As my Peace Corps service comes to a close (on November 11, to be exact), I've tried to spend as much time in-site as possible to finish up any previous projects and try to ensure sustainability with my work before I leave. I want to make these last couple of months as productive as possible so that I can finish up my service with a bang and really feel that I've had a worthwhile two years. However, for the past couple of months, I have made more visits to Managua, the capital, than I have in all of my previous two years combined, and it could not have started at a worse time.
On one early morning in June, before the sun had even fully risen, I woke up to take an ice-cold shower and get ready to go to school. As I was towel drying my hair, I pulled a muscle in my neck so badly that I couldn't move I was in such severe pain. With the help of a few phone calls to the PC Doctors and some medication, the pain subsided within a few days and I could at least get out of bed and go back to work. However, here I am three months later and I still can't completely twist my neck to one side.
Peace Corps is therefore sending me to physical therapy in Managua twice a week for what was originally just six sessions, but have now been extended to twelve and maybe even eighteen sessions, depending on my improvement, or lack thereof. I am losing two out of five work days a week for this therapy in addition to having to travel frequently in taxis - not exactly a pleasant experience after what happened to me. I am at least now taking more precautions when I travel and am using PC-approved drivers, but the anxiety of being in Managua hasn't fully faded away.
In terms of the police case, there really has been no progress made in all this time. Let's just say the issues I've been having throughout my entire service in regards to meeting with people, punctuality, etc. are not limited to just development work. But this has been an additional stressor I need to deal with on every visit to Managua.
So what am I doing the days I'm not in my "second site"? I continue to go to school every day and try to meet with the new environmental representative in the Mayor's Office to continue with eco-group work. I do have a good story for you, though. To get to one of my schools requires a 40 minute bus ride on an unpaved road, crossing through a river (that's right through, not over) because the bridge was damaged by a storm a few years ago. Since it's been raining so much, the buses aren't able to cross because the river's so deep, but one of my student's mothers has laid out a thick wooden plank for vehicles to cross the bridge and is charging 50 cordobas (about $2.50) to cross (which I find amazing how people completely take advantage of situations). So as I was coming back from school, one of the buses decided to brave it out (or not pay C$50) and cross the river. Well, we got stuck, and I witnessed gallons upon gallons of pure diesel just flow into the river as the driver slammed on the gas to try to get the bus out. If only I had a camera. Anyway, it's times like these that I wonder if I'll miss...
Home in a little over two months!
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2 comments:
In light of the recent disasters and having 100km of the Inter-American highway shut down, I have to say I think I'm getting more comfortable with my decision. You're tough for braving it out, but I guess our circumstances in our countries are / were to different... keep on chugging along, at least you have Norvin to lean on! I heart you.
Tough times. I know its easier said than done, but try to focus on the positives and all the children and teachers you have impacted in the community through your work!
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