And the verdict is...

…I’m heading to to Villa El Carmen, Managua, Nicaragua son! And I couldn’t be more psyched about it. I’ll tell you why this is such an awesome site, and why it has been my number one pick, almost from day one. Not to mention a sleeper pick, because I think I’m the only one who expressed interest that much interest in it.

Reasons why I’m pumped:

1. Great Balance of teaching at the sight. I am going to be teaching the enprendedurismo calss in 4 or 5 different schools in the surrounding area to the equivalent of American juniors and seniors. Of those 4 or 5 schools, 3 are schools that have no experience at all with the program. What excites me about these 3 schools, is that I’ll be able to make my own mark, and will go in to the schools without being compared to prior Peace Corps volunteers. I guess I should note that right now, first generation volunteers are living in Villa El Carmen, which I am taking over for, a married couple, both in small business.
2. The secondary opportunities are great as well. What I most wanted out of my experience in Nicaragua is to work first hand with local entrepreneurs and business folk, and Villa El Carmen offers just that. At site, there is an up and coming business, in it’s infancy, that is going through the legalization process of becoming a business that I will be able to directly work with. Super pumped about that, and couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. Alongside of that, Villa El Carmen is located in an area that has a high potential for (internal) tourism as it’s so close to the beach, and also has a large agriculture sector, specifically sugarcane. I look forward to trying to getting involved in both, two major parts of the economy of Nicaragua. And as a kicker, I will also have opportunities serving as a translator to the US Navy medical Brigade, and working as camp counselor for youth from Maltagalpa. I think I have some experience in that, no?
3. The site itself is not a large site, so I’ll really be able to get to know my community over the next two years. I was initially worried that being so close to the capital of the country, Managua, that I would be too close to the city. But after talking with the current volunteer, the city is nothing like that. What bothered me about the bigger sites was the size and the tourist attraction. In a larger site you’re just another person in the city, and its tough to develop relationships. And in the more touristy sites, you’re just another gringo tourist. So I think I lucked out with where I’m heading
4. It’s close to the beach! I know I’ll be inheriting a bike from the current volunteer and will be with biking distance of a few of my schools, as well as the beach, I believe less than 10 kilometers. And did I mention that the surf in the area is world class? So I’ll be able to relieve some stress on the weekends by riding the waves, and couldn’t be more pumped.

All in all I couldn’t be more pumped, and did the big fist pump when I first heard my site today. And to top it off, I took third in the aspirante site pool. A majority of the aspirantes put up an 100 cord cover, and guessed where each aspirante was headed. The person with the most correct guess took home the bacon. Third place (which was five correct picks) only got their money back, but it also meant that I took home a pack of M&M’s as well. And I haven’t seen any M&M’s since getting here, so I was totally stoked to enjoy some American treats.

As an added bonus I’ll add in the second hand t shirts of the (past two) week. We got a hodge podge today, all somewhat sexual, and all being worn by over weight Nica’s in their mid to late 40’s

1. A man wearing a shirt saying, “Want to try my sausage” with an arrow pointing down.
2. A woman wearing a shirt saying, “I’m looking for Mr. Right Now”
3. A man wearing a tshirt saying, “Tell your Girlfriend I say Thanks!”
4. And my personal favorite, albeit a little vulgar, a 25 year old dude (in the middle of the day) wearing a black tshirt saying, “I want to F*$& your Brains out”

At what point do people really not take the time to learn what their shirts say. Another plus, according to the Peace Corps, I have moved up a level in my language comprehension. Frankly I expected to move up faster in the 50 days I’ve been here (that’s right 50), but progress is progress and I can’t complain too much. Miss you all, and enjoy the 4^th! Especially you all on the Chop!