Welcome to the rain!!!!

Well May is over i.e one month of rainy season almost over...5 more to go! We've had a variety of rain. Reallyhard earshattering rain, storms, light rain, sprinkles. It rained for 3 days straight...literally nonstop. the next 3 days it rained most of the time. and today finally after a 6 day hiatus, the sun has reappeared. so beautiful!!! Finally my clothes are going to dry!! I was getting worried that I wasn't going to have dry underware tomorrow. If we had electricity I would use a fan but we still don't so... I'm so glad that I have boots because between the highway and my house is mud and approx 100 cows that go to the bathroom a lot. so walking to my house is great! I looked pretty sweet going to our mother's day celebration at school...cute pastel green dress, did my hair and makeyp...which doesn't happen often...with my giant umbrella and boots carrying my heels with me...as if I'm walking through mud mid shin in anything but my rain boots! Unfortunately only about 10 moms showed up due to the rain so that was sad. The next day we didn't have class either because of the rain.

Garden news...
my garden is going ok. I just planted but i'm afriad the seeds got washed away in all the rain. my trees are very pretty however and i've transplanted a few and gave away the rest. the school gardens are growing. hopefully we will have very successful gardens again this year and win the best school garden of all somotillo!

English class...
My 6th graders are still loving class and complain that we should have english everyday. tey are so adorable. they just learned to play duck duck goose and the hokey pokey. so funny. i also have highschoolers come searching for me all the time for help on their homework. i don't understand why teachers think it's a good idea to assign pages and pages of translations and pronunciations. As if the students are actually capable of any of that. i get annoyed that i'm doing english homework all the time but i feel bad because there is no way they could ever do what they are being asked. very sad.

Jewelry!
My girls are still working hard. hopefully they can plan an excursion soon with the money they are making but it will be difficult with all the rain. they have run into a problem...the metal earring parts rust. so if anyone has any good antirust ideas please let me know!

Volcano Cosiguina...
A fellow volunteer, her bf, her friend from the states and I hiked volcan cosiguina last weekend. it was so beautiful. we had a heck of a time getting there however...missing the bus to the beach...twice...waiting for the bus after the beach for 1.5 hours, waiting in another town for over 2 hours and arriving at our destination at 9:15pm which is really late for Nicaragua. but we found a guide and the next morning set out. the hike was really nice, only 2.5 hours to get up and 2 to get down. The view was gorgeous. there's a laguna in the crater, you can see lots of other volcanos, El Salvador, Honduras, and the Gulf of Fonseca. So despite the travel issues it was a great trip!

Baby!
A friend of mine's sister had a baby last week and was all alone in the hospital so my friend and i hopped on our bikes and rode in the rain to see her. i think that's the first time i've ever seen a baby just hours after birth. so little!! it was wierd becaue the mom was in normal clothes with her baby next to her in the bed not hooked up to any machines. nothing. just the two of them laying in bed in a room with 2 other mothers. literally this was 2 hours after birth. crazy. the baby is so cute and they both are doing well. i've been over to see them almost every day...possible a bad idea considering they always make me hold him and tell me it's because i need to practice....yeah not for 5 years i don't! his name is julio gabriel. precious! and just in time for mothers day here which was the 30th.

Community house...
this friday is our presentation of our project of constructing a community house. wish us luck!! i really hope it gets approved!

Environment day...
is june 5th so we are having a little celebration at school. there is a competition between 3-6th grade for the best costume made completley out of trash...also competing will be their teachers! there is also a drawing competition and some poems, songs, skits and dances. i'm looking forward to seeing my students use their creativity!

Visitors...
yeah courtney is coming june 21!!! and then kelly aug 4th!! love it can't wait!!! i really really hope it's not so rainy!!!

well i guess thats all i have for right now. hope you are all doing well and enjoying the weather! as always visitors are always welcome!! love from nicaragua!