Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope everyone had a good holiday. I was able to celebrate Thanksgiving here as well....I went to the house of an Embassy family with some other volunteers. The family was really nice and the food was great! Turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberries, stuffing, even pumpkin pie (which is a big deal because they don´t even sell pumpkin in Nicaragua so that had to be ordered from the states!)
Before Thanksgiving, I spent the week in Managua for our annual All Volunteer Conference...which along with some training sessions, basically involves staying in a nice hotel and eating a lot of really good food. It was really hard to come back to cold showers and a hard bed after being there for so long. I was also able to go to the Maná concert...now I realize most of you have no clue who Maná is, but they are a really popular Mexican rock group who has been around for a long time. We were really fortunate to be able to go because I guess when they play in the states, tickets sell out really fast and are much more expensive. Down here, my VIP ticket only set me back $30!
Other than that I´m just counting down the days until I come home and until my friend comes to visit next week! See you soon....
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
6 month update...
Well, after spending nearly a week consolidated in Managua because of the heavy rains and threat of flooding, I returned to my site. Unfortunately, I didn´t exactly "return" to teaching. In the last 4 weeks I have taught only 1 class...yes, thats one in 4 whole weeks. I´m supposed to be teaching 8 classes per week, but for the last month all of my classes have been cancelled for various reasons (meetings, holidays, rain) or I´ve had to miss to attend PC related events (consolidation, competitions). So, now there is only one week left (I just found out that final exams start next week) before school gets out for the year. The "summer" break here is from Dec-Jan and then classes start back up in Feb. These first three months at my site have flown by. In less than two months I´ll be back in Nebraska for Christmas!!
I´m finally settled into my house. The only thing I still need to buy is a matress, since the bed I have now basically consists of a 2" piece of foam on a wooden frame. Real comfy... I now have a t.v. with cable! I honestly never thought I would have cable in the Peace Corps but its just too cheap to turn down. This way I´m able to keep up with college football (even if NE is horrible!) and movies on HBO.
Last Thursday I went to Venecia, a little town about a hour away from Condega into the mountains, with all of the people I work with at the Mayor´s office. We brought food, played Twister (not my idea...), and visited a cute little "pond" nearby. While rowing around on the little rowboats with my friend, Johana, our friends decided that we needed to go swimming and proceeded to tip over our boat. So, in we went, clothes and all...I didn´t mind too much except that it was freezing! I will post pics as soon as the internet wants to cooperate...
Just as a little bit of explanation for when I refer to the "competitions"....The main idea of the business course that we teach is that the students learn to start & manage their own business. So, in order to get hands-on experience to put into practice what they are learning, they form groups of approximately 6 people and form their own business. They start by establishing the product or service that they will sell and work through all the aspects of running business, setting their price, marketing their product, accounting, etc. Towards the end of the school year competitions are held between the student groups at the local, regional and national level. This gives the students something to work towards and gives them the opportunity to present their business and sell some products.
I´m finally settled into my house. The only thing I still need to buy is a matress, since the bed I have now basically consists of a 2" piece of foam on a wooden frame. Real comfy... I now have a t.v. with cable! I honestly never thought I would have cable in the Peace Corps but its just too cheap to turn down. This way I´m able to keep up with college football (even if NE is horrible!) and movies on HBO.
Last Thursday I went to Venecia, a little town about a hour away from Condega into the mountains, with all of the people I work with at the Mayor´s office. We brought food, played Twister (not my idea...), and visited a cute little "pond" nearby. While rowing around on the little rowboats with my friend, Johana, our friends decided that we needed to go swimming and proceeded to tip over our boat. So, in we went, clothes and all...I didn´t mind too much except that it was freezing! I will post pics as soon as the internet wants to cooperate...
Just as a little bit of explanation for when I refer to the "competitions"....The main idea of the business course that we teach is that the students learn to start & manage their own business. So, in order to get hands-on experience to put into practice what they are learning, they form groups of approximately 6 people and form their own business. They start by establishing the product or service that they will sell and work through all the aspects of running business, setting their price, marketing their product, accounting, etc. Towards the end of the school year competitions are held between the student groups at the local, regional and national level. This gives the students something to work towards and gives them the opportunity to present their business and sell some products.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Mi casa...
Alright, so here are a few long awaited pics of my new nica house. I've had it for about two weeks now, but haven't really had the opportunity to spend much time there yet due to being consolidated in Managua since Friday because of all the rain we are getting here. Its nothing special, but its cheap and its mine. And the best part is that it came furnished (bed, fridge, table/chairs).
View of the living room
The other side of the living room...great Enrique poster, eh!
This is my little kitchen...don't mind the mess.
And my bedroom, with my beloved mosquito net.
View of the living room
The other side of the living room...great Enrique poster, eh!
This is my little kitchen...don't mind the mess.
And my bedroom, with my beloved mosquito net. Tuesday, September 25, 2007
I promise I do more here than just travel!! I just don´t take pictures of the real work I do!! I do, however, try to take advantage of the weekends to get to see more of Nicaragua and visit my friends in their sites. Otherwise, I survived my first hurricane, administered the first exam to my students (who didn´t do as well as I had hoped), and continue to work at the Mayor´s office. I think (cross your fingers) I´ve finally found a house and hope to move in soon...just have to do a few repairs first.
At Las Peñitas beach in Leon with my friend Georgina.
Cara and I at Las Peñitas.
Playa El Gigante, Tola, Rivas
Another view of El Gigante in Tola.Friday, September 7, 2007
Hurricane Felix
Just a quick note to let everyone know that all is well in Nicaragua! The hurricane didn't really affect my area too much, just some rain, but thats normal right now anyways as its rainy season. The most damage was done on the Northern Atlantic coast. They did cancel classes one afternoon and then it ended up not even raining! I'm still keeping busy with work and traveling some on the weekends...right now my main project is to find my own house.
Sunday, August 5, 2007
"List"
A few people have been asking if I need anything, so here is my response: I wouldn't actually say I 'need' anything (i've adjusted quite quickly to the difference between need and want, its amazing what people get by on down here!). But of course there are always things I want! None of which are very important, just things that are hard to find or expensive....
-chocolate (or other candy/gum)
-drink mixes (like crystal light)
-hand sanitizer (there's always a need for more 'gringo juice' as we call it here)
-seasonings & spices
-magazines (anything but newsweek)
-crossword puzzles (i'm actually not that bored i just feel like my english is going downhill!)
-basic tanks/tees (they stretch out really easily on the 'ole washboard here)
Also, CD's with the 'new' music cause they pretty much just have one kind of music here - reggaeton and it gets old real fast :)
This is by no means a solicitation!! I only posted it because a few people have asked if I want or need anything and can't really remember who asked!!!
-chocolate (or other candy/gum)
-drink mixes (like crystal light)
-hand sanitizer (there's always a need for more 'gringo juice' as we call it here)
-seasonings & spices
-magazines (anything but newsweek)
-crossword puzzles (i'm actually not that bored i just feel like my english is going downhill!)
-basic tanks/tees (they stretch out really easily on the 'ole washboard here)
Also, CD's with the 'new' music cause they pretty much just have one kind of music here - reggaeton and it gets old real fast :)
This is by no means a solicitation!! I only posted it because a few people have asked if I want or need anything and can't really remember who asked!!!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Me presenting my host mom with a certificate for ¨hosting¨me at our Swearing In Ceremony.
The girls in my Small Business Group.
My host mom, grandma and two brothers, Nelson & Miguel.
My host brother Nelson and some of the kids in my neighborhood. 
Me with my host family....note the pulperia (store) in the background.
My house in my training town...I lived in the blue part.
My fellow training town friends, Bobby, Henry & Cara, before our Swearing In Ceremony.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
New Address...
My new address is:
Megan Straube
Apartado Postal 92
Esteli, Esteli
Nicaragua
Central America
Can't wait to hear from everyone!!
Megan Straube
Apartado Postal 92
Esteli, Esteli
Nicaragua
Central America
Can't wait to hear from everyone!!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Condega...
Just a few reasons I´m glad to be living in Condega….
-Restaurants (two of them even have pools)
-A Gym
-Eskimo (Ice cream shop!)
-Big central park
-Pulperia that sells sliced wheat bread and yellow cheese
-Great landscape
-Only 30 min. from two departmental capitals and its right on the PanAmerican Hwy which means no bumpy bus rides!!
-Clothing stores (because a girls just gotta go shopping every once in a while)
-Candle workshop and a pottery cooperative that I´m excited to visit
-And many more reasons, yet to be discovered....!
Disclaimer: This is not to say that I didn´t like my training town, because I did. I loved it and I met some really great people there who I´m sure I´ll be back to visit! Condega is just bigger than my training town and therefore has a lot more going on.
-Restaurants (two of them even have pools)
-A Gym
-Eskimo (Ice cream shop!)
-Big central park
-Pulperia that sells sliced wheat bread and yellow cheese
-Great landscape
-Only 30 min. from two departmental capitals and its right on the PanAmerican Hwy which means no bumpy bus rides!!
-Clothing stores (because a girls just gotta go shopping every once in a while)
-Candle workshop and a pottery cooperative that I´m excited to visit
-And many more reasons, yet to be discovered....!
Disclaimer: This is not to say that I didn´t like my training town, because I did. I loved it and I met some really great people there who I´m sure I´ll be back to visit! Condega is just bigger than my training town and therefore has a lot more going on.
It´s official...
It´s official…I´m now a “real" volunteer! (Before, because we were only in training, they called us “aspirantes” as we were “aspiring” to be volunteers) Anyways, a lot has happened in the past few weeks. After finding out what our sites were, we went a on 4 day site visit to meet some of the people we will be working with and familiarize ourselves with the town before actually moving there permanently. When we got back to our training towns, we only had about a week left, which was spent finishing projects, preparing final reports and of course, saying our goodbyes. Last Tuesday I packed everything up and moved to Managua for the final week of training. It was nice to stay in a hotel with A/C and hot water and also to hang out with everyone in our group before going our separate ways. We were able to go out and eat at some good restaurants (a small, but expensive break from Nica food). Friday we had our “swearing in” ceremony and Sunday we all left for our sites, our new home for the next two years.
Well, now that I´m a real volunteer and am officially living in Condega, Estelí, what is it exactly that I will be doing??? Well, good question!! No, actually, even though our jobs are kind of a “work in progress” we do have set projects to work on during our 2-yr service (in addition to being able to develop secondary projects as time permits). Our main job as Small Business Volunteers in Nicaragua is to teach a business course to high school students; basically teaching them how to start and manage their own business. I will be working at one high school, teaching four sections that meet twice a week (meaning I teach 8 classes per week). Others in my group will be teaching up to 12 sections and usually work in two or more schools. In addition to my work at the high school (or Instituto, as they are called here), I will be working with the Technical Team for the Mayor´s Office. They are involved in managing various projects for the development of Condega, often times collaborating with the various local, national and international organizations working in the area. I know for sure that I will be helping teach computer classes, giving business classes to local small business owners and artesanos (handicraft makers), and possibly teaching english to the Technical Team. My final “established” project will be to work with a group of women in developing an ecotourism project in the munincipality of Condega. In addition, I´ve already found a couple of secondary projects that I could work on...if there is any time left over that is! I think I will be pretty busy and boredom should not be an issue!
I am also living with a new host family for the next 6 weeks and then after that I will be able to rent my own house. My new family is one of the teachers I work with at the Instituto and her 14-yr old daughter. This time, however, I´m on my own for meals. It´s kind of nice to “take back control” but it means that I have to cook!! So far I´ve made pasta (with homeade sauce), peanut butter sandwiches, tuna (with peppers, onions, tomato & lime)....Nothing too involved, but I´m still trying to figure out what you can buy here and where to buy it! (Which really makes me miss Super Target & even Walmart!) If anyone has any good, simple recipes (using only basic ingredients) please send them my way! At least I´ve already gotten over my fear of lighting the gas stove :) In addition to cooking, I´m also responsible for doing my own laundry. I know I´ve been doing my own laundry for years but it´s a lot more work here! So, yes, that means I have to do it by hand. Washing machines are few and far between here. Fortunately, one of my new friends, Angie, taught me how when I was on my volunteer visit. I have yet to actually wash anything, but it doesn´t seem too complicated, its just time consuming. On the other hand, it´s a great workout! Between walking to the Instituto and washing clothes, I´ll be in the best shape ever.
As a side note, I live with bats and mice....do bats eat mice??? I hope so!!!
Well, now that I´m a real volunteer and am officially living in Condega, Estelí, what is it exactly that I will be doing??? Well, good question!! No, actually, even though our jobs are kind of a “work in progress” we do have set projects to work on during our 2-yr service (in addition to being able to develop secondary projects as time permits). Our main job as Small Business Volunteers in Nicaragua is to teach a business course to high school students; basically teaching them how to start and manage their own business. I will be working at one high school, teaching four sections that meet twice a week (meaning I teach 8 classes per week). Others in my group will be teaching up to 12 sections and usually work in two or more schools. In addition to my work at the high school (or Instituto, as they are called here), I will be working with the Technical Team for the Mayor´s Office. They are involved in managing various projects for the development of Condega, often times collaborating with the various local, national and international organizations working in the area. I know for sure that I will be helping teach computer classes, giving business classes to local small business owners and artesanos (handicraft makers), and possibly teaching english to the Technical Team. My final “established” project will be to work with a group of women in developing an ecotourism project in the munincipality of Condega. In addition, I´ve already found a couple of secondary projects that I could work on...if there is any time left over that is! I think I will be pretty busy and boredom should not be an issue!
I am also living with a new host family for the next 6 weeks and then after that I will be able to rent my own house. My new family is one of the teachers I work with at the Instituto and her 14-yr old daughter. This time, however, I´m on my own for meals. It´s kind of nice to “take back control” but it means that I have to cook!! So far I´ve made pasta (with homeade sauce), peanut butter sandwiches, tuna (with peppers, onions, tomato & lime)....Nothing too involved, but I´m still trying to figure out what you can buy here and where to buy it! (Which really makes me miss Super Target & even Walmart!) If anyone has any good, simple recipes (using only basic ingredients) please send them my way! At least I´ve already gotten over my fear of lighting the gas stove :) In addition to cooking, I´m also responsible for doing my own laundry. I know I´ve been doing my own laundry for years but it´s a lot more work here! So, yes, that means I have to do it by hand. Washing machines are few and far between here. Fortunately, one of my new friends, Angie, taught me how when I was on my volunteer visit. I have yet to actually wash anything, but it doesn´t seem too complicated, its just time consuming. On the other hand, it´s a great workout! Between walking to the Instituto and washing clothes, I´ll be in the best shape ever.
As a side note, I live with bats and mice....do bats eat mice??? I hope so!!!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Site Assignment!!
I finally know where I will be living for the next 2 years! In two weeks I will be moving to Condega in the department of Esteli. Its pretty far north, about 4 hours from Managua. Condega is a lot bigger than my training town, which I'm very excited about. The population is between 8,000-10,000. Here are a couple of websites with info about my site:
http://www.manfut.org/esteli/condega.html (in spanish, but there are some pics)
http://www.nicaragua.com/destinations/condega/ (don´t be fooled by the picture of the ocean, as I, unfortunately, will be no where near the ocean!)
http://www.manfut.org/esteli/condega.html (in spanish, but there are some pics)
http://www.nicaragua.com/destinations/condega/ (don´t be fooled by the picture of the ocean, as I, unfortunately, will be no where near the ocean!)
Monday, June 11, 2007
Visitors...
I had my first visitor!! Well, actually, Megan came down here on a mission trip for 10 days and just happened to be staying in a town 5 minutes from mine! So yesterday I got to hang out with her for the afternoon and she left me some very nice presents...mousse, kleenex and the best, aloe vera gel (for the nice sunburn I got in Leon). Thanks Megan!!! You´re the best.
This entry is dedicated to my cousin Jackie!! Sorry I don´t write more often.
Well, I´m still keeping very busy with training. Fortunately, we usually have free time on the weekends. I have now taught three classes at the local high school. I was very nervous for the first class, but I feel way more comfortable now. Last week we went on volunteer visits and I stayed in the department (or state) of Leon. It was really nice to see how volunteers live after they get to their sites. Plus, I got to go to the beach, Las Peñitas!!
While I´ve been here, I´ve also gotten to see the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, speak; went to a rodeo, Nica-style, which includes a monkey riding a bull; hiked down to the Laguna de Apoya (and while hiking back up, thought that I would never make it!); learned that I live with bats, among many other animals; and met a lot of great people!!!
Well, I´m still keeping very busy with training. Fortunately, we usually have free time on the weekends. I have now taught three classes at the local high school. I was very nervous for the first class, but I feel way more comfortable now. Last week we went on volunteer visits and I stayed in the department (or state) of Leon. It was really nice to see how volunteers live after they get to their sites. Plus, I got to go to the beach, Las Peñitas!!
While I´ve been here, I´ve also gotten to see the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, speak; went to a rodeo, Nica-style, which includes a monkey riding a bull; hiked down to the Laguna de Apoya (and while hiking back up, thought that I would never make it!); learned that I live with bats, among many other animals; and met a lot of great people!!!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
scorpions....
i just wanted to let you all know that i killed my first scorpion the other day! i was scared to death (even though it was small, about the size of a dime) because it's still a scorpion and the first time i've ever really seen one that wasn't in a cage. it was just crawling on my wall, so i smashed it with my shoe and left it there to show my host family because i knew they wouldnt believe me otherwise. its definately my biggest accomplishment for the week!!
as a side note, i was actually cold this morning....that is a first for me here!
as a side note, i was actually cold this morning....that is a first for me here!
Saturday, May 19, 2007
On Monday we will start our 3rd week of training. We will be in training until mid-July but the first few weeks have flown by. We are kept very busy working on projects and going to training sessions on every topic imaginable. My training town is very small, only about 3000 people. It´s nice though because everything is within walking distance and everyone knows us already. My family is very nice. My new Nica family includes a mom, her two sons (ages 11 and 12) and a grandpa and grandma. They take very good care of me!! All of the food here that I´ve tried so far is really good. There is a lot of rice and beans, but it´s always supplemented by other things like meat, cheese, vegetables and lots of fresh fruit. I´ve never seen so many mangoes in my life!! I think I´m slowly get used to the heat, or at least being hot all the time! (Or maybe its just finally cooling off since rainy season is beginning)
I haven´t traveled too much yet, mainly just to the neighboring towns and to Managua for training. I did go to Granada last weekend which is on the huge lake with the freshwater sharks. I took a boat tour of some of the isletas, but unfortunately didn´t see any sharks....maybe next time! In Masaya (which is about 20 min by bus) there is a huge market with everything you could ever want. At least I know where to go if I need to stock up on anything.
Thanks to all who have written and for those who haven´t, I hope to hear from you soon! My time is running out, but I hope to have more updates soon!
I haven´t traveled too much yet, mainly just to the neighboring towns and to Managua for training. I did go to Granada last weekend which is on the huge lake with the freshwater sharks. I took a boat tour of some of the isletas, but unfortunately didn´t see any sharks....maybe next time! In Masaya (which is about 20 min by bus) there is a huge market with everything you could ever want. At least I know where to go if I need to stock up on anything.
Thanks to all who have written and for those who haven´t, I hope to hear from you soon! My time is running out, but I hope to have more updates soon!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Saturday, May 5, 2007
hello everyone and welcome. i just wanted to let you all know that i made it to nicaragua. we´ve been in a hotel for the last 3 days though, so i can´t even really tell you my first impressions of the country. we move in with our host families today and start language classes right away....not wasting any time there! i don´t really have any exciting stories yet, but i´m thinking my life will get a lot more eventful in the very near future....
Friday, April 20, 2007
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