Just Another Day In.....Chinandega

... off to an early start. I was able to get a good night of rest. The hotel accommodations in Chinandega are nice and the place is quite welcoming. My spanish speaking skills are quite limited, however, I am finding that non-verbal expressions truly do transcend and this makes communications with the locals manageable. I took a few years of spanish in high school and can muster up enough to ask someone their name, how they are doing and if they have a job. But, a smile or a look of utter confusion when being spoken to allows me to communicate with my fellow Nicaragua friends.

The days begin early here. My hotel room is located on the second floor of a busy intersection. There are no traffic lights on the streets, so as the cars make there way through the intersection(s), they honk as they approach. I have seen a few near fatal accidents in the short time I have been out this morning, however, the atmosphere remains calm even as the cars converge in the intersections. Those on bicycles feel as though they have as much right away as those in taxi's and so they all converge at the intersection and make room for each other.

As I sat observing the culture this morning, I realize that mornings here are much the same as they are at home. People are mulling around exchanging pleasantries and preparing for Friday's day of work. The means of transportation here are taxi, bicycle, motorcycles, walking and then there are other's that provide transportation on a means quiet similar to a bicycle/taxi. There are horses that walk down the main streets here in Chinandega. I have seen many local farmers bringing in the days harvest to sell at the markets. The fruit is vibrantly colorful! Unfortunately, we are sticking with the items provided by the hotel and restaurants to avoid any unnecessary bacteria.

I went out exploring on foot this morning and found the local catholic church, radio shack and other local stores. The people are so friendly. They love to have their photos taken. This gave me an opportunity to capture the culture of Nicaragua.

There was a beautiful sunset outside of my window this morning. Again, I am reminded of another beauty that transcends all locations. There is a constant smell in the air of something burning. I have learned that this is a product of the locals burning sugar cane. My eyes tear up each time I go outside from the smoke in the air. The weather today was humid but definitely manageable.

It was a beautiful day! I will write more about the morning/afternoon at the local dump in the morning. It was an experience that I will not quickly forget, yet, one that I find meaningful and worth sharing. I have uploaded photos from today to FB and Picasa.

A full recap of the experience of working today will be posted tomorrow a.m.

Until then, keep living and dreaming.

Peace and Love, Brandi J.