We went to one of our favorite places up near Esteli for brunch on Saturday called “La Casita” where they make fresh wheat bread, delicious yogurts, cheeses, jams, teas, honey, hummus, and other yummies. Everything is fairly inexpensive so we like to get a lot of small things and have a picnic. It’s a really beautiful place with lots of plants and flowers where you can walk around and enjoy nature. Then there’s the outdoor “dining area” with table and benches made from slabs of wood. It’s really a neat place to visit—wish it was closer to us, but then again, maybe it would lose its “specialness” if that was the case.
After our brunch, we took the bus back to Frank’s site and bought some things to make a delicious dinner later. I helped him with dinner (even though he was going to surprise me haha) and we made grilled chicken (his family had this thing to make grilled chicken, go figure), garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli (they had a steamer too), and caramelized onions. It was all very delicious. To top it off, while I was putting together some things in the kitchen, Frank set up a table and chairs in his room, lit some candles, and put on some romantic music for our dinner. So sweet :)
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| This is "Peace Corps romantic" ;) |
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| Ready to eat a delicious meal with my honey :) |
Today, the actual Valentine's day, I celebrated with my ACCESS English class. Yesterday I went to class to give them instructions on how to make an envelope to put on their desk and to make little Valentine's cards for everyone in class. I told them they could bring treats too.
Well, they did well with the treats. I got them started with making envelopes first so the glue could dry and they were so excited to use my special paper that Frank's grandparents gave me for Christmas--it was construction paper but some had glitter in the pages and some had a marble effect. They are really neat and the students thought they were awesome too since they had never seen anything like those before. I don't want to say that they were fighting over the paper, but they were pretty excited haha Thankfully there was plenty to go around :)
Then the teacher had someone deliver these little heart shaped cakes covered in chocolate for all the students and me. It was so nice. Also, one of the students had her mom bring ice cream and another brought coca cola. It turned into quite a party. Nicas really do know how to party :) Since we had cups of ice cream as well as cups of soda, I of course had to teach my students what a float was and poured my soda into the cup of ice cream. They laughed, but tried it anyway—some were a little hesitant at first, but they loved it.
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| Teacher Edwin--he's very enthusiastic and I enjoy working with him |
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| Yummy treats :) |
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| My envelope |
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| Some Valentine's cards I received :) |
Ok, and last, but not least... Peace Corps sent out a funny list of reasons why you should date a Peace Corps volunteer which I thought were definitely share worthy (I didn't write these, but I wish I had):
12 reasons to date a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer:
- We can woo you in multiple languages. Who else is going to whisper sweet nothings to you in everything from Albanian to Hausa to Quechua to Xhosa? That’s right. Only a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
- We’re pretty good dancers. Yeah, we don’t like to brag, but after 27 months in Latin America or Africa we know how to move it.
- We’ll eat anything. Seriously. No matter how bad your cooking, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers have had worse and will eat it with nary a blink. Sheep’s eyeball? Water buffalo gall bladder? Grasshoppers? Bush rat? Bring it.
- We know all about safe sex, thanks to our very thorough Peace Corps health training. In fact, there’s a chance that we’ve stood unblushingly in front of hundreds of villagers and demonstrated good condom technique with a large wooden phallus.
- We’ll kill spiders for you. Well, actually, we’ll nonchalantly scoop them up and put them out of sight. Same goes for mice, geckos, frogs, snakes. Critters don’t faze Returned Volunteers.
- We have great date ideas: wandering a street market, checking out a foreign film, taking in a world music concert, volunteering…. Romantic getaway? Our passport is updated and our suitcase is packed. With us, life is always an adventure.
- We like you for “you”… not your paycheck. Especially if we are freshly back from service, a local joint with “character” will win out over a pretentious eatery. Living in a group house? No problem. Does it have running hot water? What luxury!
- You won’t get lost when you’re with a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Navigating local markets on four continents, we’ve honed an uncanny sense of direction. Or else we’ll ask for directions. We’re not afraid to talk to “strangers.”
- Waiting for a late train or bus? Don’t worry, we’ve been there, done that. We can share lots of funny stories about “the bus ride from hell” that will make the time go quickly and put it all into perspective.
- Our low-maintenance fashion style. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer guys are secure in their manhood and don’t mind rocking a sarong. Women often prefer flip flops to high heels. We don’t spend hours in front of a mirror getting ready to go out.
- Marry us, and you won’t just get one family — you’ll get two! When we refer to our “brother” or “mom,” you’ll want to be certain we’re talking about our American one or our Peace Corps one. You might even get two wedding ceremonies, one in the U.S. and one back in our Peace Corps country.
- And last but not least, we aren’t afraid to get dirty.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!
Share the L♥VE :)
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