I've finally arrived in Nicaragua!
It's been a whirlwind the past few days and I'm so sleep deprived that I'm a walking zombie and really haven't been able to absorb what's going on around me.
To make a long story short, I've been waking up way too early the past two days (4AM and 2AM) that it should come at no surprise that I slept throughout most of the flights. But, I also had the pleasantry of seating in the middle seat between two men that I didn't know on both flights; so there were some moments where I caught myself sleeping/leaning a little too close to my travel companions. On a positive note, I didn't drool on anyone that would've been embarrassing!
Let's see....arriving in Nicaragua is like walking into an oven. I'm already struggling to lug around 4 rather heavy bags, which is quite the workout, then I'm greeted with a hot and humid atmosphere as we wait outside the airport for a school bus to come pick us up. I was quite sweaty by the end of our journey, like hot yoga sweaty (gross, I know!). Driving through Managua from the airport to our training compound was not the most scenic route. As I was gazing out the school bus window, the scene reminded me a lot of Nairobi.
Right now, I'm staying in a training compound where I'll be overloaded with information and paperwork; but on the upside I've been able to cool down, and I'll have WiFi YAY! I'm rather tired and am trying to absorb as much as I can, but my neurons seem to be slowing down. I'll keep you posted with any new and exciting information, like my roommate just told me she found a large, luckily dead cockroach in our room; at least it wasn't a rat!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Minor panic attacks
The countdown is down to just 9 days!
Let me stop and catch my breath, the realization that I'm leaving for Nicaragua to live there for 27 months in just 9 days is truly beginning to sink and has got me freaking out just a tad.
I'm really not ready at all. The other day I tried to separate what I need to pack/might pack/won't pack and made lists of things I still need to get and still need to do before departure. This process was rather overwhelming so I just left my room a mess and fled the scene without looking back. This packing thing has engulfed my worries so much that I've been having nightmares that I arrive in Nicaragua to find that I've forgotten the basic necessities and lots of other essential things. For the past 4 days I've tried not to think about it. But there are constant reminders, like...
Panic attack #2: I've been spending money like I'm a millionaire, which couldn't be farther from the truth. I've got way more money flying out the door than coming in and even though I'm freaking out about it, it really doesn't faze me to say no to going out with friends or finding more things to buy at REI and Target. I just keep swiping my check card and then a couple of days later have a mini heart attack looking at the dwindling numbers of my bank account. Oh well...
Panic attack #3: Family members getting too sentimental. My mom started crying the other day talking about how much she's going to miss me and worry about me. My mom even played out the scene of when she drops me off at the airport and says goodbye. My grandma told me she misses me already and I haven't even left yet. My cousins who are 5 and 8 keep reminding me how many holidays and birthdays I'm going to miss and predict how tall they're going to be when I return. All of their sentimentality is very touching, but I'm trying to keep it all together (for them and for myself). I'm not sure how much longer it will be until I break down and start crying over every little thing, but I have feeling as the amount of panic attacks grow, my stress level rises and the number of nightmares occurring increases; I'm going to reach my breaking point and the flood gates will open.
Let me stop and catch my breath, the realization that I'm leaving for Nicaragua to live there for 27 months in just 9 days is truly beginning to sink and has got me freaking out just a tad.
I'm really not ready at all. The other day I tried to separate what I need to pack/might pack/won't pack and made lists of things I still need to get and still need to do before departure. This process was rather overwhelming so I just left my room a mess and fled the scene without looking back. This packing thing has engulfed my worries so much that I've been having nightmares that I arrive in Nicaragua to find that I've forgotten the basic necessities and lots of other essential things. For the past 4 days I've tried not to think about it. But there are constant reminders, like...
Panic attack #2: I've been spending money like I'm a millionaire, which couldn't be farther from the truth. I've got way more money flying out the door than coming in and even though I'm freaking out about it, it really doesn't faze me to say no to going out with friends or finding more things to buy at REI and Target. I just keep swiping my check card and then a couple of days later have a mini heart attack looking at the dwindling numbers of my bank account. Oh well...
Panic attack #3: Family members getting too sentimental. My mom started crying the other day talking about how much she's going to miss me and worry about me. My mom even played out the scene of when she drops me off at the airport and says goodbye. My grandma told me she misses me already and I haven't even left yet. My cousins who are 5 and 8 keep reminding me how many holidays and birthdays I'm going to miss and predict how tall they're going to be when I return. All of their sentimentality is very touching, but I'm trying to keep it all together (for them and for myself). I'm not sure how much longer it will be until I break down and start crying over every little thing, but I have feeling as the amount of panic attacks grow, my stress level rises and the number of nightmares occurring increases; I'm going to reach my breaking point and the flood gates will open.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Adios Minnesota
My countdown to departure continues....15 days!
As my departure date creeps closer and closer the number of goodbyes grows bigger and bigger. This was my last official weekend in Minnesota and tomorrow I will pack up the remaining things (which is pretty sparse) in my apartment and make my way to Wisconsin. This last weekend in Minnesota was the best! I spent the weekend with a group of great friends and had a bit too much fun, maybe.
Although today was pretty hard to say goodbye to everyone. I'm going to miss my friends and family so much and it's really difficult saying "goodbye, I'll see you later" when I don't know when later is. I don't know what I'm going to do without them. I do know some of my friends are seeking replacements for me, good luck! If a replacement is brought in they better not get too comfortable because I do plan on coming back and resuming my position.
There are so many things I'm going to miss about Minnesota and others that I'm not going to miss at all.
I will miss: family, friends, the lakes, the Current, Corepower Yoga, Grand Ave., my school and students, the cherry and spoon, DL, and much much more.
I will not miss: 9 month winters, feet and feet of snow, subzero temperatures, Minnesotan accents you betcha!, terrible sports teams; there's really not all that many negatives other than weather related topics.
And since I've grown such a disdain for Minnesotan winters I've officially decided I don't plan on coming back for visits during October - May because there's a possibility that Minnesota will be experiencing snow and winter conditions. My visits will be in June - September because the summer is the best season!
On that note, hasta la vista Minnesota I'll be back!
As my departure date creeps closer and closer the number of goodbyes grows bigger and bigger. This was my last official weekend in Minnesota and tomorrow I will pack up the remaining things (which is pretty sparse) in my apartment and make my way to Wisconsin. This last weekend in Minnesota was the best! I spent the weekend with a group of great friends and had a bit too much fun, maybe.
Although today was pretty hard to say goodbye to everyone. I'm going to miss my friends and family so much and it's really difficult saying "goodbye, I'll see you later" when I don't know when later is. I don't know what I'm going to do without them. I do know some of my friends are seeking replacements for me, good luck! If a replacement is brought in they better not get too comfortable because I do plan on coming back and resuming my position.
There are so many things I'm going to miss about Minnesota and others that I'm not going to miss at all.
I will miss: family, friends, the lakes, the Current, Corepower Yoga, Grand Ave., my school and students, the cherry and spoon, DL, and much much more.
I will not miss: 9 month winters, feet and feet of snow, subzero temperatures, Minnesotan accents you betcha!, terrible sports teams; there's really not all that many negatives other than weather related topics.
And since I've grown such a disdain for Minnesotan winters I've officially decided I don't plan on coming back for visits during October - May because there's a possibility that Minnesota will be experiencing snow and winter conditions. My visits will be in June - September because the summer is the best season!
On that note, hasta la vista Minnesota I'll be back!
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