Happy Thanksgiving!

So I’m state-side! I have been a little absent to the blog world recently. Not intentionally, and not because of a lack of blog worthy discussion (quite the opposite) but because there has been so much going on writing about it just came up last on the list!

Regardless, here I am. Once again in the beautiful US of A and once again fighting the same cultural battle I face every time I get my passport stamped. Fortunately the culture shock has hit relatively lightly this trip compared to previous trips and I have thoroughly enjoyed my first week back.

While the term culture shock is normally used in reference to entering into a third world country, I have found it to be equally (if not more) applicable upon reentry to the US. This country makes so many changes/advances in such sort time. I leave and when I come back 6 months later there is a new road, new restaurants, and new buildings. I expect to come back to the same place I left and that is never quite the case. That doesn’t mean it’s bad . . . just a little harder to adjust. I am so happy to be here though. I have already indulged in a number of guilty pleasures (grapes, cheese, Hot Tomales, Cheezits :) just to name a few, and cannot get enough of this great family I have. Last weekend I went to the Notre Dame- Wake Forest game with my mom, great end of the season to be back for huh! Hard to believe that after not missing a single home game for four years, I haven’t been to a single one since graduating! So I have definitely been filling up on all things football with my Dad; mostly college, but some pro too. Now just anxiously looking forward to this Saturday’s game against USC . . . Eeeeek GO IRISH!

My other adventure- Elementary School! Eryn is student teaching in a kindergarten classroom at Prairie Vista, the elementary school that we went to our entire childhood. Twice I have been able to go in and spend the day helping her out. (It helps to fill a little bit of the void I have when I’m not with all my kiddos) and it’s been a blast! In addition to spending the day with some adorable little ones, I have gotten to remember (or at least try to remember) all the memories I have of my 6 years in that building, and have come to the realization that everything is a whole lot smaller than what I remembered it as.

So that is a quick summary of my most recent adventures. Even though it makes life a whole lot more complicated, I am so very thankful for my two worlds, my two lives and the people that fill each of them. I am so thankful on this Thanksgiving for the ones who love and support me from both countries!

the fall of weddings :)

In the last 2+ years of living in Nicaragua, I had not attended a single wedding . . . until last month, and since the that one I have been to 3 and a half?!

It has certainly been a month of wedded bliss :)

First up was Kyle and Maria's wedding. The setting was beautiful, and despite starting nearly 2 hours late (true to Nicaragua time) the kids behaved wonderfully. And our biggest accomplishment- between 15 kids and a half dozen adults, we only managed to break one glass! (I was sure it was going to be more since the little ones are never allowed to use glass cups)

Leito did an awesome job with his ringbearing duties :)

And the happy couple (with a little cake on their faces)- photo taking by Joely :)

 

 

Wedding number 2: Bertha and Martin :)

 

Their wedding was here at the school in the gym. Bertha helps Shirley teach sewing in the high school. Again I will say I was quite happy with how our troops behaved! Although its a little different when you're here at your own place. Most of all I love how they all matched though :)

 

 

And last but certainly not least, is Jenny and Luis!

 

Their wedding was the longest in the making being as they have been dating over 5 years! Jenny is Leo's sister and the director of our school. Joely, Debonney and Grace were all in the wedding so we had lots of fun with wedding prep :) 

 

Here is the beautiful bride with her parents!



 

About to exchange rings :)

 

 

 Me and the girls!

 

And what, might you ask, constitutes a half a wedding?! Well what a good question. Here in Nicaragua the civil (legal) wedding is usually done separately from the actual ceremony. While in the states we usually (I think) sign all the legal documents the same day as the church ceremony, that is rarely the case here. So my half wedding? that was Jenny and Luis's civil ceremony. It was the week before their church ceremony and full reception. It was mostly family I guess, the lawyer, the pastor and some other people. They signed the paper and we ate :) Pretty uneventful but fun nonetheless!

 

So there you have it, a summary of what has gone on here 4 of the last 5 weekends!