Like this:

If I’m completely honest, I didn’t think I would shed a tear for Nicaragua but as I approached the gate towards security and said the rest of my goodbyes I felt my throat tense up.  Maybe it was the thought (knowledge, really) that I still had a bit more work remaining. Hmmmm. Regardless, it’s amazing how quickly 6 months pass even if you anticipate in advance that they will. What I’ve come to realize now about coming and going is that these types of tears are not so much for the place as they are for the people. Needless to say, I made some incredible friendships, something you don’t realize until they’re no longer there. Which I guess is how these things tend to go.

Work picked up quite a bit and, despite the sleepless nights of data entry and data analysis, I managed to squeeze in a few last minute beach excursions and some foolishly risky volcano boarding. While it was a semi-dramatic goodbye including dinners with friends, holiday parties with co-workers, and barbecue with tons of suya (mmm), it was a bit of relief to know that a cool winter with family was waiting. And boy is it nice! Not to mention that it’s something I certainly don’t mind experiencing every holiday season. A full house with the nieces and nephews (with one more on the way…WOOHOO!!!), and lots of good home cooking. And as far as that family movie night…this time we squeezed in two.

Unfortunately, some not so positive things are also managing to become routine during the holidays – I’m specifically referring to the suicide bombings in Nigeria – like all other things in the world. Life goes on. Good and bad. And with that said, I’ll focus on the good. At least for the remainder of the holidays.

Enjoy the photos.

Laguna de Apoyo

Continuous ridge of volcanoes, view from the top of Cerro Negro

The keys off Las Perlas, Atlantic coast of Nicaragua

Relaxing in the keys aka coconut paradise

Garifuna festival in Orinoco...and she and I danced all night.

Cerro Negro

Volcano boarding down Cerro Negro, moments before taking a nasty spill. Ouch.

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