On Saturday July 25 everyone made their way back to Casa Verde in Jinotepe, where we loaded up and headed for our final retreat at beautiful Laguna de Apoyo, just up the road from where Kurt and Jonathan S. did their service.

After supper we had our final "quiz" (consisting of questions such as "Who has the best sandal tan?" and "What is the funniest verbal gaffe you've made in Spanish?") and then celebrated three birthdays that happened during service: Michelle, country coordinator Dalena, and fearless co-leader Gwen. Although we didn't have music for the piñata -- it's Nica custom to dance while taking whacks at the piñata -- we did have some lively swingers in the group.

Sunday consisted mainly of final project presentations and relaxation/swimming breaks. Most of the group went on a night hike in the caves of nearby Vólcan Masaya, and by the end of the day we were worn out.

We finished up presentations on Monday afternoon, which left us time for a final wrap-up session that evening. We reflected on about what we will miss about Nicaragua, what we view differently about our lives back in the U.S. as a result of the past 12 weeks, how we will handle "reverse culture shock," and how to respond to the inevitable question, "How was SST?" Interspersed with insights and anxieties were personal anecdotes and moments of humor, such as the "Top 10 things I learned on SST in Nicaragua."

We were off to the airport before dawn on Tuesday morning, and before we knew it the group was boarding the plane. In Nicaragua, adios is often used not just as a farewell but also as an informal greeting when approaching others on the street. As we not only look back but also look ahead to the changes brought on by this experience, we will say adios rather than goodbye. And thank you for coming along with us (virtually) on summer 2009 Nicaragua study-service term!