Just got back from Costa Rica last week - I really enjoyed it.
Now commuting back and forth from Leon to Managua for
Agriculture Course.  Should be fun.

Fall 2010 Nicaragua

Check out my photo journey thus far on Picasa! Hope you enjoy them there, or you can view my photos on the slideshow to the right of the blog!

Going with the Flow

Before coming to Nicaragua I figured that this time would be just as easy as all my other trips out of the country; and now I see how very wrong I was in that assumption. I have never lived in a culture like Nicaragua before.  After being here for little more than a month, I have noticed there are many differences, both positive and negative.

In a class I learned of different stages that we and many go through in their time here in Nicaragua.  Unlike people that go to different countries for a short term, I have to stay for four months.  At first coming here is and was a thrill a new journey in life. And I was excited to just be out of the States – this lasted for about two weeks. A fight stage occurred next. I began to see how things are done here, and how people condone themselves.  I didn’t appreciate many of these tendencies or values. I often complained that my food was always the same; the internet didn’t work as fast or at all, and I was tired of being in bed at 8 and lacking any form of independence to go out at night.

As the weeks continued, I got more frustrated with how different things here are.  I started to crave more ‘American’ things, like chocolate, Facebook, and the ability to call friends and family back home.  I finally realized that my expectations of how things should go were dragging me down not only socially, but spiritually.  My negative attitude towards the way Nicaraguans did things wasn’t healthy; especially if I was going to be here for three more months.  At home, I like to think of myself as someone that goes with the flow of things, somewhere in my time here, I lost that. I decided that I needed to get back to that place.

As soon as I made this change of heart and mind, things have begun to get better.  The internet and ability to call home has improved, and I am enjoying my food much more. Since this change of heart I have started to appreciate certain Nicaraguan qualities more.  And while I could tolerate less early nights, less early mornings (due to roosters), and less rice and beans; all these things are here for me to endure, to grow from, and learn more about myself.

NICARAGUA!

Currently I am in Cafe Latino. Getting a nice fix of internet and espresso. Not always the best mix but it should get the job done. I thought to myself that I would begin my blog again, since I cant really speak to people about my experiences here.

I have been here for just over a month now, and at first it was great, then it stunk, and now I am getting used to the differences and enjoying myself once again. I just got back from the mountains of Matalgalpa and it was stunningly beautiful.

While I was there I helped farmers, and toured waterfalls and coffee plantations. More to come later. Here are a few photos of my time there, and Ill get more of a post later on, once I get more followers. :P