Oooh that feeling!

And so it begins. After a long day of flying without many delays (1.5 hr in Houston because someone´s luggage was lost) I arrived in Managua, Nicaragua. The smell of the warm tropical air filled my lungs and I was instantly alive....okay maybe I was exhaused but my spirit was aglow. My luggage made it (a big accomplishment!) Dona Lorena, Don Gustavo and Adonis had been waiting at the airport for 3 hours. They were as glad to see me as I was to see them. They brought me to their new house in ¨La Villa.¨ It is incredibly beautiful. They were embarrased because it is smaller than their old house but I think it more cozy (old house = very sterile). Adonis and I sat in the famous rocking chairs and caught up, practicing speaking Spanish and English. Then, I went to bed - sticky and hot and incredibly happy!

This morning, dissapointingly I didn´t wake up to roosters :( (That will come in El Fortin.) However, I did wake up to a huge breakfast of Gallo Pinto, eggs, rubber cheese and a fresh purple fruit juice drink (I´ll get back to you on the name of the church.) I ate breakfast with Kelvin. Usually shy, he and I chatted forever in English about everything! What a change! He is studying Business Administration and his Enlish is amazing! I lounged and tried to help make lunch (they don´t except help very well:) After a delicious lunch (un caldo de pollo, platano maduro, arroz y otro refresco rico) I left to reconocer (refamiliarize) myself with Granada. Two years later, it is still wonderfully unique. I stopped at the bank, walked through the park and now, I am at Cafe Email, listening to music by the likes of the Jackson 5, Shania Twaina, and It must have been love by Roxette and enjoying the company of my fellow North Americans, some Europeans, and my favorite people - Mario and Magda (who have worked here forever!) This afternoon I will visit Dona Lorena´s family who used to live with her but now have their own houses. I have been trying to get ahold of Dulce Maria but she must be out on the town today.

Many things here have changed and instead of cringing at the changes like I usually do, I am embracing them. This is a new trip to a place that feels like home.