Tell the world, I'm coming home :)

Hey there,

So I guess I never checked in after the meeting...my bad. But, it went wonderfully well! My supervisor (who came down from Oregon) told me that they were very proud of the work I did and they couldn't have done it without me. So I'm very glad with how that all turned out.

And now I'm heading home. In exactly 6 hours I will be on a plane bound for Atlanta. I can't believe I'm leaving- I really can't. This experience has been so incredible- and so unforgettable. The bright side is that just because I leave, it doesn't mean that my experience is over. I'm hoping to stay in contact with the people I've met here for a very long time.

They had a going away party for me last night. Pedro is a friend I've made here in Jinotepe, and he teaches dance classes. He and some of his students performed a few dances as a goodbye gift. It was really awesome. The generosity is amazing to see in people- people who have nothing will give you everything- it's just really unlike what I've seen before...

Saying goodbyes has been hard. When I was saying goodbye to Guillermo in the elderly home he first told me that I wasn't leaving because he was locking the door so I couldn't get out. But then he told me to sit down so he could give me some parting advice...I was expecting some deep final words of wisdom, perhaps something about following your dreams or living life to the fullest. This was his final advice to me: "Rachel, If you're ever cooking, and  you get burned, with hot oil, or water, or anything- here's what you have to do: find a potato, cut it in half. Pour lots and lots of salt on it, and rub it wherever you were burned...that way you won't get a blister. Don't forget! POTATO.SALT.!!!"  The funny thing is, I probably never will forget. There's a lot that's happened here that I will never ever forget.

Me and Zoila

Pedro, Milady and Kimberly (it was Pedro's and Milady's wedding that I went to at the beginning of the summer)

traditional folkloric clothing of Jinotepe

Norma- my host in Jinotepe

Welp, I will be heading off soon!! I'll probably post one final reflection post from the States!

Until then, un abrazo!
Rachel

Starting my final week in Nicaragua

I can't believe it- I remember the first couple days of my internship, I was thinking, 'this is going to be the longest 9 weeks of my life...' and here we are- in exactly one week I will be in the Managua airport, waiting to catch my flight to Atlanta- so I'm currently experiencing that feeling that there is so much left to do than there is time for! And I find myself already thinking about how I'll be able to get back to Nicaragua in the future. But anyhow, I should probably spend this week focusing on the now and making as much progress as we possibly can!

Later today I am meeting with Keren, from JFR (the organization which sent me down here) in order to discuss accomplishments of my internship and direction for where they can go in the future. I'm nervous. I'm nervous because I've done my absolute best that I think I was capable of while I've been here- and I have that inner fear that maybe my best isn't good enough- I hope that when she looks at what I've accomplished, she sees progress, she sees potential in the pharmacy for the future. I guess we'll find out soon enough what she thinks of my work with the pharmacy.

So I completed my report for her at 1 AM this morning- (rough) and then watched Joan of Arcadia before going to bed (thats my like all-time favorite show-- its a horrible shame that there were only 2 seasons of it--but if you have time and want to change your life by means of television shows- all episodes are posted on youtube- each episode is broken into 5 parts). Anyhow I am now mentally preparing by laying on my bed listening to the youtube playlist of Tenth Avenue North (they're my latest obsession- again: check them out!). I also painted my nails- so yeah- I'm pretty in the zone.

I'm actually going to go eat lunch and then look over my report- but I wanted to make a quick comment amount transportation here: yesterday- I was in a 15 passenger van- myself and 28 other individuals were actually in said van...riding about 50 miles to Jinotepe- talk about an uncomfortable transportation situation- that was a super human feat! And, I also road in a bike taxi!--thats when a bike is attached to this seat cart thing and they ride people to their destinations- so my transportation experience is really growing!

Okay I must be off, but I will be sure to check in with how the meeting went!
Rachel

Que Hora Es????

I love Nicaragua, love it love it love it. But- there is one thing I absolutely and entirely whole-heartedly hate- one thing that would make it absolutely impossible for me to live/work here long term- one thing that literally drives me insane on a daily basis here; what is that, you ask? Time. More specifically- the complete lack of respect for time, timelines, deadlines, schedules, etc. I have been raised to believe that your respect for other people's time says a lot about you as an individual. If I have a job interview at 5:00 PM, I will be there by 4:45 PM. If class starts at 9:00 I will be in my seat by 8:50. If an Application is due by Friday at 5:00 PM I most likely will have it turned in a week ahead of time. And if I tell someone I'll meet them at a certain time, pick them up at a certain time, go to lunch with them at a certain time- well then, I will do just that. I don't ever show up to things late, and I never miss commitments. I personally believe that this is a good quality, and I think that most people who I have encountered (at least in the states) hold to it (for the most part). When I was in Spain we joked around about "Spain Time"- which was basically that teachers would always start class 15 mins late- but even that, they did start later than the scheduled time- but it was consistently 15 mins late every time- so really it was just an altered schedule--now it's time for me to tell you about a phenomenon called 'Nicaragua time'....

Nicaragua time is some sort of time-warp fourth dimension non-existant phenomenon that is a combination of infuriating and hilarious (because of the sheer incapacity to do anything about it). Nicaragua time means that if you set a meeting time, it doesn't really matter what time you come, so long as it is after said time. This is why my ride picking me up from the airport was 2.5 hours late. This is why the board meeting I attended started 2 hours late- this is why everytime I go somewhere during the weekend, that it doesnt matter what my agreed pick up time was, I will be leaving late afternoon. This is why people just don't show up to job interviews at the elderly home, this is why the residents are hungry waiting for their meals to arrive sometimes. This is why I spend hours upon hours just sitting and waiting. (Can we rewind and reflect on how magnificent it is that Mario taught me about 'watching, listening, and being silent'...?-- I really put that to use on a daily basis).

My work day in Managua should be the following schedule: arrive between 7:30-8:00 AM to work until 5:00. Due to delays, traffic, and just  a late start from the person giving me a ride, yesterday I arrived at work at 8:50 today I arrived at 8:30. Yesterday I left at 4:45, the day before at 4:15...I hate that- I know that it reflects poorly on me, and I have no control over being able to get where I need to get and leaving when I need to, due to the fact that I am being driven everywhere. I was deeply apologetic and texted my coworkers to inform them I would be late both times- but I still just feel awfully guilty. I'm definitely looking forward to going back to a place where I can count on people to be places when they say they will (or at least within a small delay- not hours of delay) and to have control once again over myself and getting myself to everything on time. That is definitely going to relieve a lot of stress when I get back to Wake. Ooh I can't wait to get my hands on an agenda and a desk calender- and my to-do lists- my life lacks organization right now, and its making me slightly crazy!!! (more so than my normal threshhold of crazy)

Until next time-un abrazo,
Rachel

Another long weekend :)

The amount of long weekends I receieve seems very high, which is quite wonderful! I have Monday of next week off, which means I'm heading back to Jinotepe to help out at the elderly home!! (thought: I wonder if this is how it is year-round in Managua--if so, we really need to adopt this work policy in the states!) I don't really have much going on these days- we've been processing all the information we gathered on the island (and bonding- which is wonderful!) so work has been a little bit boring- but still very productive. And I'm enjoying the fact that I now work with friends instead of just coworkers! But, since everything is a little bit uneventful, I decided (per suggestion of my mommy- who I miss muchisimo) to make this a superlative blog post: outlining my bests and worsts of Nicaragua so far:

Best moment in general: the time I saw the rainbow while coming back from picking up t-shirts

Worst moment: When Panchita (98 year old woman at the elderly home) held my hand crying uncontrollably and started begging God to let her die.

clumsiest moment: when I walked into a cactus on the island- talk about embarassing!

Best experience: going to the volcano

Best new food experience: necatamales- love those little buggers (special Nicaraguan version of the tamale)

worst food experience: raw maduro (plantain)- fried plantains=incredible, raw plantains= one of the worst things I have ever eaten. and they are this horrible gray color after they sit in the air for a while. eeghhh

Favorite thing about being in Nicaragua: Definitely has been learning about and falling in love with the culture here. It amazes me how people with so little give so much, and strangers welcome you as if you're family. And for business- people aren't working to get rich here, they're working to help people- and it's really incredible to see that.

favorite songs here: "Es un secreto" by Plan B and "Dutty Love"- by Don Omar (I would reccomend youtubing them if you have time!)

favorite conversation I've had: So, if you've been keeping up with me, you know that I'm working with two girls from Barcelona. A characteristic of the Spanish culture is that they are very direct; if for instance you cook something and they dont like it- they would flat out say they don't like it. Or if you're wrong about something- they don't dance around it- they directly tell you you're wrong. So one day Cristina e-mailed Laura some documents. Laura asked where some specific information was, and Cristina told her it was in the second document. Laura told her she had only sent one document. Cristina simply said: "no. two". I thought it was funny and laughed and imitated her just saying "NO!". and then they had a conversation about how with the american culture, if someone is wrong or you don't like something you can't be so direct. About an hour later we were talking about music, movies, shows, etc. And I asked, "so do you guys like Selena Gomez?"...Laura:"NO." (I think I just had a blank stare on my face) Cristina: "Laura! You have to be more polite!...[turns to me to restate the answer on the Selena Gomez question] "I'm afraid not".

Best expression I've learned: "I'm sweating like a chicken"- hearing Laura say that in english the first time was quite funny. They loved learning the expression  "I'm having a food baby"

Anyhow, hopefully reading my best/favorite moments is interesting for you, and you aren't just bored! Have a wonderful weekend!!

un abrazo,
Rachel

Heading back to Managua

Sad day: yesterday we found out we have to go back to Managua early, because our trip budget has run out (we were supposed to leave tomorrow, but instead, we're leaving today). But I must say, this trip has been absolutely iuncredible. I've gotton to spend the last six days in paradise interviewing local hotel/restaurant owners in order to do market research of the island. And I think at some point during this week, my Barcelona partners and I made the transition from being co-workers to being friends. I love when you realize you've bridged that gap. They invited me to go to San Juan del Sur with them (pacific coast beach) which I unfortunately can't because I'll be going to work with the other organization, but it was awesome to be invited. And we've begun a little bit of talking about future get togethers- I feel like I have an established place to go in Barcelona, should I want to return to Spain- and that's pretty incredible. :)

I can't believe I have just over a week left with this organization- how sad!!! I don't want it to end- It's pretty cool that our work is significant- and will have a lasting effect. I know that even when I leave, it doesn't mean my influence has left- I'll be with that company for years and years to come- manifested in the design and implementation of our business plan. How cool is that?!?!

Well, my comp is about to die, so I must be off!!

Until next time,
Rachel

Yep I'm still alive and well!

Hey there,

It's been a while- I guess that's what happens when you actually are working hard- I ran out of time to blog last week! The new organization has been going great! We're creating a whole business plan for a property that the organization owns on the island of Ometepe, which is in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. We spent last week preparing interviews for tourists and various tourist offices, and mayor offices and hotels etc. And then on Thursday we came to the island to begin our market research! I once told people I wanted to do marketing, so long as it wasnt marketing research- I think I meant, my dream is to do marketing research...because here, doing marketing research means you go around the island living in paradise with all expenses paid for a week, while just talking to people- lots of american tourists to be specific, and hotel owners. It's incredible. And in case I for some reason don't return home, I've probably bought property on the island and have chosen to become an entrepeneur- so don't be alarmed.

I felt soooo useful today. Sometimes I don't feel so incredibly useful, because i'm slower to respond with Spanish, and it definitely does sometimes hurt my ability to contribute. Fortunately, my partners speak almost-perfect english, so they help me if I can't figure something out. But, something that never crossed my mind- they can't understand english if the person has an accent of any type--so today when we had to interview the hotel owner with an Irish accent: boom! all me. this afternoon, when we had to interview an australian hotel owner- boom. all me. Yesterday when we interviewed the Canadian hotel/restaurant owner- yup- that was me. LOVE IT!!!

It's really weird being here on the island. The local native Nicaraguans are so poor, and you still see the tin roof, straw wall homes with dirt floors, and people half naked because they dont have clothes- and then there's rich tourists and foreign business owners- and the land is just absolutely mind-blowing and amazing- so its a really really weird mix that seems so wrong, and yet so beautiful and wonderful all at the same time.

But I love it here- I absolutely love it. This work is amazing, this place is amazing. The natives actually thought this was God's promised land- trust me, if you saw it,  you'd believe it. Anyhow I'm going to add some pics and then head to bed. Got to get up at 6! eek!!

Goodnight!!
Rachel

The Island- volcano conception on the left, volcano maderas on the right

Go ahead- tell me you can't understand if I stay here...

drinking coconut juice (milk?) straight from the coconut!

Volcano Conception

Photo Update!!

I have fast internet while at work- so I am going to multitask, and continue writing my report on the economy of Nicaragua while simultaneously uploading pictures to share from my adventures so far!! ( I always was a good multi-tasker...good thing!)

At the Volcano Masaya

In the Volcanic caves

My birthday card from Zoila :)





caballo vallo- traditional Nica food. yumm!

Catarina- overlooking "Laguna de Apoyo"

Horseback riding! what what?

Pupusa (cheese-filled tortilla) again, yummmm!!

That is Volcano Mombacho

My handmade jewelry box- gift from Alma

My handstitched shirt- also gift from Alma

My bedroom #1!

My pet turtle at first home

Beauty and the Beast at the Ruben Dario Theater

My english-speaking friend, Guillermo

Hope you enjoy soome visual aids of Nicaragua!!
Abrazos,

Rachel