So today was the day I think most of us volunteers were waiting for. We got to go over some training logistics and our projects, did some Survival Spanish, found out our groups, and finally got to see who our host families were....on powerpoint.

You must keep in mind that there are two groups right now in Nica 45. There is the ENV (Environmental) and AG (Agriculture). The two groups will be training in different departments. Along with that the group will be split up into smaller groups so that during training everyone will be with other Peace Corps Trainees of similar language skills.

In the morning the two main groups were split up and then split up again into smaller groups within their field based on our language interview we had the other day. We were only allowed to speak in Spanish, regardless of how well we knew it. They would never correct us or tell us what we did wrong because they wanted to see what we knew and how we were able to handle ourselves in particular situations and demonstrate our Spanish abilities. So for three hours we did some fun interacting games and activities so we could show off (or poorly show) our spanish skills. It was an absolute blast and we all had a great time doing it. Some people were moved up into other higher level groups and rest just stayed put. Afterwards they would evaluate us all and place us with the best fit host family.

We went over some other project and training logistics before getting to the exciting real part. The PC staff brought all the language trainers back in our meeting room to reveal our training groups that wold consist of 3 to 4 members in our field (ENV or AG). I can't say how nervous we all were and how excited we all were for everyone in the room. They announced our groups and host family's starting with AG and then us ENVros. I was really excited to hear about my family and as of now all I can really say is that I have two little brothers, a little sister, and mom. There most likely will be other members or guess that they did not inform us about because people tend to flux in and out of households.

I will try to send out an e-mail with more information. I'm still also trying to figure out they best method of informing you all in terms of what I am doing and how I am feeling. I know I have yet to send out a mass e-mail but hopefully I will get around to doing that soon. I haven't even written in my own personal journal! The people here are so cool that we spend most of our time hanging out and getting to know each other. We've most all have already been talking about all the visits we are going to make to see each other when we get out of service. It's awesome. Unfortuantely we all get split up, to a degree, once training starts. We will miss one another so much.

But anyways, this is getting too long and there is a long line for the internet. Tomorrow we have a fun day with moving out of the hotel, meeting our host families for the first time during lunch, and then driving out to our sites and starting our next stage of Peace Corps service. I can't wait and I wish you all could see what I am seeing and meet the amazing people associated with this fantastic program.

So, tomorrow I leave the hotel and start living with my new family for the next two years. I will talk to all later when I get a chance. Send me your mailing addresses to my Gmail account when you can. I don't have everyones. Adios!

Hey guys,

I'm here in Managua, Nicaragua. It's about 7:20 in the morning and I'm about to go eat breakfast. Us volunteers have had a great time being here and as expected we are really excited about what we have embarked on. The hotel we are staying at right now for our orientation retreat is AWESOME! The place is so beautiful with such a wide variety of tropical plants and landscaping designs. Enjoy it now while I can, I suppose. It's going to be really different in a few days.

We had a very delcious lunch and dinner yesterday but afterwards we jumped right into our orientation retreat. We went over a lot of logistical stuff, got money (yay!), adminstration stuff, medical stuff (got a shot or two), and just a whole bunch of other stuff. We got meet some current volunteers working in Nicaragua right now and are about to complete their first full complete year. They all have been very beneficial to have around right now and have answered a lot of our questions and concerns. They even stuck around to hang out with us at the pool for some hours after dinner. Yes, I said pool. This hotel is really nice and comfortable. We all were really excited to see pool. The whole day we were wishing to be in it. Finally, we got to. It was so refreashing. The power situation is kinda rough here. I think the power went out 4 or 5 times during our retreat yesterday. It's expected because Nicaragua is going through an energy crisis right now. It doesn't bother. We all just keep working right through it.

The heat is not as bad as one might think. Yay, you feel the sun beaming down on you as soon as you set foot in it but the temperature is not that bad. The humiditiy is, however. As soon as we got off the plane we felt as though we walked through a waterfall. I personally didn't care. The air really cooled off towards dusk were most of us were freezing in the pool.

Today we have a full day with an introduction to PC/Nicaragua by the country director, our project overviews, langauage interviews (yikes!), safety and security, a sustainable development discussion, and then they day is over with dinner at 6. Lunch is thrown in there too somewhere.

Anyways, I must go eat breakfast and then get the day started with the other volunteers. I'm having a great time here and loving every minute. I'll tell more as things progress and as I get time. Take care everyone. Chao!

Hello everyone,

I'm writing this very late and I will probably keep it very short. It's about 11pm right now and I have to be up at 3:00am in order to check out at 3:30am! To say the least, I won't be getting much sleep. All of us Peace Corps Trainees (PCT's) have had a long two days and for some three days traveling from all over the place as far as Hawaii and California. There are some fascinating people here in our group of 38 or so where both the Environmental Education and Agricultural groups are evenly distributed. During our time here we have mostly been doing a lot of learning exercises and ice breakers in order to get to know everyone going to Nicaragua and about what we will be encountering overseas.

We have been eating breakfast, lunch, and dinners together as well as the occasional beer afterwards ;) For the most part we are all pretty exhausted and ready to get to Nicaragua. We will be departing at 7:15 tomorrow and flying to Miami and then to Managua, Nicaragua. We will arrive in Nicaragua around 11:05 am local time (2 hours behind EST) and begin our Pre-Service retreat/orientation. We will do many things with a very tight schedule to prepare us for the real training that starts September 3rd. We will stay in a hotel together until Saturday September 1st where we will have lunch with our host family and then continue orientation before we settle in with our host family for the remaining 11 weeks.

Training will be very difficult and intensive but at the same time very exciting and interesting. When we get there it will be some days before I have a chance to communicate via e-mail or blog. When I am able to get back in touch with you then I will give you a more detailed insight about the transition from the U.S. to Nicaragua and what our retreat and training is like. For now, I'm going to bed and will talk to you in a little while. Adios y hasta luego!

Hello everyone. Yes, as most of you all may know, I am joining the Peace Corps. I will be serving in Nicaragua. So why the heck am I doing this? Well, my decision has been in the making since the summer of 2006 when I became more aware of this amazing opportunity and adventure while working as an intern at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Research Triangle Park. I wanted to experience working in a foreign nation. I wanted to learn a new culture and become fluent in a second language. I wanted to do work in the environmental field and work with young kids by educating them. In October of 2006 I was nominated to the Peace Corps and then on May 12, 2007 the day I graduated NC State University and on Mother's Day I was officially invited to serve in Nicaragua for 27 months.

What are you doing, you may ask. My job title is an Environmental Education Promoter. The purpose of my project is to facilitate the sustainable management of communities' natural resources through education and action in order to conserve the local environment and improve people's livelihoods.

I have two goals: 1 - Help improve rural school teachers and local organizations capacity to facilitate community actions and rehabilitate local natural resources. I will be participating in classroom teaching, teacher training, nurseries & composting activities, and aid in community organizations within my site. 2 - Help primary school students, community groups, and organizations implement their local pro-environmental actions. This will be done by teaching primary school students, supporting community organizations, and train and facilitate youth ecological brigades working towards local community environmental issues.

My departure date is August 27th, 2007. I will fly from Greensboro, NC to Washington, D.C. for a two day orientation with about 35 other Peace Corps trainees going to Nicaragua. On August 29th I will fly out of Washington, D.C. to Miami where we will then take a connecting flight to Managua, Nicaragua to begin my Peace Corps experience. I will take part in 11 weeks of intensive Pre-Service Training (PST) where I will live with a safe home family who will act as my "adopted" parents and take me under their wing. The PST consist of intensive training in four major areas: language, technical job orientation, cross-cultural adaptation, and health & safety. After training I will be sworn into service where I will be separated from most if not all of the other volunteers serving in Nicaragua and be posted somewhere else in the country, not yet known.

This is all I have for now. If you would like more information then feel free to send me an e-mail or keep this page to learn more later. Wish me luck!