Nervioso

May 24th 2013 I bridged from being a Peace Corps Aspirante (Trainee) to a full time Peace Corps Volunteer. Training lasted a total of eleven weeks filled with language classes and charlas (this is a spanish word similar to "lecture") by older PCVs. We lived by a schedule and knew what each day would consist of. When I arrived in Nicaragua for orientation, I thought the next eleven weeks would not be so bad, because "Hey, its only eleven weeks...". Little did I know. There were days that I wanted to yell, days I felt lonely, I wanted to sleep, and I wanted something different to eat besides Galo Pinto!

Our Nica61 group arrived in Managua a day before the "Swearing-In" ceremony where we were treated with a home cooked stir fry meal at the U.S. Embassy! One of our administration staff members cooked for us while we swam in the pool and played sand volleyball at the Embassy. Although this is not typical for PCVs, it was a treat for hard work and dedication through the rigors of training.

The next day, we gathered at the Hilton Hotel for the actual ceremony. Our host families from our training towns all came to provide their support. I really do appreciate our host families for providing us a place to stay, a place to study, and a place for us to call "home" for eleven weeks!

"WE MADE IT!" We are finally volunteers!

The next step consists of traveling to our new sites, re-introducing ourselves to a new community, our new host families, the schools, the jovenes (young kids - teenagers), our counter-parts, the local pulperias, the alcaldia, the bus drivers, and our new family of peace corps volunteers! It is all exciting, but still very nerve racking at the same time. I feel nervous. I am not sure why. It could be my level of Spanish is not great, or that I am about to embark on the newest chapter of my life. Whatever the reason, I am here to make an impact in the lives of others. I am here to fulfill my goals, Peace Corps' goals, and to enjoy every moment that passes by. I will be living in the moment, not worrying about the past nor the future. I am here, because I am a volunteer.

Wish me luck and keep up with my travels, my journey, and my experience.

Walk Beside Me!