Buenas tardes y que tal, que onda, y como estas? Espero que estes tremendo!
Although we left the States only a week ago, it feels as though it has been forever. Every day has been packed full of activities, both recreational and informational. There is much to say.
Our arrival in the dark gave an element of surprise to our landing and the drive to La Mariposa Spanish School. After an hour´s drive from Managua (mas o menos), we arrived. Everything seemed nice upon scoping out the site, but nothing could have prepared us for the view that the morning sun revealed! In the foreground you see beautiful flowers and tropical plants complete with hummingbirds and mandarin trees. Looking farther, you see mountain ridges thick with vegetation and hillsides planted with fields of pineapple. On a clear day you see the towns in the valley below run up against the shore of Lake Managua to the left, and to the right the smouldering crater of the Masaya Volcano, its hillsides scorched brown and dry from the acidic clouds that constantly flow out from within.
And so it is in the constant presence of this remarkable view that we are forced to study Spanish while swinging in a hammock or rocking in a chair talking with our instructors. Tough life, huh? I´d definitely rather be in Northern Wisconsin enduring 60+ inches of snow, couds, and sitting at a desk all day!
By now we´ve each spent four nights in our family homestays and we are learning more Spanish everyday. Our daily routine has us arriving at La Mariposa for Spanish class at 8, where we will spend two hours practicing grammar and two hours in conversation with our instructors. One instructor, Julio, grew up in the neighborhood and likes to take us on walks through the local farm fields in the hills up the street from the school, picking and eating fresh pineapple, oranges, and mandarins as we talk. He is a good instructor and has shared with us many stories and information about his life in Nicaragua.
Believe it or not, this is Spanish class.
Each day in the afternoon we have different activity. We´ve done so many things it´s been hard to keep track, but some highlights have been: a boat tour in Lake Nicaragua of some islands created by a great explosion of Mombacho Volcano, lessons on the history of Nicaragua, meeting with a group of banaderos (banana plantation workers) who have become sick form exposure to chemicals used on the crops, and a day of swimming in La Laguna de Apoyo, a lake formed in the crater of an old volcano that exploded 2,000 years ago. Needless to say, La Mariposa has been the perfect home base for the beginning of the trip!
It should be said that the group is getting along well, and we have received a few compliments on our chemistry and energy from the locals already. Be sure to look out for our upcoming TV show, appropriatel titled “That´s so Gringo!”
There are many more adventures to come, and I speak for everyone when I admit that I am excited to see what each day will bring. For now, we´ve got Spanish to learn and hammocks to swing in.
I hope all is well in Los Estados Unidos. Make sure to enjoy the winter for all of us (we miss it so much!)
Adios y hasta pronto,
Travis