The festivities began with the interns adjusting to their new surroundings with the help of "Cards Against Humanity," a fierce cookoff of Nicaraguan traditional cuisine, and Mike and Heidi’s infamous “quiz” (a.k.a scavenger hunt). Interns Kyle and Zach stealthily attempted to elicit answers from reluctant PDs while others delved into Nicaraguan geography and history to complete the quiz (for future reference—the map lies: there are only 19 volcanoes, as opposed to the popular answer of 40).
Meanwhile, the interns checked out each of the 14 programs centered around holistic community development. We each grew increasingly interested about the jewelry cooperative, the clinic, and Child Sponsorship—we couldn’t help but wonder: would program selections prove to be a major point of contention during the official intern program assignment ceremony on Friday?
In the midst of the weekly programs, the interns found themselves bonding with community members in Cedro Galan and laying the foundations for potential future homestays. Nevertheless, the decision ceremony approached, and curiosity loomed as everyone anxiously anticipated the selection process.
In the end, decisions were made somewhat painlessly, as each intern accepted their new responsibilities with excitement followed by a long-awaited celebration at Pops Ice Cream store (10 out of 10 recommend). Ultimately, Week 1 proved to be a success. The now well-acquainted interns headed off to a relaxing weekend getaway in Granada and Laguna de Apoyo (see Zach’s sunburn for details).