Monday, August 13, 2012

Back in Nicaragua a year older and a little weirder


It was so nice having that little vacation time to see family and friends and to eat foods other than rice and beans! Thank you to everyone for everything.
I’m finally caught up on popular culture, news, TV, music and movies. I am satisfied to have watched the season of Glee that I missed. I’ve learned the new songs that are overplayed on all mainstream radio stations. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to stop singing “Call Me Maybe” since I’ve heard it and sadly downloaded it into my iTunes! It’s quite catchy! Maybe I’ll add to YouTube collections of the video and do a Nicaraguan version…
Coming back wasn’t too tough of a readjustment. Although there are those days when I wish I could just hop in a car and drive to the store, or eat those comfort foods from home, or watch TV. Rupert, my puppy is growing more and more each day and is quite the biter *I’ve got the battle wounds to prove it; my flip flops too are scarred by her little teeth.
The best surprise was I recently celebrated my birthday, and the students at one of my schools planned a party. I thought something was a little fishy when almost every student asked me how old I was and then what’s my birthday. At recess, after I had taught my classes they all came together, sang to me the longest version of happy birthday I’ve every heard, gave me a cake and perfume. It was really sweet! That was on Wednesday. On Friday, my actual birthday, the occasion was announced on the radio and lots of people wished me felicidades.
That’s all the positives of turning 25, the downside is according to Nicaraguan standards I’m an old maid. The questions haven’t stopped since I arrived but now with another year under my belt the frequency has increased. When am I going to have babies? Why don’t I have one now!?! Do I want kids? My response is “yes I want kids eventually, but not now” but that just isn’t acceptable to most people. In their eyes, I should have at least a husband and one child by now and I have neither…and to top it off I live alone…WHAT?!? And I take Rupert on walks, use a leash, pet her and she sleeps inside. I’m a true freak to the people observing me in my town.