I've been spending the last few days here in the capitol, Managua, assisting in the training of the new group of health volunteers. It’s strange to see these new bright eyed trainees, eager, not yet jaded, full of questions and excitement. I remember those days when everything seemed so exotic and new. During training a friend and I would walk to this one gully at day break, or sun down to watch the monkeys there scramble in the mango trees, babies on back. This year, as mango and avocado season approaches, I find myself complaining about 50cent avocados, and 20 cent bags of green mangos. Those which once seemed new, shocking, or absurd have normalized, and I constantly have to remind myself that dollar watermelons, world class beaches, amazingly warm and open people, don't exist the world over, and I can't take any of the short time I have left here for granted.

Sunday I had an epic journey with friends of mine out to one of my rural communities. It involved my fourth time on horse back, me walking almost an hour too far, then back tracking almost 20 mins too far, and a really really sore backside. All worth it though!
Cashew nut/fruit. You can see the nut growing on the top, the fruit is edible, but will stain your clothes, and eating more than one made my mouth go numb.



This poor horse, it had new shoes on, and I guess had his front hoof injured, so I eventually rode solo, and the other lady found another horse.


cows drinking out of a hot spring water flow. The first time I walked through this creek, I kind of freaked out, because I thought that maybe it was contaminated run off from who-knows-what, but later found out there is a hot spring tucked away.



Carrying home a gift for my new god daughter!