There has been a lot going on so I don’t even know where to begin! Life has just been trucking along week to week. I visit each of my schools once a week, where I’m still observing and getting to know the teachers. Only a few act like they really trust me and want to work with me, and the others seem reserved and detached. It’s quite frustrating at times, but I revel in the moments when I feel wanted and needed. I have a class in the school in my town that is 5th and 6th graders together, and the teacher (Profesora Santo) really likes me and we get along great. In effect, I love going to that classroom because we always have a blast together. I can’t wait to get started teaching with her since I know she will support me and help me with whatever I need. On the other hand, there are countless teachers who won’t even look me in the eye while I’m observing their class. My personal opinion is that they don’t really know what I’m doing there, and they think I am there to report back to the principal, or worse, the American government. I almost always explain why I’m there, but in a society where no one really trusts anyone else, why would they trust a foreigner? I think the only thing that will prove my worthiness is time. I will have to show up when I say I’m going to and do what I say I’m going to and generally be nice even though I don’t want to because they give me nothing in return. It’s difficult, but I’m up to the challenge.

In other news, a group of students from American University came down to do some research on the education system and I was able to meet up with them in Managua for a DELICIOUS cheeseburger and to talk up Peace Corps. Most of them were only sophomores so they have some time to think about it, but they said they were interested in Peace Corps. It was very interesting to interact with Americans who aren’t living here. I’d forgotten what it was like to fumble with Nicaraguan money and talk about $5 like it’s nothing. Not to knock them – in fact, they were very nice and super down to earth and interested in Nicaraguan people and culture. It’s just kind of a wake up call when I remember that that was me, just 6 short months ago. Now I fret over spending a dollar, and I walk rather than spending $0.75 on a taxi. I’m curious (and honestly a little scared) to know what it will be like being home in July. In so many ways I am ready – I miss my family and friends, I want air conditioning and junk food, I am ready for a break from the constant mental flogging that is living in another culture – but I can’t say I have any idea how I’ll react to being at home again. That’s definitely a To Be Discovered.

Let’s see, what else. Well, I’m now on Day 4 of no running water or electricity in my house. On Saturday night, I was cooking dinner and I heard a popping noise and the lights started to flicker. I then heard a series of popping noises that sounded like firecrackers and everything cut off. I wasn’t really surprised as the power has gone out in my site before, for several hours up to a full day. I have gone to bed using just my flashlight, but the power always comes back on during the night. Not this time, however. Sunday morning I found out that the transformer had blown, and no one seemed to know when someone would be out to fix it. It seems that several people in my town owe months worth of electric bills and the company doesn’t want to be bothered to come out and fix it until everyone is paid up. So when I left town to come to my internet cafe today, my neighbor was trying to collect all the outstanding bills to try and get someone out to fix it.

I have to say that the electricity is not what I’m really worried about. I will admit that the first 2 days were pretty miserable not being able to use my laptop to watch a movie at bedtime or play solitaire, and really awful during the 12-3 stretch of the day when I’m sweating buckets and I can’t turn on the fan. But what really sucks is that there is no water when there’s no electricity. The water comes on 3 times a day: at 6am, 9am, and 12pm for a half hour each time. But without electricity, the switch doesn’t flip (or whatever it is) and nothing happens. So I haven’t been able to wash my dishes or water my garden or flush my toilet or take a real bath for 4 days. Needless to say, it’s grating on my nerves a little.

Thankfully, this morning a tractor pulling what looked like an oil truck – but was actually filled with water – came to my town and every single person without water swarmed. In a way, it was very humbling. The people in my town know I’m different. They know I’m educated and I have money and electronics and that I speak English and can go back and forth between the US and Nicaragua as much and as often as I want. They know I have had and will have opportunities they never will, but in that moment, we all needed water. I was no different from them, I was living with them and going through what they were going through. My education and money and opportunities couldn’t help me get water any faster than them. It was really a humbling moment. I took some pictures of everyone gathered that I’ll put on facebook soon.

So I think that’s about all for right now. I’ve got a lot coming up in April with Peace Corps, but until then it’s just wishing the power will come back on and trying not to die of heat exhaustion. Hope everyone is well!