got back from Paris, I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life...a present theme of late. I moved back in to my parents house and began filling my days with working out, playing the piano, cooking meals and writing. While I enjoyed all the free time, I wondered how I was back in this position, unemployed, in Abilene, with no real motivation to do anything of substance. I thought about doing things to make my life seem a little more purpose-driven, but my efforts were lackluster at best.

Two different people in Paris told me about their experiences in Nicaragua volunteering for various organizations. They both loved their experiences, and talked fondly about their time in the Central American country. To make matters more fateful, some family friends in Abilene are from Nicaragua, and they are always telling us how beautiful and charming it is.

La Esperanza Granada

I found an organization in Granada, Nicaragua that takes volunteers out into rural schools to help teachers of elementary students. Every review I read said it is a great organization, and I sent off an application in late September. La Esperanza Granada responded promptly, and we confirmed that I would come in January and stay for three months. In the application, I listed that I would like to be a volunteer in the office doing communications, promotions and social media-type help. With my few years of experience, I felt like I could best help them in that capacity.

I was elated the few days after they confirmed it with me. Though a little scary, I felt the wonderful uneasy feeling that one feels before embarking on an unknown journey. It is something so different from anything I've ever done, and I expect great things to come from this experience. And not just a better Spanish vocabulary.

I am still not sure how I want to shape my life for the long-term, where I want to live or what kind of job I want to have. And I realize that spending three months in Central America probably won't change my life or reveal to me the great epiphany of what to do with it. It might, and I always try to remain faithful. But either way, I'm believing that I will grow and learn in ways that I can't conceive yet. Like Paris, and Kilimanjaro before it, it feels good to push against the boundaries that I set for myself, to stretch out and accept new challenges, even when I'm uncertain where they will lead.

I hope you'll join me for the journey. Vamonos!