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...

Counting down the days...

  Finally, in four weeks (or three weeks and five days if you really want to get serious), I'll head to the Managua airport to pick up Isaac and Vanessa. For two weeks, they'll be here with me in Nicaragua, being the first (and maybe only) people to see first hand the life that I have been living here. I am not only incredibly excited see them because I miss them terribly, but am anxious to finally be able to share this experience with my family, with two of my best friends. For both of them, it will be their first time ever traveling like this and I feel lucky to be able to lead them through the two weeks, visiting different places in and around Granada. What a great experience for the three of us... I can hardly wait!!

Leaving my mark...

  So, it has been a while since I've been on here to catch everyone up on my day-to-day life. After a few long weeks with things being stressful and frustrating at school, with other issues of things at home, and what was supposed to be a relaxing weekend in Leon that turned in to me getting my bag stolen, I decided to take a step back from everything. I have disconnected myself these past few weeks, putting my computer away and finding some other way to rewind at the end of my long days. Thankfully, after a few weeks of my mind running crazy, I am feeling more at peace... and can connect back to the world at home that continues on without me, without feeling as though I want to go back.

  But now- I have climbed out of my slump and am back in my normal routine. On top of that, though I have been really busy and have had long days, I have been so happy finally being able to have my own personal artwork (not teaching a class), as part of my responsibility each day! La Esperanza has recently built a new school in an incredibly poor community at the foot of Volcan Mombacho and the director of my program asked if I could put my creativeness to use and make the pre-school room colorful. Finally, after three months of being here (and thinking that I was going to be doing this stuff from the start), I have had the ability to express myself a bit through doing this painting, to use this as an outlet to de-stress and clear my head, to put to use my creative mind and to make this passion of mine a part of my work here.   It's wonderful to finally have the materials and space to do all of this, to have this opportunity for personal reasons while at the same time, hopefully creating an inviting place that will bring a smile to every child's face that walks in to that class.  Though I was required to paint the alphabet and numbers, and this wasn't all that challenging, I enjoyed simply painting... leaving my mark. For as long as the walls of this school stands, my artwork will be there.