El Volcan Mombacho

I've been back in Nicaragua after a quick break for a few weeks now and am starting to get back into a routine again.  I can't believe I have less than 6 weeks here!

First grade has brought forth some challenges that I really wasn't expecting, including but not limited to:

• My patience (or lack thereof it seems!)
• A difference in intelligence/understanding
• New discipline methods/reasons for discipline
• Communication with my cooperating teacher

First grade is definitely putting teaching in a new perspective for me.  I think my mind is made up about what grade levels I would prefer to teach, but I don't want to give up on teaching the young ones just yet.  I start teaching full-time tomorrow, so we'll see if my mind changes or not!

A few exciting things have happened over the last few weeks, including a booked trip for Semana Santa (Spring break)!  Me and a few friends are traveling by bus to Costa Rica and Panama.  I'm really looking forward to visiting these countries and snorkeling, zip lining through the rain forest, visiting chocolate farms, laying by the beach, and seeing Panama City!  

On Saturday, a few of us took a trip to Granada to trek up el Volcan Mombacho.  Boy, was this quite the trek!  Although I can't tell you the difficulty level of this volcano compared to other volcanoes, I do know now that it is not normal for people to hike all the way up it like we did!  At the bottom of the volcano, we were given the option to hike up it on foot or take a large 4-wheel drive vehicle.  Feeling a little adventurous (and cheap), we opted to hike up the volcano.  About 20 minutes into the hike, we began to realize why no one hikes, and about halfway up we wondered if we were as crazy as all of the construction workers we passed thought we were.  Yes, it was extremely steep (sometimes walking on all fours seemed just a good of an option as walking on just two feet), but the sense of accomplishment once we reached the top was amazing.  The view was nice, yes, but saying that I hiked, on foot, all the way up the great el volcan Mombacho made it all worth it.  Sighting monkeys and snakes along the way was cool, too.

That night, I slept the best I ever have; going to bed at 7 and waking up at 7.  A solid 12 hours that hasn't happened in years!  I can now check "hiking up a volcano" off of my bucket list!  Now time to zip line over a rain forest!

Distant view of el volcan Mombacho

View of the islets and Lake Nicaragua from the top of Mombacho