Nicaragua

So far, Nicaragua and Peace Corps in general (even with the crazy snow filled delay), is amazing. Today we had our language interviews, which basically is a way for PC to evaluate where our spanish language is at-we will then be put into groups of 3 or 4 based on our language level for our 3 months of training. Tomorrow we find out who our host families are, who our training site mates are and what level spanish we are! Even though our hotel is beautiful, being so close to everyone is fun and having 2 pools to swim in is amazing, I and I think most people are ready to dive in and start training. We waited for 3 days in DC and are in Managua, Nica for orientation for 3 more days...all interesting and great days, but I am ready! We had gallo pinto (rice and beans) for breakfast this morning, and while 3 meals a day of this may become somewhat redundant, it tastes amazing. Mango season is coming up soon, which is also very exciting...I´m really hoping my host family has a mango tree in their backyard. Dinner is in about 15 minutes, so I apologize for a short post. I will try to post as often as I can!
If anyone has specific questions that you would like me to address over the next 27 months (I almost just typed years by accident...) definitely leave a comment and I will respond as soon as I can!

Snowed In...in DC

I should be waiting in the Miami airport for our 11 am flight to Nicaragua. I should have woken up at 1 am in order to check out of our DC hotel at 1:30 to make it to our 6 am flight from DC to Miami. Instead I am in my hotel writing this blog. Positives of this-got to sleep a lot later than I expected to. Negatives-it's cold here! I should hear more about our change of itinerary in about an hour. I will keep you all updated with the status of the trip!
So far though, I'm happy-our Nica 55 Health Group is awesome! People are from all over the US, ages 21 to 31 ish, pretty diverse group. Really enjoying everyone's company so far. I think everyone is feeling pretty similarly right now-ready to go to Nica, but okay with being able to sleep some more.
I did have to say one last goodbye last night-we've been together for the past 5 years and seriously I will not look the same without you. To my nosering-I will miss you. My face feels lonely without you. Hope to see you again in 27 months.

Packed!

I have done laundry, folded, rolled, packed, weighed, unpacked, repacked, more laundry, more unpacking and repacking...until I finally ended up with 1 rolling duffle, 1 large backpacking backpack and 1 small carry on, totaling 78 lbs. I have packed things that seem normal-t shirts, socks, camera, towel...then I also have things that sound like I'm going to live on an island totally out of touch from society-shortwave radio, compass, hand powered flashlight, swiss army knife. The crazy thing is that in life I feel like I usually know what to expect-to a point. We cannot predict what exactly what will happen everyday, but we have an idea since we have gone through the same steps before. With Peace Corps and going to Nicaragua, I have no idea what to expect. PC sent us an agenda, but you cannot really get a feel for exactly how it will all go down. And that is something that I just need to be patient and wait for.
So hopefully the fact that I do not know exactly how to use a compass or a machete yet will not come into play in my survival...but more so the pictures, books and small reminders of home will power me through any tough times I have!