Schools out for winter!

So the spanish class is done for now and my skills remain very weak. Looking back I think I should have stopped after 3 weeks, but I have learned a lot about the history and the area. My comprehension is way better, so it will come with time.
Starting off with a week in Granada, plan on visiting Ometepe then head into the north part of the country. Just heard about a canyon they just discovered in the last decade near Honduras that sounds awesome, along with other parks and reserves. Have a car rented for a month for less than $300, should aid in the exploration capabilities. Plans are set for a month in the beach town Jacó in Costa Rica for December.
The implant started well, but is on hold for now. Went in after a week to get the impression for the new tooth and when he screwed the new post into the implant, the implant came loose. So he did a bone graft and I will let that grow till after New Years and come back to wrap it up. A bit of a setback but should work out well in the end, not going to rush it at this point.

Been enjoying activities with Wi/Nic Partners on weekends. Last week they had about 60 kids at a "Bike/Hike" event where they had games and activities all afternoon on Friday. The local scout troop helped out too. Saturday was a monthly meeting of most of the leaders of the various learning centers in Nicaragua, to share ideas and progress. Am headed to one northwest of León on Saturday, looking forward to that.
Have had some other students in the house the last month, a couple from Ireland/England, Nick from Australia that has been working in Belize, and just this week a couple from New Mexico. Been checking out many different restaurants in town with Nick the last week enjoying some good conversation and fare. Being here the longest, I have been named "The Don", I prefer "Don Ray de León".

Homework? Really?

Just wrapping up three weeks here in Nicaragua. School is good and David, the teacher is great and can speak good English, which is great for explaining grammar rules, etc. Have learned a whole lot and still have two weeks to go, will be a very good start.
Haven't traveled too much, been to Managua twice to help with WI/Nic Partners and chilled by the Pacific beach once. Have seen many museums, cathedrals, and historical sites around León, the school owner takes me around some afternoons, he is a history buff and provides an awesome insight and really enjoys sharing about the city he loves.
First weekend in Managua helped build a concrete wood cook stove for a local school. They used to use just a metal plate over a fire held up by a few cement blocks. We finished the chimney this weekend, this group is awesome and helps so many. They are great people. Today they held a fund raising event at a park. There was music, cultural dances and food, very cool.
The beach town was quite remote and quiet. I was hoping to use an ATM but was told closest one was in León, 20+ miles away. Last Monday about 10pm there was an earthquake about 150 miles NW of León, 7.2. The house shook for almost a minute but no damage. Very strange feeling. Talking today, I heard it shook hard even here in Managua.
I found a dentist that speaks English, and had him do an implant, it will all be complete in two weeks. The hard work is done, I now have metal in my jaw and it went very well. It cost $1,000 here, would have been $6-7,000 in the US.
This is the rainy season and it rains every afternoon or evening, to the south the island of Ometepe is shut down because of the wet. There are two volcanos on the island and they are to muddy, dangerous to climb. I hope to go there, maybe in a month or so it will dry out. After school I plan to go to Granada, Ometepe, and San Juan Del Sur. Then to Jaco in Costa Rica for December.
This country is  quite poor and the job market is bad. Over 500,000 Nicas are working in Costa Rica. The riches they have are in being friendly and helpful, everyone you meet thanks you for being in Nicaragua. For all the hardships they have endured, they are very gentle, kind and helpful.