A Sun Sets In San Juan

Well, folks. That's a wrap! This experience was the perfect thing for me, at the perfect time in my life. I'm most grateful for the time spent here, and leaving here so soon is such a bittersweet feeling. I know when one chapter ends, another begins, and as long as you make the most out of every precious day, you can't really go wrong. That's just me. Riding the wave. Like a surfer.

I'm juuust a little sorry I didn't get to go see the big Jesus statue that overlooked San Juan. But then I remember that I flew over it in a helicopter! So, there. Also, my zipline friend borrowed my camera to take pics up there, so technically, I also have pics. The good news is that I have a bottle of Flor de Caña and a hammock in my stuffed to the max suitcase, so a little bit of Nica will always be with me. I'm going to miss it so much!

One more for the road...
xoxo

From Just In The Nica Time

O...Masaya

Once our production wrapped last Thursday, there's been a whole new vibe happening. First, half the people just up and left. Before you know it, all the trailers are getting pulled apart, and no one is at Iguana's anymore. The rain has started and not stopped from the Hurricane that I never knew existed until a few days ago.

Yesterday I had one last free day. After packing and mourning the end of my hilltop/hammock/ocean view, I decided to bust it to Masaya. I've been wanting to go there forEVER. I thought I ran out of time, but you know what. Just do it. So I did it. The reception lady called her friend, Camilo, and my little taxi buddy drove 90 min to Masaya-- a town close to the capital, most famous for its artisan market. Unfortunately, we got there towards the end of the day, so a lot of the shops were closed. But, they were closed because of the... horse parade! Masaya was celebrating one of their Saints Days, so it was a big party in town. I mentioned to Camilo the horses seem really afraid of the music, since they were kind of jumping around and going crazy. And he's all, oh, no... they're dancing. They're trained to dance to the music. OH. RIGHT. AWESOME. So, once I realized they were dancing, I was cracking up. I'm so glad I went. It was a long drive, but that's usually half the fun anyways. You know, with the banana trucks and all.

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Loved every bag, purse, scarf, everything in those fabrics.

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Yep, dancing horses

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Mercado

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Post Presents... Post

The S22 Film Festival was last night. I got really lucky with this season, in like, a million ways... but with the Art Show, Schmergen Ball and Film Festival, I pretty much hit the jackpot. People submit 4 minute films, and DAMN people are so creative here. It was a really fun event, and our little Post group submitted a cool timelapse video of us working. Basically, a day in the life of... logging and cloning tapes. Brad managed to make it totally riveting.

We had a guest of honor there who had just turned 100 years old! Don Felix. Turns out his wife is 50. We were all doing a little math there.

The winner of the film fest got $1000, and it went to a Neil Diamond mockumentary. Johnny Diamante, for the win! Last night was also somewhat of our farewell/wrap party, since most people are leaving tomorrow. Not ME!

Here are some pics from the film fest -- Which all took place in the catering area. This is where I ate my breakfast and lunches.

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Don Felix is in the Top Hat. Why wouldn't he be?

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Probst and the Emmy made another appearance too!

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Totally Splurged

I totally splurged on a $2 Corona the other day. Then it came with a free Coronita. So, it ended up being less of a splurge, and more like a booya. Beers are just always $1 here. If this is wrong, I don't want to be right.

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That's A Wrap

Survivor 22 wraps today. This is me every 5 minutes...

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Tomorrow and Saturday I'm helping wrap and pack up the office. Then Sunday I'm leaving for a place called Isle de Ometepe. It's an island with 2 volcanoes. I'm really excited to go... but so many mixed feelings about this ending. You know how I am when things come to end. Ya, ya, new beginnings. But, still.

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¡Meneitos!

In addition to fake Doritos, I also found fake Cheeto Puffs-- helllz ya! Meneitos, you guys. Meneitos.

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So detoxing when I get back.

Ready, Set, Schmergen!

Schmergenball is the most ridiculous game ever invented, and of course I loved it.

The rules are: throw the ball in the trashcan. (While the other team throws it into your trashcan)

We played with giant rugby balls and footballs, and a ... soccer ball. Our team was all of Post-- we were the first to play and first to lose, hollerrrrr!!! The rest of the day was spent heckling the other teams, Toña-ing and a little swimming too. I even got a t-shirt and promptly lost it 2 minutes later. NICE WORK, P.

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Broke a nail before we even started. GD

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Unit built bleachers. Of course they did.

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Team Post and Ryan - first losers, but still awesome

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This place is basically one big summer camp, and I don't want my parents to pick me up and take me home. (Not literally, parents, just metaphors, you know?)

Art Show!

Another day, another GD fiesta. This time, hosted by the Art Department, in their giant art warehouse. I was really looking forward to this night, since I've heard so many amazing things about people's entries for the show. It's just basically people, in their spare time, creating masterpieces. Whereas, I, in my spare time, do... not. There was everything from a loop of a video of a dog air-humping a bum :( , to beautiful paintings and sculptures. Some exhibits were interactive, some were really simple and lovely. I loved anything created out of the Nica nature, and dangit, the dog video was funny. You know what else was really awesome?

THE BIG FANS!

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Kymmy and Uncle Pablo

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Loved the giant chair with the giant marionette puppets to the left.

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Cool video camera made of wood

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CHEESE

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The people here are so talented, it was really reaaaallly amazing to see it all come together. GTs!

Emoticon

Things are starting to wrap up this week. It's feeling pretty strange, and I don't like it! I'm getting really sad it's over soon. Like, sadder than Sad Don Draper.


It's also been pretty busy with work (how dare they), so I have been lagging on the blog posts. I'm getting to them I promise!

Zipline and Soulja Boy

So, I went ziplining. It was really fun! And incredibly awkward and uncomfortable. I randomly got asked to go ziplining with someone visiting. It was in the morning, I was at work, and ya! Ziplining! Why not! Another thing checked off my list. I wasn't in the best ziplining outfit and I had to run and get some tennis shoes. Why I couldn't change into something more comfortable while I was getting my shoes, I'll never know. Anyways. I'm wearing my big baggy shirt, ugly shorts, and then I'm wearing tennis shoes. This is my nightmare. Add on to that a stifling heat, sans breeze, and I'm sweating like a beast. Add on to that a perma-wedgie once they get my harness on. Add on to that a giant bruise on my inner thigh from getting tangled up with the surfboard leash, and it looks like I have a lot of cellulite when I walk now. More than usual. Anyways. No biggie because ziplining is awesome.

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Once we got going, it was really fun! Some really long ziplines made me a little scared, but all good. We even saw some monkeys in the trees. Score!

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THEN. My friend was all, oh, you can do a zipline superman style! They attach you to the line by your back, and you can fly in the air, a la Superman. I was a little iffy on the idea, so I let her go first. When she was coming down the line, it looked really fun! Then I realized that she was backwards straddling the zipline guy who was behind her. And I'm alllllll, awww heelllll no. I'm not doing that. SHIRLEY there is a better way to do this, yes? I got talked into doing it :(. I was never in a more uncomfortable situation. Not only was I wrapping my legs around some stranger, backwards, IN THE AIR, ON A ZIPLINE, but I was also being completely strangled by this belt thingie and I couldn't breathe. Then everytime I looked up to see the view, it hurt my neck. THEN, since my shirt is all baggy on top, I'm SURE my boobs were flying out as I was flying through the gd trees. It was just so wrong in so many ways. Even worse, I now have Superman by Soulja Boy stuck in my head.

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SO, to recap. Ziplining was equal parts fun and awkward. GTs?

Back to Back

Tuesday night was the big night out in San Juan for the Independence Day celebration. Comando Tiburon were the band playing and it was fuuuuuun! Just one big massive dance party. They're a group from Panama, so the flags were out in full effect.

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It was a slow day after for everyone, including yours truly. Wednesday the 15th, Survivor: Nicaragua premiered, and there was a little viewing party. I'm alllll, yaaa just one beer. Besides, I needed to get dinner. I'll watch the show and go home. Rrrriiiiight.
The party was fun. There were some superfans actually trying to listen to the show in a loud bar, shushing everyone. It's a whole different experience watching the show now, it's pretty neat! After the show, we were like, eeehhhh. Let's just grab some food at Iguana. You know how that goes.

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THEN there was some birthday party happening, and at this point, I waved the white flag at my non bender effort. No go. Hit up the birthday party too. There were piñatas! With strap ons! And a pool! With people getting pushed in!

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GD

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After a serious dance off to Lady Marmelade, Netty got pushed in the pool. Then all hell broke loose. I lost my gold earring but that's better than needing two stitches like that one dude. GTssss.

PS. Never even had dinner
PPS. I'm staying in tonight for sure.

Shit On My Desk

Why is this shit on my desk? No one has a good answer. In addition to a few pens and paper clips, I also have a purple unicorn on a stick and a humping chihuahua. People say the girl I replaced was weird. I believe it.

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From Just In The Nica Time

Yankee Doodle Nica

Tomorrow, September 15th, is Independence Day for Nicaragua. Everyone has had the last few days off, and have invaded our little SJDS town. It's pretty fun!

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Tonight I may be checking out some musica en vivo-- Comando Tiburon. Reggaeton from Panama. Can't go wrong, really.

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Then, for the whole time we've been here, we've been hearing marching band music in the late afternoon. They've been practicing for the big parade, and it was finally here! It was really cute. All the school kids, of all ages, paraded through town, with the marching band, and some dancers in killer boots.

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These boys were lovin it... well, some of them.

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Baller

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I would die in these boots in this heat. Diiieeee.

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THIS KID. He's the best. He was keeping all his ladies in line behind him. With his whistle. Love this kid. Love him. So much.

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