Blondie's a graphic designer

Obviously, this title doesn’t make sense to anyone other than me. So explanation: when I had my initial meeting after landing in Managua, the people I met with informed me of the various names that they will most likely be referring to me as. (Rachel is hard to pronounce- but when I told them they can call me Raquel they were very resistant- I think they think its rude or offensive to change someones name…I tried to explain that people call me that, and I respond to it, but we weren’t having success). I was told that I will be called, “blanquita” (young white girl), “Chiquita/chiquitita” (young girl), “chilita”(or something that sounds similar...i never quite catch it) (blondie), “gringa” (white girl) and a few other things that are currently escaping me. When they say my actual name it comes out usually like “rahhhshell”, but other than that I get called blondie a lot. I tried to explain that I’m not blonde; they tried to explain that I’m white- which to them is synonymous with blond. (weird)

Anyhow back to me being a graphic designer…today I showed them my three different fliers that I have created, and they adored them. The pharmacy technician told me she wants me to teach her how to do that so she can keep making handouts after I leave (it was Microsoft word, so hopefully I can do that). I’m glad that they like them. Sometimes I feel like the pharmacy technician and the administrator aren’t thrilled that I’m here, so the positive reinforcement is great. Something else that was great, of all three fliers, there were I think 2-3 grammar changes that the pharmacy tech made when she edited them, and that’s it!! How amazing is that, people?!?!? Part of me wants to send them to all my professors in Spain just to show them that I can be grammatical.

Tomorrow I check in with my boss. Keren, from JFR foundation, is coming to the elderly home and we will be meeting to go over everything I have done, what I have observed, and what I will be doing in coming weeks. I really hope that she is impressed. I’m trying my best, so I hope that that is evident and will please her. (Keep your fingers crossed for me, okay?)

That’s all for now!

~Rachel~