For those of you who live too far away for me to catch up with you in person and show you pictures... I have finally finished putting up a bunch on picasaweb. I know there are a lot of them, but when you get the chance- check them out! I hope they give you a little bit of an idea of where I was living, where I was working, the kids who I was surrounded by every day, the family who took me in as if I were their own daughter, all of the beautiful places I got to travel to, and some of the volunteers who I became friends with.

Enjoy!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelawipfler

Missing Nicaragua

The saying sounds so cliche, so cheesy... but it's so true, that at times we don't know what we have until it's gone. Though we try to appreciate things in our day to day lives, we realize how connected we are to some people and things, how much they mean to us and how happy we were when we are with them, it sometimes isn't until they are more than a phone call or walk away that we realize their impact on our lives. I tried so hard to soak in every day with my students and with the families in the community who made me feel so at home, but there is absolutely no way to spend enough time or take enough pictures to make up for the time that will eventually be spent apart from each other.

I knew I would miss them all. When I bawled my eyes out my last few days, I realized how truly hard it was going to be to leave, not knowing when I'll get back to visit. My first few weeks here at home I have been so busy and focused on transitioning back, starting work, catching up with friends and family, that my mind has been preoccupied and taken away from thoughts of Nicaragua. But now all of my emotions and thoughts on them are catching up to me and I'm finding myself missing them more and more, thinking of them more often and looking back on my pictures.

Don't take the people in your life for granted. Soak up the time with them and make the most of it. Thankfully, I can look back and feel as thought I passed a ton of time with the families, made the most out of the time I had with each of my students every day, and accomplished enough in my every day work over all, that I can smile knowing there wasn't more I could have done to make my time more worthwhile or fulfilling.

for those of you who were not able to access the photo albums that I posted on facebook, I have finally been able to post some of my pictures on picasaweb albums!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/michaelawipfler

despedida

Three short weeks ago I was packing up my backpack, saying my goodbyes to volunteers and to Granada, crying from my going away parties and mentally trying to prepare myself for a transition back to the States.

For many reasons, I cut my volunteer stint short in Nicaragua and decided to come back home for a few months. Already having a job here waiting for me made my transition back easier, but even three weeks later... my Central American life is at the forefront of my mind.

Though I didn't feel all that connected to the house that I lived in or the small city that had been my home for more than five months, I created an unbelievable bond with my students and two families in the community that made it so difficult to leave. Heading in to my last week there, I thought that I'd have an easier time with all of my 'lasts' and goodbyes, knowing I was headed back to see family, make more money with the intent of traveling more, to catch up with friends, etc.

Not the case.

There was a going away party for me and other volunteers at our house before heading off to salsa dance the night away; at school, there was a going away party instead of classes with dance performances and a pinata; in the community where I worked, there was another going away celebration with all of the kids who I had become so close to over the months. It was a week full of laughs and smiles, of dancing and singing with the kids... and a LOT of tears. As my kids pointed to the tears rolling down my face, asking why I was crying, I tried to explain that I was leaving and would likely not come back. (Though I plan on returning some day soon to visit, I couldn't get their hopes up by telling them when.)

The handful of children who I created extremely tight bonds with made sure to sit on my lap that week, every chance they could. As I walked around the classrooms or school yard, I'd feel a little hand grab mine, and hold it tightly. I got more hugs than I thought was possible, and a pile of drawings and going away cards from nearly each student at the school.

It's hard to believe that this experience has already come and gone, that my life there is now just a memory.

My goodbyes were harder than I thought, and because of this and the impression that this experience has left on me, I WILL be back...

So long, farewell Nicaragua.... nos vemos otra vez, algun dia... pronto...

9 days of paradise

  I have just returned from a nine day adventure to the other side of Nicaragua, where the land looks different and is untouched, where the culture is completely different: creole and mesquite.

  I felt as though I was in a different country with: rolling hills and so much land that is not developed, driving eastward and coming across only a handful of farms; the people spoke creole and mesquite, had a jamaican kind of accent when they spoke english, and few spoke great spanish; the food they cooked was different and what they were able to grow and support wasn't like that of eastern Nicaragua; there were no tourists, only me and the three others who I was traveling with... in both of the small towns where we were, and on all of the Cayos Islands. The culture and traditions... everything was different, which was in part why I enjoyed it so much. Minus, of course, the 16 hour bus ride there... and back. Ouch.

  While out on the Cayos, I realized how incredibly lucky I am (once again) to be here. I slept on the white sand beaches under a bright moon and a sky full of twinkling stars, listening to the waves as I fell asleep. I woke up at sunrise to see the entire sky brilliant oranges, pinks and reds and went swimming dozens of times every day in the crystal clear blue water. I walked these untouched islands and collected perfect conches, sea urchins and other wonderful sea treasures. I laid in the sun, read my book, wrote in my journal and passed a lot of time just thinking (a lot). I talked to the locals who are 'keeping' the islands, and the fishermen who come from the mainland to stay on the islands for days at a time in order to catch enough fish to sell back in the markets.  

  It was an incredibly unique experience, in a place where so few travelers (or any non-locals) have seen and enjoyed.

  More to come later...

  But at least now you know I'm alive and well, and am continuing to make the most of my time here!!

  Also- if you care to see more pictures and don't have a way to access facebook (since this has been the only way I've been able to post pictures online for some reason), send me an email and I'd be happy to send you the links to my albums!  

 Part of the mural I did in the preschool classroom...   other pictures to come. And mural #2 is already underway! yahoo!!

  One of the perks of living in a different country is not only to live a different lifestyle, to be surrounded by a different culture, to be speaking a different language... but also, is to meet other travelers from all over the world and to learn about their pasts, their reason and motivation for being here. Since I have arrived, I have met dozens and dozens of volunteers and backpackers from Argentina to New Zealand, Holland to Madagascar, all with a different past and a different story and reason for why they have ended up in this part of the world. Getting to know people fascinates me. I have connected with my kids at school because I strive to get to know as much about them as I can- about their every day thoughts and their goals, their family and their past. I have been taken in by a family in the community where I work, as another family member because I have spent countless hours at their house after school, every day, every week since I arrived. I have made connections to some of the volunteers here, have made deep friendships that I know I'll keep for the rest of my life... to others my age who are from Germany, France, Spain, Australia because all of us came here for similar reasons and therefore already have one thing in common... but we're also sharing such intense experiences together and end up sharing more with each other than I would with someone at home (after knowing them for only 2 months). The backpackers and other travels that I have met while I'm exploring other areas of Nicaragua and the other countries here in Central America are all so interesting- many of which you get to know their entire life story in just a few short days.  Each relationship that I have created here... whether it is with my kids at school and their families or the volunteers here and other backpackers, each has influenced me in some way. I hear stories and share some of my own, and end up taking a piece of that experience with me. Even if it's not a direct lesson or pointer, it's the conversations or experiences of others that triggers my own thoughts, challenges my point of views, my goals, my purpose. Through all of this, I am finding out more who I am.

  I am more confident that I can achieve my goals in life if I just put my mind to it...

  Though I'm 23 and have plenty of life left, it's too short to take every day for granted. My experiences here are enriching my life, probably more than I even realize at this moment. The people I meet here are influencing me in some way or another, they're adding something to my life and who I am.

  I know myself more now, than ever before... and for this, I am realizing what makes me happy. Taking time for yourself, taking time to explore you and allowing others to 'help' you do so (directly or indirectly) is an incredibly valuable lesson...