I Got to Shave my Legs Today

So, now that I feel like a woman again, I would like to share some news. First off, I am officially mostly not sick anymore. If you´ve seen the Princess Bride, you can understand the beauty behind that statement. Secondly, I am more busy than I ever have been in my life... I am currently:
1. Working with a youth group to develop a product for commercialization, which will be judged in a national competition in 10 weeks or so
2. Working with the volunteers in the Small Business sector to create a community bank to demonstrate the importance of saving
3. Observing classes at a local high school (Institute)
4. Preparing to teach entrepreneurship courses at a private school in another town
5. Taking spanish classes from 8:00 am to 3:00
6. Interviewing a business owner from a ceramics shop every week

And this is all for training during the next 3 months... Thank goodness I prefer to keep busy eh? =)

I have officially posted pictures... check them out below. My host mother is Gloria, and she treats me extremely well, like I´m her own little hija. The rest are of my room, my casa, and the church that is the offical center point of Catarina. For example, when people write their addresses, there are no numbers or streets. It´s all about how many blocks away you live from the church or some other main area and then in which direction. My house is translated as being located "1 block north of the park." Gotta love this small town living.

News update... it´s raining here like crazy! Which means, my clothes may never get dry. P.S. I miss washing machines and dryers... my knuckles are a little bloody after my last attempt to clean my "ropa interior" as they say. Not fun.... not fun. But, doesn´t pay to complain. Everything here´s fantastic. I went to a concert on Sunday and Nicaraguan music is fricken awesome! I mean, I don´t know what they´re saying... but the music... bueno...

Love to all!
-Aleia-

Catarina!

Buenas!
Catarina is beautiful!!! Flowers, el parque, and 2 pharmacies just for me!!! yessssss. Everything is going well. My host family is extremely nice. Gloria, my host mother, is in her 60´s and is very in tune to people´s emotions, which is good since we don´t speak the same language yet. Manuel, her husband, speaks extremely slow spanish so I can understand him. Also, there is an 8 year-old granddaughter who I have dubbed my maestra (teacher). Her teachings consist of multiple games of tick-tack-toe and hangman, so obviously I´m ennjoying my time. I am still not used to bucket baths, but don´t mind the cold water because it´s fracken hot here! I have spanish classes each day of the week, I start a small youth group project this week (but have to find the youth), and I have to present myself to a classroom to begin teaching a component of La Empresa Creativa. They keep me busy, but busy is good. Still no pictures, but soon to come. I should be able to update this once a week. If you have any questions, feel free to post, and I will get to them ASAP.

Love to all,
Aleia

=)

Address

Hey guys! Here is my address for the next 3 months. I will update it when I move out of my host family´s house. =)

PCV (My Name)
Cuerpo de Paz - Nicaragua
Apartado Postal #3256
Managua, Nicaragua, Centro America


Thanks!
aleia

Training in Granada

Hola!
So I am in my 3-day training period in Granada, and a friend of mine let me use her computer. Everybody say THANKS MARGARET! So far, I have thrown up 3 times, sweat more than I ever have in my life, and contracted an eye infection which made me the 1st of my entire 45-person class to contact the medical officer. But, I found the pharmacy and I shall survive. Leaving to live with my host family on Saturday. Wish me luck =) Pictures to come soon. Love you all!

aleia

Bienvenidos

Hola!
I leave for Nicaragua next Wednesday at 1:00 am after a one day orientation in Virginia, and I'd say I'm a good combination of excited and scared. The good news is that my brain seems to be moderately on track after my attempt to unlock my neighbor's house (it looks shockingly similar to my parents), and my endless amount of shopping trips to retrieve things the PC has instructed. How the hell am I going to fit all of this stuff into 2 suit cases? Too bad they don't make suitcases with trap doors... Hmm, I smell an invention in the making! Magicians and over-packers unite! Well, during the first 3 months of training I should be able to update this thing pretty often, so be sure to check for pics and stories every week or so. Also, feel free to ask questions or leave remarks in the comments section below the blog post. I miss you guys already! Thanks for being awesome, and don't forget to smile.