What a week! I did say that I felt like I should be doing more didn’t I? Well I guess I should say I should have been more careful for what I wish for because boy am I busy this week! With less than one week before classes start, I am running around getting school schedules straightened out, working with 4 small businesses, have been working to form two new community based savings and loan banks, and still had time to take two of my best students to a Peace Corps Youth camp, that unfortunately I was not able to participate in, and watch the Super Bowl in Esteli with some friends.
Let’s start with last week, I went to a community outside of the city because an environment volunteer wanted some help starting a community bank at her school. This group had done a bank with a previous volunteer, so my role was to help them define their new rules, how much they were all going to agree on saving every month, and help them elect their leaders. It was nice to get to work cross-sectorally and help a fellow volunteer with a business-related project. On my way back from the community, I decided to run by one of my schools to say hello and see how things were coming. It was good to see all of the teachers and to see how happy they were that I was back. Warm fuzzy feelings all around, I say. Last week, I also put together a teacher training plan for the school year and will be meeting with MINED to discuss possibilities this week. I will keep my fingers crossed that I will be able to work with more teachers during the monthly planning and evaluation meetings.
Sunday, I headed to Esteli to watch the Super Bowl with some friends and RPCVs (returned Peace Corps Volunteers). We had a great time, there were chicken wings, French fries, I made ranch dip and veggies, chips, guacamole, the whole traditional Super Bowl spread. Although this was not my first Super Bowl outside of the US, I was still a little sad to see that ESPN Latin America did not air the awesome super bowl commercials. Oh well, I guess that’s what Youtube is for right? Yesterday, I headed to another small community in the department of Matagalpa to prepare and give another community bank talk with a different environmental volunteer. (Interestingly, she has the type of house I thought I would be living in here in Nicaragua – Mango tree, lime tree, latrine, etc.) Today was our talk, and it appears that out of the 20 people who were at the informational meeting, 15 of them would like to participate! I rule it as a success in my book! This afternoon, I worked with one of the small business owners that I am consulting with to improve/change/or start their business. We had a great meeting and I look forward to working more with him.
The rest of this week will be spent getting ready for the school year, and starting to plan with my counterpart teachers. Good thing I am taking my multi-vitamin! Let the school year begin! Enjoy the pictures and keep making good choices!
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| First Community Bank Meeting - A Success |
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| Participants deciding their bank rules |
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| On my tech exchange in front of a PC World Map |
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| Students on their way to the Youth Leadership Camp |
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| Me with my two superstar students on their way to the camp! |
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| And they're off! |
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| Zahidu helping me dehydrate bananas and watermelon! |
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| Super Bowl party in Esteli |
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| Repelling off the water tower during the super bowl |
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| With my friends Stephanie and Kenan at the SB party |
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| The living room at my second tech exchange! |
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| The Kitchen |
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| Bathroom and Shower |
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| My fellow volunteer and her temporary residence |
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| The second bank meeting |
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| Participants in the second community bank |
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| Answering some tough but great questions! |
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Wow, sounds like you are busier than ever. Congratulations to your students for being accepted to the Youth Leadership Camp, what a great experience that must have been for them. Hope everything works out with the community banks.
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