After almost a year teaching business classes in rural Yalí, Nicaragua, I´ve found an emotional payoff. Each group of public school fourth and fifth year students spent the last couple of months organizing a creative business plan and presentation. The Institute and I organized a town fair for the competition. All students had to present their business to a panel of judges which passed around from booth to booth. There were hours of dancing, food, music and prizes. It was widely considered a success by the town, all of the NGOs, and government organizations were there to encourage the students daring efforts into the competitive world of business. Unfortunately, none of the students or parents were pleased with the competition evaluatinos and I was forced to leave for the night to let everything cool down. I thought it went well.

Our three best groups went on to compete in the regional competitions. A honey consortium, coffee packers, and a group of painters presented their business plan in front of a panel of primarily Peace Corps volunteer judges. The painters won it all! They are the one group chosen to represent the two-department regional competition. I thought my work with the business class was winding down, but it looks like it might just be getting started. They are phenominal artists, especially considering the meager resources, and scarce encouragement.

I´ve also decided to study for my GMATs, which my parents have been so kind as to finance. While hitching a ride down to pick up my books this morning, my driver and I ran across a man who had just fallen from his motorcycle. We carried him and his bike to the side of the road, to let increasing traffic pass. We got him in the back of the truck, and rushed him to the hospital. His wounds weren´t bad, but his leg was absolutely shattered, twisted in a devilish angle. Turned out the post office was closed anyway, and I spent the rest of the morning getting back to Yalí. Adventurous morning, no?