Bored in Boaco

So I’ve been feeling pretty bored lately because it’s hard being in new place but no friends to explore with.  I’ve been texting with other trainees and there’s boredom across the country… Fortunately though, the small business volunteer here called me last night and invited me over to his place to have cake with him and his girlfriend, who is an environment volunteer who just finished her service.  I walked up to Boaco arriba and met Steve in the park, and then walked over to his house.  We ate chocolate fudge cake—amazing!  I haven’t had something that wonderful since being here in Nicaragua.  I usually don’t like chocolate cake because it’s usually dry, but this was fudgy and awesome!  Loved it!  This was a great time because I got to talk in English and talk with people who I had something in common with (Peace Corps).  It was a good hang out time that I really needed because I felt kind of lonely and overwhelmed here.  

Saturday seemed like it was going to be pretty darn boring too.  After my hiking plans with my counterpart got canceled, I decided to get my host sister to show me a few places because I needed to buy credit for my phone and withdraw money from the bank.  I picked up some more water—never realized how much water I drink, but I guess that’s a good thing :)  I still think I need to drink more though.  Anyway, after the water, I saw Eskimo and thought this would be a good chance to hang out a little more with my host sis, so I offered to buy Eskimo.  We got ice cream and chatted there for awhile and then walked home.  P.S. Anytime I buy something with my host sister (or my counterpart’s daughter) they carry my purchases for me; they insist on carrying them for me.  It’s really cute, but then I feel kind of bad, like I’m having them carry my stuff for me, but I guess it makes them feel good.  It’s definitely a change because I’ve walked with guys in the states before that haven’t offered to carry my grocery bags, etc.  

Anyway, so I ate lunch after that and hung out around the house.  I was so incredibly bored and didn’t know what to do as my host brother and his friend were watching TV in the living room.  I watched some shows on my computer and then got a pep talk from my mom and decided to ask my host brother to show me around.  I was worried that I would be a burden to him, but he was actually super nice and took me all around.  We went to Boaco arriba and he took me to the lighthouse, which is really random because we are nowhere near a large body of water.  But, it’s a cool lookout with great views of the surrounding area.

We also walked down a long road past the baseball field, along the river, to the dam.  I definitely noticed a gradual change in housing the more we traveled outside of the “urban” area.  It was vastly different by the time we got down by the river and dam. 

Heading out toward the country.

Baseball stadium

Washing clothes in the river

Beautiful sunlight on the river

The dam

 We then walked back toward town and went to Boaco abajo toward the bank, because I needed to add it to my map and I had forgotten where it was—this place is a lot bigger than San Juan and there are tons of hills and windy roads so it gets confusing!  It will be nice to have a complete map :)  We then walked over the street with the markets—this was cool to see.  There were tons of little markets lining the street with clothing, fruits and vegetables, etc.  I bought bath & hand towels and then my host brother carried my bag, of course.  Then, we headed home.  I was so excited that I got out—I certainly had cabin fever and was dying to get out and walk around but I didn’t want to walk alone and get lost.  It was also really good exercise, which I mentioned to my host bro.  He kept asking if I was tired, but I wasn’t—it felt refreshing.  He told me that his sister said that I walk bien rapido (very fast) and I laughed at this comment, because I think Nicas walk really slow haha  Who’s right?  We’ll never know :)