Today, Thursday, the fourth day of February 2010, I am back to my blog. For as long as I can be disciplined about it. Which as my track record shows, may not be very longng. But I will try.
I am writing this update to you all from my favorite spot in Managua, the Casa del Cafe in los Robles. It is breezy, there is some tango music playing in the background and I can hear the espresso machine whirring. I have an hour before I have to leave for class, and there is no better time than the present to catch you all up on life.
To begin with, I went home for Christmas, and the first two things I noticed were: sensory overload in the airport from being surrounded by so many THINGS, and the frigging freezing cold. I slept under three blankets my first night at home, and never really adjusted to the cold in my two weeks in Vermont. It was fantastic to see my family and friends and sit next to a fire and drink wine and delicious coffee and eat SO MUCH FOOD that I had been missing. I stocked up on spices and tea and kitchen supplies while stateside. And this trip was very important to me for one other reason – it showed me that even though I missed my friends and family while I was away, that really my life is no longer in Vermont. There is so much about Vermont that I love and will miss again, but I saw that what I want in my life is what I am creating for myself in Nicaragua. So that came as somewhat of a surprise to me, but it was nice to feel that while waiting for my flight out of Burlington that there was no regret and that I was ready to really dig in when I got back to Managua.
Plus, it didn’t hurt to know that waiting for me at the airport would be my besty from Middlebury, Ms. Sakura Yagi. She visited me for a week following her vacation in Costa Rica with her boyfriend and his family. It was perfect timing for me because I didn’t have to start teaching at either school until the following week. So we hung out in Managua, went to Nagarote and Granada, watched Sherlock Holmes in theater with friends Michael and Peter (who was visiting from Belgium), complained about delegations, and talked about BOYS. Just like Sunday mornings at Middlebury. It was lovely. But then my Sakura had to return to her life in NYC. Which genuinely sucked. I cried when her taxi drove away. And then I picked myself up by the proverbial bootstraps.
Only to face my first week all alone in Managua, as Luis packed up and left to help lead a delegation. Boo. That was a true struggle for me. As some of you know, being a white woman alone in Managua without a car can be an enormous challenge. I was also starting teaching a new group of students at ANS and was unsure what to expect from them. I neglected to update my blog during the teaching of the last group – which was, to say the least, a horrendous challenge. They almost made me cry on the last day of class. Seriously atrevidos. Needless to say, I was crossing all my fingers and toes to have an easier group this time. And thank god, I do. These two groups are a pleasure to work with. I want to hug them all sometimes for being so cooperative and interested.
Anyhow, Luis returned from his adventures in the campo, and life started over again. We began the house hunt with our friends Angie and Ariel, and Luis began his job hunt. It wasn’t long before Luis’ father mentioned that he was hoping to buy a second car and that he was going to need extra help since his number of clients had finally grown to a point where he could no longer accomodate them all. This is where things stand: Luis is at this very moment driving the streets of Managua with a driving instructor. In about a week he will take his test to receive his license. By March Donald hopes to have purchased the new car. By March we hope to be living in a new house. By March Luis hopes to be starting his thriving business as a driver for Donald’s clients as well as his own from Quaker House and SIT. Why not? Check in with me in a month and see where we are with all of the above.
And now me. I am in the process of getting my residency here. Luis’ brother Jorge is helping me to speed up the process, and if all goes well I could be a legal resident of Nicaragua in a matter of weeks. And I am happy. I think it took me going home and seeing how much my life (and I) had changed in order to realize that I could really be happy here. I came back knowing what I wanted. And I am making that happen. With a little help from my friends. Of course there are days when I just want to throw my hands up and throw a fit like a 5 year old. But in the end, I feel more than ever that I am exactly where I am supposed to be.
Thats probably enough of an update for now, right? Please comment, question, and tell me about you all and what I’m missing…
HAPPY 2010!!!
