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.

Volcan Masaya

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!!!

The domes on top of the main cathedral in Leon.

As you can see, we had the whole beach to ourselves!!
The beach!!! Las Peñitas.

View of some of the volcanoes in the department of Leon...there are five total in the area.
Another park in Leon.
View of the main park of Leon.

this is a giant avacado given to me by my friend, grown right here in my training town! can you imagine what this would cost in the U.S.??

One of the isletas on the lake of Nicaragua. No, I didn´t get to see any fresh water sharks!

Here is a picture of Mombacho Volcano, and a lancha (the small boat taken to tour the isletas) on the giant lake, lago de Nicaragua, by Granada.

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!