Maybe Next Year...

Saying goodbye was hard to do. My official last day on the farm was full of activity which made leaving somewhat easier. Sibia and the boys helped us pack and bid us a sweet farewell. We did after all need to get moving since we had a bus to catch to Guatemala the next morning. 

I am still here, though you would not know from my long blogging absence. I will be in Central America through 5 de mayo and then home at last. I am in the last leg of my journey around an amazing set of countries; torn between wanting to stay longer and readiness to return home to "normal" life and a schedule. I know I am lucky to have/make the opportunities to travel to other countries but there is something about home that is so comforting. I tend to be an antsy person, two years of anything and its time to change it up. So I am relieved that I am beginning to value home more than in the past. Rather than constantly wanting to be on the move, I also want to spend time at home with my family and friends. Long periods of travel away from home are great ways to put life into perspective, reflect on what you want in the future, and really appreciate aspects of home. A few thoughts of aspects of home that I miss among others:
1. Weekly chats with my sister and family members
2. The ability to walk out of my house and know where to purchase anything I need
3. The weekly outings with my best friends
4. Our daily/weekly/monthly chats besties... just being able to pick up the phone and use it!
5. The hustle and bustle of DC (yes I miss it strangely)
6. Knowing where my next meal is coming from

I am also amazed at how adaptable I have become. Santa Clara felt like home (as expected) since I spent 9 weeks there, but in the past 2 weeks I have traveled between 5 cities and they each have felt home-like in their own ways. Here is a quick blurb from each:

Antigua, Guatemala was peaceful and beautiful. I spent a lot of time there walking around and drinking coffee from all the fabulous coffee shops in the mornings... leading to a few stomach aches and slight twitching but oh so worth it. By afternoon Kayla, Jerry and I would wander around amidst the thousands of people there for Semana Santa. I am so glad that I have been able to experience Semana Santa in Latin America. The faith and passion of the people here are strong and unlike anything I have ever experienced before. One minor bump in my Guatemala experience was on Palm Sunday. During the procession, someone in the crowd where we stood cut my purse and stole my camera. Sad but not the end of the world. I am a crazy picture lady (like you Bee, you would be proud) but I also upload them regularly so only 40 pics at most were lost. I sulked for a few minutes quietly, thought of how lucky I was to still have my passport and credit card, drank a glass of wine with Kayla and Jerry, compliments of Jerry. (It was noon-ish but hey 5:00 somewhere), and walked to a camera store where I bought another camera. Problem solved. The next day we went Panajachel and Lake Atitlan (must sees in Guate) where I took lots of pics and soaked in the beauty and water on the speed boat we took with two 14 year olds as navigators.

San Salvador again. This place never gets old. Among all the places we have visited, El Salvador feels most like home. I plan to return in the future. I do have friends there which makes it so much easier! Kayla, Jerry and I returned to Leonel's house for 1 night before we sent Jerry back to the US (no worries he is on his way back shortly!). Kayla and I then moved over to the girls' house as their entire family headed to Antigua for the end of Semana Santa. We ended are visit with them in true fashion...a papusa and hot chocolate dinner! I love that family! The rest of the week was spent working on our final deliverables for our practicum here and wandering around to find dinner. On Good Friday night we were at a papuseria when a procession came past us full of praying and singing with 3 ice-cream eating cops pulling the the rear. It was so cute!

Saturday morning we hopped a bus at 5am to Managua, Nicaragua. We spent 3 nights in Managua... 2 nights too many I think. The hostel we stayed in was great, but this was the first city that I was not as comfortable in, especially walking around. The men there made catcalls and kissy noises and a bolo (drunkard) walked between the 2 streets where the hostel houses were and grabbed me one day. "No Sir" All was fine and like I said I loved the hostel. It had a great vibe, people were friendly, we went swimming, and basically just hung out watching movies and listening to music. I did see the new Adam Sandler movie "Just go with It" which is really cute and "Love and other Drugs". Kayla and I continued on our workout kick and did Insanity in front of an audience of the workers who just did not want to join in! Overall, the chillness was great and needed  I think. Lesson learned: pass through Managua...Granada is the place to be!

Granada, Nicaragua the place to be! I know I already said it but I love it there! The hostel where we stayed was AMAZING! It was owned by an Irish man who was funny and helpful. I love encountering the Irish in my travels! Again I went swimming in the pool which was in the center of the small structure with an open sky above... unreal! Pictures coming soon! Kayla and I went to the Laguna del Apoyo outside of the city and swam in the Laguna! It was so beautiful!!! Our one day in Granada was well spent, understated, and perfect. Oh I should mention that I thought we would not make it to San Jose today for a minute! We went to buy bus tickets when we first arrived in Granada but the office was closed, SO we had lunch which consisted of PAPUSAS!!! Papusas are unheard of in Nica so we were happy! After lunch we trekked around the city to the 4 major bus stations trying to find room on the bus today. Luckily, at our last stop we were told 2 people cancelled on the 6am bus so we HAD TICKETS!!!

This all leads to now. We are at our homey hostel in San Jose using the wi-fi and passing the time. Getting to San Jose today was so important because tomorrow we must retrieve Jerry (the aforementioned and present mejor amigo de Kayla) and mi mejor amiga ALLI from the airport and head to Montezuma where the beach awaits us!!!!!!!!!!! I am sure a mixture of things await us in Montezuma so in the words of Corey..."Maybe next year..."

And until my next post,
Coley