Street Volleyball, Rainstorms and a Few Tears

My weekend so far...

Last night my family and I were doing the typical Nicaraguan thing: Sitting in front of the door outside, watching the world go by, and conversing. Earlier in the week I bought a volleyball and my dad remembered this. He told me to go get it so we could play. Of course I asked him Where the heck we were going to play since there is no such things as yards here. And he said in the street. haha. Quite the experience. My sister and her boyfriend also played and so did my brother. We just stood in a circle and hit the ball back and forth and when I car would come we would catch the ball and move of the streets. My little sister was my coach so she was giving me advice, and we even have a new handshake! My dad actually seems pretty decent. His setting could use some work...ha...but he said he hasn't played for 10 years. We had a good time though, and I think they were impressed with me for being able to keep the ball up at all : )

Later on in the evening, the rains began. It was very refreshing! The rainy season is right now so from now on it will be a lot of on and off raining which helps cool it down here a lot. However, the humidity is still pretty ridiculous. Our roofs are tin so falling asleep to rain pounding the roof is kind of nice. I really enjoyed that last night. And this morning I was reading on our hammock and another storm came, this time with thunder and lightening. It was pretty spectactular. Our hammock is under a roof so I stayed on the hammock and watched the storm pass. It was amzing. I love storms in the U.S. and Nicaraguan storms are no different : )

And now onto the tears...
This morning I slept in, which felt really good. After I did some reading on the hammock my mom invited me to help her cook lunch. I was pretty pumped because I have asked before, but she has always told me no. So I was excited. So I put my aporn on and think of the big mess I will probably make because I am the messiest cook ever right, mom? ha. And my mom tells me we will be making Vinegeriete (sp?). Sounds easy enough. She hands me a knife and shows me an onion on a cutting board. I beging to chop the onion and immediately the tears begin to roll down my cheeks. It was so funny and my mom and I just laughed and laughed about it. But it was hurting so much, too. Ha. It was funny. She said that it doesn't usally happen to her, so it must be my American eyes. : ) We also made this pasta casserole thing where you stuff the paste with chicken and onions and other ingredients and cook it up with cheese and tomatoe sauce. We are just about to eat it and I am SO excited! It smells delicious and I helped to make it!

So there are a few stories from my weekend. Today is mother's day in the U.S. if I rememember correctly? I think Mother's Day in Nica is on the 30th.

But to all the Mothers, Happy Mother's Day. And a special shout out to all those who have been mother figures to me. Thank-you for everything. Happy Mother's Day. I love you!

Love always,
Allison Jae