I've been spending a lot of time in Managua over the past three weeks, which also means that I've been spending very little time in my site/at my schools.
A couple of weeks ago, I got a phone call from Felix, the new tech trainer for the environment project (although new to our project, Felix is not new to Peace Corps, he used to work for the agriculture project) asking me if I'd be willing to give a charla (training session) to the newest group of volunteers, Nica 62, who arrived in mid-August. I had been chosen by my supervisors to give the charlas about school gardens, along with Patrick, another volunteer from my group. It was cool to be chosen, because that means that they were impressed by the gardens that I've done in my site (which, by the way, were my first-ever gardens that I've ever made). Most volunteers who give charlas to trainees just do one session, however the garden charlas have multiple sessions. First, a training session on the basic theory behind school gardens (find a flat place, make a fence, make sure to water and weed---we're talking really basic), then a practicum where we make a little sample garden to practice the techniques, and lastly the trainees set up gardens in the schools in their training towns to maintain for their 11 week-long training period. Add to that list a meeting in Managua beforehand to plan everything and we're looking at a LOT of time spent in Managua.
After a 1 day/1 night trip in to plan everything, Patrick and I returned a week later to give the garden theory charla. The new group of trainees is much bigger than our group was (20 compared to 13), and they were only a week into their training. That means that they are still attentive, enthusiastic, excited, nervous, and have a MILLION questions about EVERYTHING. After giving our charla, Patrick and I answered lots of questions about gardens but also about our work schedules, co-teaching, language learning, and other projects.
Two days later, we helped with the garden practicum. We divided the trainees into 5 groups of 4 and each group was led by a facilitator. During the practicum, I let the trainees do most of the work, but helped guide them and explain why we were doing things the way we were. My group worked hard and we got everything finished before the other groups. We built a small seedbed, complete with roof for sun and wind protection, planted rows of cucumber and radish, and planted 4 squash plants.
The charla was on a Thursday and the practicum was on a Saturday, so on Sunday I headed back to my site. However, all of these training sessions also coincided with the time period in which we all have to do our mid-service medical visit (a short talk with the Peace Corps doctors, and a trip to the dentist). I had scheduled mine for Wednesday, so really I was only in my site from Sunday until Wednesday morning, when I headed back to Managua once again at 5:30 a.m. to be in the office around 9:30.
Healthy and with no cavities, I spent a few days in Managua before going on Saturday to help the trainees set up gardens in their training town schools. I was in El Rosario, Carazo helping a group of 4 trainees, Tom, Geri, Claire, and Claire, to set up their garden. I was extremely impressed with the preparation and planning that they had put in. They did a name game with the students who came to help, talked about the different tools, and did a good job organizing the students. I did my best to help them with whatever they needed (which many times was Spanish vocabulary, or helping explain something to a student) but they did an excellent job. I think every new group has it's own dynamics and personality, and to me this group seems very focused and serious. Hopefully they'll lighten up a little bit over the next few weeks, because they're definitely going to have to learn to be flexible and roll with the punches-- one of the most important things when being a PCV.
After working the whole morning in the gardens, we headed back to Managua and Felix dropped Patrick and I off at the Holiday Inn to check into the hotel for the Small Business Gala that was happening Saturday night. It's a fundraising event put on by the small business volunteers in order to raise money for their entrepreneurship competition that they do with high school students every year. I checked into the hotel, caught up with friends, took a nice hot shower, hung out by the pool, and then in the evening we headed to the gala. It was a great event with good food, lots of dancing and drinking, and a chance to see lots of volunteers all in the same place.
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| Me, Tara, Robi, and Amanda at the gala |
Now, I'm back at site and about to have my first full week of work in a long time. The trips to Managua were a nice break, but I was ready for it to be done. I got to see almost everyone from my training group, as well as other PCV friends over the past few weeks, and met some volunteers that I didn't know before. Now it's time to buckle back down and finish out the school year.
Next up on the radar are some more traveling...a trip to Leon next weekend to celebrate 1 year in-country; a trip to the Laguna de Apoyo with Luis, who is finishing up a volunteer program that he's been working with for the past 2 months; and oh yeah....my birthday.
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