5 weeks left! AAHHH!!!

First things first. Lake has decided to stop posting and I believe he deleted the posts he did write. So I guess youll all have to live with just little old me! By the way, I changed the settings so that now anyone can post comments on my posts without having a blogger account.

Well, lets see. I cant remember when was the last time I posted, so Ill just wing this one, ok?

This weekend Vlad came to visit us and he left this morning. I think he enjoyed his stay. We will be seeing him again in our Canadian phase.

On Sunday we had a massive all day power outtage so Thelma decided to bring me along to work with her and Alex. Luke, Kayla and Josue were there also. Vlad tagged along to see what it is that we do for our jobs. We had alot of fun and got some time to chit chat with Vlad. Later that night we had a birthday party but I did not attend because I had work to do on my EAD.

So yesterday was my EAD on Being Human and Gender. It went quite well and I am pleased that its all over an done with. We had a guest speaker and a movie in the morning about domestic violence. Then in the afternoon we went to Los Pipitos, which is a centre for kids with disabilities. Afterwards, I organised and facilitated an activity I created for the group. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day.

This morning Thelma had dental surgery. I believe she had one of her wisdom teeth removed, but Im not entirely certain. I have plenty of experience with that though... I had to convince her to put ice on her cheek. Gawd...

Tomorrow is Alex and Yanines EAD on youth volounteer work. Im pretty excited to see what thats going to be about.

Well thats all I have to report for now. Talk to you all soon.

Aricake

Long time no see

PICTURES ON FACEBOOK NOW!

Alright so I havent been on in forever, and quite a bit has gone down, so lets get to it.

The concert last week was a bit of a flop... actually it was entirely a flop. We didnt make any money. The Nicas were really stressed out because they now knew it was going to be impossible to get money for their medical exams in order to get their visas for Canada. (No they still dont have them and we only have 6 weeks left). Thelma was extremely worried, because although she had enough american money to get her medical exam, most of the other Nicas did not. And Thelma would feel horrible going to Canada if not everyone could come along. Surely enough, INPHRU was able to help, and the great stress has been greatly relieved. Today all the Nicas left early this morning for Managua to get their medical exams. Its hard to deal with this kind of stuff because Canada doesnt have an embassy in this country, so weve been dealing with the one in Guatemala. I dont really understand why there is only one doctor in all of Nicaragua who is recognized by the Canadian governement to do medical exams for visas. Rediculous? I think so.

We also went to the Cañon, which was so much fun. Were hoping to go back sometime soon.

My EAD is on Monday and Im a little stressed because thats the one that Vlad is coming to. Its shaping up to be an overall interesting day though. I hope he likes it...

Weve starting planning what well be doing when we get to Canada and discussing about our new host families. Im very excited to seeing all for seeing the Nicas reactions to Canada, the cold, the plane ride, the snow, etc.

I have to go, Alex is nagging me...

laturrr

Ah got mah swim trunks, AND MAH FLIPPY FLOPPIES

Hola muchachos,

Camp this weekend was alot of fun. We did alot of really cool exercises and alot of counterpart bonding. We each had to write a letter to eachothers counterpart... let me tell you it was emotional for me to read Thelmas letter to me. We also were encouraged to discuss everything weve been feeling about the experience so far. Thelma and I almost started crying together. We are extremely close and as we talked about the day we had to seperate, we almost lost control of our emotions. Thelma told me Im a tolerant person, which is the first time I have ever heard anything of the sort. I really do love my latin sister, even though we have trouble understanding eachother sometimes, I still think that we are one of the best counterpart matches in the history of CWY.

Have I ever mentionned tortillas? Well, tortillas are essential to the Nica diet. Making tortillas is truly an art. I finally managed to make some without them being totally lopsided or something. So proud!

This Saturday the Nicas are organising a concert as a fund raiser for their trip to Canada as well as money for the doctor they need to see before leaving Nicaragua. It should be really great and Im hoping that they will be able to raise quite a bit of money. It looks like Ill be doing everyone makeup that night too... I bought myself a special outfit for the occasion as well.

This weekend Kayla taught everyone how to make friendship bracelets. I have made them in years, and we had so much fun. Thelma is addicted to making them actually, so I may have to go find an industrial quantity and teach her how to make different patterns. I learned how to make a couple of different patterns myself actually. Really awesome.

Some people may be wondering how much weight have I lost? Well, Ive defenitly lost my freshman 15. All of Thelmas friends have been telling me how thin I look. Yay for me. Kayla also lost alot of weight, but thats partially because she was really sick at one point and basically lost 5 pounds over night. I just know that Im totally going to put on all the weight I lost back on when we get to Canada... urgh.

On Sunday, the Social Cultural commitee has planned a day trip to the famous Cañon of Somoto. Its essentially a huge river and a waterfall. Ive heard its beautiful and I cant wait to go swimming. I hope the weather will cooperate that day. Everyone will get to see my amazingly white stomach and thighs! Woo! Gosh, the skin on my stomach is so pale that its practicly fluorecent... Oh well!

Well thats all for now folks. Ta ta!

Ari

Ariane the tarantula

Luke posted a couple pictures on his blog if any of you are interested.

www.nicaraguamaloney.blogspot.com

Alright so heres the lastest story.

Jorge, who is Lakes counter part, is a tank. He trained to be a boxer, and although he is quite skinny, hes very strong and tough, and kind of a macho man. Anyway, outside of Lake´s bedroom, there was a tarantula crawling around. Jorge caught it and now keeps it as a pet. Its a Pico Cabayo, which means it bites horses and cripples them for life. They are extremely dangerous. Jorge decided to name his new pet Ariane, after me. He says its because it looks like me and we have the same personality: scary. How lovely.

Yesterday half of the Esteli group was in Somoto and we got to see them for a few minutes. I met Adrian, who replaced another girl who had to the leave the program. It was nice to seem them and meet some of their counter parts. Ben, their supervisor, stayed the night in Somoto. Supervisors are allowed to take days off, even though they never really seem to. So Ben´s trip to Somoto was his day off I suppose.

Tomorrow were going to half way camp in Tepochcalli for 3 days. I will be cooking canadian breakfasts both mornings, which entails French Toast and Ham and Cheese omelettes! Ill make a veggie omelette for Lake though, haha. Last night I actually made scrambled eggs for Thelma. She couldnt believe how good and simple it was to make haha.

My EAD got moved up to a couple weeks from now, so me and Thelma are starting to stress a bit. But I think itll be under control.

Ive been thinking alot about what I was to do when I ¨grow up¨ since Ive been here. So many new ideas for job oppertunities that I never knew about before. As time has been going on, Ive been trying to paint a picture of my life in the next 10 years. Of course, everything is very much subject to change. I know that I would first like to finish my bachelors before I take any more time off for travelling. I dont think I want to do a foreign exchange with school anymore, but who knows. I would still very much like to teach english in Japan or South Korea when I finish my bach. I also would some how like to fit the SWAP program somewhere in there, hopefully to either do the Australia/New-Zealand program or the England/Ireland program. For future jobs though, I think I would very much like to work for CWY maybe as a supervisor when I am older, or eventually a project manager. I do very much have the intention of being an active almuni member when I am done my program.

anywho.... Im off.

Ari

Yummy truck rides!

Buenas!

Its been a while eh?

Last week the whole Joel thing got resolved, which I am extremely pleased about. Martha, Shayne and Ruth had a talk with him and his boss. Im not surprised that the whole situation was a misunderstanding and a language problem. Joel wanted to personally apologize to me. I would like to apologize as well, I really didnt want to get him into any trouble.

Last week we went to a dance class and learned a bit about Nicaraguan traditional dancing. After that we had a game night, filled with card games and laughter. On Friday, Thelma and I braided Michels hair. Michel has long hair, down to his waist. It took us 6 hours to do. Our fingers were cramping like mad and Michel totally had a stiff neck. It was well worth it though, I think. He really likes it too.

Our half way camp got moved up to this weekend, so forgive me if I dont update again for a while. Im still not sure about the sex ed thing. It doesnt really seem necessary to me, considering were all over 17. Sex ed usually takes place in ones life around 8th grade.

Ive discovered the only way to protect my hair from the crazy wind when we ride in the back of the trucks is to wear my scarf on my head. People have been telling me I look like a gypsy wearing this thing. I dont mind looking like a gypsy, however it does remind of that girl, whos name was Gyspy, in Charlie Mansons "family"...yeaaahhh

Saturday and Sunday this weekend I went to church with Thelma and Melania. On Sunday there was a baptism and Thelma and Josue became the godparents! Romain is under the impression that Thelmas pastor may be trying to convert him... I think he may be right... but oh well! I really dont mind going to church. Im planning on going to the Catholic church on thursday with Jorge and Carmen. Itll be a nice change I think. I told Thelma for Christmas well go to the french catholic church in Prince Albert. Shayne reassured me that there is a french catholic community in Prince Albert. Halleluia!

Yesterday was Vero´s 19th birthday. We havent planned a celebration yet though. Yesterday was also the first EAD. It was Romain and Enmanuel´s EAD and their topic was history. It was very interesting. We had 2 guest speakers, a documentary movie and a field trip to the catholic church as well as the evangelical church (which is Thelma´s church).

Today we went to work and had lots of fun with the kids today. Usually our Tuesday sessions can be a bit tedious, but today we made sure to have some really great activities. Also, there was only a fraction of the kids who showed this afternoon... it was much easier to work with that smaller group than our usually massive group. Today I realised how Thelma and Carmen are really natural born leaders and have a talent for working with youth. All of us believe that they should be teachers. However, Carmen is studying to become a pharmacist (she actually had mid-terms this weekend) and Thelma went to university for secretarial work (or something like that...). I wouldnt be surprised if Thelma one day ended up working for INPHRU. Shes a pretty special lady.

Well thats all for now. Im trying to get Lake to post... No promises though...

Hasta la vista!

Aricake