We made it!
We actually flew into Nicaragua during a lightning storm! It was quite the experience to be in an aircraft, flying among the clouds, while bolts of lightning are shooting down all around you. Fun stuff!
(I might be exaggerating slightly)
A sophisticated, decorative addition to any bedroom
Our in-country Amigos coordinator met us at the airport, outside of customs, where a huge crowd of Nicaraguans were clustered about, families waiting to greet family coming off the airplane as well as various taxi drivers and vendors advertising their goods and services.
We chucked our backpacks onto the bed of the coordinator's pickup truck and drove to a restaurant, where we had our first meal in Nicaragua!
Enchiladas con mole y champiñones
The enchiladas were delicious, but that could be because I hadn't eaten anything but wasabi peas and some pizza for the last 12 hours. The enchilada sauce was very sweet, and the cheese on top was reminiscent of Mexican queso fresco, just with a stronger Feta-like funk.
The drive to the coordinator's house was mildly terrifying. The roads from Managua to León are not exactly well-lit. Combined with the rain, thunder, lightning, and oncoming traffic, it was like driving through near complete darkness, on a slippery road in the countryside, while being blinded by beams of light, with periodic booms of thunder and flashes of lightning to really set the mood. If our coordinator hadn't been as familiar with the roads as he was, or if it had been ME driving, I'm fairly certain we would have driven off the side of the road, hit some poor animal, total the car, and then explode in a fiery blaze.
After about 2 hours, we arrived at his house.
The coordinator's home is very different from any other house I've ever lived in - it's very open to the outside air. Windows and doors are always open, and some of the walls are covered in mesh:
The holes have mesh over them
There's this feeling of always being outside, even when indoors. Airconditioning is the breeze that comes in through the window, bolstered by the electric ceiling fans.
So apparently I packed really, REALLY light. My combined luggage was literally the size of the other volunteer's carry-on luggage - mostly everyone had at least one checked bag, and some sort of large duffel bag or backpack. One girl had a backpack that could probably fit my entire body inside!
I was a little worried that I had packed way too little, but packing light definitely made the journey easier. In addition, I can buy anything I need here, and it'll be easy to justify buying a nice skirt or tshirt as a souvenir because I'll probably need some more clothing anyways!
Here's what I brought:
one pair of sleeping clothes, one tank top, two blouses, two pants (khakis and jeans), shorts, one dress, seven underwear/socks, travel towel, toiletries, mini flashlight, some tissues, and my reading material (amigos guides, Como Agua Por Chocolate, and Harry Potter y la Piedra Filosofal)
It might sound like a lot, but really, it seems like practically nothing after you realize that this is (mostly) all of your belongings for the next 6 months.
This is everything!
Within two hours of being in Nicaragua, I already acquired a massive mosquito bite on my left knee that become so swollen, it looked like an extra kneecap. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of it, so you'll just have to take my word for it. That lump was so large, it was beginning to develop a consciousness.
Thus, I set up my mosquito net, because I really didn't want to wake up looking like lumpy space princess from Adventure Time.
Lastly....did I mention our coordinator has a ONE MONTH OLD PUPPY???
Meet Pepper!
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