The bat came back...

If you read my previous blog that I posted just minutes before this, you read about a little bat in the house.  Well, speak of the devil, Jasser came into my room asking about the bat and wanted to use my bug spray to protect himself just in case the bat was still alive.  I followed him out of my room with the bug spray in hand.  He turned on the light of the other room and the bat came flying out.  We both started screaming and ran out into the kitchen.  Oh, it was hilarious!  Apparently we weren't as brave as we thought.  We didn't see it after that so we assume it went up into the roof somewhere. 

Oh, so as I was typing this, I heard screams from the living room and Jasser was running to the back patio and coming back with a mop.  He was calling me to come out and the girls ran outside.  Apparently the bat was back again.  Jasser hit the bat with a mop and killed it.  He said that he was talking on the phone in the kitchen and saw it out of the corner of his eye just walking across the floor in his bedroom (where it was to begin with).  Oh my gosh.  My throat is sore from screaming so loud.

Peeping Tom

So this "quiet" weekend turned into something else last night as I became the victim of a peeping tom.  Don't worry, nothing bad happened, but it sure gave me a good scare! 

Yesterday was a pretty boring/lazy day and I was just hanging around the house waiting for my host mom and Ruth to come back from the finca.  Ruth's husband came over from Granada to surprise her and so He, Hazzell, and I waited around for them.  I mostly did my own thing and hung out in my room.  Ruth's husband was getting a little wild, drinking Tonas and calling friends.  I thought it was kinda weird that he was drinking so much when it was just us in the house.  There was a boy hanging out with Hazzell, but he wasn't drinking. 

Anyway, my door had been closed and I heard the noise stop and the room doors shut so I assumed everybody went to bed.  I was just sitting in my room with the light on, TV on, and browsing things online.  My fan was on as well and it was blowing my curtains.  Earlier I had closed my curtains, but I glanced over and saw that part of them was open.  Hmmm, I guess the fan blew it open.  I got up to go fix it and noticed that the screen I had on the window was pulled up and the moquito net/curtain on the outside was untucked.  I pulled the curtain closed to clip it and heard a loud noise outside, like something moved and hit something on the back porch.  My heart started racing.  It sounded like it could have been a person that freaked me out.  My window has bars, but sometimes when I hear noises out back it scares me and I think that someone might have gotten into the back patio.  Which by the way is nearly impossible because there are big bars with spikes on top and then barbed wire all over.  Anyway, I wanted to shut the glass part of window, but I didn't want to open my curtains again because I didn't want to see anything outside.  So, I carefully pressed the curtain to the window and slid the windows down so they were closed.  I turned off my fan and turned the volume down on the TV and listened for a minute or two to see if anything was moving outside.  I didn't hear anything so I decided to just go to the bathroom and then head to bed.  I turned on my bathroom light and walked into my bathroom (which also has a small window to the back patio) and I saw a hand on the bars on my bathroom window (assuming he was trying to climb up to look in), to which I screamed and then started shouting "What are you doing?! What are you doing?!" in Spanish and calling out Ruth's husband's name to see if it really was him.  I ran out of my bathroom and into my bedroom and heard him walk to the room he had been staying in out in the patio and close the door.  Ok, by then I was SUPER freaked out because it was really dark out and all I saw was a hand in my window.  My heart was certainly racing and I actually was shaking.  No joke--I looked down at my hands and they were shaking.  I didn't really know what to do so I called Hazzell's cell phone and told her to come to my room.  She came over and I told her everything and she said that he was drunk and was trying to leave the house earlier on his motorcycle but she told him not to.  It was very weird.  So, I locked the back door so he couldn't come in the house if he was going to try later. 

I still had to go pee so I asked Hazzell to use her bathroom.  She unlocked the door on the other side and came running out to tell me there was a bat in the sink.  I peered in and saw a little bat just lying in the sink.  I decided to grab a big bowl from the kitchen and just put it over it in the sink because I was NOT going to use the bathroom with the potential of a bat flying at me.  I made her stay right outside the bathroom and then I ran out.  We chatted a little and then parted ways.  I was still really freaked out and didn't want to go to bed.  I tried calling Frank, but his phone had died and he hadn't had power so I couldn't reach him.  So I decided to watch some TV and try to keep my mind off things...  Frank's power finally came back on around midnight so he called me and comforted me.  I was so thankful to talk to somebody about it and then talk about other things to get it off my mind. 

I had dreams about it, about trying to tell my host family about what happened.  It wouldn't leave my mind.  It was just so creepy.  Fortunately, Jasser came this morning and I got to talk to him about it and we left the house for the day to stay away.  By the time we came back in the early afternoon, he was gone.  Not sure where he went or when he left, but he never said anything to Hazzell and Jasser.  I'm just thankful he's not here.  Never did I feel unsafe, just was super creeped out.  I knew he couldn't have gotten into my bedroom, but I was just weirded out that he was watching me.  It's a good thing I wasn't changing or anything...

I'm ok now, but I'm still going to talk to my host mom about it when she gets back from the finca, because he really shouldn't be drinking here when it's just us girls in the house. 

Quiet

This weekend is unlike most of my weekends.  Although it just started, I have a sense of where it might take me.  It began sort of hectic with me running around to get things done, but as the sun began to settle things quickly slowed down and got quiet.  Yes, the power was out so that was part of it, but I drank in the stillness and relished in my moments of freedom, with no hint of obligation.  My body is tired and I'm glad to have some rest.  I'm a night owl by nature so I kept myself up a little late, but not because I was planning lessons or trying to finish some materials, but because I was taking some time to do what I wanted and watched a movie and listened to some peaceful music.  It was refreshing.  I'm looking forward to sleeping in a little tomorrow and taking care of things a little later.  There are always things to do and places to visit, but for right now, quiet is what I seek. 

Beauty is that which you notice in those quiet times in life.  When things stand still and the normal becomes new and different.  When you learn to appreciate every little thing your eyes seem to fall upon.  When you realize that you haven't been forgotten; in actuality, you have forgotten that you are being taken care of.  That things fall into place.  That worry doesn't accomplish.  That you never knew life would be beyond your expectations.  That love is overwhelming.  That the future is mysteriously intriguing.  And faith, is what carries you through.

Running around

Today was a pretty exhausting day and I have a killer headache to vouch for that!  I gave a lesson on American culture for the embassy program, went straight to my instituto and classes were canceled but I planned with my counterpart instead.  Then, went home and ate lunch quickly, hopped on the bus and went back to the instituto to teach an afternoon class.  Then, I went to the bank, grabbed an ice cream bar at Eskimo, and hurried home to get ready for my kids English class.  After that I was exhausted.  Well, before that I was exhausted, but I mustered up some energy to teach and play and then I was ready to be at home in silence.  My family is still at the finca (ranch) so that means I'm here by myself.  Hazzell has school in the evenings so she doesn't come home until 6:30pm.  It's nice having a little quiet time.  The power kept going off today though so that was a little frustrating, especially because my fan was off and it has been pretty hot lately!  Anyway, I'm finally catching up on my picture posting and blog writing and then I'm going to lay down.  Maybe I'll watch some TV or just fall asleep.  I'm looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow and not having any set plans until the afternoon. 

Some pictures to catch up

This is my precious little nephew Dyland lounging in his new chair.

He's getting so big and loves to smile and laugh :)

The beginning of the parade

Students with good grades

Private school students--much nicer outfits than the public school ones

My sister's dance group

They looked like little dolls

Their band

Public school students

Primary school dance group

Their band

Cultural group

My host cousin

Private school teachers

Dancers

Another band

What is with the short skirts and tall boots?!?

My instituto's outfits for the students with good grades

The instituto's dance outfit--voted the ugliest by far

Not sure what's going on here...

Dyland and mommy (my sis Ruth)

Hazzell in her school's outfit

Exhausted

It was a very long weekend and I'm glad to be back "home" in Boaco.  It was really nice to see some of my friends in Leon and get to hang out with Frank for a couple days.  We made pizza and yummy pancakes in Leon for a going away party for one of my friends who will be leaving in November.  I got to explore Leon a little more with friends--found out that you can go on top of the Cathedral--great views!  Then, I got to relax a little and cook with Frank.  We also went up to Esteli for the day to visit one of our favorite spots "La Casita".  It serves homemade wheat bread, European cheeses, fresh honey, hummus, and banana bread, yogurt smoothies, teas, and more :)  It's so yummy and fairly inexpensive.  Well, it is inexpensive, but not too bad for us volunteers either.  I wish it was closer to where I live so I could indulge in that deliciousness more often, but I just have to save it for special trips.  It's only an hour and a half away from Frank's place. 

We both had to go into Managua for medical check-ups and now the craziness of traveling has died down.  I'm WAY behind on posting pictures ugh!  But, I was happy to slow things down and take it easy for a couple days.  I will post pictures tomorrow or at least post a link to my facebook account if I get them uploaded there.  I promise!  :) 

Ready for the weekend!

Well, at least I think I'm ready.  I'm pretty exhausted from all the band parades and performances from today and yesterday.  It's been soooooo HOT HOT HOT that it's making me so tired!  Yesterday I was at the parade for about 3 hours and then today I was at the performances for 5 hours.  Yes, 5 hours and most of it was standing...  I'll be posting some pictures soon, but I have no energy right now.  After I "relaxed" a little today, I had to make brownies and cookies for a little going away party I'm going to this weekend in Leon and had to plan an American culture lesson for tomorrow morning before I leave.  Ugh!  I wish I hadn't agreed to teach the lesson during vacation, but I guess that's just the way things go sometimes.  Frank is giving a charla this weekend so he can't really go anywhere so that's a major bummer.  He was also invited to the party, but can't make it :(  I'll see him Sunday though.  Welp, that's all I can get out tonight.  I'm ready to hop right into bed and slip into a deep sleep.  Sweet dreams!

Fashion Show

Last night I was hanging out with my family.  Ruth and her baby Dyland are here visiting which makes it so much fun!  The other day my host mom mentioned that Ruth's old dresses from high school were in the closet in my bedroom, so I decided to ask Ruth about them.  She wanted to show me so we were looking through all of them and then decided to have a fashion show for the family.  We had SO much fun!  I love dressing up for fun and we were being extra silly.  While Ruth and I were getting ready, I saw Hazzell's old outfit from dancing with the band of her high school and I told Ruth I should go out in that to surprise them.  She thought it was so funny so she went out in a formal dress first and then I came marching out (with a broomstick as a baton) and did a little dance.  My family could not stop laughing.  So much fun!  We modeled some real dresses after, and then Ruth put her first communion dress on me (similar to a wedding dress haha).  The family thought that was hysterical as well.  Here are some pictures of the show:

Yes, the outfits really are THAT short... just wait for pictures from this week's festivals!

"My first communion"

Out and about

I left Boaco this past Thursday morning for Managua with another PCV from the Boaco area.  We got up to the bus terminal and the 7am bus didn’t come, then the 7:30am didn’t either, and then came the 8am bus… needless to say, I was late for my dr. appointment, but thankfully Frank got to the office early and was able to switch with me since his was scheduled at 11am (mine was 10am).  I finally got to the PC office at 10:45am and was able to get into my appointment and take care of things.  We are at our medical mid-term evaluations since we’ve been here a year now.  How exciting :)  Anyway, we had check-ups, dental exams, etc.  I also had a meeting the next morning so I stayed in Managua with a couple other PCVs.  Frank had to go home though.

The next day I had my meeting from 10am until 3pm…yikes!  I knew it was going to be long, but I was so exhausted by the end of it!  The day before I was going back and forth between different appointments (some out of the office) and then sitting in a conference room for 5 hours, ugh!  Well, I was on my way out and caught a bus headed north and stopped off in Dario to visit Frank for the rest of the weekend.  We had fun relaxing, hanging out, and watched a couple movies. 

Friday night we went grocery shopping and made stuffed cabbage rolls—a recipe Frank found online while googling “meals for two”—how cute is he? :)  Saturday night we went out to dinner at a local eatery and got a little dressed up just for fun.  

Waiting for Frank to finish the chapter he was reading...

Sunday we worked in his garden to fix it up and get it ready for planting.  Then we grabbed some quick food to go and Skyped with his parents.  We’ve been discussing Christmas plans—yay!  

This is the "before" shot.  Lots of rocks, weeds, etc.

Pile of rocks and cement pieces

Tarantula that Frank found and then fed to the chickens.

"After", but a little dark since we worked until it got dark. 

Compost pile

Tire pots--haven't planted yet...

This morning I had to say goodbye and head back to Boaco.  I caught a bus out and then at the point where I get off and wait for a Boaco bus I stood there and thought one would be arriving in about 10 minutes.  Well, apparently that bus didn’t leave Managua…so I waited for 45 minutes.  Man, I really miss having a car sometimes haha

I was so exhausted today from such a long weekend and then found out my counterpart wasn’t having class today because they were just turning in grades.  That was nice not having to go earlier.  I just have my afternoon class and then my adult English class tonight.  This week is gonna be kinda weird again, because there are more holidays coming.  No school Thursday-Monday!  I’ll be around Boaco through Friday morning though because I want to check out the festivities.  

Anyway, gotta run, but I’ll be back with more pics soon!

Reverse Psychology

I went to my class today to work with my counterpart and the students were working on a translation assignment in the computer lab.  My cp told them not to do the translations at home or out of class because they would be using a special translation program in class (by the way I do not agree with translation assignments because not much learning is taking place).  Anyway, when I was walking around helping some students, I noticed that some had typed a few sentences into the computers and were just coping from other notebooks.  Some students had translated the reading before class and they passed it around to copy.  Wow, even less learning taking place.  I talked to my counterpart about it and he said he told them not to do it before and then made a funny comment "but they never do their homework when I give them that to do at home."  Ha!  Why would they waste their outside free time translating a boring reading when they knew they were going to have time in class to do it on the computer?  Because they want to get it done and goof off in class?  I don't know, but whatever the reason, they did it.  My cp and I joked about tricking our students into doing homework by giving them an assignment and telling them not to do it at home, but that we would work on it in the next class to see who would actually bring their "homework".  It might not work out as well as we would hope though haha 

It's a funny situation here because I feel that there isn't sufficient class time anyway, and then students don't really study because they usually don't have quizzes or big exams (at least for English--and the grades don't really matter), and they never do homework.  Teachers don't really ever assign homework because they know students won't do it.  I think the students have a little too much rule of the school here...

Swimming Hole

This past weekend when Frank was visiting, one of my counterparts invited us to go to his daughter’s birthday party.  The original plan was to go to the hot springs place, but then they changed it to a swimming hole a little farther up the road.  They were taking their truck so we hitched a ride and went along.  It turned out to be a neat little place and it looked beautiful.  The water wasn’t exactly “clean”, but it was swim-worthy…there were lots of small fish too and some of them took some bites at the freckles on Frank’s back haha  He survived though.  

There was a little playground at the place and Frank was in love with the see-saw begging me to play.  We had some good laughs and thrills. 

Then it was piñata and cake time!

Birthday girl taking some swings

I think the piñata was bigger than him!

We had a great time—it was certainly nice to get out of Boaco and see something new, if only for a couple hours…

Frank's got me beat on that tan...