In that this will be my first post in about six months, needless to say there is a lot of information to cover. Its difficult where to start, and in that I know I have individually informed many friends and family about my time thus far, this will be a bit repetitive for some.
In case you where unaware at this point, I am currently serving in the Peace Corps in Bluefields, Nicaragua as a Public Health volunteer. I arrived in Nicaragua in early March and spent the first three months in country training in the Pacific side of the country. For visual and geographical aide, turn your attention here:
In case you where unaware at this point, I am currently serving in the Peace Corps in Bluefields, Nicaragua as a Public Health volunteer. I arrived in Nicaragua in early March and spent the first three months in country training in the Pacific side of the country. For visual and geographical aide, turn your attention here:
In this map, the green markers are places I have visited, while the white, red and blue markers are the Peace Corps Headquarters, My training site, and My current Site respectively.
Located in the department of Carazo, my training town of La Paz (Translates to ”The Peace”) was about 2 hours from the capital city of Managua (where the main office of the Peace Corps is) and about 20 min from the department capital of Jinotepe. (We spent a lot of our free time in the department capital as there were some shops, sites, and even an American restaurant.) My training consisted of intensive Spanish and classes about the curriculum of the Public Health sector. I lived with a wonderfully generous family in La Paz, who cooked me amazing food, invited me on outings and have hosted 13 volunteers to date!
Located in the department of Carazo, my training town of La Paz (Translates to ”The Peace”) was about 2 hours from the capital city of Managua (where the main office of the Peace Corps is) and about 20 min from the department capital of Jinotepe. (We spent a lot of our free time in the department capital as there were some shops, sites, and even an American restaurant.) My training consisted of intensive Spanish and classes about the curriculum of the Public Health sector. I lived with a wonderfully generous family in La Paz, who cooked me amazing food, invited me on outings and have hosted 13 volunteers to date!
During training we also practiced using the skills and information taught in classes by applying them in the ways we would when we reached our site. (our permanent living place for two years) This included the founding and running a youth group in the community, giving presentations about sexual, maternal or general health in the local public clinics, and conducting a small number of surveys and interviews. (all in Spanish of course).
After three months of these intensive classes we were officially sworn in as volunteers in the Peace Corps and sent off to live in different parts of the country. I was sent to Bluefields Nicaragua, in my opinion the most interesting city here.
As most volunteers were placed in the northern mountainous regions I am a bit isolated from many volunteers. Unfortunately, though Nicaragua is only about the size of New York State, transportation here can be a long process. Due to few paved/large roads, time spent in the bus is often drastically increased to simply travel short distances. In order to reach my site from the capital, I take a 7-hour bus, followed by a 2-hour boat ride. But I don’t mind, though I am a distance away from the majority of volunteers, I do have a 4 site mates (who live in the Bluefields as well) which is uncommonly high. There currently are seven volunteers living on the coast, both in Bluefields and a smaller site slightly to the north called Pearl Lagoon and together we form a close-knit group.
The Atlantic Coast is a bit of an unusual part of Nicaragua; colonized by the British before the Spanish and isolated from much of the country it has a distinct culture. Many people here speak a Kriol of English here as their mother tongue. (But it’s harder for me to understand than Spanish usually, go figure) There is also a huge multi-cultural presence here, from the Spanish-speaking mestizos, Kriol speaking descendants from African slaves, and the indigenous peoples of the Rama and Miskito.
It is here I make my home, struggling to understand Spanish and Creole, and trying to form the relationships that will form my work over the next two years. Currently my weeks have little stability, whether talking about contraceptive methods with a youth group or HIV prevention with a group of pregnant mothers the week is ever changing. However as I begin to gain my footing I look toward the future for the bigger projects I could accomplish over the next two years.
I hope this blog will become more anecdotal after this brief six-month recap. I plan to share bits of culture, stories, and many more photos and videos! Feel free to email me with questions at [email protected], I have a bit of free time at the current moment!
I hope this blog will become more anecdotal after this brief six-month recap. I plan to share bits of culture, stories, and many more photos and videos! Feel free to email me with questions at [email protected], I have a bit of free time at the current moment!