Soooo I haven't written in a while. Last weekend was La Griteria - it's a holiday that only takes place in Leon where people set up alters to the Virgin Mary in their houses and at 6:00 PM, people begin going around to different houses and gritando (yelling). It's kind of like Halloween, but totally different. haha The people go to a house and say, "Quien causa tanta alegria?" and the people in the houses say, "La asuncion de Maria!" and they give them candy or sweets, or some people ask for clothes. It was very interesting to see, and I spent the holiday in Eira's mom's house, which is where Maria Denisse and Merlui live (with their grandma).
Today I went to Maria Denisse's house because she was supposed to come with me to change some money, but she had gone somewhere with her mom, and while I was waiting for her, I sat with her grandma (Eira's mom) and her great grandma who today turned 94 years old! for about an hour and a half. This woman is really amazing. She walks around on her own and is completely sane. She knows exactly who everyone is and everything that is going on around her. Eira's mom is sooooo nice! This was the first time I actually talked to her even though I have been in her house several times. She told me that whenever I want, I am welcome to come back and stay with them, and she said she wishes Maria Denisse knew me when she studied in the United States because she was so close to Chicago and we could have spent time together. (She told me that during Christmas when the University closed, Maria Denisse had no where to go and she was only 16! and she wanted to come home and it was a really hard time.) I wish I would have known her then too because we have just started to get to know each other and now I am already leaving. She is a really smart and independent girl. I really like her a lot. In their house, I really feel like I belong. Maria Denisse and Merlui would definitely be my friends back home. They are so sweet :) I hope that in the future I can return to Nicaragua and see these people again and see the progress that Alianza is sure to make. They have great ideas and great possibilities and I am really lucky to have taken a part in its evolution.
Last night, the "supervisor" from Quinnipiac University in Connecticut held a meeting with the members of the Albert Schweitzer club at Alianza. These are students studying English that want to be leaders. They are all very intelligent individuals with certain talents and ideas. This man is really inspriring. He served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica, and now works in several countries funding relief efforts and projects. He sends students from Quinnipiac to Nicaragua to study Spanish and volunteer. He wanted to hear about the club and the projects they are doing (which is none at the moment) they are in the process of establishing a board and getting organized. But we ate dinner at his hotel. It was amazing. Part of me feels like 6 weeks was not enough time. I am just getting over my home sickness and getting used to a very different environment. Now that I know the school and its needs, I feel like I could do so much more to help. I would really love to come back in the future. The people here are so welcoming and really have very big hearts. Family is so important, and I truly did feel like a part of the family. Even though I am excited to be coming home to everyone I miss and to be starting my senior year, I am going miss Leon and all the people I have met here.
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