The First Week- A Summery (if possible.)

The last week has gone by so fast, yet I feel like I have been here for a month. I arrived at La Mariposa around 4:30 pm last Sunday with Alana and her friends (my new friends) Rosario, Miriam and David. Rosario had offered to drive, David was our tour guide, and Miriam wanted to come along because we all thought we were going to Masaya. As it would turn out, La Mariposa is not in Masaya. It is actually in a place called La Concha (to the locals, La Conception to the rest of the world if the world were to know about this tiny place.) I was a little let down when I found out I wouldn't be in Masaya because everyone who knew of Masaya said it would be the perfect place for me and that I would love it; but when we got to La Mariposa and I saw the school and the area that I would be living in for the next month, I was thrilled. La Mariposa is a wonderland for lack of any other word to do it justice. The first thing I noticed was the pack of dogs that ran to greet me. I will load pictures at some point but there are Condor, Sultan, Toto, Molly, Foxy, Jaz, and Molly. Then there are four white faced monkeys and a whole lot of birds including two toucans and a mass of chickens and roosters. The hotel itself, which I should note isn't really a hotel, is covered in tropical plants and flowers. There are trees and life of all kinds everywhere. It's incredible. I say that it isn't really a hotel because Paulette, the ex pat wonder woman who runs it, wants it to be known as a school. La Mariposa is not located in a touristy area, so there is really no point for people to stay there other than to learn Spanish. After speaking briefly with Paulette I was told to take my things to my new home where Bergman (pronounced Bear man :) ) and his family would greet me.
Waiting just outside the gate of his home was Bergman and his youngest Pedrito. We parked Rosario's car and got a bite to eat because all of us were starving. The place we ate doesn't deserve to be mentioned. After an incredibly long meal we walked back to Bergman's house where I said my good byes and settled in to my new home. I'll have to post pictures of the house at some point because it is rather hard to describe. For now I'll just say that I have my own room which is a nice size with a desk and a window. I have a pretty mosquito net as well which makes me feel like a princess with a canopy bed... which I've always wanted. I have five host siblings; there is Bergman Jr. (23), Jason (20), Tana- pronounced Tania- (19), Arielca (16), and Pedrito (5.) I love them all. They are all so different, but like their parents they are kind and welcoming.  I have felt so loved and cared for in their home. I feel so comfortable there as well as in the La Mariposa community. I could not have asked for a better situation. By the way, they also have two dogs, Mariposa and Kisar.  I am the luckiest girl in the whole world.
I live five minutes walking distance from school and every day, except for today, I bike with Franklin (my farm boss man) to the farm. Every day is an adventure in Nicaragua. The first day I worked I was handed a big stick that I then used for over two hours to "sweep" dead cut grass into piles around a field. Once we were done with that we lit it all on fire.  The next day we did the same, but I was prepared for it. Believe it or not I actually like doing it. It is a time where I can rest my head  and not have to think in Spanish. When I'm not sweeping dead grass, I'm talking to Franklin. Franklin is wonderful. He demands conversation and wont let me slack off; yet he is patient and kind. He helps me so much and is super encouraging. I gain a lot of confidence when I speak to him. Our conversations aren't dull either. Yesterday we spoke for two hours about my life and the farm, etc., in Spanish. My side of the conversation probably sounded like a two year old, but it happened.
There is so much more to tell but I am exhausted. I will be updating more often now that I will have my lap top so I will do my best to write more details. Until then, I love you all so much and I miss you every day.