Vamos a vivir en.....

Because Jeff and I are married, and the ONLY married couple in our group, there was really only one site for us. It needed to be in a place that there are enough schools to work with and we will each have our own seperate jobs. Because of this, we found out WAY earlier than anyone else. The rest of our group has to find out the sites, Wednesday, rate their sites, Saturday, and then wait 2 more weeks to find out where they are going. One more reason it rocks being married. So we are going to live in.....the city of Chinandega! I´m sure nobody reading this knows what that means. Neither do we really. I DO know that it is HOT. It is usually referred to as the hottest place in Nicaragua. They only have 2 seasons, dry and drier. It usually stays around 90 degrees or upper 90s throughout the year I hear. However, we are close to many beaches (15 mintues by bus!) and volcanoes for those interested in visiting. We are also close to the famous city of Leon. I also tried to look for some websites about Chinandega, but there really isn´t info on the web about it. Not even that much in the Moon Handbook, the only book on Nicaragua. However, Chinandega is trying to increase their tourism, and are even coming out with a tourism guide book in November. When I get my hands on some info I will let everyone know. We will be visiting Chinandega in a couple of weeks for about 4 days.

Finding out where we were going to live for the next 2 years is pretty much the most exciting moment of our trip so far. Other than that, a few funny or interesting things have happened. One day while taking the bus, a man got on with a machette. They are very common for ¨mowing their lawn¨ ie. cutting grass, and other purposes such as clearing a path on the road less traveled. Anyways, he had to leave it at the front of the bus by the driver. I enjoyed that security check. I think that taking the bus here is the most entertaining thing ever and I always am exciting when we have to go anywhere by taking a bus, which is everywhere we have to go. Everytime something amazing happans. Today, Kat and I went to Masatepe, and I bought two t-shirts for $4. That was pretty cool. She bought one also. I find myself buying clothes that I probably wouldn´t wear in the US. Maybe I would wear them, but they wouldn´t be my first choice.

On Saturday, our group went to visit Volcan Masaya and then we went to a cave afterwards. We saw some bats. It was pretty hot out, but the views were amazing. Of course, I forgot my camera. The air on top of the Volcan was really sulfery and it hurt to breathe after about 2 minutes. That was on a very high point directly looking into the Volcan. It was pretty cool. We didn´t get to hike it however. There is a road that you get driven up. I am hoping to hike a volcan before we leave. And in Chinandega there are 2 cool Volcanoes, so I am in luck!

Other than that, things are pretty chill. My youth group is painting a mural on Anti-drugs and we are working with a local artist who is super nice and really really helpful. The mayor is also very helpful, but he is my cousin. And Kat´s too! What a small world.

I changed the setting so anyone should be able to post comments now. That´s for you Beth. I would also like to thank Luke and Sara(h)....sorry...for sending us candy and postcards. We devoured the entire bag of KitKats by the end of the training! Thanks!