First Day at Corn Island

Writing this at 8:30PM and can hardly keep my eyes open. Very long day! We woke around 4, and left for the Managua airport around 5. To go from Managua to Corn Island means flying acrossnthe country. We had 9 bags for 5 people - 2 for equipment, 1 teaching bag, a box of parts we picked up in Managua plus a personal bag for each of us. 

Went to wait for our flight. Rachel and I had a banana each, one coffee, and one OJ for less than $4. Of course Gail is making friends while the introverts (Rachel, Jim and me) are sitting quietly eating and drinking and not talking. Her friends were young ladies from Sweden who were heading to Corn Island to vacation.

Arrived on Corn Island around 8:30. Willoughby, our helper, was there to greet us. He had gotten 2 taxis arranged to take us to the church. Tom, Willoughby, and I went to get into a taxi when another guy jumped into the front seat. That seemed weird. Three of us stuffed in the back seat of the taxi.

We headed off to the church. When we were almost at the church, I asked the taxi driver where the other taxi was. He assumed that they went to the pier to Little Corn Island to drop someone off. Willoughby called Picnic Center (our hotel) to see if they were there. No. Our taxi driver took off to find them. They ended up at Picnic Center. They unloaded all the bags they had which included all equipment. So Tom and I went with a taxi back to hotel to get those bags. Guys started on system only to realize that Jim's toolbag with pipe cutter was back at hotel. So, we decided to all go back to hotel to regroup and take some time off.

Also, learned upon our arrival that the school has not gone back into session since Christmas. No one told me that. No children to teach each day. 

After lunch the pastor got a couple of groups of adults to come visit with us. First group was people from the church. Thensecond group included a Baptist minister, a Catholic priest, the vice mayor who is a member of the church, and a man who works in the mayor's office. That was a very good session.

Jim, Tom, and Willoughby got a lot of work done. Part of what they did was put together the churn. They are now officially the "Churn-meisters." I must say, "It is a mighty fine looking churn."

We were all totally exhausted by 4 or 4:30 when we were preparing to go back to hotel. The principal of the school asked me if we would like lobster and fried plaintains for dinner. No choice but to say yes. Someone ran and bought fresh lobster. Wow! Maybe the best lobster ever. and the plaintains were wonderful as well. Decided to walk back to the hotel which is probably a mile away.

Sorry I don't have any pictures today. Couldn't figure out how to transfer from my camera to iPad.