12 More Days ...
Until I leave to spend 20 days in Nicaragua. I am STOKED!! Not too worried about the current violent protests that are going on because of the increased bus fares (only about a $.03 increase in US currency but to a lot of Nicaraguans it could mean the difference between their kids' having or not having dinner that night) According to the news, they have gotten pretty violent and one cop lost an eye, another was hit in the chest with a homemade mortar. I just spoke with my best friend Ivonne in Nicaragua and she said there are no problems near the orphanage since that is far enough away from the city and there won't be any problems for her and my other best friend, Abi, to pick me up from the airport when I get in. None of the buses in the city are running since the drivers are all strking because of the protests, but the cabs are still going and we'll probably take a cab from the airport back to the orphanage. Ivonne told me the kids at the orphanage are all out of school for the time being because most of the teachers take the bus in from Managua and since the buses aren't running, classes are canceled for now. I just can't wait to get down there again and see my friends and the kids again. Nicaragua is my favorite place in the whole world and I am hoping to move there within the next 3-5 years. I've started selling Arbonne products and my hope is that I will do well enough with that to replace my salary, quit my job and move to Nicaragua. I wouldn't need much to live on down there, and if I can keep my Arbonne business going online up here and maybe get a couple shows per month at some of the resorts and hotels in Nicaragua for the wealthy Nicaraguans and tourists, I would have plenty.
Of course, until now, the longest time I have spent there has just been a week, so we'll see how the 20 days goes. I know it will be a blast. Ivonne already has my weekends planned for me, including a trip up to Matagalpa in the northern highlands of Nicaragua so I can meet her husband's family and we're going to take a canoe out on some artificial lake that's up there. And another weekend we're going for lunch to Ivonne's mother's house in Managua and then spending the rest of the day in Catarina where there is a gorgeous scenic overlook and lots of artisan shops and stuff. The other Saturday I am taking a bunch of kids, Abi, Ivonne and Ivonne's family to spend the day at the Montelimar resort. Should be a blast. I am also hoping to plan a field day or two at the orphanage for the kids. Some of my friends have stocked me up with stuff from the Dollar Tree and I figured they would make good prizes for field day races and games and stuff.
I can't believe I only have 12 days left until I leave. Hopefully they will fly by, which I think they will. I am moving into my new townhouse (actually, it's not mine, it's my parents', but I get to be their tenant) and have a lot of boxes to unpack and organize and I want to have that all done before I leave. That in itself will take most of the time I have between now and when I leave. That and studying Spanish. My favorite way to do that is watching movies in Spanish, especially movies with Gael Garcia Bernal. Es muy guapo. Um, but the Spanish is not exactly what I am paying attention to when I watch his movies ;)
Of course, until now, the longest time I have spent there has just been a week, so we'll see how the 20 days goes. I know it will be a blast. Ivonne already has my weekends planned for me, including a trip up to Matagalpa in the northern highlands of Nicaragua so I can meet her husband's family and we're going to take a canoe out on some artificial lake that's up there. And another weekend we're going for lunch to Ivonne's mother's house in Managua and then spending the rest of the day in Catarina where there is a gorgeous scenic overlook and lots of artisan shops and stuff. The other Saturday I am taking a bunch of kids, Abi, Ivonne and Ivonne's family to spend the day at the Montelimar resort. Should be a blast. I am also hoping to plan a field day or two at the orphanage for the kids. Some of my friends have stocked me up with stuff from the Dollar Tree and I figured they would make good prizes for field day races and games and stuff.
I can't believe I only have 12 days left until I leave. Hopefully they will fly by, which I think they will. I am moving into my new townhouse (actually, it's not mine, it's my parents', but I get to be their tenant) and have a lot of boxes to unpack and organize and I want to have that all done before I leave. That in itself will take most of the time I have between now and when I leave. That and studying Spanish. My favorite way to do that is watching movies in Spanish, especially movies with Gael Garcia Bernal. Es muy guapo. Um, but the Spanish is not exactly what I am paying attention to when I watch his movies ;)