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!