Bienvenidos a Nicaragua!

I have been in Nicaragua for three days! Staging went well and so has the orientation retreat in Managua. We were all expecting a really shitty hotel but it turned out to be SOOO NICE! We even have A/C! The last couple of days have been filled with lots of paperwork, a couple of vaccines, lots of seminars about what to expect and everyone generally trying to get to know each other.

Four current volunteers came down from their sites to talk to us about their experience (two from TEFL and two from Business). All four of them were really great. I spent a lot of time talking to one of them about the host family experience because that is the thing I have been the most nervous about. I'm one of the only people who hasn't lived with a host family before. The volunteer I was talking to currently lives in a big city (more than 100,000) but his host family had very modest accommodations. His host family had FIFTY chickens, a pig and over 10 people living in two rooms, the kitchen was outside and they have a latrine (imagine me squatting over a wooden box with a hole in the top) for a bathroom. No running water so he had to take bucket baths. Very rural. We found out our training sites today, guess where I will be living? That's right, with the chickens. The pig won't be there though because they slaughtered it as a send off meal when he moved out. I know the situation sounds crazy, but he describes the family as really kind and genuine and I can't wait to move in with them!!! Apparently, this town is too small even to have a bar. I'm pretty excited about this because I will feel really safe. It's the kind of place where everyone literally knows everyone. Addresses here are not described by number and street. The people literally write "One block south of the old church, two blocks left of the store" on the envelope. This is gonna be an ADVENTURE!!!


I don't know how often I will be able to update this for awhile. I won't be able to travel outside my town because there is currently a transportation strike in Nicaragua. None of the taxis or buses are running. Some people have been arrested but I am in NO DANGER AT ALL. Peace Corps does a really good job of protecting us and our families are well trained in the procedures as well. No one needs to worry. When I get the chance to post again I will try and put up some pictures of the first couple of days.