Swearing-In
As of yesterday afternoon, I am back in my permanent site, Kukra Hill, but this time as a Pecae Corps Volunteer—a Trainee, no longer. This past Monday was held the swearing-in ceremony for those of us who had completed the 54th Pre-Service Training program and here’s the proof: above is a picture of me with the other volunteers from my training town at the Intercontinental Hotel in Managua, gussied up for our swearing in ceremony.
Still, ceremony itself was simple enough: first, there as an opening ceremony and speeches from the graduating group in thanks of our host families with whom we had been living throughout training. Each family and trainee was called up and the trainee was given a certificate to present to his or her family—pictures and hugs throughout. Next, we sang the Nicaraguan and American national anthems. Then the US Ambassador gave a speech (can’t remember the specifics but it was nice in tone), and we all stood up and said our names and where we’re from and d where we’re going. Somewhere in there we also had to raise our right hand and repeat after the ambassador as he read the Oath of Service.
After the ceremony, I took my host mother and brother, who had gotten up at the crack of dawn to ride the bus into Managua, out to lunch. It was sad to say goodbye to them but I was glad to have had the chance to show my thanks having been so welcoming and friendly and including me in their daily lives and teaching me about so many things.
There wasn’t too much time to reminisce however as a few hours later the entire (43 volunteer plus) training group saddled up and drove over to the house of the Country Director for an early Thanksgiving dinner. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was as genial and celebratory as the house was beautiful.
As mine is an overnight bus, I had the entire day to kill with the volunteer headed for Bluefields and to say goodbye to our friends as, in ones and twos, they packed up and caught cabs from our hotel to a smattering of bus stations.
My bus left at nine in the evening and, more than the first time that I took the ride, it felt like I was leaving Nicaragua for another country where people walk more slowly and reggae music plays all day. Staking out our seats meant suffering through the heat/funk of the bus before the engine started and we left the station. Then the reggae music kicked in, Bob Marely’s “I Wanna Love You”, and I fell fast asleep. In Rama, we changed from bus to boat and made our way down the Rio Escondido and into Bluefields by 8:00am.
One last forty-five minute panga (in Creole, the word used is ‘skiff’) and I was back in Kukra Hill.
Yesterday afternoon was spent mostly sitting on the porch of the house of my host family, catching up and shooting the breeze. I turned in early and woke up late for the rain drumming on the tin roof. Today, I headed over to the school to see my two counterparts and And now it really begins.
It is obvious you are making many new friends everywhere you go! Your experience will be a benefit for your next chapter. Lots of rest and stay healthy! Peace.
- Bill
go Marty do!!!