My new address for anyone who wants to send me anything (LOVE letters!!) is:
Carolyn Smalkowski
Apartado Postal 113
Matagalpa, Nicaragua
Central America
Muchas gracias!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
I am now a Peace Corps Volunteer!
Today is Day 2 in my site and I have officially been sworn-in as a volunteer! We had our swearing-in ceremony on Thursday at the American embassy where we met the US ambassador. Unfortunately, our host families were unable to come due to all of the political violence that´s been going on, particularly in Managua, with the municipal election fraud. It was kind of sad not having the chance to have a big goodbye with them, but I hope to visit when I can.
This Thursday a couple of us are getting together in my department to celebrate Thanksgiving. I´ll get to see what the departmental capital of Matagalpa is like, and will be setting up my PO box, so keep a look out for a new mailing address!!!
So like I´ve said, it´s day 2 in my site and I´ve been trying to tackle any difficulties that may arise. For example, I already know that my host family situation is not ideal, and my room is incredibly depressing, so upon arriving I immediately put up photos on the wall and tried to lighten up the mood. I´m trying to keep a busy schedule for myself, with week-by-week goals and an agenda of what I need to do for every month. It probably sounds really cheesy, but I think staying organized will keep me busy and not allow me to lose sight of what I´m here for. Although I´m not allowed to leave overnight for the first 3 months, I´m hoping to be able to make some day trips here and there to visit other volunteers and go to Matagalpa. It´s the little things that I think will make this service successful and more enjoyable.
This Thursday a couple of us are getting together in my department to celebrate Thanksgiving. I´ll get to see what the departmental capital of Matagalpa is like, and will be setting up my PO box, so keep a look out for a new mailing address!!!
So like I´ve said, it´s day 2 in my site and I´ve been trying to tackle any difficulties that may arise. For example, I already know that my host family situation is not ideal, and my room is incredibly depressing, so upon arriving I immediately put up photos on the wall and tried to lighten up the mood. I´m trying to keep a busy schedule for myself, with week-by-week goals and an agenda of what I need to do for every month. It probably sounds really cheesy, but I think staying organized will keep me busy and not allow me to lose sight of what I´m here for. Although I´m not allowed to leave overnight for the first 3 months, I´m hoping to be able to make some day trips here and there to visit other volunteers and go to Matagalpa. It´s the little things that I think will make this service successful and more enjoyable.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Last week of training
Hey all,
Thanks so much to those of you who have been following regularly. It´s so nice to know there are people at home who are still wondering what I´m up to! I want to hear what you´re all up to, too!!
Monday night is my last night in my training town (so sad!). Then we have classes all week in Managua, the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, and I head for my site on Saturday. We have really been feeling the Peace Corps budget crunch lately, especially hearing about how previous volunteers have been pampered. Hopefully I won´t have to dig into my savings in my site!
What else...I was unable to move my host family in my site. So that´s kind of a bummer. But I´m looking forward to a potential get-together for Thanksgiving in my department. I´m hoping I´ll be able to see other Nica48 volunteers at least once a month. I think this will keep a little bit of my sanity!
There´s not much else to say...the next couple of days will be filled with lots of goodbyes and new beginnings. Thanks for all the continued support from everyone.
Thanks so much to those of you who have been following regularly. It´s so nice to know there are people at home who are still wondering what I´m up to! I want to hear what you´re all up to, too!!
Monday night is my last night in my training town (so sad!). Then we have classes all week in Managua, the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday, and I head for my site on Saturday. We have really been feeling the Peace Corps budget crunch lately, especially hearing about how previous volunteers have been pampered. Hopefully I won´t have to dig into my savings in my site!
What else...I was unable to move my host family in my site. So that´s kind of a bummer. But I´m looking forward to a potential get-together for Thanksgiving in my department. I´m hoping I´ll be able to see other Nica48 volunteers at least once a month. I think this will keep a little bit of my sanity!
There´s not much else to say...the next couple of days will be filled with lots of goodbyes and new beginnings. Thanks for all the continued support from everyone.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Site Visit
Last week was probably the hardest week I´ve had since I´ve been here. I went on my site visit and was pretty unhappy the entire time. My host ¨family¨ is an older woman who´s used to living alone. She pretty much spends the whole day in the house, working at her ¨venta¨ or little store. She doesn´t talk very much either. So this was quite a change to my current host family, who I love, which is constantly bustling with people and there´s always someone to talk to. My host family in my training site has also hosted 8 volunteers prior, whereas in our sites, the families don´t receive any training from PC and my host mom is new. Also, the room where I´ll be staying for my first 6 weeks and 5 days (not that I´m counting) is pretty much like a jail cell...it´s dark with grey, cinderblock walls and no furniture other than my bed and a very small table. So, please send me pictures and stuff I can hang up to bring some life to the place!!! I´m going to see if I can try to change my host family to one that´s maybe a little bit more exciting, because our first 2 months in site will be pretty tranquilo, since school is out for ¨summer¨ and we basically have to spend the time just getting to know the community. I will have A LOT of downtime and fear major boredom, so hopefully I can get something worked out (or possibly have the opportunity to move out and get my own place sooner). I know these first 3 months in site will be the hardest, not only because it´s a new place and we´re starting from scratch all over again, but because school will not be in session and I won´t have much to do. I am also separated from all my fellow trainees. I definitely have become too comfortable in my training site, and have come back with a new appreciation for my training town and family. I will miss it dearly, and plan on visiting as soon as I can take some vacation time or travel on weekends (in 3 months...sigh).
In other news, things have been pretty crazy here as municipal elections for mayor are taking place all over the country. There are basically two major parties here: the Sandanistas and the Liberals. There are huge clashes and fights between the two parties (to the point where people are dying), so we´ve basically been in lockdown, mandated to stay in our towns until the elections are over. Most of the people I´ve spoken to in the Liberal party here say they have Sandino values but the current Sandanista party has changed and is leaning more towards the beliefs of Daniel Ortega, the current President. So that´s the current situation! And my host brother has been working literally around the clock getting practically no sleep since he works for the electoral board (not sure of his exact job). What a crazy situation it has been! Hopefully things will cool down in a couple of weeks.
Overall, I´ve just been trying to enjoy the rest of my time in my training town while it lasts. I have basically just a week left here, and then some classes for a few days in Managua before we swear-in as volunteers on the 20th. I need to push through these next few months, so any mail, email, or phone calls during this time will be MORE than appreciated! Let me know if you need any of my contact info. My mailing address will be changing soon but in the meantime you can continue to send stuff to the PC office in Managua.
In other news, things have been pretty crazy here as municipal elections for mayor are taking place all over the country. There are basically two major parties here: the Sandanistas and the Liberals. There are huge clashes and fights between the two parties (to the point where people are dying), so we´ve basically been in lockdown, mandated to stay in our towns until the elections are over. Most of the people I´ve spoken to in the Liberal party here say they have Sandino values but the current Sandanista party has changed and is leaning more towards the beliefs of Daniel Ortega, the current President. So that´s the current situation! And my host brother has been working literally around the clock getting practically no sleep since he works for the electoral board (not sure of his exact job). What a crazy situation it has been! Hopefully things will cool down in a couple of weeks.
Overall, I´ve just been trying to enjoy the rest of my time in my training town while it lasts. I have basically just a week left here, and then some classes for a few days in Managua before we swear-in as volunteers on the 20th. I need to push through these next few months, so any mail, email, or phone calls during this time will be MORE than appreciated! Let me know if you need any of my contact info. My mailing address will be changing soon but in the meantime you can continue to send stuff to the PC office in Managua.
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