Lazy Sunday on the Beach

Giving a charla in the Health Center with Jill...we rocked it!

A bunch of us at the beach in Chinandega.

Sorry, I`ve been so bad about keeping up with my posts. Training has been so busy that I hardly even get to the internet once a week. I just got back from a relaxing trip to the beach with my training town mates, Jill and Craig. This was the first weekend that we were allowed to travel on our own. Todays small vacations was a much needed break after our HIV/AIDS week.

Last week, all 20 trainees went to Chinandega, a very hot province in the north west with a close beach access, for an intese week of learning all about HIV/AIDS. I learned a lot about the deseases and am really excited to work on lessening it´s impact in Nicaragua, which will hopefully be one of the main focusses on the site I am given tomorrow. (That´s right, after weeks of anxiety, we finally find out where we will be for 2 years) During the week we did a lot of work with men`s groups in billard halls, firehouses, and a navel base. The men were all very respectful and willing to participate in all of our charlas. Men`s groups are also an area I would like to focus on and work with during my 2 years.

The trip to La Dalhia that I talked about in my last entree was lots of fun. I stayed with a vegatarian couple and learned how to cook with soy! I can`t wait to get out on my own and practice lots of cooking.