Bienvenidos to my Blog!

Hello Family, Friends, and Curious Readers,

Thanks for stopping in to see what I am up to. This is my first blog, and I hope not to bore you too much with the details of my life. But rather hope to offer you some insights into development work, the highs, the lows, and well the boring.

But before I move away for 27 months, let me give you a little information about myself before I lose a steady internet connection.

So after graduating from Boston College in 2005, I decided I wanted to learn Spanish and "save the world" so I moved to Cusco, Peru. I began by volunteering for The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco by researching and writing a small business plan for the organization. I continued to work with the organization until February of 2008, when I returned to the US to prepare for my move to Madrid, Spain for 15 months to study an International MBA at IE Business School. And now, after a year of searching for the perfect development job, and taking odd jobs in the meantime, I have joined the Peace Corps and am volunteering again. So wish me luck, and PLEASE someone stop me from volunteering again!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Swearing in and a Visit with the President of Nicaragua

What a week we have had. Lots of back and forth between Managua and the training towns for last training sessions and the final move to Managua for swearing in and then the move to our final sites. Boy am I tired!

The Swearing in ceremony was lovely as not only were we celebrating the passage into Volunteership of 40 new volunteers but we also were celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps existence, and 30 years of presence in Nicaragua. We had a small ceremony with our homestay families, thanking them for their hospitality, then in a following ceremony sang both National Anthems, took the oath of service in both languages, and congratulated Super-Volunteers and staff that have contributed more than 3 years of service to Peace Corps Nicaragua. I am very excited to say I was interviewed by a local news station and the interview was then broadcasted nationally. I have a copy of it so let me know if you want to see it and I can email it to you!

After all of that excitement, we went to the Country Director's house for a great Spaghetti lunch! It was fun to meet all the Peace Corps staff and have a great meal before going off to our sites for the next two years.

Then, we had a big surprise when we were all invited to meet the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, in a special audience. It was exciting because as I understand it, this is the largest group of Americans he has ever invited, he has never done this before, and he took the time to shake all of our hands and then talk to us personally. Granted the process took 3 hours, and the room as freezing due to air conditioning, but alas it was a very special experience.

And now I have one day to relax in Managua, then off to my permanent site! Don't worry, as I am on antibiotics for a bacteria infection, I am making good choices and getting lots of rest. Oh and Happy birthday mom (a bit early)
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5 comments:

  1. Betty DoerrJuly 30, 2011 at 12:18 PM

    FELICITACIONES! I couldnt get on the link to the tv news, but Im sure you were/are a great spokesperson. What a day. Will we be able to reach you at the same address? Good luck with the move!

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  2. JohnJuly 30, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. JoaquinJuly 30, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    Congrats Vieve! Sounds like you're having lots of fun, especially getting to meet President Ortega. Feel better and it's good that you're making buenas decisiones. Good luck

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  4. JulieJuly 31, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    Congratulations on becoming the FIRST Peace Corps VOLUNTEER in our family, what a wonderful birthday present! Over the next two years, we know you'll do your best to represent our country and serve the people of Nicaragua and we'll do our best to support you. Hope you continue to feel better and all goes smoothly with your transition to Matagalpa. Lots of love, Mamita

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  5. JulieAugust 2, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    I REALLY miss you! Love, Emery
    Sent from your mom's iPad.

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