So what else have I been doing?
This past Friday, November 20, school officially ended. The official end of school was supposed to be November 27 but in typical Nicaraguan beauracracy, it was decided on November 10 to cut the last week of school. In reality I am in favor of this decision as I was going to miss the last week of school due to a Peace Corps conference and Thanksgiving, and lets be honest, no one does anything during the last week of school anyway. I don’t care what country you are in…the last week of school is a waste!
During the last few months, apart from working with the student business groups, grading papers, and organizing and attending the competitions, work has been fairly smooth and constant. Before the robbery, I was working with a couple small business owners, running the basketball league, working on the website for La Empresa Creativa, and just doing things here and there. After the robbery, my life has been very different. It put a hold on my life. I have been to the police too many times and not had as much time for other projects. I have stopped doing my business consulting for a variety of reasons and put aside other projects. I have been trying to put my life back in order piece by piece.
By the way, they have arrested a man based on the cell phone evidence but I still have not recovered anything and time will tell if they actually prosecute the SOB.
Since the robbery, my last pair of tennis shoes fell apart and I now no longer have tennis shoes. I went to Managua to various shoe stores but could not find a single pair in size 14. For the moment, I cannot play basketball and am very sad. I still do not have a new backpack, any sort of music, a computer, or a tv. I was able to borrow a bike while I look for a good, used one to buy. So my life is in a holding pattern right now.
In other news from my house, I broke the refrigerator while de-icing it with a knife. I had to pay a repairman a lot of money to fix it and now know never to use a knife while cleaning the fridge. Lesson learned!
I go back to the States on Dec. 9 for one of my best friend’s wedding. This will be my 4 trip back since this past May! A lot of my PC friends ask me why I go back so much and I think are a bit jealous but I just am lucky to live in Florida and have supportive parents who have helped me to pay for some of the flights. During this trip I hope to have a great time at my friend’s wedding, see the Jags (playoff bound?) beat the Fins, and get a new laptop, backpack, and shoes! I am hoping that my life can leave its holding pattern upon my return on Dec. 16.
So what I am going to do now?
Believe it or not, there are only 8 months left of my 27 month commitment to the Peace Corps and the Nicaraguan people. Less than one third! Even though I should be thinking about what I am going to do come this July, I have not put too much thought into it and am instead focusing more of my efforts in making sure that my last 8 months in Peace Corps are awesome.
I am planning the next season of the basketball league, organizing, recruiting new kids, trying to get more girls involved, and looking for more funds to buy new balls, uniforms, and trophies. If you know anyone who would be willing to support the league then let me know!!! I am also working on an idea of having a career fair for the high school and university students in Granada. Currently I, along with other Peace Corps Volunteers in Granada, have been doing surveys and seeing if the community really will support a career fair and whether this really is a community need or want.
I am also planning some other potential projects that I believe could have a huge impact on Granada. I want to make sure that I work hard during these last 8 months and not leave here with any regrets.
Of course, I also want to enjoy my last 8 months in Peace Corps and am planning to visit a few spots in Nicaragua that I have yet to see. I hoping to either go Rio San Juan or the Corn Islands at the end of January. I also really want to learn how to scuba dive sometime very soon but there is this political situation in Honduras that is making it hard to visit the Bay Islands.
I will also be blessed to have some visitors for the New Year 2010. Two of my best friends, Michael and Jacob, will be making their first appearance on Nicaraguan soil and will be spending 7-10 days here enjoying the best of Nicaragua.
And for all the parents out there these are my post Peace Corps options:
1. Get a Bilingual Job. I am thinking something working with the Latin community, immigration, or advocacy work. Or I could get a job with the UN or something diplomatic like that. I do need to make some money but in this economy it could be difficult so….
2. Go to Grad School. I really want to go but still don’t know what for! I am thinking a MBA specializing in non-profit businesses or an International Affairs or Higher Education program. Still the deadlines are coming and going and Fall 2010 doesn’t look like it’s going to happen so…
3. Travel. Take 4-6 months to get know America Latina and maybe Asia. I do get 6000 dollars from Peace Corps that could easily fund this type of trip and have met lots of couchsurfers with whom I could stay during my travels. At the minimum I will take a month post Peace Corps to go to Costa Rica, Panama, and maybe Mexico. However, I don’t really like the idea of backpacking and prefer living in places for a few months at a time….I have heard Buenos Aires is nice.
4. Start a Business. I figure since I have been teaching all these students how to start their own business and working with entrepreneurs, I might as well take my own risk. Of all the 4 options, this one most intrigues me short term but I still don’t have a solid business idea. Do you have one? Send me it!
5. Live at home with my parents. As much as my parents have begged me to do this and as amazing a fridge full of food sounds, I just don’t think this is going to work. Sorry Mom and Dad. Youll get me for a few weeks whether you want to or not but that’s about all I can promise.
