(from the prospective of a small business development trainee in Nicaragua after 2 weeks in country)
Things I wish I brought
•Vitamins
•More pictures/gifts/talking points to show my host family
•More manageable luggage (I have a 3-day pack and a very large suitcase and it is difficult to maneuver all of my belongings. Note: I will have to get to my site on my own, so things might get tricky)
•Small notepad (for taking notes while walking around town)
•Day planner (training is 6 days/week, and though they give you a weekly schedule, it would be nice to have something to put all my assignments, meetings spots/times, notes, etc. in)
Things I wish I left
•Toiletries/medical products of all kinds (they give you a medical kit your 3rd day here with everything you could need, including Sudafed, Tylenol, ibuprofen, Benadryl, bug spray, sun screen, cough drops, hydrocortisone, Neosporin, Pepto-Bismol tablets, ace bandage, Band-Aids)
•Conditioner (because I take bucket showers, conditioner just weighs my hair down, a small bottle of leave in conditioner would have been better)
•Cash (there is no time to exchange your USD, just bring enough for travel expenses)
Things I’m glad I brought (and might not have been on the packing list)
•Facial cleansing wipes
•Baby powder
•Small mirror (many trainees I’ve spoken with did not bring one and regret it; there may only be one small mirror in the bathroom)
•Headlamp (electricity goes, the headlamp is awesome)
•Bandanas
•Shower gloves (it’s hard to exfoliate otherwise)
•Deck of cards
•Frisbee
•Laptop and a few DVDs
•Nice clothes and mascara (looking nice when I just feel like a sweaty mess really does help my spirits, and I’m glad I didn’t succumb to khakis)
Products I would highly recommend (most are for women)
•Secret Clinical Strength deodorant (it is hot down here, and I sweat, but my armpits have never been so fresh and so clean)
•Palmer’s cocoa butter with SPF 15
•Biore Skin Preservation moisturizer with SPF 30
•Fiber One Bars (chocolate and oats)
•Ben’s Tick and Insect Repellent 30 Deet (I brought the almost empty bottle of Ben’s that I had, and a new bottle of Natrapel, bc I didn’t want toxic deet, alas I cannot endorse the effectiveness of Natrapel)
Things you could send me if you really wanted to (but avoid big packages, cuz customs can be pricey)
•More pictures
•Any little chachkas for my 10 yr old sister and my many little cousins
•DVDs
•Letters updating my on your lives!
Note to future volunteers, including friends, family, and strangers: Honestly, I don’t think that I over-packed, which is what most people warn of, I just think I brought one bag that is way too big, and one that is too small. My suggestion: two medium sized bags (either one on wheels and one back pack/duffel, or two on wheels) and a daypack (I also brought a purse). That is plenty of room if you pack well, and you can lift each bag easily. Airports give limits of 50 pounds on bags…shoot for 40 lbs in each bag and you’re golden. I brought six pairs of shoes, which seems to be perfect, and an equal amount of work and play clothes. I know I have it easier as a small business trainee in Central America, as I didn’t have to worry about bulky things like solar chargers, big hiking boots, etc. but I figured I’d share my experiences.
25 things that will help you understand my life as a PCT in Nicaragua…
1.I am in the 50th group of volunteers to come to Nicaragua since PC returned in the 90s, PC will be celebrating its 50th anniversary during our service, therefore Nica 50 has been dubbed el grupo de oro, the golden group…high expectations
2.During training, I get paid about 300 córdobas/week (that’s about $15 USD)
3.Food: I have a tortilla at almost every meal; They serve “queso” with almost every meal…I would describe it as a salty, spongy, feta cheese; Almost all food is fried in oil, including rice and beans (gallo pinto)
4.There is no running water in my home during the day (re: bucket baths)
5.The nica accent is similar to that in southern Spain, ie. impossible to understand
6.I can see a volcano from the main road in my town
7.Almost every leader that has come to power in modern Nicaragua has been a corrupt tyrant: corruption, debt, and politics rule the country
8.I have over 20 Nicaragüense cousins, most of which live in my town, some of which I believe my mama is trying to marry me off to
9.Naipe, jaquis, and rayuelas have become part of my vernacular (cards, jacks, and hopscotch)
10.Horses are a legitimate and widely used form of transportation
11.Waking up at 4am with the roosters is no big thing
12.The national sport of Nicaragua is baseball (re: go Yankees!)
13.I work 6 days/week 6 hours/day, spend 2 hours/day of reading or homework, and full time at improving my Spanish
14.It…Is…HOT
15.Music: Aventura is the band of choice, bachata and reggaeton the music, though if you ask my sister, Christina Aguilera and Hannah Montana are where it’s at
16.PC must be the most high functioning part of the US government…everyone is knowledgeable, quick to respond, and very caring
17.I have a cousin here named Carlos, but everyone calls him Negro or Negrito, and I’m not sure why. I don’t think he lives here, but he’s in the house most days before I wake up and stays still after I’m asleep. There is quite an open door policy for family here.
18.Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans hate have a strong distaste for each other
19.Daily mood swings/slight schizophrenia are my new norm
20.Burning garbage is the official scent of my town
21.Everything is dusty
22.My malaria medicine has been giving me craaaaaazy dreams
23.There is no such thing as street names or addresses…directions are given in reference to landmarks (ex. the peace corps office address is Del Hotel Brandt, 1 ½ al sur…meaning it is 1 ½ blocks to the south of Hotel Brandt…hopefully you know where that is)
24.It is winter in Nicaragua now, ie. the rainy season. The storms here are outrageous.
25.Have you seen the youtube video “My new haircut”? yea, I think every young guy in my town has, and they’ve taken gelled hair styles to new levels.
Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once and a while, you could miss it.
2.During training, I get paid about 300 córdobas/week (that’s about $15 USD)
3.Food: I have a tortilla at almost every meal; They serve “queso” with almost every meal…I would describe it as a salty, spongy, feta cheese; Almost all food is fried in oil, including rice and beans (gallo pinto)
4.There is no running water in my home during the day (re: bucket baths)
5.The nica accent is similar to that in southern Spain, ie. impossible to understand
6.I can see a volcano from the main road in my town
7.Almost every leader that has come to power in modern Nicaragua has been a corrupt tyrant: corruption, debt, and politics rule the country
8.I have over 20 Nicaragüense cousins, most of which live in my town, some of which I believe my mama is trying to marry me off to
9.Naipe, jaquis, and rayuelas have become part of my vernacular (cards, jacks, and hopscotch)
10.Horses are a legitimate and widely used form of transportation
11.Waking up at 4am with the roosters is no big thing
12.The national sport of Nicaragua is baseball (re: go Yankees!)
13.I work 6 days/week 6 hours/day, spend 2 hours/day of reading or homework, and full time at improving my Spanish
14.It…Is…HOT
15.Music: Aventura is the band of choice, bachata and reggaeton the music, though if you ask my sister, Christina Aguilera and Hannah Montana are where it’s at
16.PC must be the most high functioning part of the US government…everyone is knowledgeable, quick to respond, and very caring
17.I have a cousin here named Carlos, but everyone calls him Negro or Negrito, and I’m not sure why. I don’t think he lives here, but he’s in the house most days before I wake up and stays still after I’m asleep. There is quite an open door policy for family here.
18.Costa Ricans and Nicaraguans hate have a strong distaste for each other
19.Daily mood swings/slight schizophrenia are my new norm
20.Burning garbage is the official scent of my town
21.Everything is dusty
22.My malaria medicine has been giving me craaaaaazy dreams
23.There is no such thing as street names or addresses…directions are given in reference to landmarks (ex. the peace corps office address is Del Hotel Brandt, 1 ½ al sur…meaning it is 1 ½ blocks to the south of Hotel Brandt…hopefully you know where that is)
24.It is winter in Nicaragua now, ie. the rainy season. The storms here are outrageous.
25.Have you seen the youtube video “My new haircut”? yea, I think every young guy in my town has, and they’ve taken gelled hair styles to new levels.
Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once and a while, you could miss it.
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