Nicaragua: Maybe it wasn't a coincidence

What do you get when you mix the second week of July and a country named Nicaragua?
Answer: winter vacation. Or rather, the halfway point of the school year. Winter vacation to me has always correlated with snowmen and icy roads...but this time around it's a little different.

The following is a glimpse of how my past days have been spent:

There has been a little bit of Peace Corps training, complete with practice playing a Monopoly-style board game which we use to teach financial education to various groups in our communities.

There has also been a little bit of walking in the sand underneath coconuts and palm trees...

 ...a little bit of sitting in rocking chairs while watching the waves crash in...

 ...a little bit of hammock time...

...and a few take-your-breath-away moments.

And while we may have been spoiled during the past few days with our Peace Corps training on the beach, now it's back to work. The second semester of the school  year begins this coming Monday.

Lastly, if any of my dear readers ever feel inclined to send me a care package, the following tea would be an excellent item to include:

Other appreciated items include any type of chai tea mix, hot chocolate mix, puppy chow (if you can figure out a way to make the Corn Chex, peanut butter, and chocolate treat and send it without it suffering too much damage), envelopes of stir-fry seasoning (non-meat flavors), and Hot Tamales (the cinnamon candy). I know everybody's got some old coloring books collecting dust in their closet - send them! My neighbor children will love you forever. I've also acquired a guitar but I don't know how to play it, so maybe a beginner's guide to playing the guitar would be nice if you happen to have one lying around not being used. If you need my address, I would be happy to pass that along - just ask!