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.