This is an excerpt from a post that one of our PDs, Kiely, wrote about her experience as a Nicaragua PD thus far. If you're interested in applying for the 2013-2014 PD team,
click here!
"I have been a Program Director for four
months now. It took me one month to learn how to make the 'tostonés,' or fried
plantains, on my own at home so I could basically eat fried deliciousness
whenever I wanted. It took me two months to feel as though I had solid
friendships in the communities where we work. It took me three months to feel
as though I could understand a full conversation in Spanish (which was at a
zero percent comprehension-level when I arrived) and four months to feel as
though I am now fully at home in my beautiful surroundings. To be a Program
Director for Manna means allowing yourself to be swept up in an energetic,
excitingly new pace of life. While I joke about the arbitrary benchmarks of my
experience, after living in Nicaragua for four months I can say with certainty
that I am getting exactly what I wanted out of my choice to become a Program
Director. I have learned to actively create or expand new programs, teach
classes alongside other PD’s and how to make the necessary decisions about what
our community programs may need to become more sustainable in the future. My personal
development with Manna thus far was brought home for me today in Chureca with
the U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua as we chatted about our experiences as long-term
Manna P.D.’s: 'Thank you,' she said to us all after our discussion, 'for being
such great ambassadors, yourselves'."
