Gringa en Nica: Bring on the rain for Xmas in California

“It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I’ve gone and come back, I’ll find it at home” – Rumi

The flight from Managua left at 7:30am and we got to Houston around 10am or so. I then had a 7 hour layover! Ugh! So, as soon as I got off I went straight to the newsstand to buy a Cosmo and a Wine Enthusiast, I couldn’t have been happier! Then a couple minutes later I found Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, where I indulged in a pretzel (duh) with some nacho cheese sauce. Yum to say the least! My gate was pretty far away (Houston is huge!) so I took a seat and took time to enjoy my new magazines. The Wine magazine got a huge interesting looks, I’m sure people were wondering why a 24-year-old girl in holey jeans, a bleached out shirt and flip-flops was reading about wine! Might I mention that I was also carrying around an ugly bright green bag with pottery in it, so among the Louis Vuittons and Chanel bags I looked kinda pathetic. I finally got bored and went out to find the bar I had passed earlier. It was such a relief to be around people speaking English, people who were taller than me, the sound of the football game on the TV and I especially did not feel like anyone with the chromosomes XY wanted “something else”…if you catch my drift. I ordered a Fat Tire and a bacon cheeseburger (it would’ve been more American if I had ordered a Sierra Nevada) and watched the Titans lose to the Texans! Haha Mike’s team lost! I talked to some nice people and they were interested about me being in the Peace Corps and about Nicaragua, so that felt good to know that maybe the general public continued to support President Kennedy’s dream.

Finally the flight came and I arrived to Sac Town to cold cold rain! I guess I brought the rain with me! I hope this year we get plenty, last year was just pathetic. Thank you Mom and Dad for flying me home, it was the best Birthday and Christmas present ever! Luckily they brought me a sweatshirt to put on as soon as I got off the plane freezing in my sandals and sad shirt. It was crazy that just 8 months ago it was May and I was leaving for Nicaragua. Here I was again at the airport back at home…it was one of those surreal moments of life. It’s cliché, but time does fly by really fast! Before I know it will be July 2010 and I will have completed my service. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but living in Nicaragua and being in the PC has made me miss home, my family, my friends, for the first time in my life. I think when I studied abroad in Chile I didn’t miss home because it felt like I was always on vacation. In Somoto, I truly live and work there. The ride home in the car felt like a dream and I jabbered away with Mom and Dad about the trip and life in general. I can’t describe how great it felt to step inside the house and walk on soft carpet again, sit in front of the gas fireplace, watch TV in English, take a hot bath, and sleep in my queen sized bed. Just picturing these things in my head makes me miss home right now. My sister did remind me when I was home that I can always come back whenever I want and that no one would think badly of me. I love her for telling me that, it helps put me at ease and affirm the fact there is no real pressure for me to be in Nicaragua…I am here because I want to be. Later when I talk about my time in Ciudad Sandino I will come back to this theme.

Being home calmed my mind and soul and put me in the Christmas spirit. It’s hard to get into the spirit when the weather in Somoto is an average of 82 degrees with humidity. To put on my UGs and my peacoat again to shield me from the cold felt amazing! The rain in Nicaragua is so different; it’s a humid and hot rain that comes rolling in whenever it feels like it. I can feel the high pressure before the rain comes, but I can’t smell it. At home in California I can smell it. I miss the changing of the seasons, especially when summer turns to fall. Maybe I attribute that time of year to some great memories of football games, homecomings, golf seasons and the red/orange splash of colors.

It was so great to reconnect with family and friends for 2 straight weeks. Sometimes I was stressed out because plans changed and I had to cut some time out of “visiting hours” with some of you. At the least, I’d like to thank the following people for making my time at home very meaningful and very hard to leave:

-Mom and Dad, for taking Gina and I to San Francisco for shopping, eating, and Phantom of the Opera, for flying me home for 2 weeks, for the great new wardrobe and other presents, and for hopefully forgiving me for being unnecessarily overly dramatic at times.

-Gina, for all the great xmas presents that I use all the time now, for being a great sister who I laugh with and quote movies back and forth.

-Mamow, for inspiring me to always keep faith, a positive attitude, and keep busy, no matter what age.

-Nana, for hanging in there and singing xmas carols with me.

-Aunt Anne/Uncle Mike, for the great beer and being the life of the party as always.

-Aunt Judy/Uncle Bruce, for the See’s candy and cookies that I ate on the plane and for spending time with me.

-Jan and Doug Brown, for taking me to a super yummy lunch at Lucille’s (I’m craving a pulled pork sandwich right now), listening to my crazy Nica stories, and sending me back with goodies.

-Rosine, for being my best friend, taking me out to lunch, buying me See’s candy, and sending me back with some useful and yummy xmas gifts.

-Greg, for spending lots of time with me and sharing xmas with my family.

-Danie (and Millie), for our Sex and the City slumber party, Cosmos, and pizza!

-John, for taking me to the wine bar and out to a really great Mexican dinner, and of course for making me laugh like always.

-James, for giving me really big hugs for the 2 short times I got to see him, and the See’s candy.

-Natalie, for lunch at Cheesecake Factory and for being a patient listener.

-Chad, for calling me back when I was an emotional mess and a great conversation about life.

-Kimmy, for a great haircut that will grow out really well for the next 19 months!

-Allison, for the yummy cookies and the hour of catching up in Sac Town.

-Sarah and June Lehmann, for stopping by the house to spend some time with me.

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” (Thank you.) – Marcel Proust

Another interesting difference between my two homes, I dream so vividly and clearly in Nicaragua, but when I was home I didn’t dream at all. Sometimes I’ll have I’m still confused about what it means! Is the reason because I am always meditating in deeper thoughts in Nicaragua when I have nothing else to do? Am I more stressed out? If anyone has any other hypotheses about my dreaming, let me know!

I left early in the am on the 29^th, and I didn’t cry until getting into the security line…probably a mistake because they looked at me like I was some sort of psycho! Luckily I sat down across from a nice girl from Yuba City and she started talking to me which helped me calm down. It’s funny how a complete stranger can help one forget a moment of sadness. I think I was sad because I had such a great time at home and I really do miss everyone a lot at home. I know everyone will always be there, but it’s not the same 3,000 miles away. Somoto is my home, but it’s not the same home. I know I am happy in both places, happy in different ways that are indescribable because it’s a feeling in my heart rather than a list of reasons why. I’m very excited to see what challenges 2009 will present me. I have a feeling this year will probably be the hardest work year of my life…with 500 students and 4 counterparts to train and 2 local competitions to plan and the regional competition. I know I know, KT, don’t whine! Look past the obstacles and see the successful completion of the school year right?