The Resolution
- alatorrediana
- Jan 4, 2017
- 4 min read
Six months ago I told myself I wouldn’t dare try starting a blog to detail my Peace Corps Experience. Five months ago I told myself I would stop eating potato chips as a meal. Four months ago I told myself I would no longer eat rice with two or more meals a day. But just look at me now; I’ve started a blog. I've also recently discovered Ranchitas, a (mediocre) substitute to my all time favorite Hot Cheetos. And yes, I have been eating rice (sometimes even for breakfast).
You see, I’m not very good at keeping resolutions. Which is why this endeavor will probably turn out to be a failure. But I promise I’ll try. Now, why am I starting a blog? The answer is twofold. Though I can’t see myself sitting down and trying to mindfully articulate my experiences, surroundings, and feelings towards everything around me, I can’t possibly answer the same questions I get about what I'm doing, how I'm enjoying life, or questions about Nicaraguan culture. So before I get back to anyone with a short two-word answer, maybe this blog will give anyone reading it a better understanding of where I am mentally and emotionally. It's important to note that not everything I write will be positive, just like not everything I write will be negative. If there are any locals reading my blog, please do note that google translate isn't always the greatest. Words can have double meanings and if they're taken out of context, they could appear to be more negative than I intend. I'm incredibly privileged to be here and will try to keep that in mind for the next two years.
Here's a short/below average review of what my life has been like up until this point:
Nica 68, the cohort of people I came to Nicaragua with after staging, landed on Nicaraguan soil on August 10, 2016. Throughout the next four days we all stayed in a nice hotel with hot water, delicious croissants, and a pool (I would soon learn that none of those things are a part of the norm here). We met most of the Peace Corps Nicaragua staff that would baby us for 3 months before throwing us into the wild, and we made some bonds with each other. I wasn’t a big fan of this awkward transitional period. I guess it’s important to note that half of Nica 68 was made up of TEFL trainees, while the other half were Environment trainees. I say “were” because we’re all now actual volunteers.
The following three months I found myself with 5 other trainees in the pleasant, little, big-city of Diriamba, Carazo. My time here was probably the best it could have possibly been for someone during PST (Pre-service training). I didn’t have to bucket shower, my training family was awesome, they had wifi, and my co-teacher always trusted in me (or at least faked it well enough) and was willing to try new dinamicas in class. Our numbers quickly dwindled from 5 trainees to just 4. Nevertheless, we persevered and delivered a great final presentation on our accomplishments and failures throughout training. All I can say is, thank-god a video of our terrible dance to our terrible interpretation of Gyal You a Party Animal doesn’t exist.
On November 10, 2016, 37 out of the 43 trainees that started the journey pledged before our staff, host families, and Laura Dogu, Ambassador of the Unites States to Nicaragua, that we would serve the people of Nicaragua as best we could. We made the commitment to stick it out for the 2 years, and finally became true Peace Corps Volunteers.
On January 11, 2017, I will have been in site and a real PCV for two months! That may not seem like a lot, but trust me—it can sure seem like it. That’s over 60 days of cold bucket showers, 60 days of eating rice and beans (probably less considering how picky I am), 60 days of having to meet new people almost constantly, 60 days of trying to get a schedule going, 60 days of beginning to learn the ins and outs of my community, and about 50 days of little kids calling me “Profé” and asking me, “Y ya no va a regressar el Profé Pedro?” (Translation: Is Teacher Peter not coming back?) For those of you wondering, Peter is the RPCV that was in my site before me.
The past two months have also been filled with a hurricane warning and consolidation, somewhat successful holiday celebrations, lots of reading, some gardening, and lots of sitting on rocking chairs.
Needless to say, Esteli, the department I’ve been placed in, has been good to me. The weather here is nice and fresco, my host family is lovely, my host mom is a great cook, and my fellow department PCVs are great. I don’t miss training itself but I do miss the amazing breakfasts my host grandma would cook for me, and my training friends.
20 months to go!
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