First, some things that don't really scare me, although I feel like maybe they should.
1) Two nights ago there was a small scorpion in my bed. I always shake my bed out before I climb in, not because of fear of critters, but because so much dust blows into my room that if I don't shake it out when I start to get tangled up in my bed, I end up sleeping in a little pile of dust. It was about the size of the last two segments of my middle finger. I squashed it and before I had woken up the next morning the ants had carried it away for a feast.
2) I was editting the guia today and working on the section on volcanoes, and it kind of freaks me out how many times there were sentences that read, "And then this village was completely covered by a landslide." There's never been one here, but it's one of those things I can probably develop a healthy fear of, because you don't know it's coming until it's here. And honestly, if there was a landslide, where would I go?
And now, I received some questions that should be addressed:
How much free time do you have?
Right now, quite a bit. Well, it's not so much free, as unstructured. I am working on organizing English materials for a local informal English school at one of the hotels. They have volunteers who come in every two weeks or so, and it's a good idea, but right now there isn't a lot of continuity. I am also meeting teachers as I can, and editting our environmental education lesson book, also referred to as the guia. I'm also getting to know my community, such as wear to buy fish or who has surplus bananas for sale. This keeps me reasonably busy, but I basically decide when and how often I work on each of these activities. Once school starts, I will be in each of my four schools one day a week, with the 5th day to work on other projects or prepare.
Are you getting paid? How are you going to rent a house?
We get paid a salary based on where in the country we live. Individuals in capital cities get paid more, and central Nicaragua gets paid more than the coast. Island residents also get a little more because it's so expensive here. Right now, I use this money to pay my host family for room and board. When I move, I will use the money to pay my rent and electricity, buy my food, and whatever else I need. We are also provided a settling in allowance that I am going to use to buy my stove and a bike.
Do you have to make reports? How is your progress measured?
Yes, we make reports, every few months with a special report the first time. Each sector has their own measures of success. Our goals and objectives are stated in terms of how many teachers, students, community groups, and community members we reach each quarter. So my reports have information about how many classes I've taught, what co-planning I've done, have I worked with any community groups, etc.
Our first report is a little different, since we will only have been in the schools for a short while. That report asks about community analysis tools we've done, local groups we've identified to work with, what beginning of school meetings we've attended, etc.
And a comment I appreciate:
I know that everything you are doing is in the peace corps mission, be it attending festivals or learning to bake. You are an excellent ambassador for the US.
While I know this person wrote this to me tongue in cheek, I don't even care. I'll take what I can get.
1) Two nights ago there was a small scorpion in my bed. I always shake my bed out before I climb in, not because of fear of critters, but because so much dust blows into my room that if I don't shake it out when I start to get tangled up in my bed, I end up sleeping in a little pile of dust. It was about the size of the last two segments of my middle finger. I squashed it and before I had woken up the next morning the ants had carried it away for a feast.
2) I was editting the guia today and working on the section on volcanoes, and it kind of freaks me out how many times there were sentences that read, "And then this village was completely covered by a landslide." There's never been one here, but it's one of those things I can probably develop a healthy fear of, because you don't know it's coming until it's here. And honestly, if there was a landslide, where would I go?
And now, I received some questions that should be addressed:
How much free time do you have?
Right now, quite a bit. Well, it's not so much free, as unstructured. I am working on organizing English materials for a local informal English school at one of the hotels. They have volunteers who come in every two weeks or so, and it's a good idea, but right now there isn't a lot of continuity. I am also meeting teachers as I can, and editting our environmental education lesson book, also referred to as the guia. I'm also getting to know my community, such as wear to buy fish or who has surplus bananas for sale. This keeps me reasonably busy, but I basically decide when and how often I work on each of these activities. Once school starts, I will be in each of my four schools one day a week, with the 5th day to work on other projects or prepare.
Are you getting paid? How are you going to rent a house?
We get paid a salary based on where in the country we live. Individuals in capital cities get paid more, and central Nicaragua gets paid more than the coast. Island residents also get a little more because it's so expensive here. Right now, I use this money to pay my host family for room and board. When I move, I will use the money to pay my rent and electricity, buy my food, and whatever else I need. We are also provided a settling in allowance that I am going to use to buy my stove and a bike.
Do you have to make reports? How is your progress measured?
Yes, we make reports, every few months with a special report the first time. Each sector has their own measures of success. Our goals and objectives are stated in terms of how many teachers, students, community groups, and community members we reach each quarter. So my reports have information about how many classes I've taught, what co-planning I've done, have I worked with any community groups, etc.
Our first report is a little different, since we will only have been in the schools for a short while. That report asks about community analysis tools we've done, local groups we've identified to work with, what beginning of school meetings we've attended, etc.
And a comment I appreciate:
I know that everything you are doing is in the peace corps mission, be it attending festivals or learning to bake. You are an excellent ambassador for the US.
While I know this person wrote this to me tongue in cheek, I don't even care. I'll take what I can get.
Comments
Peace Corps or not it took a lot of cuts to leave everything you knew behind and travel to a foreign country and start over setting up house and working a new job. I am glad you do have the Peace Corps behind you, but all in all you took a very brave step in doing this. Keep it up kid and remember that there are some of us who mean what we say and don't walk around with our tongues stuck to our cheeks. I may be a bit prejudice, but I think you would be a good ambassador anywhere you went no matter what the circumstances were. Despite everything, you just turned out to be a great person … and that my dear makes me happy! (in answer to your question)