Today was election day... it cost me $10 to mail my ballot (bah!) but it was awesome to be able to vote. Nicaraguans are pretty into politics, it's always one of the first topics brought up when you first meet someone (a polar opposite aspect of the culture from the u.s.), so we've actually talked about the election way more than i thought we would in Nicaragua. (next weekend are the the muicipal elections for the whole country. I'm really excited to be here for them. Apparently everything closes on Friday and Saturday so that the people are rested to vote on Sunday, and on Monday everything is closed in an attempt to stop some of the violence that almost always results from an election. Nicaraguans are pretty quick to lose temper... especially about politics. And that's not just my observation... I've been told that by MANY Nicaraguans. haha. Carlos tells me that he thinks that's the reason that Costa Rica is so much more wealthy, because every time there's an election, the parties that lost don't pick fights and try and overthrow the government. It's interesting to think that an aspect of their culture is helping to keep them so impoverished. Anyways, mom and dad, if you're reading this... don't worry, there's not much fighting in Granada so I'll be safe.)
I got my first compliment on my Spanish from a local today. Not gonna lie, when she told me I had good spanish I looked behind me to see who she was talking to. haha. To my surprise it was actually me! We had a nice chat after that about the election (what else? lol) and I left the cafe feeling pretty good. Then I started thinking about how second nature spanish is actually becoming to me. I don't have to think as hard anymore. I find myself sating things without even thinking about, and then afterwards I'm like WHOA! I just said that? haha. It's a good feeling.
Shawna and I went to Ometepe this weekend with a couple of classmates which was AMAZING! Ometepe is an Island in lake cocibolca made up of two volcanoes, with a couple little towns and about a dozen villages. It was dirt cheap and one of the most beautiful places I'll ever go, I'm sure. (It's the 8th wonder of the world.)
Highlights:
-climbing volcan concepcion. (also a WAY harder hike than i expected... though I'm not sure why I thought climbing a volcano would be easy... we went up to the cloudline and then back.)
- Ridig back to town from the hike in a Political parade for the Sandinista's, and getting the nickname 'gringa sandinista.'
-Biking around the island and stopping in the little villages along the way. (want to know a really bad idea? Bike in full Nicaraguan sun for 7 hours without sunscreen. I have a killer burn on the tops of my hands but not on my fingers from gripping the handle bars. lol. it's pretty hott.)
Overall, a great weekend... and I feel really good about that Spanish compliment. :)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
i love it. : ) i'm SO proud of you and your fantabulous linguistical skills. spanish then italian then french, i'm stoked. you are officially my translator and i'm taking you with me everywhere when we travel ; )
i thought beck already knew french....
i thought some guy gave you lessons? wait, what was this?
geez, my memory fails me.. egads. i'm getting old.
well, enjoy frolicking around nic. and think of me. and.. well, just me i suppose. and maybe mark. you will marry my brother.
the end.
ps. i hate you so much
im going to kill you marianne.
"egads"
"french"
"frolicking"
"mark"
i hate you for this.
and i will die before i marry mark.
frolicking is an amazing word.
becky... what happened in beuvais!? did some local french dude kidnap you and teach you french while i couchsurfed next to the gay dude!?
and if you do marry mark we can all spend sometime in ventura together ; )
i'm gonna have to side with beck on this one. no mark. although that'd be pretty funny. Mucho congrats on the spanish compliment. Love it! how is your ethnic hair?
i like the way hannah thinks...
bexler marshall has a nice ring to it.
i laughed out loud when i left my comment earlier. i'm glad that it got a rise out of you.
i forgot how much fun it was trying to irritate you-- and it was never hard. haha
so i had to tell you something that i found and was amazed by... i was at walmart the other day doing my shopping, and i felt in the mood for a naked juice. i had prepared myself for only having 2 real choices: mighty mango, or something dealing with pomagranete....but then i saw it! not only was there a berry blast flavor - but also there is a container with 4 little bottles in it! now, there is the perfect amount in a 10 oz little bottle! it was delicious and i thought this was pressing information for you! miss you!
sue
Post a Comment