Life is good

Last week was INSANE. My housemate Josh and I led a group all last week and it opened my eyes to the logistics of hosting short-term international service learning trips. And by opened my eyes I mean I'm scratching that off my list of possible career paths. The group was amazing - friendly, easy-going, well-educated in Nicaraguan history, eager to participate and learn - but the planning, chaperoning, financing, cooking, etc took such a toll that every night I just dropped into bed. Still, my housemates were great about supporting us and overall the week was a great success. Short term groups are especially important to Manna because: a) they become future Program Directors, b) they're great fundraising resources, c) they bring fresh perspectives to the organization, and d) it makes us, the PDs, appreciate each other more.

On the way home from Intermediate English today, I turned to Tressa in the car and whined, "Life is going to be so boring next year." And not that I won't like being back in DC and Maryland, but going from the Metro to a cubicle in an office seems mind-numbingly boring compared to driving our 4-wheel drive Nissan patrol - full of teenage Nicaraguans - to an open air ranchon for English class. Or walking around the community with little 5-yr old Jolis by my side on my way to get my custom-made pants ($6 to buy the fabric at the market, $5 to get them made by Don Mario in Cedro Galan). Or guitar seranades on the rooftop under the stars. Or co-managing a 6-woman microfinance program. Or dance the night away at our favorite club, then have Eliott surprise me with a rose at the end of the night.

But that's why I have to go back, so that later down the road I can come back here and hopefully realize all the dreams I will have left unfulfilled. The only disadvantage of Manna's holistic approach, the ability to experiment with whatever kinds of programs that you feel passionate about, is that sometimes you end up feeling passionate about everything and still don't know which option to pursue :)

I'm sleepy. I guess the only big program update is that we'll be taking a few more people from Beginner's English into our Intermediate class the 3rd week of April. Also, Creative Arts will be starting its "Costa Rica" unit so we'll see how the kids view their southern neighbors - note the long term rivalry between Nicaragua and Costa Rica. It should be fun!