I had a GRE-at (get it?!) time this weekend! When my dad came to visit back in July we met some diplomats from the US Embassy and one of the younger women told me whenever I need a place to stay in Managua to let her know. I know sometimes people make these offers just to make them but, I'm in Peace Corps and can't afford Managua hotels SO I took her up on her offer (and she seemed really genuine). Not only did she give a resounding yes to my staying, but she also approved two of my friends who were also taking the test. THEN she offered to drop us off AND pick us up from it! To top THAT off, on Friday there was a bbq at the US Embassy. She put it on the table and I was like, "Um, HELL YES."
However, disaster struck when she heard she might have to go to Italy for the weekend. I was nervous but she reassured me that we could still stay at her house AND she would leave us her car keys. My jaw dropped when I read that email. We only met for one weekend and she's never met my friends. I thanked her a billion times and told her not to bother with the keys because volunteers aren't allowed to drive here.
Anyways, she ended up not going to Italy. Whew! My two friends and I met her at the embassy around 3:30PM on Friday. She drove us in and, apparently (who knew!?) the US embassy in Nicaragua is the second biggest (acre wise) in the WORLD. It's seriously sparling. I'd been there once before and had only seen the office buildings out front. I had no idea there was more. So we go up a hill with beautiful manicured lawns on both sides and trees and no litter and no street dogs. I swear there was different air up there. We turn the corner and there's a moon bounce and a pool. Obviously the moon bounce was just there for the party. The food looked delicious. Some Marines were working the bar...nothing like a little GRE prep time. Hah.
As one of my friends and I were taking off our shoes to get in the moon bounce, who walks up but one of our bosses. Karen was just as shocked to see us as we were to see her. We convinced her to get in the moon bounce with us. What a surreal moment. Not really what I imagined I'd be doing the day before the dumb test :)
We headed back to the diplomat's house. It is gorgeous and pristine and I love it. When I was little I wanted to be an ambassador. That dream (or maybe just a diplomat) was semi-reawakened this weekend...I don't really think I'd end up doing it but, it was fun to think about. We settled into our guest rooms and watched a movie (The Time Traveler's Wife...the book, of course, is much better) and went to bed, in the most comfortable bed of all time.
The next morning, after hot showers and a breakfast of left-over Pizza Hut pizza, we made some peanut butter sandwiches and headed to the test. There's really no need to write about that. It was the typical standardized test: boring, a little overwhelming, and really just a lot of sitting around waiting for it to be over...except on the math sections when I was always pressed for time. The diplomat picked us up afterwards and took us out to lunch at this delicious organic food restaurant: one plate of ravioli stuffed with spinach with a basil pesto coming right up. She then dropped us all off at different locations all over town so we could head home.
It was awesome. She is awesome. I'm SOOOOOOOOO lucky to have met her.
Then on the bus ride I didn't have a seat which sucked because it's like three hours, but you know...I've waited in longer lines at Kings Island and the rest of the weekend totally wasn't that bad so I'm not going to complain (more).
See you guys SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!
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