Swearing In

Greetings from Managua, where it is effing HOT. This is my first entry as an official Peace Corps Volunteer. Pretty exciting. The ceremony today was interesting. It felt very official. The US ambassador was there and we sang the national anthem of the US and also the Nicaraguan anthem. We had to solemnly swear to uphold and defend the US constitution, so help us God. As I said it was interesting. All of the families came in from Carazo and Masaya and we got to spend a little time with them and there was an official thank you ceremony. When one of the volunteers got up to say a little gratitude speech even my Nicaraguan dad got teary. They told me again that their door is always open and I plan on making good use of it. Speaking of doors, my host family in La Conquista was informed that they would need to put a door on my room if I were to stay there and they said that they would not be able to do that so I have to live with someone else. I am a little bummed about it just because I don't want it to be awkward with them and also because now I have no idea who I will be living with but in a way maybe it is for the best because I realized after my stay that I offered them way more money than I meant to and I was going to have to renegotiate and that would have been awkward too so at least now that won't be an issue. Being in Managua these last few days has been strange. It feels like we are back in the US eating at TGIFridays and going to the mall. Today I had Burger King and last night, I was ecstatic when while flipping through the channels on the hotel's cable television I found Big Brother 8!!! Of course I did not know what was going on but it was still super fun to watch. In a way being here seems like it is going tomake going to our sites a little harder but the vacation is nice all the same. Well, I am gonna head back to my air conditioned room now as I am melting here in the lobby.