Como se dice...?

Ah what a familiar phrase. (for those that don't know it mean it says "how do you say..."). Thus far I think it has been one of my favorite. Most of the Nicas (slang for Nicaraguans) are very helpful and patient when you try to come up with a word or phrase, especially when there's a tip involved. I can definitely get by but I look forward to fluency. Talking on the phone is the hardest part. Life is pretty sweet here, I moved into my host families house last night and said goodbye to Peg who's catching a noon plane. I have my own sweet little room that has its own bathroom a lot of shelves (thank god because I have room to hang about 6 things), two fans for those hot nights and wireless internet! On the downside however, no hot water....who wants to take a warm shower in 80-90 degree whether anyways?

Mom took me and the other two girls from Fairfield, Laura and Jill, out to dinner last night. We had a good time and they have my number so I think I can officially say I have two friends, but we'll see. While at the resturant last night, a group of about 6 or 7 kids come up to the side of the patio of a resturant and start banging on drums really fast while one of the kids spins around while wearing a huge puppet of a woman. They start yelling something I can't understand when they break from the drums and then continue. After they're done, they stand on the edge of the patio with a hat going around from table to table asking for a couple of Cordoba. My mom's a huge sucker and always gives them 20 Cordoba (equilvlent to about a dollar) (I probably would too if she weren't with me, they're just so damn cute.)
These kids are also on the road in the middle of the lanes trying to sell a variety of items ranging from sunglasses to pecans. And when I say kid I really mean it, I've seen probably four year old as well as teenagers. Meanwhile their parents are on the side of the road waiting to collect what they're kids have gotten from the passengers of the cars that roll by. It's really sad especially because no one looks at them. You're told not to, if they see you looking at them or their merchandise, they'll hound you at the window until the light turns green.

Alright, let's quantify a couple things:
Days in Managua: 4
Movies downloaded from itunes: 1
Nights spent in host family's house: 1
Exchange rate from Cordoba to Dollars: 18:1
Times I've eaten something new: 3
People I've met that speak english well: 3
Times I've been robbed: 0 (knock on wood)
Mosquito bites : 8
Times my feet and hands have swollen due to the humidity: 4 (not swollen when I wake up 1/2 hour later, balloons.)
Times I've used ichat: 1
New experiences: 50
# of People I miss: 0...just kidding