Nicaragua: Under my umbrella

"In daylights, in sunsets, 

In midnights, in cups of coffee. 

In inches, in miles, 

In laughter, in strife. 

In 525,600 minutes.
How do you measure a year in the life?"
Seasons of Love, Rent

At this time last year I was packing my suitcases and saying my farewells to loved ones in Minnesota, ready to embark on my journey with the Peace Corps. Yes, already a year has come and gone since I first landed in Nicaragua. Has it felt like 12 months? Yes and no. I think as is the case with time regardless of location, the average day is long but the weeks and months fly by.

I could measure this past year in bananas consumed, in hours spent on a bus, in episodes of telenovelas watched, in friendships made, or in sunset spectacles witnessed. It could be measured in pages colored with the neighbor kids, in meetings with principals/teachers/other community members, in student business plans written and revised, or in financial advice given.

Out of all the ways this past year could be measured, I prefer to measure it in knowledge, insight, and wisdom gained. A year spent living and working outside the United States does wonders for broadening a person's perspective, to say the least. This hasn't been a 12-month vacation, and it's been more than a study abroad experience could ever be. When approaching it in the best manner possible, this international development gig is tough.

At this point in my service, it feels like an opportune time to start making the most impact. With 12 months down and 15 to go, I've definitely got a better understanding of how life operates in these parts as well as what the needs are within my community. I've a hunch that this coming year is going to pass by much more quickly than the previous.

I haven't yet decided how to celebrate my 1-year-in-Nicaragua anniversary, but I've narrowed down my options to the following:

-Rearrange the furniture in my bedroom
-Get my hair trimmed (due to laziness or trust issues or a combination of the two, I haven't had my hair cut since arriving here)
-Go see a movie in a movie theater the next time I'm in the capital city (something I have also not done since arriving)
-Splurge and buy myself a new pair of running shoes

Who knows, perhaps I can treat myself and go for all four.