¿Y Entonces...?

What a great weekend!

After returning from the Peace Corps workshop with my training group in Matagalpa, I came back to Jalapa with LOTS of people and LOTS of corn awaiting me.

Volunteers from all around came up to enjoy all the festivities and from Friday thru Sunday, we had a great time.

On Friday, my friend and I met up with people from his Agriculture group. We checked out the fair, had some chicha bruja (aka fermented corn beverage that can be quite strong) and welcomed some more volunteers at the end of the night.





On Saturday, people from my group showed up, including one of my best friends from Rio San Juan! I was so excited she decided to make the trip. There was a parade that showed off the Reinas de la Feria (Queens of the Fair) in which their floats and outfits were made ONLY of corn. It was very impressive, and I felt some true Jalapeño pride as I watched the parade go by.













During the afternoon, the rains came and made the fair grounds SUPER muddy. Did that stop us from heading down later on and enjoying the rides and food? Nope.


We all got mud everywhere from our waists down, but it was totally worth it. Some of the other volunteers and I went on a ride that would GUARANTEED be illegal in the states. Imagine you're on a tilt-o-whirl/gravitron, without seat belts. We pretty much had to hold on with our life or get thrown out. Long story short: it was terrifyingly awesome. Plus, I think that with so many gringos on the ride, they were making it extra intense.

Saturday night brought a fiesta at the local dance club/swimming pool. Prior to this weekend, I never leave my house at night nor "party" at the club. I want to have a positive image in my site, though it is over 60,000+ people, I can still be pointed out as the only gringa in Jalapa when my friends aren't around. However, being in a big group of gringos, especially with guys that I felt safe around, I decided to indulge for a little while. A live band came out and played a great set with lots of dancing. I took a short video of one of their songs HERE.




However, at midnight, though most of the group was still raring to go, I was exhausted (being a hostess to over 10+ volunteers is tiring!), and rounded up my friends staying at my house and left.

Sunday was when the majority of the volunteers left. Some had long trips to make and after having breakfast at my favorite little restaurant, I sent them off at the bus terminal. My friend from RSJ stayed with me one extra night since she had to be in Managua on Monday and we enjoyed the Hípica (and rain!) that went through town on Sunday afternoon. There were lots of horses and it was a great little show to watch go through the streets. I took a video of one particular little guy HERE.









All in all, it was a great time, but I'm very happy I only have to play hostess one more time during my service for the event. It was fun seeing volunteers from different parts of the country, eating corn and enjoying being a Jalapeña!