In-Country Orientation!

Saludos from Nicaragua! (Please excuse the typos, the keyboard here at the internet cafe in Ciudad Sandino hasn´t been especially user-friendly!)

I am thankfully here in Nicaragua safely and settling in more and more, in the country more generally as well as my new home here in Ciudad Sandino. Right now, I´m writing from an internet cafe or "cyber" where we pay for internet service on the hour. It´s looking like I might be able to post about every two weeks at this point in time, but we´ll see how it goes! 

I can´t believe it´s been nearly a week! I don´t yet have photos to post but will hopefully put some up soon, especially of where I´m leaving. For a brief recap on the last week:

Thursday, Dec. 11: Met fellow new JVs at the Atlanta airport and we flew into Managua together, where we were welcomed by all of the current and outgoing JVs in Nica, along with Fr. Joe, a Jesuit who is our in-country coordinator and who has been in Nica for many years. There was a red carpet laid out and the volunteers made a tunnel for us to run through. It was a very nice welcome after saying goodbyes at home and a long day of travel.Was hard to believe we were finally here. Then we settled into our respective JV homes, one in Managua and ours in Ciudad Sandino. We chose rooms and got some rest.

Friday: Jumped right into things and visited my soon to be worksite, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, a Fe y Alegria school affiliated with the Jesuits and aimed at popular education. Met Josh, the JV I´´m replacing as well as school members. It was also the Feast Day of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, so there was a Mass there and songs and other celebration. In the evening, all the Nica JVs had a welcome dinner for us. They have all been very kind.

Saturday: In the evening, went to a goodbye party for the outgogoing Managa JVs. Met many community members and danced!

Sunday-Wed: Went to the campo or countryside, for a homestay and also attended a community fair at a center out there centered around community organization, social justice, and solidarity. Got back from the homestay yesterday, the family was extrememly hospitable and had a lot of fun with the boys in the family. Played soccer and watched movies from the Anaconda series!

Today, settling in more and getting ready for a city scavenger hunt!Will most likely do my first cooking here tonight! Wish me luck!

Running out of internet time, but please continue to pray for us in this transition. Hope you are all well and happy happy holidays!!!!

Abrazos,

Alex

Update about Transition to Nicaragua, Keeping in Touch, & Final Fundraising Update

Friends and Family, I can't believe it, but on Dec. 11, I will be flying to Nicaragua to begin my two years of service abroad with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Thank you so much for the support you have given me since I announced I would be doing the program back in May. Your prayers, support, and encouragement have meant so much over the past months during this transition and I ask for your continued support in this move to Nica and while I am away. I invite you to keep in touch at my email (ainterianonic14@gmail.com) and here at my blog; you can receive regular blog updates by entering your email address at the right of this blog page. Please email me if you would like to stay in touch through snail-mail!

With much gratitude, I would also like to share that in closing my 'Send Me to Serve' fundraising campaign on Nov. 23, a grand total of $3,660.52 was raised to support me and my work with JVC, surpassing the minimum goal of $3,000 by much! I will carry the meaning of this support with me always. (To address some interest in donating even though I am closing the campaign, donations will continue to be accepted.)

Before departure, I will be logging out of Facebook, so if I don't respond to a message there, please email me. I have decided to check Facebook periodically over the coming days before logging out.

With well wishes for the holidays,
Alex