"Just the 'eco' of ecotourism"

Hello all! It is Tuesday afternoon and I am about to head back to my house and pack, as tomorrow the group is heading up north to the rural countryside (or "el campo"). As is becoming the custom, we haven't been told much about what we're about to experience, except that it's going to be very different from Managua (where we currently are) and that we'll be "up to our knees in mud" (I'm still trying to figure out if this is literal or figurative... I'm afraid it's all too literal).

A quick fact about Nicaragua: we were informed last week that roughly 80% of the population lives on less than $2 a day, which is one of many factors that contributes to its status as the second poorest country in the western hemisphere (second to Haiti). The majority of this 80% live in the campo, which is clearly less-developed and predominantly coffee-growing country. To quote Aynn: "Most Americans who visit Nicaragua are coming for the ecotourism. What you're about to experience isn't ecotourism. It's just the eco."

So, more on that experience will come after we return next Tuesday, but until then, I won't have interet access. And before I head out, I thought I'd give a quick update on things and respond to a few questions that have been asked (mostly by my family).

As for Managua life in general:
I live in a "barrio" (or colonia, as the residents prefer to call it) in Managua, called Maximo Jerez. It consists of a few square blocks, a park, and some small shops: cyber cafes, bakeries, and "pulperias" (where you can buy soap and things like that). Yesterday, I discovered that there is an "ice-cream store" (more or less) right next to the SIT study center, which is both wonderful and dangerous news. Since this discovery yesterday, I been three times (you have to sample every flavor, right Mom?), two of those being today. I like to play a game with myself where I make up reasons why I have earned it. The ice-cream, along with my daily peanut-butter and honey sandwich, has quickly become a highlight of my day. Next week, Jessica and I are going to replace the honey with nutella... I know, we're almost getting ahead of ourselves.
There are a few other shops as well. For my first week in Managua, I couldn't figure out why there was such a market for ferrets here... I finally swallowed my pride and asked someone, only to find out that a "ferreteria" is a HARDWARE STORE, not a place where they sell ferrets.
Moving on...
Maximo Jerez is a working class neighborhood. As I may have mentioned before, we have running water from 2-7am. Apart from that, we bathe/wash clothes and dishes with buckets of water. There ARE paved roads, and also "andens" (little alleys that go off of the roads). I live in an anden, which is just wide enough for one car to drive through. Some of the more well-off families own cars; mine does not.
As for the house itself (pictures will come), there is a barred gate, which opens to a small patio. Once you enter through the door, there is a family room/eating area, which leads to the kitchen. To the right is our small bathroom. Behind that is the bedroom of my host madre, her daughter, and the two little boys. There is another room for the other daughter, and then a small back patio area. My room is on the far side of the house. (Pictures will help.)

A little more on my family:
My host brothers/sisters discovered that I am slightly afraid of our house parrot, and have since made it their hobby to stragetically place him around the house where I'll bump into him. It's an endearing game, really. But one that might get old soon.
My madre also has a new hobby, and it consists of buying the newspaper every morning and handing it to me and saying, "for you to improve your spanish!" Nothing like subtlety, Dona Maria Ines.

Ok, that's all for now! I'll be back on Tuesday, which much to share.
Love and miss you all.