It’s been a week now that I have been back in the states! Crazy! But, before I get into the details on that (which will be in the next blog post), I will take a step back to tell you about my last two weeks in Nicaragua.
I returned from the states on January 5, had a few days to finish up 4 papers for my masters and help with a few things are AMC, then on January 9th I headed off to Guatemala for the Meso-America MCC Retreat. I´m not quite sure why, but my expectation was that the trip was going to be a spiritual retreat… and well, it wasn’t…well at least not in the sense that I had anticipated. Unbeknownst to me, the spiritual retreat is every other retreat. This retreat was about programs in Central America, Violence in Central America, specifically in Honduras.
It was interesting to see and hear the “life” that is lived in Central America. Nicaraguans always say that Managua is the safest of all Central American capital cities. I thought that they were just saying that because they were Nicaraguan… and everyone always thinks better of their own country, right. Well, according to the MCC workers living in other Central America countries (Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico). We did have some devotional times each morning, which was really good.
But, I think the more “spiritual” things that occurred for me during this trip were being able to spend time with my MCC Nicaragua friends while being there. Being able to walk around Lake Atitlán with amazing friends and discovering new things and enjoying the company. Although the retreat was not what I expected, the time in Guatemala was very special and I will never forget it. Thank you to my fellow MCCers in Nicaragua and some new MCC Central America friends.
Luisa & I on the 18 hour bus trip from Managua to Guatemala.
Luisa y yo en el viaje de 18 horas entre Managua y Guatemala.
I was sick the whole time and it was FREEZING on the bus.
Yo estaba enferma todo el tiempo y el bus estaba cómo un frizer.
The lodge where we met.
La cabaña donde nos reunimos.
The Ninja Ice Breaker.
La dinámica "ninja".
Some of the MCC Nicaragua team.
Algunos del equipo de CCM Nicaragua.
San Pedro de Atitlán.
Poinsettias in their natural environment.
Pastores en su ambiente natural.
Mayan Calendar.
Calendario Maya.
Sauna in Guatemala.
Termales en Guatemala.
One of the stores in the market in Santigo Atitlán.
Una de las tiendas en el mercado en Santiago de Atitlán.
Some local ladies trying to sell us cloth.
Algunas señoras intentando vendernos tela.
MCC Meso-America Team.
El equipo de CCM meso-america.
Amongst all that I had going on my last two weeks, one of my best friends in Nicaragua gave birth to her first son while I was in Guatemala. The Sunday before I moved back to Michigan I was able to throw her the baby shower, with the baby there! J Congratulations to Alicia & Maynor on your adorable son Myles.
Me and baby Myles.
Myles y yo.
It´s a boy!
Es un varón.
Mommy & Myles.
La madre y su niño, Myles.
Adorable faces.
Miradas preciosas.
Giving advice to the new mommy.
Dando consejo a la nueva madre.
Baby bottle drinking game. Way to go Nancy!
Juego de pachas. ¡Bien hecho Nancy!
Mommy opening gifts.
Abriendo los regalitos.
Old roomies. :)
Compañeras de casa del año pasado. :)
I also had a few going away events my last week in Nicaragua, some of which included dinners at friends houses, a trip to Diriamba, salsa dancing and my most favorite restaurant, Pan e Vino. Here are a few photos from my last Hurrah.
With my friends Mercedes & Raquel.
Con mis amigas Doña Mercedes y Raquel.
¡Fishlips!
¡Labios de Pescado!
Nica family!
Familia Nicaragüense.
My most amazing mentor, Gerardo, Belinda, Isabel & Kiara.
¡Salsa night out!
¡Noche afuera bailando Salsa!
My dear friends from AMC.
Mis quierdas amigas de AMC.
MCC friends (missing a few very important people here).
Amigos de CCM (faltan muchas personas importantes aquí).
My cousin, Eva & I.
Mi primita y yo.
I also had a trip to Diriamba, Nicaragua with my Most Amazing Mentor, Gerardo, my incredible friend Belinda and their two lovely daughters, Isabel & Kiara. Ya les extraño mucho amigos. :(
We were able to see a very special presentation of typical Nicaraguan traditional dances.
Logramos ver una presentación muy especial de baile folklorico de Nicaragua.
The old man and the old woman.
El viejo y la viejita.
May pole.
Palo de Mayo.
We also got to ride the tea-cup twirler.
Hicimos el juego de tasa.
We enjoyed it a lot. hahaha
Los disfrutamos mucho. jajaja
We saw the 5 saints arrive and enter the Cathedral.
Vimos a los 5 santos llegar al catedral.
Welcome the the patron saint festivals of st. Sebastian.
Pan e Vino (a restaurant) with my MCC Nicargua team! Aren´t they great!
Pan e Vino (un restaurante) con el equipo de CCM Nicaragua. Son increibles!
Oops, how did that wine get there?!?! :) hehehe
Oops! Cómo llegó el vino allí?!?! :) jejeje
The waiter, who knew me due to my frequent visits, game me this yummy desert and it says, "We gonna miss you Beth."
El mesero, lo cual me conocia desde mis visitas frequentes al Pan e Vino, me regaló ese postre sabroso, y dice en el plato "Te vamos a extrañar Beth."
Lizziepoo and Bethiepoo. :)
(Sorry Liz, I had to!)
After Liz´s help in my packing that evening, the next morning at 6am Nate, Liz, Angela & David took me to the Managua airport for the last time. :(
Stay tuned for the next update about my first week back in the states.
Esperen por el proximo actaualización de mi blog sobre la primira semana en los EEUU.
Bendiciones (Blessings),
Beth
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