Love Notes to Nica Part 2: Surfing back into Nica

As many of you read the subject line, I suppose you expected to hear of gnarly waves I've caught or the sweet scar I got from a stingray. Those stories do exist, but they are of other MPI-Nica members. No, my friends, when I surf, it's down volcanoes.

The most active volcano in Central America, to be exact.

Since 1850, Cerro Negro ["black hill"] has had over 100 eruptions, the most recent in 1999. With a landscape consisting of dried lava, sand and rock, it takes about 2 hours to go up [taking into account my midgety legs and the 75 mph winds] and all of 10 minutes to go down. Through a mixture of running and sliding, you have one of the most unique sensations possible: surfing without water, board optional.

Once again, I've seen how snapshots of my life mirror the realities. The first six months, while truly incredible were also difficult and at times downright exhausting. Between learning how to be a teacher, gaining the trust of families in Chureca, and balancing living and working with the same people [not to mention my epic battle with Carl, the parasite], it often felt like an uphill climb. Now we are on top of the mountain, about to dive into the second half of our adventure which, as all things do, will end all too quickly. My prayer for myself and the rest of my Nica family is that we'll remember to look up while enjoying the ride.


Surf's up


Don't believe me? Check it out: http://www.vianica.com/go/specials/9-nicaragua-volcanoes.html