fiestas patrias

To change things up a bit, I think I have NOT been sick since the last time I wrote!! What a nice change...

Sept 14 and 15 were fiestas patrias (patriotic holidays). So the week before that (when I was hoping to get to work with all my aula de recurso students, since I'd been out sick so long) the kids practiced marching. A LOT. Tuesday and Wednesday they marched from 7-8 (or 8:30...) and then Thursday and Friday they marched until 10. And then Friday after marching they had a pagent. So that blew a LOT of my aula de recurso time, which was quite frustrating. I mean really, how important is it that these kids know how to march so well? Who really cares? Well, apparently someone does.... I think it's mostly that the other schools do, so NPH has to be as good or better.

Anyway, so the 14th and the 15th they put the marching to use. The 14th the band (just drummers), the dancers (like a cheerleading type dance group, not the tradiational Nicaraguan dancers) and the flag girls went to Moyogalpa to march in the parade. I stayed back, because not all the kids were going, and they were going to do it again on the 15th anyway. Monday, the 15th, everyone went to San Jose. The 15th is actually the bigger day I think, because that's independence day. And actually Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala all share an independence day, so it's a fairly big deal. So we all went to San Jose, and there was another parade, and everyone did their show again too. So I got to see it all that day. It was kinda fun, but very hot. All the kids marched in the parade, which is I assume why they all had to practice marching... And then the dancers, flag girls, and band did their show. Then we all came back super hot and tired and relaxed the rest of the day.

Tuesday and Wednesday there was no school, because the teachers had to work Sunday and Monday, and so they got two days off. So we did activities here at the house, and I got caught up on my aula de recurso notes.

Thursday I got to do one full day of aula de recurso. Then Thursday night was a fancy dinner for all the kids in their year of service and all the apoyo kids. The apoyo kids are still in high school, but they help out a lot, mostly assigned to a particular section. We (the volunteers) had made decorations the night before and then in the afternoon we helped to decorate the room. The kids all came dressed up and there was a presentation with certificates, gifts, and personal cards from the tio, tia, or director that they worked most closely with. Some kids also shared what they enjoyed or what they had learned in their time as apoyo or in their year of service. Then we had dinner, and ice cream!!! Afterwards we played some games, and then they had a bit of time at the end just to dance. I think they really enjoyed it and really felt appreciated, which was the point, so that was good!!

Then Friday I went on descanso. I went to San Juan, partly because that's where other people were going and partly because it's not too expensive. And it has good food! It was a very relaxing weekend. I spent some time on the internet, and I spent a lot of time reading. Sunday a group from NPH came with a pequena and her godparents (sponsors). Raul was with them, and he took us up to the fancy resort, just to look around. He was researching prices, because sometimes when visitors come they want to stay somewhere super fancy. So that was nice to see, but definately WAAAAYYY out of our price range. It costs $10 just to go there for the day and use the pools.... So the descanso was nice and relaxing, not great beach weather, 'cause there was a lot of rain, but we stayed in our favorite hotel/hostal that is right across the street from the beach. So even if it's raining, you can just look out your window.

Monday, on my way back from descanso I stopped at the office to help them fill out visas for the dance group. The forms have to be filled out in English, so they like it when the volunteers do it. The dance group is left for the States Thursday. They'll be in Seattle, San Fransisco and Phoenix I think, so if any of you are in those areas, and want to know the dates for the performances, please let me know!!! It would be great if you went!

This week has been pretty normal. I've gotten to work with all my students in one week!!! Friday there's no school so the teachers can have their normal end-of-the-month meeting. So there'll be a three day weekend.

This Monday I leave NPH, and Tuesday I leave for the states to go to a wedding!!!! Jessica, one of my best friends from high school, is getting married in upstate NY. So I'll be gone for a week (I come back MOnday Oct 6). I'll try to get some pictures up maybe while I'm in the States with fast internet!