Periodic update #???

So, Sami, what have you been doing for your first month in site? Well, dear readers, as it so happens I've been doing a few things. I have been reading a lot. I have been disfrutaring my really good internet access (for the less español-ated among us, that means enjoying). I have been adding to my compost, and recently started clearing land for my vegetable garden. I have been studying and trying to practice my Spanish. I have been performing my duties as an honorary two-year-old. I've been walking a lot, making my face known in the community, occasionally working up the courage to talk to random people in the street and making a couple friends. And I've been talked about. I am known as the gringa who isn't allowed to ride a motorcycle, and now I am the gringa with an entourage of dog friends who follow me around. That's not a derogatory term for anything, I am actually followed by a pack of dogs quite frequently. My American friend Diana who lives down the road has I believe 6 dogs, and whenever I go to visit her up to three of them follow me home, and occasionally to the park. So of course people notice, and of course people comment. I haven't heard anything bad yet, so let's hope it stays that way. I hope the repercussions are that word gets around that I like animals, and maybe someone passes an unwanted kitten my way. That would be awesome. But don't tell my mom :D

So, Itza is my two year old playmate. Or rather, I am her gigantic living doll. She must like me, because she virtually never leaves me alone. She's very cute though. A couple weeks ago she got her first pikiteta (or bicicleta for those who don't speak toddler Spanish. Or bicycle for those who don't speak regular Spanish either). So I have spent a good chunk of my time every day pulling her around the backyard. It's quite a workout, as the yard is very lumpy and rocky, and she hasn't learned how to pedal yet, so I basically have to carry her and the bike around. She is not light, and neither is the bike. She also likes to come in my room and sit on the step at my door, take off her shoes, and do things such as put on my shoes and insist that they fit her and that her shoes fit me, tie me up with a leather belt, make me draw people that are singing the Nicaraguan national anthem, and jump on and off the step. And she likes to sing the national anthem. She's very cute, holding her hand at her chest and singing at the top of her lungs. She loves it when I sing with her. And ever since I taught her ring around a rosy we've been playing that about 20 times a day. And she's starting to sing along, requesting "ashes ashes" when she wants to play.

Well, my dinner is ready. Tomorrow I'm going back to my training town for New Year. I can't wait to see my family there! Feliz Navidad, feliz año nuevo, and all that good stuff!