10 pounds of Christmas Cookies

Shoveling with my Dad

To celebrate Christmas and New Years I headed back state-side for two weeks. It was a big change in terms of weather, but surprisingly I adapted really quickly.
My first morning home I was out shoveling snow with my Dad. I ate too many Christmas cookies to count and enjoyed each and every hot shower I was privileged to have. I got to spend a lot of time with my Mom, Dad, Brother, and dog and overall it was a very nice change of pace.

Christmas cookies galore

Making some Christmas treats with my Mom

[Side note: I gained roughly 10 pounds on my 2 week vacation, and I’m pretty sure it was mostly due to Christmas cookies, I ate them like it was my job. Since I have been back in Nicaragua just about everyone has commented that I came back heavier, más hermosa, and it looks good on me.]

Before I left Nicaragua I was a little bit worried about how it was all going to go. After spending 10 months here, I had heard a lot of criticisms about how we live in the states. We work too much, we aren’t that genuine or present in conversations, we eat too much fast food (not just from restaurants, “fast food” includes just about anything from a box, bag, jar, or can), we aren’t family oriented, and we consume too much in general (there’s a belief here that all Americans only wear a piece of clothing once, and then donate it or throw it away and buy more). I have tried to dispel these generalizations as much as possible because they are just that, generalizations; but it is wearing on a person after the 40^th time, and I start to believe what I’m hearing more and more. So, as I am enjoying this experience in Nicaragua and I feel in harmony with the lifestyle I lead here, I was nervous about going home. I’m not sure if this is a common feeling people have after being gone for a while, but this was the longest time I had spent away from home in my life.

Opening presents on Christmas morning with
my Grandparents.

My brother photo-bombing me.

My cousins at our family Christmas

But like I said, the trip went well and I think it was the right choice for me to go home at this point in my service. It was worth it to re-connect with my best friends back home, my grandparents, and all the family I was able to spend time with. I also came back with some new books, shoes (all of mine here in Nicaragua were in pretty rough shape), and other goodies. I don’t think I was home long enough for reverse-culture-shock to truly set in.

Now that I’ve been back for a week I have already jumped in head-first to work and my social life. I have several projects going on and hopefully some big things coming up with some NGOs in my area. I was able to visit my training family in Carazo on my way back up to site from Managua. It is such a good feeling to be supported from so many angles, from family and friends back home, to my training family, to my host community. I have been trying to catch up with volunteer friends that I haven’t talked to in a while, and hopefully will have some trips lined up to do some more traveling in February and March.

All of my loot!

I had cravings for Nicaraguan food while I was home,
so I made this dish, tajadas con frijoles y queso (fried plantains, beans,and cottage cheese)