Holidays in Nicaragua

Dear Friends and Family,

Feliz Navidad! Merry Christmas! I hope you were able to celebrate this
special holiday with the ones you hold near and dear. I spent my
first Christmas in Nicaragua in Israel with my host family. We had
dinner together on the 24th then went to the "rio" (river) on the
25th. It was a nice outing but for me the feel of Christmas was
lacking. In many ways the lack of similarities in how Christmas is
celebrated in her Nicaragua and in the USA helps in lessen the missing
home feeling. I did find that in Israel instead of passing on
Christmas Cheer people were passing around Christmas "chisme" (gossip)
about the new person in town …ME!

Let me start from the beginning. On December 23 Israel had its last
promocion (graduation) for the 6th graders. In good Nicaragua fashion
it started 2 hours late and ran late. Lucky the DJ company had a
generator and we had some light in the building. (We had lost
electricity early afternoon that day.) Once the promocion was over
there was a "fiesta" planned (a huge dance party with a gigante video
screen). Up until the 6th grade fiesta I had stayed away from the
"Promocion fiestas," but since my host sister was in town and would be
going with her husband I figured I could attend and see what the party
is all about plus as a teacher I don't pay a cover charge. Sweet!

We went in and I planned to do more watching then dancing. I am not
there for more then 5 minutes and men beginning to ask me to dance. I
said no to each and every one of them. Not because I am better then
them or don't like to dance but because it's Nicaragua and I live here
in Israel so everything I do is watched and as I found out exaggerated
upon. So here is my reasons for not dancing with the men of Isreal:
Machismo is a big thing in Nicaragua. It is ok for men to have
multiple children with different women or date multiple women at the
same time or to drink excessively. So at this "fiesta" I am asked to
dance by men I don't know but am fairly sure they are married, they
are probably drunk, and I don't trust them to respect me. So I smile
and say no while shaking my finger at them (just incase they don't
hear me). Then there are men that I kind of know from the community
who ask me to dance. They are greeted with the same response why for
the same reasons but I know they are true and because they make me
uncomfortable or were rude to me. It is not ok to call me fat and then
expect me to want to dance with you. Never going to happen.

Side note: It is common place to call people out on physically
descriptions sach as fat, thin, white, dark skinned. Nicaraguans do it
all the time. Do they like it, that is hard to say. I am not a fan
of the fat thing but it's normal. My uncle told me one day "Oh you
look very fat today". "Thanks". In the same respect I have been told
"Oh you look thinner." Ok thanks. The new one I am hearing is you are
very Hermosa, which I learned in the USA means beautiful but it's not
true it is used to describe someone as pretty in a fat way. I chalk
it up to culture and go on with my day.

Back to the Fiesta. I did end up dancing with my friends in the
community, the hermanas (sister) Lopez, Haczel (my counterpart's
daughter), and my host sister. They attempted to teach me how to
dance the Nicaraguan music and I don't really get it. But I had fun
trying. I did teacher Chica how to dance swing, that was a lot of
fun. Towards the end of the party the men were drunker and at one
point one man was not happy with my decline to dance and Chica had to
block his advances. Then they started to throw beer and that was my
cue to leave. I heard later that a fight broke out and there were
guns. Possibly true or just more chime. Now because I attend the
"fiesta" the towns people have began to talk. Some of the men who I
declined to dance were saying that I would not dance with them and
that it looked like I was drunk. Really I think their egos are hurt
so they are going to talk bad about me. Then they wonder why I do not
talk to them. The other chisme in town is that I supposedly was
drinking at one of the local bars. Now it is true I do frequent one
of the local bars in town but not for the happy hour . Mirna one of
my friends in town and running buddy lives at the house that the bar
is in so I visit her and in turn visit a bar. So I have decided that
I will not be drinking in Israel anytime soon, if ever. I can only
wonder what the locals would say if I actually did something that was
worth gossiping about. Lucky the people that do know me in the
community know that the chisme is not true and I figure if I do not
give it the time of day it will become yesterday's news. But I will
keep you updated on any new "chisme".

At the end of this week Jan 4th I will have been in Israel for 6
weeks, the grace period for PC volunteers to live with a host family
then can move out on their own. It is also an important adjustment
time for PCVs in integrating into the community. PC gave me a laundry
list of things to do in these first 6 weeks which I have yet to
complete. Now don't think I have been on vacation all this time. I
have been doing/ starting things in Israel I am just doing it in my
own way. Here is a list of some of the work I have been doing:

1. Youth group meetings: made Christmas cards and abono (compost) so far.

2. English class: played go fish and reviewed numbers.

3. Running group: 5:30 am run 8 laps around the soccer field. 3 of us
usually go (Mirna (friend), Lisette (cousin) and me) but I had up to 6
people one day.

4. Visiting the community. On my visits I meet and talk with different
people in the community. More times then not I am feed or taught how
to do something. I have learned how to palmiar (make) tortillas and
make choco bananas.

5. Search for a House to rent. This process takes a while because in
Nicaraguan culture you have to ask indirectly about things. In the
states it is all business and you get straight to the point here no
it's small talk then some business and then small talk again.

6. Get to know my surroundings. I have visited two of the communities
near my town. One where I went horse back riding (Los {Pisotes) and
one where they sell really good bread (Bonete). I have also hiked two
of the Lomas (hills) around town. I found a snake on the last hike.
Good times.

7. Attend community meetings. I attended an NGO meeting with the
Alcalde (mayor) It ran late and the mayor never showed. Lots of
unhappy people. I attended a meeting about the promoccion date of the
kindergarten class. 2 hours of arguing and the date stayed the same
and half the group left unhappy.

8. Bus routes: I have been learning how to use the local
transportation system (school buses). I have the route down and I even
know what buses to take that will give me a free ride. I've saved a
few cords of free bus rides.

9. And there are plans for more such as a youth group English class
and a garden so I can eat more vegetables.
I feel like I am building a place for myself in the community. It is
a slow process but each day I make progress and for the most part do
enjoy being here in Israel in Nicaragua. I hope you al have a
wonderful safe New Years. I will be spending New Years with my host
family in Masaya. I am looking forward to a change for a few days.

I am sending puictures of the kindergaten graduation and the bathroom
and shower at my house. SWEET!

All the best
Olenka

Olenka Langen
Apartado Postal 77
Chinandega Chinandega
Nicaragua, Central America

Culture Shock and other stuff

Hola Fellow CountryMen and Women,

Lets talk Culture. One does not realize how deeply rooted culture is involved in every aspect of one's life. The culture one grows up with impacts how one views the world, how one sees what is "normal or strange" and how one interacts in another culture. Growing up in California I have been fortunate to see many different cultures and within my own personal culture development have a blend of German, Peruvian and US traditions. I thought I had seen many differnet cultures and would not be to suprised by the Nicaragaun Culture but... as I find myself living in this new country I call home I find that there is a lot to be said about culture and it's shock value.

TIME: In the states time is very strict. If the meeting starts at 10am you show up at 9:50 to make sure you are on time and not late. Camp Titan the summer camp I worked with at CSUF for the past 3 years had a saying "Early is on time, On time is late and Late is unacceptable". In Nicaragua the saying has changed to "Late is on time, On time is early and Early is unlikely". At school I have found that the school bell rings anywhere between 7:30 and 8am. Meetings start times are flexable along with Promociones (graduation ceremony) start times. I attended a Cabildo meeting this week which is a meeting with a NGO, the local mayor office and groups of youth from the surrounding area. I was excited to attend and meet the Alcalde and find out what possible projects are going on. Mareling ( a fellow teacher and part of the Cabildo commitee) said she come by my house at 8am to go to the meeting it starts at 8am. She shows up at 9am. Ok we're on Nica time. We get there and only half the groups are there. 10:30 the alcalde says hes not coming and the chairs have still not arrived. 11:00 The meeting consites of angry group leaders and An NGO trying to calm them down. I simply observe. 12:00pm Refresments are served and everyone is gone, oh and around 11:30 the chairs finally show up.

So I am learning how time works in Nicaragua and on Saturday i had a Promocion (graduation) of high school to go to. It started at 1pm I am told. I end up showing up at 2:30 I was late due to a Peace Corps Volunteer meeting in Chinandega. Turns out most of the graduates are not there either. 3:00pm the ceremony starts with a couple of Graduates still not there. From me with my US culture this is rediculas but for Nicaraguans its a normal part of life.

HYGINE: We are a culture fond of good health habits and health code. Nicaragua is very different. What has shocked me the most is nose picking. It is expected of small children to pick their noses but not of adults back home but here in Nicaragua it happens all the time by everyone. At first it shocked me but now I just look away when I see some one going in for the kill. Spiting and blowing ones know with out a tissue is a norm and if you have a dirt floor it happen inside too.

I have picked up on some Nicaragua habits like shrunching my nose when I done understand something or pointing with a lip pout in the direction of something, but spiting or picking my nose is not something I plan to adapt into my life.

RELIGION: I belive that I am a very tolerent person when it come to realigion and people having a different faith then mine. I like to learn about other religious and even will attend religious event. The moment I got to Israel I was asked are you Catholic or Evangelical. Then when I said Catholic I was told who went to Catholic church and that I could go with them to church. My host family is Evangelical and they did invite me to go to church with them. I figured it was good to go and be seen and to try soemthing new. Well it has been an interesting expreience goting to Evangelical church. There is a lot of loud singing and we play games that are to teach us a moral. I also have attended Catholic service for the conception of the virgan mary which is a big holiday here in Nicaragua.

Again there was a lot of singing and at the end candy was passed out to everyone. Then on the 7th everyone when around town for the Purisima to sing to the virgan marys set up at peoples homes. I went to a few homes and after a sad attepmt at singing a song I had no idea how to sing I was given candy, cookies, oranges, a cup and some fireworks. To me it felt like Halloween just without the costumes. I enjoyed the cultural exchange and then went home with my good. My host mom was not to all excited about my attending the Purisima something to do with praying to idols. But she didnt say much to me which told me she was not happy with me for the moment but thats life in Nicaragua. And now everything is fine so it all works out.

Everyday I find that there are things that to me are not Ok but I must remember that I am not in my own culture and I must adapt. For the most part I have. Sure the first few weeks were hard in my new town but I find now that I am enjoying my new Life in Israel. I take things slowly and try not to jugde with my american culture and be open minded to life here.

Other intereting happenings in my new Home of Israel:

I went to visit a Finca (farm) we had to walk 4 km to get there but lucky Don Monico came riding up on his horse so We only walked 1 km of the way there and 1km of the way back. It was fun to see the finca and ride some horses.

I decorated a chistmas tree with my host family and even though only half the lights works it very much bring the christmas season into the house.

I went on a hike up one of the lomos (hills) near my community and got a veiw of the pueblo. With Janet, Mareling, and Nancy who I would say are my new friends in town.

I am sending a bunch of pictures. Some are form Masaya and some are from my new Home. Enjoy.

Hope all is well. Happy Holidays

All the best,

Olenka Langen

Newspaper about PC Nica

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2008/noviembre/23/noticias/nacionales/296496.shtml

Famous in Nicaragua!

It´s Offical I am a PCV

Hi All,

Happy be-lated Thanksgiving and a Happy Holidays too. I am thankful for many things this year most of all knowing that I have the support and encouragement of so many friends and family members back home and in Peru. I'm not going to lie its been tough having to adjust to so much change and then once I finally felt I got the hang of things in Nicaragua I have to pack up and move to my new home, Israel. But as the days go by I am becoming more a part of the community and getting myself more established. I bought a plastic dresser today to store all my clothes. No more living out of a suitcase for me. I am also finding new ways to keep myself entertained since my site is considered a more "campo" rural site. I guess the dirt roads should have given it away. So let me fill you in on some of the happenings thus far.

I officially became a Peace Corps Volunteer November 20th, 2008 at the swearing in ceremony at the US embassy in Managua. SO technically I was in the US when this all happened, since its US soil. The Embassy did look a little like a college campus just with military guards everywhere. The ceremony was smaller then usually because of all the Political unrest due to the municipal elections in early November. It was a little sad because our Host families were uninvited to the ceremony due to the political situation. Everything has calmed done but it did get a little crazy.

During that time in Managua I had a small encounter with a crazy man on the street the 2 days after swearing in the day I was suppose to leave for my new home. I was walking alone to the bank in the morning and as I passed the man he pinched my arm and then threw a rock at me. I didn't get hit by the rock but it did upset me. A large truck loaded with men stopped down the street and were shouting at me. After a moment I realized that they were trying to help me and wanted to know if he had robbed me. They went after him and I don't know if they found him or what. I was just upset by the encounter and ended up staying one more night in Managua before heading to my site. I did learn a lot from that encounter and am even more aware now. I don't think Nicaragua is any less a safe place as somewhere in the states so what happened to me could have happened on the streets of LA. I am truly amazed at how helpful Nicaraguans can be when something bad happens to someone and it does show that bad things happen but there is good there too.

After a day delay I did make it to my site and have been adjusting to my new life. I attended the last few days of the school year at my site. It was interesting seeing how the school day goes. The class day was shorter due to it being the end of the school year which is similar to the states. But then half way through the class day the teacher stopped teaching and the students started working in the yard clearing the area where "real" flush toilets are to be built. That was interesting to see. The students ended up killing a tarantula and then bringing the dead arachnid to me. EWWWW!!! I am not a fan of the bugs that I am now growing accustom to living with. Spiders are the worst and I am told there are tarantulas running about too. I have no desire to find one any time soon.

I have also meet with some of the youth of Israel and watched some of a Volleyball game they played against another town. It was pretty hot and I was amazed at how they are able to play a sport while I am sitting around and feel like I am melting. I also went with my new sister Francie, fellow teacher Mareling and a student Nancy to the Rio (river). It was a 40 minute walk up the carreterra (hwy) then down some dirt road and down a small hill. I had the gripe (cold) and it got me out of having to go swimming. I have learned you don't want to agree to something before you know what you are getting into. I know what to expect in a hike the rivers in Nicaragua are another story they can be very dirty since they are used as a trash dump. Gladly however this river looks clean and I do look forward to swimming in it once the real heat rolls in come March. It did rain on our hike but we got to see a double rainbow. Which was a nice end to a long hike.

Right now is the windy season here in Nicaragua which helps with the heat in Chinandega but since I have dirt roads I unusually end up covered in dust and my room is covered in leaves. Got to love the tile roofs and walls that don't actually reach the ceiling. My Host Mom, after seeing that i had to mush stuff for the size room I had decided we need to knock down a way. It's made of plywood so it was more of pulling the pieces from each other. Now I have a room that's much more livable its till dark, no windows, but much roomier. We also placed a trap over my bed to help with the dust and leaved that rain from the ceiling. It's all a fact of life in Nicaragua. I bought a plastic drawer set so that I can finally after 4 months of being here unpack my life out of suitcases. The one big issue I have had to dealing with is all the trash burning. In the states we have a great way of getting rid of our trash and never really thinking of where it goes or what happens to it all. In Nicaragua I have learned a lot about trash. In my site we have no dump so trash is thrown anywhere. The street get lined with trash in most cities. In my pueblo they will sweep the dirt and then burn the trash, leaves and anything else that they swept up. Smoke is an issue and I know burning plastics in not a good thing for the environment. I am hoping to work on sorting trash to inorganic and organic. So that some trash is reused for compost and not just burned. I save my trash and take it to the bigger city to throw away since they have a dump somewhere.

But now for some nice news. Peace Corps did allow us to celebrate Thanksgiving and I was able to spend mine splashing away on the Beach in Leon. It was a lot of fun with 20 or so PCV from Chinandega and Leon. THe owner of the Hostel even cooked us a Turkey dinner ( it came with an American price), but was oh so delicious. It was a lot of fun to be able to celebrate a US holiday and with people that understand US customs.

I hope everything is going well with everyone. Thanks for all the letters and packages. They are the best. I will send pictures next time.

All the best,
Olenka

Lessons in Life

Hi All!,

Being sick has taught me many things this past few days. I have learned that even in a place that everyone says is terribly dangerous, Managua, I am able to get around the city on my own hailing taxis, walking to the hotel after dark, or getting a latte (there are some perks to being sick and I am talking advantage because soon enough I will be living in the middle of nowhere in cowboy country (it is possible I find out my site today at 3:30pm and cowboy country is a possibility). I have learned that I lived a very nice extremely comfortable life in California especially since I lived at home and my largest bill was gas and car insurance. Now I am paying my dues for the wonderful life I had in the states. No more AC, no more Hot water from the tap and half the time no water from the tap, No more laundry done for me; now I wash it on a cement washboard and dry it on the zinc roof, no more hop in my car and go for a drive; its all school buses now, no more target or walmart, no more just living life in the comforts of California. But hey I choose this and for every "no more" there are tons of moments and things that make living here in Nicaragua amazing. As the trainee Christa said "this will make a great story." I cant wait to see what happens next.

As for my health. I am no hopefully on the road to recovery. I felt better on Saturday then worse on Sunday and Monday. Tuesday and today I am feeling better and I hope it continues this way. There is no medical findings on why I have a pain when breathing but as long as it goes away then I will not complain. I saw a lung specialist yesterday Tuesday and he says my lungs are all good so that a good thing.

Today is a big day in Peace Corps Training we find out our sites. The site is the place/ community we will be living and working in for the next two years. I have now idea where I will be placed and I really don't have a huge preferring in the matter. There are things I like about each site which is good but also things that I'm not all to excited for but I know I will make the most of it. So today at 3:30 we will be told where we will be placed. But first we will have to sit through two charlas which will be torture. But the nice thing is I can breath a lot better today.

I will write soon with the news about where my site is and what it's like. We go on a site visit next Tuesday. Its going to be another adventure.

Sorry If I have not written back. The last few weeks have been busy and I mean to and will. Thanks for all the support and I love the letters they make my day brighter!

All the best,
Olenka
Write me:
PCT olenka langen
Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 3256
Managua, Nicaragua
Central America

P.S. Coffee shops have security guards. Its a dangerous place to go.

The Worst Day ever!

Disclaimer: Computer time is of short supply and I am letting you know
in advance that I may have some grammar errors in my e-mail.

Hi all!

Its been a couple of weeks since I last wrote and many interesting
things have been happening here in Nicaragua as I expect are happening
back home. Life in San Juan de Oriente is very tranquillo and much
slower then in California but in now way is it dull. I was going to
write about all the political happenings in Nicaragua and with us,
trainees, trying to vote. Then tell you all about the mold and how it
grows on almost everything, about learning how to make ceramics using
the manual pottery wheel (lots of kicking), and about the Finca (farm)
party we had and all the random games we played with Kendell´s host
family. And I will but I first must tell you about the worst day
ever.

This week started off with a me having a cold by Wednesday it was
really bad but nothing I couldn´t handle. But by wed night I had some
weird pain in my lower abs. So I went to bed hopping I would wake up
with the runs. I awoke Thursday moring to more pain now in my chest
area but the cold was feeling better and no runs. (yes!!) So I went
to Spanish class figuring I would feel better as the day progressed.
WRONG! By lunch time I was crying because I could only take short
breaths due to the pain in my chest and I had no idea what was wrong
with me. I had to call the PC Medical Officer (the doctors) and Dr.
Martha said I needed to come to Managua to get checked out. Lucky for
me Don Douglas our bus driver was going to be able to take me to
Managua, so I would not have to ride a cramp school bus.

I get to the Peace Corps office and I am in a haze. I not breathing
well by body aches I cant lay down and I have now idea what or how to
get though all the forms for PC or where to go a blood test or food.
Plus every 5 minutes or so I burst into tears because I have never
felt this bad or had a breath problem before and its really scary and
painful.

I spend the next five hours waiting around, bursting into tears in
front of all my bosses and finally asking to call my parents so that I
can stop worrying that they are going to freak out when they call my
house and I am not there. Dr. Martha finally calls me in to check me
out. She needs me to lay down to better examine the pain I am having.
So she tries to help me lay down and I feel like my throat closes up
and I cant breath. Now I am hysterically crying and gasping for air.
So I am put on a saline inhaler to help open my airways. It does and
the doctor is able to examine me. She pokes me gives me a funny look
then walks outside to get the other Dr. He pokes me then they both
go back outside. I am able to breath more normally so I am not to
freaked out but I don't think its a good thing that they are leaving
the room. They come back in and tell me that I can go to the hospital
to get test run now or I could go to the hotel and do the tests in the
morning. This days has already been horrible enough for me I don't
want it to end in a hospital visit so I choose the hotel. So off I am
sent with 2 inhaler medications, antibiotics, Tylenol for the fever,
and ibuprofen for the pain.

After a horrible sleepless night I go back to the office to get more
test done I have an ultrasound, a chest xray and blood drawn. I wait
around all day, but now know where things are and I can get food and
not feel like a 5 year old being driven around everywhere by Don
Douglas. My results are all normal. So now there is no specific
cause as to my pain and breathing problems which has lessened through
out the day. I still have to stay over night for one more blood test
and see if I am getting better.

The next morning I feel a hundred times better. So I am waiting
around the office for my results when George the country director
comes into the Volunteer lounge looking for me. He calls me into his
office which feels like I´m going to see the principal and he calm me
tells me that my parents are very worried about me and had called the
Office of Special Services (oss) (which is the emergency PC number)
and that I need to call my parents. I breath a sigh of relief it was
nothing terrible and that my loving parents were concerned about me
because they couldn't get ahold of me at the hotel. So I was able to
call home and reassure my parents that was feeling better and would be
back with the Family but that afternoon. Then George had to call OSS
and let them know everything was resolved. I saw the doctor and she
said my results are normal and that I need to just keep taking the
medication and see if I get better in a week. Still after 3 blood
samples in 3 days, a chest xray, and ultrasound she has no really idea
why I am having pain.

Today I have more pain and cant take normal breaths but nothing nearly
as back as Thursday. Tomorrow I have to get more blood drawn and then
talk to the doctors again. I am happy to say that PC Nicaragua does
not mess around with the cost of figuring out whats wrong with you.
Now I just have to focus on getting better and getting things done in
these last few weeks of training. Think healthy thoughts.

Here is a recap of the more fun side of training.

Mold grows everywhere. I have lost a bracelet to mold. I had to
clean 5 bags that had mold on it and I even found mold growing on my
shoes. Lots of soap and scrubbing.

Making ceramic looks easy but it not. I am in the process of make a
few ceramic bowls. The family we meet is really nice and is happy to
show us how to make ceramic. We are happy to learn and seem to
provide them with a lot of amusement as we attempt to kick the wheel
mold the barro (clay), don't apply to much pressure, oh yeah remember
to keep kicking the wheel)

Finca (farm) parties in Masatepe with Kendall´s family was amazing.
They family was so excited to have as go with them to their finca to
have a BBQ. They planned all kinds of games for us to play. Banana
eating contest, saco water balloon volleyball, water balloon relay,
and saco races. I think my blue team one but who knows. It was a ton
of fun.

There is a huge election coming up in Nicaragua on Nov 9th. There are
parades and rallies all the time. They shoot of ¨bombs¨ which are
just loud fireworks that go bang. Its annoying. Then they had a
rally in SJO that became a huge dance party. Peace Corps required
that we do not associate so I just observe the craziness of it all in
passing. Interesting thing about politics here is that its all about
the colors. Pink is the new red and black that stands for Sandinista,
red is the liberal 1 party, and red with a Nike swoosh and a 9 is
another liberal party. You can easily identify homes what are for
which party because they have propaganda painted on there houses.

Here are some photos.



All the best,
Olenka

Write me:
PCT olenka langen
Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 3256
Managua, Nicaragua
Central America

Esquipulas to Volan Masaya

Hola Familia y Amigos,

I´ve officially been living in Nicaragua for over a month! I´ve reached the half way point of training week 6, which means we have a lot to do in the next/last 5 weeks of training. Here is a recap of all the happenings the last few weeks since I last wrote.

One Saturday a group of us trainees meet up with a volunteer in the pueblo next to mine called Didia. She took us on a hike down to the Laguna De Apoyo, which is a lake in the crater volcano near San Juan De Oreinte. It was a long steep trek down but it paided off with a swim in the volcanically heated laguna. Very nice and relaxing. The hike back up is another story but the howler monkeys did not throw anything at us, we only heard their calls.

During week 4we had to do 2 formal charlas (meetings) in the elementary school and with our youth group. The elementary school one was on ¨los tres erres¨ (the three R´s). The kids seemed to enjoy the activities but discipline in the schools in Nicaragua is highly lacking. The youth group on the other hands rocks and really got involved in our decision making charla. We also had to select a mini proyecto (mini project) to do with the youth group and they selected giving a charla to the elementary students about trees and then planting some trees in the community. They are really motivated.

This past weekend (Sun-Wed) I spent in Esquipulas, Matagalpa on my volunteer visit with another trainee (Margot) visiting the volunteer Erika. Esquipulas is about 4 hours north or the pueblos and all we got was a sheet of paper with the prices and names of the bus depots and buses to take to get to there. So on Sunday morning at 6:30 am Margot and I flaged down the bus to Managua and were on our way on our adventure / field trip (we are traveling on a school bus). We had to transfer bus depots in Managua which ment we had to take a taxi. It really was not as scary as Peace Corps (PC) makes it sound plus I was able to bargain down the price. We arrived at Esquipulas and Erika was nowhere to be found at the bus depot / park. So we pulled out our map of the town ( not at all to scale) and walked in the direction of her house. We got about a block before we ran into her and her sitemate a TEFOL volunteer. In the 4 days that we were there Erika showed us about her town, 2 of the three schools she works in, where to buy the best vegetables and baking supplies, and on lots of hikes up and down the city since it´s built on a hill and you are either going down or going up. Her town is in the mountains so it rained a lot but the view was beautiful since everything is green right now. We also baked a lot of cookies and they were yummy!

Yesterday we went to Volcan Masaya. It´s one of the most active Volcanoes in Central Amaerica. We climed the volcanoe and could see the smoke coming out but no lava. Then we the crater volcano to the vista point where you can see all of Masaya, the laguna of Masaya, and the smoking Volcan Masaya. Then Don Douglas the P.C. bus driver dropped us off in Masaya for lunch and some shopping in the local market. The local market where we shop is non-tourist market so it is cheaper but dirtier then the tourist market. But hey I make a whopping 2 dollars a day so I go where I can get more for my money. The Market though is equivalent to a Walmat where you can buy anything from lunch to clothes, to household supplies, to bootleg music and DVDs. Its a very interesting place to shop. And today I may go to Granada if it does not rain.

In the coming weeks we have our mid training language interview and then our site fair to learn about all the potential sites we could be placed at. Then in Week 7 we have our last site interview and then on Monday of week 8 we find out our site. It´s all coming up fast.

I hope everyone is doing well. I´ve received my first package (thanks Jackie) and I have one more in the Peace corps office. I´m way excited to find out what I got. Thanks for all the letters. I love hearing about whats going on back home.

All the best,

Olenka

Write me:
PCT olenka langen
Cuerpo de Paz
Apartado Postal 3256
Managua, Nicaragua
Central America

School buses and Gardens

Have you ever wondered where old school buses go? I would have said Ithough they get scraped for part or sold at some car auction. But Iknow know that they end up in Nicaragua as the mass transportationsystem. Every wed my pueblo mates (Katie and Jenny) and I hop on aschool bus to go to our training meeting in San Marcos. It´s always afun ride because were still learning which buses goes where, you mightend up rocking out to 80 music, or end up sitting next to a livechicken. So far we have made it to our training meeting on time andon the right bus.
September 14 & 15 were Nicaragua´s Independence days. Everyone inNicaragua had a 4 day weekend. There were tons of parades on Sundayin all the pueblos. I saw 3 different parades. The best one was withmy host sister´s school. Peace Corps however did not observe theholiday and we had a full week of classes. Spanish is going well. Iam learning new words all the time and correcting many of my grammarissues. But there is still a lot of work ahead of me but I am givingit my full effort so when Nov 21st comes around I will be sworn in a avolunteer and not be sent home.
We started our meetings with the ¨grupo de jovenes¨ (youth group). Inour second meeting our goal was to have the student make a communitymap. Well they really like the map activity so much that we ran outof time to finish it. Horrible time management. But we are flexibleand we will finish it on Tuesday at the next meeting. Oh and Ernie(our technical trainer) made a surprise visit to the meeting. it wasvery sneaky of him but the meeting was over good and it was our secondtime doing it. Today we completed another project with the Jovenes ,we made out Huerto (garden). 7 members of the group showed up, allgirls, to work on the garden. It took us two hours but we weresuccessful and created a really nice garden. Peace Corps (PC) showedup to help us just as we were finishing up. Ernie said we had a verywell made garden. So I guess I am a quick study at gardening 101.
This week coming up (week 3) we will be observing the elementaryschools because in week 4 we will giving our first of 3 charlas(lessons) in the schools. And it will as always be all in Spanish.It´s going to be interesting.
Other news:
Its rained the most of the week. Two of the days it seemed like myZinc roof was going to crash in from all the rain. Good thing I havemy mosquito net.
I´ve had a lot of really good fresh made juices and some interestingdrinks like oatmeal or a chocolate popcorn tasting corn drink. yum
I have rice and beans at least twice a day and up to three times aday. Who would have thought GalloPinto (rice and beans mixedtogether) would be a breakfast food.
I have found and bought Resse´s (over priced), Peanut butter (freshmade), and fudgesicles (mmmm).
Everyday something new or interesting happens. There is never a dullmoment. Oh and letters make training meeting a hundred times better.Ernie passes them out and its like Christmas morning. So start writing.

Benvenidos a Nicaragua

Hi everyone, As you all know now I made it safe to Nicaragua and do have a way to access the internet. So I am not as isolated as you might think. Now where to begin... I spent 2 days in DC for training. I saw a bunch of monuments when I had one free morning. Then as a group of 40 we flew to Nicaragua. (we had 41 at one point but its back to 40). In Nicaragua we had a retreat at the Hilton of Nicaragua (actuially a best western in managua) there we had more training and found out our placements in the pueblos. It was a nice hotel there was a pool. hot water, ac, 3 meals a day, housekeeping. On the 6th we left to our pueblos. THat was an overwhelming day, but I survived. I am now living with a host family in a small pueblo called San Juan De Oriente. It is near a volcano called Masaya. I´m also near a few other volcanoes. My new family consists of 18 people living in the house. I´m not kidding I have to do a family tree as part of my homework. I am number 19 now. The family is nice. They are trying to help me improve my spanish by talking to me and helping me with my homework. I even tried to read the news paper( the 6 year old cousin reads better then me it was a humbling expereince). Turns out I can read and write better then a thought. I can also speak a lot of spanish but not always properly. So that is my biggest job now to brake my bad habits. (its like learning no to use gonna during student teaching). I have my own room in the house. It is across from a shared bathroom. We get water every other day. Today was no water so I took my third bucket bath. I am getting better at it. It is actually nicer then when we have water because Don Lucia the mother of the house heats up the water and the water that comes from the pipes is on temperature. Going to the bathroom is a different story. If you pure a bucket of water into the toilet it will flush. Did you know that. Its true on days there is no water I have to do that. I have been eating a lot of local food. So far no sickness from it. But it will happen says Peace Corps. The family keeps serving me huge portions. I think they understand now that I cant eat that much at one time. But now they say I eat like the baby. I agree and laugh. I normally go to bed before the kids do anyways. The weather hear is warm. It gets really hot in the afternoons and the evenings are cooler. THe house is set up in many small homes ass connected, since there are 43 smaller families living there. Its all one family just the sons have there families there too. In the middle of the house is the dinning/living room. It has a tin roof but no walls...but we have a cable TV. I do have electicity all the time...so far. I will send pictures soon. My days are filled with language class and on wed and fri are technical training. After class I spend time with the family talking and try to correct my spanish. Nicagraugas Independence day is coming up on the 14th so there is a a lot of drumming going on in the community. It not really a problem since there is nosie all the time in the house and pueblo. I wake up at least 5 times a night from dogs, the radio, children crying, the tv, and the rosters. I sleep under a mosquito net. I really like it because the bugs cant get me(I saw a huge spider in the bathroom and yelped the sister cam to help me.) and its my little fortress to the different world I now live in. Other then that I am doing well. The thought to quit has crossed my mind. My live in the states was amazing and easy...but I didnt join the peace corps because it would be easy, I will learn and grow and some how make a difference here. It all takes time.