My first ever blog posting... how exciting!

¡Hola todos!

I have made a New Year´s-esque resolution to try to post updates and pictures from Nicaragua on this blog. I have never in my life used a blog, though, so these posts may be very basic and amateurish. Please bear with me as I slowly catch up to the rest of the blogging world. With that introduction out of the way, allow me to regale you with stories of the first three days of my adventure...

We (Amy and myself- Amy being another community health student) arrived in Managua, Nicaragua late on Monday, January 19th. After an uneventful airport experience and taxi ride, we arrived at the very nice Managua Backpackers´ Inn, a hostel with a pool, lounging chairs, TV, Skype, Internet, and all of the amenities one might want. Since all I really needed was a bed (we were heading north to Estelí in the morning), I watched a small bit of an Arnold Schwartznegger (sp?) movie in Spanish before heading to bed. Sorry pool, maybe next time.

The next morning (also known as yesterday, Jan. 20) we changed some money into cordobas, headed to the bus station, and boarded what we were led to believe was the express bus to Estelí. After several stops on the road before we even left Managua, we realized this was not the case and settled in for a 3 hour bus ride. In the mean time, however, we were charged double for the bus ticket. I like to think that in a few weeks I will have the Spanish skills to ask for my change but for now, I just smiled and accepted the fact that my $2.50 ticket became a $5.00 one. I´ve had worse things happen! I didn´t mind the longer bus ride as it was a cool chance to see the countryside- a very hilly, not so green landscape. Also, a guy from Orlando was sitting beside me reading T.D. Jakes and talked to me about his devotions. Interesting. Once we arrived in Estelí, it was off to the Spanish school to check ourselves in. Included in this school´s programming is one-on-one teaching, community activities, and a home-stay. I haven´t had any community activities yet (I think those start tomorrow) but did have a class today (Jan. 21) . When we arrived at the school, we had to write an entrance-type exam which was interesting and humbling. Another humbling experience? Being only marginally capable of communicating with the three-year old in my home-stay family. The poor child has been getting far too many blank stares from me. My first goal in the Spanish school is to be able to go one day without asking poor Hector "¿qué?" while staring stupidly at him. On the plus side, though, I seem to be learning as much from Discovery Kids "en español" as he is... thank you Backyardigans and "Jorge el curioso".

So... that´s it for now. This may be my only blog posting ever. I hope that it is not.