Well, it's hard to know where to start. Thank you for all the birthday wishes!! I didn't get to read them all until today, but it was still really special. If you have talked to my family you know I have been having a difficult week, just feeling really unsure about if I really want to commit 2 years of my life and missing everyone alot, etc. But I got to talk to both my parents and Aubree and Roger on my birthday and that encouraged me alot. I still flip out a little in my head when I try to think about 2 years of being here-so I'm following the recommendations of my family and breaking it into smaller segments. Like in 3 months I will finish training, 3 months after that my family can come see me, about 3-4 months after that is Christmas and I can come home to visit and so on. This is helping me alot.
So...Santa Teresa is a small little pueblo of about 5000, I think, in the department of Carazo. This is where I will be for the next 11 weeks for training. I'm living with a really nice family- I have a mom, a sister(16) and a grandma. I dont have any pictures of them yet, but I will. My pictures are again backwards--and Jordan I read your instructions, but I'm gonna have to play with it some more and I don't have time. So I'll just explain them like last time.
1.This is my whole group of 21 in Diriamba yesterday where we went for a medical "charla" or lecture. We go every wed. to Diriamba and every Fri. to Managua while we are in training. Even though we've only known each other a week, it was so exciting to see everyone else. Peace Corps bought me a cake, which was delicious, but different. I think it was made with corn meal. And they sang Happy Birthday and played festive music, which in reality was all wedding songs for whatever reason.
2. Me with my cake. And yes, that's the shirt I've had since I was 12.
3. My host sister- Maria Isamar-was the queen of this celebration in town on Sun. Basically it was a horse parade. Horses are a big deal in this town.
4&5. These are of my room. I have a big bed and my own bathroom, which is really rare, so Im very lucky. And I have a sweet cheetah for decoration. I have yet to name it but I'm taking suggestions :)
Okay I'm running out of time, but thank you all again for the birthday wishes and comments. I hope you all are doing well and planning your trips to Nicaragua!
That is one sweet cheetah! I think you should name it Noyman. I am glad to hear and see that you are feeling better. We love you, and will talk to you on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteDanielle!! Happy belated Birthday!!! I thought of you on Tuesday, but then I also thought of how I wasn't quite sure of the best way to contact you... I assumed email, but this is great!!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you had a bit of a homesick moment. I hate those, and I wanted to give you a big hug and I think you're parent's "segment" advice is great. When I get overwhelmed with the amount of school in front of me, I usually think of my future time in-between holidays (i.e. I'll make it Valentine's, then Spring Break, then Easter...etc.).
As for your cheetah--and the fact that I've ALWAYS wanted a cheetah pet--I have a name: Duma. There was a disney movie made w/ this as its title, and essential the *surprising* plot is: a boy and cheetah become each other's soul mates; and the bush people of Africa call all cheetah's "duma." There's an old bush tale that the first cheetah loses her baby cub, and then perpetually cries, which makes the black spots around her eyes run down her face (hence the black lines around her nose). The movie was hella sappy, but I guarantee you, once Becca sees this 2005 hit she would place it 2nd next to A League of Their Own. So yeah--name her Duma.
I love you lots, and miss you lots, and I can't wait to hear how you put your health skills to work! I love telling people about "my best friend in the Peace Corps" and see how impressed they are!!! Ciao for now lady...
Hey mama!! I'm glad you are doing better. I love the cheetah too! I was going to be cliche and tell you to name it chester, but I like the other ideas better. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got a cake on your birthday. I was thinking about you all day. I still can't believe we are only 1 month apart...
Can't wait to see pics and hear more about your host family. Your room looks amazing!
Talk to you soon...love and miss you-
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I am glad you got to post today! It is fun to get to see pictures of where you are and who you are with. I am sorry I didn't get to call tonight...my phone card ran out and then my internet wouldn't work until now. I called mom kind of panicked because I didn't want to leave you waiting for a call, so she agreed she would call tonight and I can call on Saturday. Let me know what time would be good for you. Hopefully you are talking to mom now and she will call soon and give me a report. Mom should really be happy about this arrangement because I think she is actually talking to both of us more often than she did when we were all so close together :) Love you and miss you,
ReplyDeleteAubree