RED JUICE

GUESS who is in Nicaragua??? I am currently staying at Hotel Casa San Juan sharing a room with two girls from the program. My first meal was white rice, mushroom gravy, chicken in some sweet sauce, a tortilla, and juice Utica? I have to double check on that. At first I thought it was agua de jamaica but its not, it tastes lemon-ie. (Task: Find out the name of that fruit!) I have an agenda for the next few days and it looks pretty packed. I am excited and ready to take on what lays ahead. As for the weather, it is pretty warm down here. The sun goes down at six and I arrived at seven so I didnt really get the feel of the sun. Tomorrow will be a day to remember. The scheduled day starts at eight which means that if I wake up early I may be able to go out for a walk or jog. The neighborhood we are staying in is middle class/ upper class, and has its own private security so I'll be safe (besides I have a pocket knife, jajaja. And I blend in). Well, I'm going to keep these updates short.

Hasta luego!

Yanet

By the way, I have decided on having everyone call me Yanet. I figured since we are going to be speaking spanish why not say my name the way that it would be said in spanish. And the sound of Yanet reminds me of the way my mom says my name at home.When I was younger my cousin in Mexico wrote down my name and spelled it with a Y. Ever since that day I have been a bit "uncomfortable" with Janet. And  Janet sounds a little rough. No?




** Les mando saludos a mis papis y a mis hermanos y hermanas. Los quiero mucho!!!!

Last day in the States

TODAY I received a gift in the mail from a dear friend. I was eager to find out what it was that he had send me and as I opened the package I found a journal inscribed with, "A Place to Remember...  ... and Never Forget" along with a bookmark reading Jeremiah 29:11. The best part about this gift is that it will come with instructions. Later tonight Taylor will tell me the instructions to his master plan.

I still have to buy a couple of more things but overall I am ready to go. Yesterday was not really my day. I had one of the slowest headaches of all time. I say slowest because it seemed to be taking its time to ache my head. My mom says it was from all the pressure and stress I am going through. I stayed up packing what I had and it all seemed to fit in my red duffle bag on wheels. That bag has been with me since my Sophomore year in college when I had the opportunity to travel to Argentina and Uruguay! It has even traveled with me to South Africa! Unfortunately, it is pretty worn out but I want to take it on one more trip.

I am a bit nervous about this trip. I guess its time I start flying solo.

FOUR DAYS AND A MESS

Whiteness is a project, not a skin tone

I'M sitting in my dad's office writing my third entry. In FOUR days I will be boarding a plane and heading to Nicaragua. There are several things I have to get done before leaving and procrastination is my nemesis. My mind is filled with a scattered to-do list. I have yet to pack, some forms that will allow me to graduate on time still have to be signed by two chairs in Roosevelt, I have to get some mosquito net, how am I going to apply to a graduate program when deadlines are in Dec. and early Jan/Feb, I have yet to take the GRE, what will my independent research project be for my studies abroad, how am I going to manage financially until I get my refund money, my books have yet to arrive, my backpackers backpack better not be too small (although I am pretty sure I can adjust it) I better be getting it Monday.. and so on.

What if I take a year off... Wouldn't I have to be paying back my loans.. I would love to join the peace corps for a bit but how will that work with my studies and loans. I am not trying to run away from my debt either. If I were to take a year off I would work for several months and save up enough to make a trip to Central America before returning to my studies.

I have been looking into graduate programs and the most interesting Universities are UCLA, University of Chicago, UIC, and NYU. It would probably be best to stay close to home and not have to pay rent. Or worry so much of finding a low cost place somewhere far away... so I am leaning more towards University of Chicago and UIC. Sorry Roosevelt I am leaving you. Oh, U of C has a partnership with an institution in Cuba!!

Since I am running on time and in a few days I will be doing nothing but concentration in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Central America I will not worry on applying to a graduate program until I am a week from coming back and have finalized and sealed my ISP. Okay, I lie I will be planning. As of now my main thoughts on my ISP is to extend a course I took over the Spring semester: Whiteness in a Global Context, and  make a case study on Nicaragua. I want to take a closer look at Afro- Latin America, race relations, white supremacy and neoliberalism in Central America.

The link above refers to a book I have yet to read but ran into it as I browsed the internet.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE..

ONE of my favorite buttons of all time is the one with this image. A girl who has lost grip of her balloon whose shape happens to be a heart. It reminds me of my first love.. my first boyfriend. I never actually knew what it meant but I just stumbled into this image and realized that it means "THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE". I love it. Letting go. It reminds me of myself and I think that is the best part.

I have nine days left! I have yet to pack my belongings but, I have been doing some shopping every now and then to get the essentials together. I have been thinking on what kind of gifts I should bring to my potential mentors and house moms... Any ideas? Possibly scarfs, small art drawings, and a picture of me... Oh, the adventure is about to start.. actually it already has! I have checked out some books from the library but I think its about time I start ordering them on Amazon.

Thirteen

It would have been sixteen but unfortunately my study abroad trip to Cuba has been cancelled. I will be heading to Nicaragua in thirteen days. It will be the start of something great. I plan to write about my experiences abroad, possibly one to three times per week. This will not only be a place to share my experiences but will be used as a journal, a place to express my thoughts and reflect on life. I will be graduating this Spring 2013 and hope to make the most of my undergrad career.

(I will be writing some blogs in Spanish.)

I have named my Blog When life give you lemons because I was originally going to study abroad in Havana, Cuba from Sept-Dec through the School of International Training. On Friday August 10, 2012 I received a devastating call that the program has been cancelled because of political reasons. Throughout this summer I have been able to plan out my goals for the next five years. I plan on continuing my academic career and travel through Latin America, specifically Central America. I am most interested in Mexico, Guatemala, and Cuba. Having the opportunity to go to Cuba during my undergrad seemed like a dream come true ( as a matter of fact this might still happen) but as of Friday that dream has been stalled. I have looked into my other options and going to Nicaragua will keep me on the right path and open more doors, ideas, and networks. I cannot wait to visit a new country and take in its history, its culture, and its people. Therefore, I have been told the old saying of "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade" I will try to do more then just some lemonade.

----I want to apologize for any grammar and/or spelling errors. If you will like to correct me then that would be appreciated because I will learn more! If you have any suggestions on what I should write more on then go ahead and let me know.. I think comments can be left.. I am new to this blogspot-thingy.