Wednesday, June 15, 2011

A Whirlwind

I've been describing my life here recently as a whirlwind. My grandma just passed away at the beginning of June and I was able to go home to spend time with my family and be there for the wake and the funeral. It has been a very emotional and challenging past couple of weeks, between making the decision to go home to leaving community to spending wonderful quality time with my family to grieving the death of Gram to coming back home to Nicaragua and jumping back into life here. I am grateful for the support and love that I have received from family, friends, and especially my community and coworkers here. I was welcomed back to school with open arms, lots of hugs and smiles, and kind words in prayer being offered for my family and I. I am slowly readjusting and know that it will take time. I am also confident that I am where I am supposed to be right now and that is daily reaffirmed by conversations with coworkers and greetings from neighbors, hugs from students and being at home with my community. For all of that, I am very grateful.

This past month or so has been filled with many fun activities and I wanted to share some pictures that I have.

 Celebrating my birthday

 I thought all of you who know me well would appreciate this message from one of my community mates. It says: Happy Birthday to my favorite bathroommate. Hopefully, you see this if you actually decide to shower!

 Celebrating my birthday some more with my host mom and sister 
They are both wonderful!

Nicaragua JVs and Belizean JVs who came to visit during Holy Week

 Yes, that's me, jumping down into the canyon during a trip to Cañon de Somoto

Visiting my other host family out in the campo (rural area)

A typical classroom
This is one section of primer año (7th grade)

My friend Jazmina and I at work
She has been an incredible resource and friend!


Hasta la proxima vez - Until next time