To Granada and beyond....!

Jill and I on the bus, did I mention I cut my bangs?
The Cathedral, IT'S ORANGE!!! how cool
This Monday Jill and I visited Granada and what an adventure that was. We attempted to invite a person from Managua to come along so we wouldn't get totally lost or in over our heads but it didn't work out so it was just the two of us. The day started when we took a taxi to the bus station. Once we stepped out of the taxi we were swarmed with about 4 people trying to ask us where we were going and if we needed help. This one guy showed us his "official badge" that said that meant we know we would be safe on the bus he put us on, so we followed him. We got on the bus (which is actually a school bus) and were the first people on. Our guide stuck around until we gave him a tip for pointing us in the right direction. For the next 15 min, Jill and I sat on the bus while vendors came on and off the bus selling drinks, pastries, bread and other merchandise. Even when the bus started to leave the station, the vendors would come on the bus and leave before we got to the exit. We both noticed how there was a difference in preference of personal space and people had no problem touching each other when people from the States would wait until a time they could pass with minimal contact with anyone else. We were told not to buy food from vendors so we refrained. We got off on the last stop in Granada and unfortunately it wasn't anywhere near the middle of the city and neither of us brought a map. My Maggie Radar went off though and soon we were in sight of the Cathedral. We spent the afternoon going into different stores and churches, conversing with the people. Jill bought a couple of gifts from different stores and I bought a really pretty amber necklace. We had wanted to go to Mombacho, the nearby volcano but the only way we could figure out how to get there was through a tour that had already left. We decided since the bus ride was only and hour and about $0.75 we weren't going to worry too much because we'd probably come back. We got back on another bus and came back to Managua without a scratch, except for the one on my ego when I attempted to try out a hammock that then fell. I'm fine.
Later that night, Christopher Johnson, the dean of International Study Abroad (or something), took Jill, Laura, Eva (who will be at Fairfield come Fall) and I out to dinner. He was there to talk about Fairfield and also check in on us. Two other professors came with him, Fr. Ryscavage and Dr. Mielants. They're actually both in the Sociology department (that's my major!) and I had Dr. Mielants for Social Theory last semester, he was one of my favorite teachers, so that was definitely a treat. Fr. Ryscavage is one of the Jesuit priests on campus and as it turns out, he has gone on a couple retreats to the chapel above St. Nicholas school a few years back. He also knows about Bellermine Prep, Santa Clara (of course, another Jesuit school about 20 min from Palo Alto), and Mountian View, so he and I were able to talk about that. Christopher Johnson helped us with a couple of questions we still had about the program and things to come, all in all a very informative and enjoyable dinner.
So here are some things I'm pretty excited about, maybe you should be too!
I bought insect repellant finally
My heat rash is gone
I think I'm getting used to the heat
I still haven't been robbed (knock on wood)
I'm getting used to my walk to school, it doesn't seem that far anymore
Someone told me that my Spanish was more comprehensive and they could see an improvement!
I really don't mind cold showers
I bought a cool shirt with tigers on it for $7
I still haven't touched my savings account
ok that's all I've got. Miss you all!

Nadie pone Baby en una esquina

I am currently watching Dirty Dancing. I know what you're thinking, Maggie! shouldn't you be studying or learning? I would say back to you, why I can watch Dirty Dancing and learn at the same time! yes that's right, it's in Spanish and almost more wonderful than the regular version. Funny Girl was almost as amusing in Spanish is especially like it when they sing in English and talk in Spanish.
Well I'm not spending all my time watching Spanish tv, I have know finished my first week of classes with a couple of changes to my schedule. I am now taking Historia de Nicaragua, Fotografia, y Analisis y Evaluacion de Politicas Publicas. All are very interesting and a little different than I had expected. My history class probably has forty kids in it that don't really care whether or not the Professor is lecturing or not. Its a little different of a learning environment and I think I'll be depending on the book a lot. Fotografia will all be digital and only has seven students. I've only had one politicas class as its only on Saturday but I think it'll be interesting. We have to get into groups which means I'll be meeting new people.
Speaking of which, I introduced myself to a huge group of American students. They were pretty easy to spot and very friendly. They'll only be in Managua for seven weeks as they'll be traveling around the country for a little bit of a different experience than what I'm getting.
Tonight is Laura's 21st birthday so we're all going out for dinner. She doesn't drink so I don't think the fact that we're able to drink here or that she's not back home for the whole big deal really phases her. I'm not sure where we're going, but I'm sure it'll be interesting. I'll be sure to bring my camera to upload next time. I think we'll be going somewhere we haven't been before so that always gets exciting. Hopefully we'll have a good time.
Good news, it seems the heat rash has begun to relent to the power of the Baby Powder. It's slowly going away and I'm thinking (hoping) it'll be gone by next week. One good thing that came from the heat rash though, I finally taught myself to sleep on my back! It may seem a small feat but I've been working on it for a while so when I woke up this morning on my back I was really excited.
I think I'm going to try and plan a trip to Masaya this weekend, does anyone want a hammock? Apparently they're really pretty and well made there, I smell birthday presents (dad?) I've also decided to take more trips, Managua is nice and all but I would really like to see as much of Nicaragua as I can. There's also this island that I would like to visit, Corn Island. Unfortunately you have to take a plane there but I have the routine down pat and apparently its worth the hassle. I'll keep you posted on different places to hit and miss if you ever come to Nicaragua. Haha

Getting in the Swing

This is my room. To even my surprise, I make my bed every day. All my clothes are folded above my bed and I almost always have a glass of water before I go to bed or else my feet swell. I really like it here, there's not a whole lot here, but I think that's what I like so much.
Today I started classes as well. It was a little overwhelming even though I only had one class, social philosophy. I came into the class and everyone kind of looked at me as I was sitting down, all 7 of them not including the teacher. She asks what my name is and I give it to her, but I'm not on the list. We quickly rectify that by me showing her my schedule. As I'm sitting down a little closer to the front due to the level of noise coming in from outside and also the low volume of the professor's voice I realize that not only are there 8 people in this class including me, but I'm the only girl. I'm also the only sociology major, but this is a little less obvious. I struggled through the class with a little bit more attention than everyone else, but I think its going to be really interesting. She does want class participation which is good and bad due to my lack of verbal skills, but hopefully I'll be able to learn more Spanish at the same time. The class ends and the teacher recommends to me (while the whole class is starring at me) that I make a few friends and get a few phone numbers so that I can talk with someone about the homework. That was not a problem, I met three of the seven other students in the class and exchanged numbers with two of them. Hopefully they'll be able to help me. I think I'm going to start doing the homework ASAP even though the next class is Thursday because it'll probably take me forever.
Tomorrow I have two classes, both of them are with Jill and Laura, so at least there will be two other girls in those classes. I also think, after many attempts, I finally have the schedule I want despite the fact that I have classes on Saturdays. I wouldn't be surprised if the class I had today will be my hardest, but we'll see.
Something else really exciting happened to me over the weekend. I went to a party with a someone I met through a mutual friend. WOO isn't that exciting? No but really, at this party I was able to talk to a lot of people in Spanish, and some of them actually knew what I was saying. Also I happened to meet Daniel Ortega's grandson. For those of you who don't know who that is, he is currently the leading politician of the Sandanistas (the grass root movement currently in power in Nicaragua) and also the President of the country. That's right, I met the grandson of the president!!! I was so excited, we actually talked for a little and he seems like a good guy.
Things are getting off to a good start so far, I'll make sure to keep you posted.