My Spanish conversational skills are increasing dramatically. When they say you are going to be taking an intensive Spanish course, they mean INTENSIVE. I feel like I've spoken more Spanish in the last 4 days than in my entire life, and that's after living 9 years in Watsonville. After talking with my teachers and a lot of the people that I meet at the Spanish school about CAN and my project I've regained a lot of my ambition. They all seem to be genuinely interested in what I’m doing with the coffee cooperative. My teachers are wonderful; and having one on one instruction with somebody who will focus on your weaknesses is incredible. Right now I'm a level II speaker, but by the end of two weeks they've said that I will probably excel past level III. The school also offers a lot of activities that they guide you on. They are really concerned with our safety, and will even accompany us to the supermarket if they think it might be even the slightest bit dangerous. After being too nervous to wander around my neighborhood too much, I finally went to the grocery store today with one of the employees from the school, and got to buy Q tips at last, which was a relief. I didn't bring any toiletries other than a toothbrush, and a tiny bit of toothpaste. I have been showering for the past few days only using shampoo from an almost empty bottle that I found in my bathroom. So, it was in everyone’s best interest that I go to the grocery store. I was also able to finally buy mosquito repellent. I didn’t have it before, and the mosquitoes have been having a feast. Apparently my sweet foreign blood is a delicacy for Nicaraguan Mosquitoes.
I went on one of the activities that the school offers with a couple of other students from the School. We went to a little town called Catarina, which is about a 40 minute bus ride from the city. In Catarina we visited a ceramicist, and watched him throw a pot on a wheel right in front of us. It was really neat, and I ended up buying two small souvenirs from the place for 5 dollars. We then went to the main attraction of the city which is an amazing view of a giant lake surrounded by a mass of the most vivid green trees. It was beautiful, and a necessary change from the crowded dirty city. Afterward, we went to a small stand and bought some refresco de pitalla, which is a delicious ruby red fruit drink. On the taxi ride back from Catarina one of the other students told me an interesting story. On the first day they were here some older man came onto the bus they were on and started robbing people with a machete, taking their jewelry and such. They said everyone started screaming and running out of the bus until some guys pushed the old man off. Apparently, this student also has to keep a blog of their trip but refused to post this story, which I think, is silly.
My host family is really amiable. I get three meals a day, a large room with a fan, and my own bathroom. They let me keep to myself, but they are always welcoming when I decide to be social. I have also noticed that they give me the largest portions, and they don’t let me wash my dishes (although, sometimes I do when they aren’t looking). Every night my host mom, my host brother Ernesto, and I all sit together to watch Spanish wheel of fortune. Although I’m never able to guess the phrases on the show, it’s still really nice.
Tomorrow I will be taking a trip to Granada. I’m excited to get out of this city again. So far I have liked everyone that I have met in Managua, but the city itself is awful. Coming up, I’m going to go on another activity to climb some volcano, and also on Saturday I am going to a nature reserve called El Chocoyero. Overall, I’m feeling a lot better than when I first arrived. My spirits are higher, and during the day when I’m able to distract myself with everything that’s going on, I don’t feel as sad or anxious (even though it does creep up here and there). It’s really at night when I’m alone and have time to dwell that I get really despondent and I miss my ex the most. I know that if I could be sharing these experiences with her they would be even greater and meaningful.
-Levi Sharpe
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