Michelle Trip Wrap Up

• I always talk about how cheap Nicaragua is.  Since we all know your forte is math, can you guesstimate how much you spent in 8 days?

 I can tell you exactly! $25/two nights + lunch one day ($5/each) for our Condega cabenita, $20/two nights in Somoto hotel, $45/two nights in Esteli hotel (note to your readers - you would have been more than happy to stay in one of the cheaper options but I insisted on spoiling recently hospitalized boyfriend with 'fancy' luxuries like (non-functioning) air conditioning and hot water :), dinner at Chile's-equivalent (six beers, plus sharing an appetizer, a dinner and a dessert) for $20 and $60 for Managua hotel (100% functioning air conditioning, no hot water). Oh and just FYI readers, all hotels included a huge breakfast. In total...

$270!

For eight days!!! That includes SEVEN nights in hotels (half the time the nicest hotels in town!). And yes, it was fastest to use a calculator to add those up. :p

• How was the weather and food?  You didnt complain as much as I generally do...

 The weather was amazing - not sure how I feel about this "rainy season" and "October is the rainiest Nica month" nonsense. It rained for a grand total of two hours the entire trip...the rest of the time it was sunny, beautiful and (in general) not THAT hot. Michelle = lucky weather charm?

I also really liked the food. Am I allowed to miss gallo pinto? I can see, however, how 3 times a day, seven days a week...it might get old.

• After seeing me work for 4 days, what do you think of the Peace Corps and their role in 3rd world countries.

I was so impressed by you! I had two favorite PCV-Pete instances. In the first, the winning Yala team had a bunch of numbers wrong in their business plan (they were LOSING money on their product...oops). So after class, you sat them down and explained in SPANISH, the best price to set for their product, why they would be making a profit, etc. Also, you could tell for the three teams that went to Regionals, it was such a big opportunity for them.

I also really liked hearing about all the projects the health-volunteers we hung out with are working on - teaching kids about family planning, condoms, violence in relationships is definitely important in a country with high HIV/teen pregnancy, etc. rates. Yay Peace Corps!

I do have to say (though you all readily admit it) the Peace Corps has its tranquilo moments. Upcoming Wednesday vacation day for All-Saints Day? Couple hour work days? Winner.

• How comforable were you touring around the 2nd poorest country in the western hemisphere?

Safety comfort? I don't think there were any situations where we were actually unsafe in Nica, but that might have been a different story if I wasn't with strong/male/well-loved-by-the-locals boyfriend. For instance, one night we walked back to our Condega hostal after dark (at 7:00pm)...the route back? A looooong, unlit dirt road where we were followed closely by an unfriendly (though ultimately harmless) Nica. Little unsettling. Also, arriving in Managua after the political rally probably could have been worse - but thanks to our friendly bus driver/cabbie, that situation ended up being totally fine!

As for physical comfort...hot showers are better than cold showers. No denying it! Uncomfortable, but survivable for sure!

• Would you visit again?

Yes, yes, yes! How soon can I come????