Goin' Green

A few months ago I attended an Environmental Education Workshop in Perquin with the director of my school and one of our science teachers. It focused on using a book put together by Peace Corps volunteers that includes many interactive ways to teach students about taking care of the environment. I used this book a lot last year when I was teaching the younger kids about the environment (the project that ended with the trip to the children’s museum and zoo in San Salvador). I consider this book an incredible resource for teachers in El Salvador because the lessons are easy, cheap (little to no materials), and fun. Most importantly, it covers a topic that is often neglected here--the environment. The problem with my project last year was that I did most of the teaching, which does not make for a sustainable foundation for giving environmental education here in Upire.

So when I heard about this workshop I signed my two teachers up immediately. During the four day event they were able to see us volunteers facilitate various lessons in the book, participate in hands on activities and small field trips, and prepare and present their very own class. It was a very practical and helpful workshop giving my teachers the confidence to actually teach the classes on their own in our school.

My director left the workshop enthusiastic and motivated to not only reproduce all of the lessons with all of the students in Upire, but also share this information with our entire district (a group of 4 schools in our area). Thus, the idea to replicate the workshop for our district was born. We pretty much mimicked the one that Peace Corps held in Perquin only a smaller version lasting only one day.

In the morning my teachers and I presented 3 different lessons from the book. I opened the workshop with a brief presentation of the status of the environment in El Salvador. Then my director followed with a lesson on Erosion and how important it is to take care of our trees.

I then presented on trash management and a project that some Peace Corps volunteers are doing using trash and bottles to build classrooms. In order to build the classrooms my fellow PCVs need 13,000 plastic bottles FILLED with trash, so we decided to help them out by making bottle-filling part of the day.

 Following the contest to fill as many bottles as possible, Nina Tonita presented her lesson on ecosystems and how everything living thing is connected in a "web of life."

Following that lesson we had a small break and lunch. The afternoon was reserved for the teachers to prepare and present their very own lesson from the book. I am happy to report that all the teachers were enthusiastic and did a wonderful job presenting their lessons despite only having an hour to practice.

I think the shortened workshop was a great success. The teachers seemed very interested and motivated the entire time and in the end ready to take what they learned to put in practice in their own schools. Luckily, I was able to get 4 books donated by Peace Corps so that each school could take one with them and hopefully use them in the future with their students.

Also for me this was a great way to come back from vacation. I had not a minute to think about being home sick for the states as I was stressing about putting on a good event for these teachers. POST VACAY blues averted. Thank goodness.

Until next time...take care of yourselves, each other, and the environment :)

Home is whenever I am with you

Amongst the craziness that was the month of March I neglected to mention here that I’d be traveling home at the end of the month. To be honest I think it is because (luckily) I did not have much time to think about my impending vacation. So, before I knew it I was heading to the capital to catch my flight home for 8 days. It could not have come at a more perfect time. I was exhausted from my March madness and it was also Semana Santa (holiday), which means no school, endless boredom, and a lot of food I dislike (weird fish concoctions). Plus, it had been 15 months since I had been home to the first GREAT state of Delaware. Needless to say I was pumped. Mostly to see and visit with my family and friends, relax comfortably, and eat everything I love.

Vacation was wonderful. I saw many members of my family, hung out with my mom (which included filming random videos in grocery stores—haha boy I missed her craziness!), saw my best friend Julia, and ate every hour. It was a fulfilling vacation in more ways than one.

Here are a few of my favorite things (I am sure this list is similar to other times I have gone back to the states, so sorry to be repetitive) :

1. Going out places with friends and family (FRIENDS AND FAM IN GEN)
2. Greek yogurt, almond milk, FRO YO (always), and roasted vegetables
3. Keurig Coffee Machines
4. Driving
5. Feeling Comfortable, Clean, and Free
6. Access to Internet
7. Hot Showers
8. Grocery Stores
9. Coffee Dates
10. Choices

Having said all of that (I could go on and on about the awesomeness that is America) I also have to admit that the adjustment to life in the states this trip was significantly harder than during my other visits.  I believe one reason is because I have so little time left and I know the “big readjustment” is just a short 5 months away. 

Another reason could be that the last time I went to the states I had Tricia (another volunteer, best friend) with me. Therefore, I always had her around to help me with different readjustment issues. When no one else understood something we were describing or we felt left out of a conversation or felt a little weird being back we had each other there for support. But this time I was alone in the grand ol’ USA without another Peace Corps person with me for the first time in 15 months. It took this trip for me to realize just how long 15 months is and what an impact that truly makes on you and your life. Mostly, it made the USA feel very lonely in four big ways

1. Okay, so I don’t want to be that person ragging on technology since I myself have a bunch of my own gadgets that I like to play with, but I just wish people would PUT THEIR PHONES DOWN. I love the iphone as much as anyone, but seriously when you are around other people try to focus on them not whatever it is that is so pressing on your phone. 
2. I think as a result of problem number 1 comes problem number 2. People just seemed cold, unwilling to chat, and very unfriendly. They are glued to their phones and barely (if at all) utter common courtesies while coming in contact with other people. Maybe this East Coast gal has learned a little bit of small town charm from El Salvador because I now find this almost unbearable. It made me miss Upire a lot. People there know me, always greet me, and I everyday feel the warmth and care of my neighbors.
3. On top of all that, I just felt very lost in many conversations that I actually did get to have (unless I was explaining my life, which I think makes everyone else feel lost). I am so very disconnected from a lot of current events, themes, trends, and unfortunately from the details of the lives of my family and friends that it makes conversing in depth and relating to one another almost impossible.
4. Finally, I think my biggest issue was that Delaware does not really FEEL like home anymore. My place is no longer there. My life is no longer there. Of course, it is where my mom and family live and it is where I grew up so it will probably always feel like returning home in some way but I don’t really live there. I don’t have a house or even a room, my stuff is in boxes, my job is elsewhere, and my friends have scattered across the globe. I guess to be truthful Delaware really is not my home anymore. It is not where I currently feel most connected. And that is a hard pill to swallow. Because I know in 5 months or so, El Salvador will no longer be my home either. 

I admit these challenges with the hopes that I won’t offend my lovely family and my incredible friends. I hope they understand these challenges rather than feel hurt that I felt this way. This is a strange and temporary time of my life. I'll come back and after a short period in the states I am sure it will seem like I never left as most of these challenges begin to fade away. I’ll have an iphone. I’ll know the latest news and trends. I’ll stop talking about El Salvador as much. I will hopefully find my place and community there.

 However, I do hope that despite going home and “readjusting” that I never forget what I have learned here. It is our connections to others and our relationships that make life splendid.  It is our community. It is feeling connected to those around us. The things you share in person face to face...rather than on Facebook. That makes a home.

Visitors Part 2

First and foremost I hope you read “Visitors Part 1” because it is a great post, but also because it will provide you with the necessary context to process this next segment. This past week March 18^th- 22^nd, Upire and I hosted 3 new trainees and a Spanish Teacher from Peace Corps Staff in what is known as Field Based Training (FBT). FBT is a week-long immersion trip (see Visitors Part 1 for information on Immersion Weekend) where trainees are expected to help a current volunteer with executing some of their projects (FYI: This was not part of my training). Current volunteers were asked to apply to host by submitting a schedule for the week and how the trainees would be asked to participate and help. Additionally, we were asked to find host families for each of them for the entire week.

My work plan looked a little like this:

Monday: Arrive to Upire around 5, eat dinner, and sleep at Jamie’s house.

Tuesday: Meet host families, meet students in my art class, begin painting light posts, continue painting in the afternoon, prepare for Wednesday’s food festival, and stay with host families.

Wednesday: Sell American food in the First Annual Food festival, help with games and activities, and help clean up at the end of the day.

Thursday: Cleaning Campaign of the community, paint light posts, celebration with host family of a week well done!

Friday: Trainees leave for Santa Rosa to go to San Salvador

Looking back on my plan we were very successful and I very content with the amount we accomplished in a week. We followed that schedule almost exactly. The only hiccup was on Thursday afternoon we had to cancel painting more posts because there was a huge rainstorm. I think it was a blessing in disguise though. The trainees and I were exhausted and it gave us a little time to celebrate finishing FBT, process the week, and have a small question and answer period, which I hope was helpful for them.  

Here are some pictures of our week: 

Boys leading the way

Yeah, girls can paint too! 

The painters and myself!

We sold Mac and Cheese, PB&J's, Rice Krispie Treats, and Pop Corn!

Peace Corps Staff came to visit! Eating Soup with cow stomach :)

Trainees enjoying food festival

Cleaning the community campaign!

That was FBT in Upire. I am so grateful I was able to host because it gave me an incredible opportunity to move forward with the painting project, add a unique touch to our first food festival, and give my community a chance to show off a little bit for the trainees. It gave my community members (especially the kids who worked with us and the host families) so much pride that we were chosen to host and to do our best to provide the trainees with a rewarding and comfortable experience. I hope that we succeeded in that! Thank you so much to Ariel, Ismaldi, and Jacky for coming out and helping us! It was truly a pleasure to have you all.

However, I also have to admit FBT was downright exhausting. It was like a more intense Immersion Weekend (see previous post for details). You can multiply the challenges, stresses, and frustrations by 3. I am so glad that I did it, but I am also so glad it is over. Selfishly, I am kind of ready to have Upire to myself again.

Of course, until you decide to come!.....

Visitors Part 1

There is something special that happens when you bring people to visit your community. I am not sure what it is exactly, but you get so many points for it. Maybe it is that Salvadorans love to see that you actually have other friends? And on top of that that you are proud enough to bring them home? Maybe it is the allure of meeting a new person? Maybe it is they are just bored with you and like a shiny new face? Whatever it is, I’ll take it. I’ll never turn down the opportunity to gain more “cool points” in life. (READ: COME VISIT and HELP A SISTER OUT).

I have not had many visitors (COUNT: my two bosses and the previous volunteer, Brian ) up until this point in my service. I promise it has nothing to do with me. I am a good host. I provide good snacks, a comfortable house, and an amazing community that will welcome you with open arms. I’ll chalk my lack of visitors up to Upire’s location—maybe just a little too far for the average traveler. However, the word has spread, our luck has changed, and rightfully so Upire has become a high-class tourist destination. I have already received 4 visitors this month and this is just part 1.

Okay okay I am exaggerating a bit. Tourism is taking it a little far. Most of my visitors came because they had to (work related/training), but despite that tiny detail 4 new Americans over a 3-week period in a small rural community feels like tourism is booming.

I know you are interested so here is the general breakdown of my visits:

Visitor # 1:

A lovely volunteer friend of mine who just finished her service came to visit me for a few days. (SARAHHHH! How’s the states?! I hope you are eating the steak and potatoes you talked about as I write this. Miss you every time I put on my sea horse (caballo del mar?!) shirt)…which is at least every 3 days). She is the one visitor who came for the pure pleasure of my company and to enjoy the cool climate in Upire. I should have put her to work teaching my students how to make fabulous bracelets because she is a rock star at it, but I had just come back from a workshop with my teachers and was feeling pretty lazy and unmotivated to go to the school immediately the next day. Instead, I just took her around the community and we hung out in my house. I hope she didn’t mind the lackluster, unproductive visit. I really enjoyed just having her up to hang out with me. Plus, she is so easy going I knew I did not have to worry about her. It was a nice, relaxing, easy-going visit. The best kind!

Visitors # 2 and # 3:

Then for a weekend in the beginning of this month I had two visitors in one weekend! If you recall during my training to be a PCV I wrote a post entitled Immersion Days (or something like that). It documents my weekend visiting a current volunteer in their site, learning what is means to be a volunteer, and to live in the campo. It also documents my challenges, surprises, and my infamous one time only chicken killing experience. Well now the tables have turned and I find myself writing as the host of two future volunteers. Our weekend was pretty relaxed for the most part (as weekends usually are). Plus, one of my trainees had a cast on her leg which made a lot of things seem impossible when I planned the weekend, but she had such a great attitude and can do mentality that I believe we could have done way more than I had anticipated. We arrived to my site late on Friday (9 p.m.) because we got off the bus and met my host mom in the community a little bit up the road to help her set up for a big birthday party. The poor girls were stuck setting up chairs and tying ribbons, but they also got a chance to meet my youth group and see just how flexible one must be during their service. On Saturday I brought them to Dia de Comercio and then in the afternoon dropped them off with host families so they could spend the rest of the weekend being "immersed."I hope they enjoyed the weekend. For me, hosting two trainees was a really fun, reflective, and draining experience. I guess I should explain what I mean by all of those feelings.

FUN: For the most part, hosting is really fun. It is a chance to show people what you know best: the place where you live. It gives you a unique opportunity to be a guide and convey the love and deep connection you have to a certain place. Hosting other Americans also wins you cool points (mentioned above) and provides sometime to chat in English, gossip about Peace Corps or life in general, and feel a little more at home for a brief stint. For all of those reasons, I really had a fun time hosting trainees. I got to meet two new friends, to tell my random stories from the past year and a half, talk to them about training and their current situations, and introduce them to a community that I believe represents the best of El Salvador. Additionally, they were a breath of fresh air for a Peace Corps program that has suffered quite a bit during my time here. I am so excited to see the program rebuild again, welcome fresh faces, and start a new chapter for Peace Corps E Salvador.

REFLECTIVE: During the weekend, I could not help but find myself reflecting on my service. For the first time since I arrived to this country, there is a group that is newer than mine. I am no longer a “newbie.” I think it took meeting this group of trainees for me to actually realize the truth in that statement. I am that “older” volunteer that I remember during training giving me annoying advice, telling me to suck it up, and learn to live in rural El Salvador instead of the fancy USA. During training I often hated the condescending tone of the older volunteers telling me let go a little more, eat the food and gain the inevitable weight, and learn to be more patient and flexible. However now that I am in the position of “older” volunteer I realize just how right they were and how terrible it feels to give that kind of advice, especially remembering how you felt in their situation. But, I realized in order to become the volunteer I am today, I had to follow their advice. You have to let go of your old life and embrace a new one, you have to eat with your family and gain a little pudge, and more than anything you have to be patient, flexible, and ready for an emotional roller coaster. I think the quicker you learn the better off you are—hence I told the trainees the truth with all the brutal honesty I have in me. I hope it helps them in the long run, even if they hate me for it today.

DRAINING: Well hosting can be fun, it can also be draining. First, I have gotten pretty accustomed to being on my own in my site. Therefore it was a little out of my routine to have two other people around me constantly. Moreover, two people who actually relied on me to kind of take care of them. I was in charge of their daily activities, their travel, their host families, and just their overall well being while in my site. It sounds easier than it is. Trainees are still new and adjusting to life in El Salvador, which means they are a little more vulnerable to the elements. They are not quite used to the dirt, bugs, stomach issues, travel time, language, host family life, food, climate, lack of privacy, need to be social with everyone, etc. As their host all of that falls on you to try and mitigate potential discomforts if possible. However, this is virtually impossible and leads to some stressful and frustrating moments for all parties involved. 

Visitor #4: 
Following Immersion Weekend I was so happy that my next visitor was one of my favorite current volunteers, Kara, who is not only one of my best friends in country but also a fantastic volunteer, person, friend, and human being in general. Hosting Kara was awesome because she is flexible, ready for anything, and always has a positive and energetic aura about her. Not only all of that but she also taught my kids how to make wallets out of chip bags and make paper beads (all part of my art and leadership course). Talk about a rock star! Here are the pictures: 

It was a really productive week with Kara. My kids loved her, the crafts that they learned, and are more motivated than ever to keep coming to class. Mission accomplished! Until the next visitor...here is a picture of me and Kara!

The New School Year

I know the New Year started over a month ago now, but my posts since then have been only dedicated to chronicling my vacation to Nicaragua and my hopes/dreams/challenges in discovering my post PC future. Both are good posts in my humble opinion, but lack information regarding my actual life in PC. So… here goes a general life update post.

I feel I can split life in PC El Salvador up into categories.

1.    Daily living in the campo

2.    Work life in terms of projects

3.    PC Events/time off

All are unique parts of the experience and one could write a book about each part and its influence on the greater PC journey. But here is a post instead…

1.    Daily life, just like at home in the states, is both comforting and boring, sometimes it drives you nuts, and other times you crave its sense of stability and normality. Here in Upire daily life is pretty simple- I wake up, have coffee and breakfast, go to the school, hang out with people, help with housework, and finally have dinner with my host family to round out the day. Yes, it gets old after awhile, but this experience is an important part (maybe even the most important part) of a being a volunteer—learning to live and embrace a different kind of daily life. Although it can be boring at times for those of us used to being able to do a variety of activities at a moment’s snap decision, El Salvador also likes to throw us Gringos surprises and learning experiences almost daily. Never in the states would I spend a day picking green beans and ZUCCINI:

YUMMMMMM

Showing zuccini

relaxing among the green beans

Host Mom and Dad Picking Green beans

2.    Work here, just like in the states, is a mix of success and failure, frustration and ease, enjoyment and pain. This past month, of course, I have experienced a little bit of all of them. In good news, I have started my Art and Leadership Course with the introduction lesson, a few small art projects like harmonicas and flutes, and taught my first big lesson in the art of making a piñata. FYI: I never want to make a piñata again. We have some really cool lessons planned for them including making wallets out of chip bags, bracelets, making masks, doing tye dye, a “food as art” day, and painting our light posts in the community. It is going well now, but a few weeks ago I had a horrible breakdown when everyone bailed on every single meeting I had planned. The youth group bailed on a meeting before a big market day, the kids did not show up for the art class, and then during the market day the woman supposed to bring the donuts (for our version of the Krispy Kreme Challenge foot race) did not show up. Unfortunately, we could not have the “Race for Donuts” in Upire. I guess it just was not in the cards. It is a hard lesson to learn, but sometimes things just can’t happen the way you want them to and you just gotta keep truckin’ along. Because once you keep moving you find that things turn around eventually. First, I got wind of potential funding from the German Embassy and have submitted a grant for my school to win $10,000 to update the kitchen, cellar, and eating area for the students. CROSS YOUR FINGERS! Also in breaking world news, I convinced my school to give SEX ED! Biggest success since Dia de Comercio. We started already with one class—very easy and tame subject matter, but I am so excited that despite the religiosity of my community, they are finally willing to take the leap and educate kids regarding sex. So, all in all work is good- some days great, some days just plain terrible.

3. PC Events or anything involving other volunteers is always something special. I can't really compare it to anything. It is it's own animal. This month I have been around volunteers quite a bit.  First, to say goodbye to the group 6 months ahead of us who are currently finishing their service this month. We had a goodbye party for them at the beach in the beginning of February. It is hard to watch them go since they have been the group who stuck it out with us our entire service. I will miss them all so very much! Right after that I headed towards Perquin to help translate for the Eye Care Campaign-another fun and rewarding experience just like last year. Now I am back in Perquin helping with a Environmental Education Training for teachers (including two teachers from my community). It should be a great training. I am really looking forward to it. Plus, Perquin is just so so nice.

So that is the general breakdown of my current lifestyle. It is a good mix of everything. Just keep truckin'!

Dia de Comercio- selling some soup

Looking Ahead

A few years ago, my two best friends and I sat down on New Year's Eve around the kitchen table not planning to go out, not even planning to leave the house nor remove our pj's, and barely even considering making "resolutions." Instead we created Bucket Lists. Really long ones filled with the easily attainable, the difficult but doable, and the nearly impossible, but still not impossible.

Today, I still have this list. It is obnoxiously long and filled with my funny, random, simple, and crazy desires. Despite being a little frivolous in some cases, it is probably one of the most important documents a person could and should own. With it you can reflect and ask yourself, how many things have I checked off my bucket list this year? Then you will know you are really living the life you dream of. 

It is with that list in hand that I look back on this past year and a half and realize I am exactly where I wanted to be many years ago when I wrote it. I am living the life I had dreamed of then. The list is significantly shorter now and I have crossed off some big ticket items- joining PC ( and finishing...almost...), becoming fluent in a foreign language, living abroad for more than a year, and climbing a volcano among just to name a few. I realize I am lucky. I am fortunate enough to not only have dreams, but to watch them come true. There are so many kids around the world, including here in Upire, that don't even know how to dream. I am so grateful that my I was born to a Mother who constantly told me I could be anything I wanted to be, that I was born in a country and in a place with the resources and a school system that helped me learn, grow, and reach for the stars, and through that I developed the skill and confidence to dream BIG. 

Although it is a beautiful gift that I love and treasure, it sometimes gives me great anxiety. 

I guess to be politically incorrect I have "first world problems." I spent some (more than I care to admit on this blog ;)) time this month updating my bucket list and trying to figure out how to keep living my dreams. Tragedy struck when I realized I have too many dreams. I know what you are thinking...poor, selfish, little, ignorant Jamie wants to do and see everything. She actually spends her time creating a list of dreams. Yes, GUILTY.

Okay, it is not that bad....what I mean is that 2013 is a new chapter. I will begin and finish my final projects in Upire, I will finish my Peace Corps service, and return back to the states saying goodbye to the last two years of my life. It is terrifying because for the first time in my life I do not know what is next for me. I have a lot of dreams or ideas for my life, no sense of direction, and little sense of place geographically speaking (all I know is Mom lives in Delaware, but I can't say I want to, sorry Ma). So, the world is literally wide open (well as long as the world will have me and circumstances permit). 

Many (even I) would call me lucky. Free to dream up a life. Free to pick and choose as I see fit. Free to explore for a bit. But as much as I like adventure, freedom, and change Peace Corps has taught me that although all of that is fine and dandy at times, there is also great beauty in security, stability, and having some kind of plan or schedule. So how does one reconcile wanting adventure and security, wanting change and stability, and wanting freedom but also some concrete plans and a schedule? 

I thought 2 years in Peace Corps would give me time to think and "figure out my life." Although  I have time left still, it does not feel nearly long enough. In fact, I believe it has been my relatively long time in the Peace Corps that has given me some tough love and opened my eyes to the reality of certain dreams. As a result, I find myself trying to reconcile the seemingly opposite personal desires listed above. 

So my dreams do not seem so clear anymore. Barely clear enough to make a Bucket List I can make sense of. But maybe that is the point. As one proverb says, "A well beaten path does not always mean the right road." Maybe I am just carving a new type of road- something previously unknown, untouched, and unique. Something that right now does not make sense. Maybe my path is not there yet, it is waiting for me to make it. I know it sounds cheesy, cliche, and like a line from a stupid, romantic comedy, but it is probably true. There is a way to reconcile all of my goals. I just have to do the work and find it.

"It may be when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey." 
**Wendell Berry 

For your viewing pleasure a look into the current Bucket List (10 only):

1. Finish my Peace Corps Service 

2. Upon finishing PC travel through Central America

3. Run an International Marathon

4. Find my dream job

5. Get my Masters Degree

6. Learn to fly planes

7. Live in Europe

8. Pay off debt

9. Know Love

10. Finish Top 100 Books to Read before I die List

What's does your list look like?

New Year's in Nicaragua

Most of my closest friends know I am a travel junkie. Give me a plane ticket and I'll go. Just about anywhere. However, I have some places I DREAM about going, places that I just can't bear the thought of not seeing before I die. Places like India, Turkey, Denmark, Greece, Lebanon, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa, Tunisia, okay okay you get the point. Before I joined Peace Corps Central and South America were pretty low on my wish list. I mean I would not have turned down the opportunity to go (aka I came to PC El Sal) but those countries were never quite as intriguing to me as India or Lebanon for example. Of course, Peace Corps has changed me and my perspective quite a bit. Nicaragua?! Really...? It probably would have never made my top 100 of places to visit, but now I am already itching to go back. Even amongst the Central American countries I had it seriously underrated. Next to Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Mexico it seemed kind of meh. But those feelings were just symptoms of ignorance and my failure to truly understand that all countries around the world are beautiful. Let's see just SOME of the beauty that is wonderful Nicaragua:

On top of Cerro Negro near Leon.

Volcano boarding!

Somoto Canyon Tour

Tour of the Flor de Cana Rum Factory!

Lounging at the beach.

Popoyo Beach

Hanging in Granada

Eating tour of Granada

That is vacation in pictures. Now a little bit in words. Four members of my PC training group and I went to Nicaragua for ten days visiting Granada, Leon, Esteli, and Somoto. It was a fantastic trip that included a variety of fun activities, plenty of time to relax, and a lot of great memories. We started in Granada which is the Central American version of a European city. I arrived there and thought for a brief moment I was in Italy. It is laden with beautiful plazas, amazing restaurants, and cobble stone streets. We basically toured Grenada indulging in the food that we don't ever eat in El Salvador: iced coffee, hummus and pita bread, falafel, eggplant, bagels and cream cheese, gelato, etc. It was delicious. From Grenada we rolled into Popoyo Beach where we met up with Cory (a RPCV from our group who left last April) is currently working as a surf instructor (among his many talents). We also met up with some volunteers from PC Nicaragua!!!

We spent the next three days (including New Year's) hanging out at Cory's stunning beach and hotel. I spent my time sleeping, reading, running, sleeping, hanging in the hammock, and more relaxing. From there we ventured to Leon which is essentially a college town providing us with tons of good restaurants, fun night life, great second hand clothing stores, and NEARBY VOLCANO BOARDING. 

Volcano boarding was probably my favorite thing from the trip. Nicaragua is, I believe, the only place in the world where you can literally sled down (or snowboard down) a volcano. We carried our boards up the volcano for about 45 minutes to the top. It was a long 45 minutes mostly because I thought the wind would carry me off the side of the volcano, but we made it. After 45 minutes climbing it takes about 3 minutes to come down sledding. There is nothing quite like sledding down a volcano. I would FLY down and then have to flip myself to stop the sled from losing control. Surprisingly, it does not hurt. The terrain was rocky, but more of a soft, volcanic ash. It was thrilling, fun, dirty, and a once in a lifetime experience of pure adrenaline. I loved it.

The next day after volcano boarding we toured the Flor de Cana Rum Factory. For those of you who know me you know I am not much of a drinker. But Flor de Cana is different. It holds a special place in our hearts as the cheap rum that is ubiquitous at PC events. Therefore, when you are in Nicaragua (birthplace of Flor) you have to check out the factory. Plus, I had never seen a rum factory, nor tried the 18 year aged rum, so I HAD to go. I was quite surprised at the sophistication of the factory and just how much I could learn about rum from an hour and a half tour. Definitely worth its heavy price tag. 

The last stop on our trip Esteli/Somoto. It was a nice change of pace because of its cool climate (NICARAGUA IS HOT--it feels ways hotter than El Sal). We were happy to sleep under blankets and walk outside in sweaters and jeans for a few days. Somoto was placed on our travel list when we heard from a bunch of backpackers in El Salvador that it has a one of kind canyon tour including a long float trip down the river, jumping from high rocks, and beautiful canyon views. We were sold! It was a beautiful trip and really fun. I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy the thrill of jumping from cliffs! 

Overall, it was a really fun trip. I am so thankful for such wonderful friends to travel with, the opportunity I have been given to travel here in Central America, and the realization that even places that you don't really think about going to have so much for you to discover. I am looking forward to discovering more.