I have been in Nicaragua for two weeks and two days. I feel like I’m in some kind of time warp, because it seems like I’ve been here for months. And I am enjoying it and everything, don’t get me wrong, but time passes very slowly. (I know that 6 weeks from now I’m going to feel the exact opposite). But then at the same time- the days pass quickly. (I know, I’m being self-contradictory, but I will explain). Every morning I wake up at 7:00, and get ready to go to work. I leave anywhere between 7:45 and 8:30 (depending on the day) and I usually am at work by 9. The work day ends at 5:00; however, we never leave that early. So I get home around 6. That’s a pretty long day. I then eat dinner and write letters or use internet if we have it, and me and Norma usually watch a movie or Spanish soaps. And then I go to bed between 9 and 10. Play and repeat that 6 times until I get my day off on Sunday! Each day I get home, and I think, “Wow, it doesn’t feel like I just spent 9 hours at the home”. And right now, I can’t believe it’s already Thursday. It seems like I was just at the Masayan market and doing my horseback riding- but that was Sunday. So it’s this real weird mix of days flying by, but weeks feeling like months, and passing slowly in general.
Yesterday I gave Guillermo (my English-speaking friend) a handwritten copy of three Robert Frost Poems. I then made a little vocab list with the words that I thought he most likely wouldn’t know. He told me he loved it, and said he would keep it forever and ever for the rest of his life. After seeing some of the things that he has saved in the past, I don’t doubt that he will indeed save the poems forever. He asked me if I would be willing to write out the words of the national anthem for him when I have time. He wants to learn to sing it.
I have only one week and two days left here in Jinotepe and then I relocate to Managua and start my work with the other organization. I’m a little bit nervous. It’ll be a lot different from my work here at the elderly home. I’m also a little bit intimidated because I’ll be working with 2 students and a professor, all of whom speak Spanish fluently. I feel like since we are supposed to be collaborating, that it might be a little more difficult to contribute equally. (Here at the elderly home, I’m really working on my own, so when communication is tough, it doesn’t really hinder the work of anyone). Plus I’m just getting really comfortable here, and so it’s sad that I’ll be uprooting and relocating. (Although fortunately, I will come back for one final week here to Jinotepe, so at least I’ll be able to do some wrap up and say my goodbyes then instead of in a week.)
Oh I had a quick little joke to share. Every once in a while someone tries to tell me a joke. It usually doesn’t work out because I don’t know enough of the vocab and then they have to explain it in great detail- and jokes are never as funny if they have to be explained. (And sometimes I still miss it even with the explanation) But last night marked the first joke that I understood and responded correctly (aka laughed) and appropriately (as in at the right time.) Anyhow, here it is: (in English) Why did God create man first and woman second? ….because you always experiment first on animals and second on humans. (bahahahahhaah) Okay so I’m not sure if it’s a joke so much as a widely accepted truth ;) but I hope you enjoyed!
Anyhow, that’s all I’ve got for now. (Sorry, I know this post is uneventful- there hasn’t been too much going on these days) But I will keep you updated!
<3 Rachel
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