Delta Airlines tells me that I have 14 days until my itinerary starts, so I have exactly two weeks to get everything in order. After 2 1/2 years of Spanish preparation and my orientation trip last May, I feel somewhat more prepared for three months in Nicaragua, but must confess that I remain a bit anxious. I find myself checking the English-Spanish dictionary many times daily whenever I think of word that I ought to know in Spanish. Sadly the words are often the same ones I had just looked up a day or two prior. My brain seems to be more like a sieve than a trap. I also think back to how tired I got in Germany (at age 19) whenever I had to communicate exclusively in German. How much more tiring will it be for a quinquagenarian? (I thought this word might obscure how really old I am!)
The thought of leaving Susan for three months is also somewhat daunting, but one thing on the to-do list prior to leaving is to get her tickets for a visit in March sometime. Hopefully by then I'll be competent to travel without a chaperone and we can do some sightseeing in the country. By flying Delta, I'm able to stop over in Atlanta for almost a day, which gives an opportunity to see my mom. My return flight, however, will be from Oaxaca, Mexico, and has only a couple of hours in Atlanta.
As for what I'll be doing on a daily basis, I'll have to wait and see. I know that I'll be working with Grupo Fenix (an NGO) dealing with solar ovens/cookers in some way. I am hopeful that I can also get some experience with photo-voltaic installations. One of the anticipated tasks is to improve interchangeability of parts so the cookers can be put in a kit form, but I'm sure there will be other things that come up.
Getting this blog started is one more item checked off my list. I've already got Skype accounts set up, downloaded tax-prep software, bought maps/guidebooks and stocked up on sunscreen. I know there are still many items to do...if only I can find where I put the stupid list!
