(spell check is down again, I didn´t major in english, alright?!)

The rain has started. The world has become vibrantly green. The contrast between the dry landscape, and the somewhat more watered, makes me realize how much I took green forgranted. Things here are well. I´m starting to feel more settled. My first thought in the morning is no longer ¨ oh right, I´m in Nicaragua.¨ I´ve been trying to read more in spanish, and am currently picking at a forraged spanish version of Harry Potter.
Work is comming along. I had my first youth group meeting today with the aid my counter parts. I really have been fourtunate with my placement. There are many oportunitie for a variety of work, my counterparts are really energetic to work, are organized, and extremely pacient with me. The previous volunteer left me with a strong foundation to build upon, though Í´ve some big shoes to fill.
Not a whole lot new to report. Gallo Pinto (beans and rice) isn´t the bane of my existance anymore, its rather tolerable with a enough chilli. I introduced popcorn to my family, and we discovered that putting chilli sauce in the oil before popping it is quite tasty.(you should try it. I wonder if you can use other oil soluble flavorings as well...?)
I´m slowly making friends in the community, and becoming known around town. One of the side effects of this, is that some of the men have realized that I´m not leaving anytime soon, and have become comfortable enough with my presence, to be a little more aggressive with their cat calling etc etc. Right now my tactic is to ignore it, but I´ve been warned that somedays I´ll rub you the wrong way, but not to dwell on it. Its just a cultural difference. Many women from this part of the world move to the states, and comment that ¨am I ugly or something here? the men don´t say anything to me!¨

I was on a home visit the other day with one of the doctoras. The house we visited strickingly resembled one of the many (or at least one of the more durable) forts I built in the woods, or in the back yard with my brothers, and other friends growing up. How is it that some else´s life-reality can mearly be a child´s game elsewhere?
I know thats over simplified, but sometimes thinking in terms of generalizations can make big ideas and topics easier to swallow. Although it can be dangerous. Today I found myself frustraited about something and thinking ´why are nicaraguans like...? How terrible of me! One interaction, or even repeated experiences are not necessarily an indicator of culture.
I´ve hit the one month point of my service. In retrospect its gone by fast, I´ve been in country almost 5 months now, (23 to go).

Well a thunderstorm is rolling in, so I´m off the computer.

Till next time...!