Westward ho!

I lucked out I think. After deciding that it was imperative that I move to NYC a couple of years ago, I snagged a grand job at a socially responsible investment company in SoHo and more or less jumped on the environmental bandwagon. I have always had a knack for all things environmentally friendly and sustainable but this move really opened my eyes to how I want to live my life and have a career that creates positive change in the world.

So... now I head as far west as you can go in the continental US and am making the move to Eugene, OR. I am starting law school and hope to gain the insight and knowledge to become an environmental policy maker. Oh yes, movers and shakers watch out now. Of course, first things first, SCHOOL. I got my packet in the mail this weekend and am all excited about orientation and classes. I am nervous about going back after 5 years out of school but I am excited to be going back for this. For whatever reason I am so done with finance... possibly the upheaval in the industry over the past 18 months???

I am packing up and preparing to move to the epi-center of hippies but bringing my shoe collection with me. The trick is you can still be environmentally engaged without being smug.

Inauguration

After all of the waiting and anticipation, election day came and Barack Obama was elected President of the United States. Watching his acceptance in Chicago, I wished I was there so that night I bought tickets to DC for the inauguration. Lucky for me, my aunt just moved to Arlington this fall so I would be able to stay with her and my Uncle. Even better, my cousin was going to be in town from college in WI and Jessica was going to come up from Va Beach. 

I got in about midnight the night before. We got up super early and drank lots of coffee to pump ourselves up. We watched the news about all the crazies who had been out on the mall since 5 am. No way jose. Jeremy was staying at a friends place in Springfield so we were trying to coordinate meeting up, catching the metro and getting there. Jeremy got to the station and it was INSANE, huge lines to buy metro cards so we waited at the apartment for awhile. Once he texted us that he was in, we hurried over to our metro station to try and possibly get on the train he was on. It was a mad house. The platforms were completely packed, the trains were stuffed full of people and running behind since they kept being attacked by more people wanting to get on.  Jeremy didnt know if he would even be able to get off. 

We decided to try and bus it to the bridge to walk over the Potomac. We come out of the station and find an empty bus, doors closed, a huge group of people standing outside staring at it and the driver and a young lady FLIRTING inside. I was like, no way, what the hell is this?! Well, finally, I knocked on the door and he opens it with basically a "How you doin!?". I'm like buddy, this isnt speed dating, we need to go somewhere! He informed us that he wouldn't be taking anybody anywhere and that we should just walk. He let me and the other girl off and then he took off, empty bus. 

We walked from Crystal City all the way across to DC and to the Mall. Along the way, there were tons of empty buses. wtf?? Jeremy had already arrived so he doubled back to meet us coming across the bridge.  We made it there by about 930 am and it was perfect. Not too much time standing in the cold and we were right next to the jumbo trons at the WWII Memorial. 

It was an amazing event. So many people and everyone so excited. Also too, I feel like suddenly everyone is all interested in politics and who's who. Its kind of amusing. Obama's speech also was totally appropriate. He has a lot to deal with and its going to take a lot of work so best not to create lots of optimism until he can get some real results moving along. I am really excited to see what's going to happen over the next 4 years. 

Tropical Island Paradise

Ometepe is an amazing island in a giant lake made up of 2 volcanoes connected by an isthmus. Pretty much all dirt roads and jungle. 

We left around 9 and walked 3km down the dirt/rock road to the entrance of a hike to the San Ramon waterfall that was a 45 degree angle the whole time. It was another brutal 3km in the hot sun but so worth it at the end. It took us about 3 hours to finally get there but as soon as we did, we ripped off our clothes and shoes and jumped into the little lagoon at the bottom of the falls. The water was freezing but it felt amazing. We stood under the falling water and climbed on the rocks underneath it. It was freaking awesome. We sat on rocks in the sun to warm up and dry off before heading back down at double the speed from the way up. By the time we got back at 230, we were starving, I thought I was going to pass out from hunger. We ate some delicious chicken and plantains and went for a sunset swim off the dock at our hostel. The views here are gorgeous; humongous volcano to the right, massive lake in front of you with a sunset that looks like its at the end of the world on the calm water. This island is fantastic.

Rum and BonBons

We are wrapping up our final week of our visit with the Spanish school. We have met some great people who we will luckily be meeting up with along the way at various places as we travel through Nicaragua. We have been having a week of celebrations to say goodbye. Our new friend, KT, is meeting up with her boyfriend who is flying down next week and he is bringing us some dark chocolate. We are dying for some good dark chocolate. We have found a candy here literally called BonBons from Argentina or somewhere and we buy out the stash everywhere we go that has them. Between KT, Shea and I we have eaten most of the BonBons in Nicaragua. We had a free afternoon after class yesterday so we went and bought the last 8 bonbons at the icecream store, got some sprite and drank our Nicarguan rum- Flor de Cana- with sprite and ate bonbons in our hammocks all afternoon. I think we laughed for about 3 hours straight... watching old Jem episodes on KT´s laptop, discussing the hypocrisy of our host and making up Spanish phrases for Shea to recite to her Nicaraguan crush (please see her blog for a further description of this fine gentleman). We talked more at dinner last night than we have the whole trip here to our own amusement as well as everyone elses.

Tonight we are having Thanksgiving, Nicaraguan style: fried chicken (freshly slaughtered), mashed potatoes, pumpkin soup and chocolate cake. And Chilean red wine that seems to be the only thing available at all supermarkets in Nicaragua which is fine because it is delicious.

Sandinistas and Volcanoes

The past few weeks have been interesting. This is my first experience in C. America besides Cancun which techinically I think is N. America. We arrived in Nicaragua the day of their elections and since that day calls of fraud, recounts and oppositional demonstrations have escalated this event into the national news. Most of the election demonstrations are happening in Managua and Leon, the larger cities. The closest town to our school, La Concha has held rallies and parades which involve mortar launching, fireworks, tire burning and gunfire. The thing though is that none of it seems or feels violent, its more like thats just how they react to this sort of political turmoil. We haven't felt unsafe here and just avoid going out at night. The Sandinistas won originally but the Liberals called for a recount based on voter fraud and since then its just been a back and forth- now with international intervention. Last night was the scariest for some reason, though it may just be me and my heightened level of anxiety that naturally comes with traveling to foreign places. I woke up in the middle of the night to what sounded like shouting in chants and I thought there must be riots. And then I of course started thinking that they were getting closer. I must have eventually fallen back asleep and of course nothing happened but I guess you just never know. Luckily we are very well protected and have awesome night watchmen that help us with everything from large bugs we have dubbed crab spiders to cats jumping in our window at night. The people here are absolutely fantastic.

Yesterday we went early to do a day hike of Volcan Mombacho. It was amazing. It was a 5km hike around the second tallest volcano in Nicaragua in a cloud forest. It was green and lucious with gorgeous expansive views. It was super windy yesterday and we were blown all around whenever we came out of the forest at points along the trail that served as lookouts to take pictures. Our guide said that at the top, the winds were registering at 42 mph, we sure could feel it! The hike was basically straight ups and downs climbing wooden tree stumps cut into steps. It was cool being in all of that wind without snow or rain or extreme cold as it usually is. The best part was we got back to the school and the cooks made us the most delicious pineapple cake for dessert. So perfect after a long day of hiking.

New Itinerary

Commencing week 3 of my trip to Nicaragua. I have been in Spanish classes for 2 weeks and can now conjugate verbs in present, past AND future. Watch out now. I also know body parts, food and Nicaraguan popular expressions. We decided to cut our time short at Spanish school to have more time out and about exploring. While there are some good activities with the place we are staying, they are too few and we are getting somewhat antsy and bored. Shea and I are leaving next Saturday to head to Isla de Ometepe in Lake Nicaragua (the second largest lake in S. America). Its supposed to be a gorgeous place with toucans, monkeys and hopefully (keeping our fingers crossed) some sloths. The first place we will go for 5 days to bunk in a dorm at a hacienda right on the water for hiking, kayaking, napping in hammocks and waterfalls. After that we are heading to the other side of the Maderas Volcano to stay at Finca Magdelena. Its an old farmhouse built in the early 1900s that operates as a coffee farm now. We are bunking in the dorm there too and plan on hiking up the volcano with a guide and drinking lots of delicious coffee and again napping in hammocks. We will travel around by bus and have to take a vomit-inducing ferry ride across the lake to get there. After that we will head to Granada for a few days- do some shopping and kayaking around small isletas. Our last few days will be spent at Laguna de Apoyo, a salt water filled gigantic volcanic crater. We got a room at the Best Western across from the airport in Managua for our last night for easy access for our 730 am flight back to NYC on Sunday, Dec 14.

Nicaragua: 10 days and counting

I am almost all set for the big trip south of the border. Its been crazy in NM what with law school apps and Obama campaign work and helping my mom unpack her house. Once I get to Nica I will start updating more regularly with the adventures I might find myself on. I went to REI and got some supplies so even though I decided not to get any vaccines, I should be proteceted with my water filtration system and mosquito repelent, DEET and DEET-free, I will be experimenting with. I am getting excited albeit a little nervous considering I speak zero Spanish having taken French in high school. Luckily my darling friend S is coming with.

We are arriving in Managua at 9pm Saturday, November 8 and will be staying in a hostel that night. The following day we are going to find the bus station and take a bus to La Mariposa where we will be staying for four weeks. I have attached their blog so you can see what the eco-lodge is up to as well. I cant wait to find who else will be staying there during our visit.

I am excited for some excellent Nicaraguan coffee!!