Road work, El Limon

Road work, El Limon, Esteli.

Working on the road, El Limon

Our last full day in Nicaragua!

Mixed feelings arise as we begin to pack dirt stained clothes into our bags for Miami … some people are as anxious as can be to get home to their warm, comfortable beds, hot showers, air conditioning, and familiar foods. However, I think that the majority of us (as much as we miss our friends and family) are saddened that this trip has already come to a closing.
We arrived in Managua after a long, cramped bus ride from Esteli, around 4:30. Trevor negotiated with the taxicab drivers and we finally got back to the Quaker House; home sweet home! Our grumbling stomachs demanded nourishment, so pizza was the easiest solution. When dinner was finished and people had showered, nine of us packed into Lillian’s car and we headed off to the sweat lodge for Nicole’s birthday celebration. While we were away, those who stayed behind decorated the patio and created a gorgeous birthday crown for the birthday girl. We got home and enjoyed some cake before showers, packing, and bed.
In regards to what we’ve been up to the last few days: We spent Friday in Esteli at a hostel. We got to contribute to the Funarte mural project, which was actually pretty awesome. We split up into groups and worked with different children from around the city on different art projects. Later, we chilled out in the hostel and watched “Carla’s Song” a movie that was filmed in Esteli about the war in Nicaragua . Saturday, we woke up early and rode out in the back of a red pickup truck to El Limon. We had a short meeting and then were introduced to our host families. The people were so incredibly nice, not to mention proud of their small but humble homes. Dinner was served just about as soon as it got dark. I can’t speak for others, but I ate in the candlelight, and actually quite enjoyed my meal! The coffee here is really, really delicious! Sunday, we woke up to a deafening symphony of roosters, chickens, cows, pigs, and dogs, that lasted at least an hour and a half … an alarm clock that we’re not really accustomed to. We spent half of the day working on the muddy roads of El Limon, and were allowed to explore the town for the remainder of the day. Sunday night was extremely chilly, and as some of us weren’t given blankets, we realized how difficult the people of this town really have it. Today we rose with the roosters, yet again, and worked until lunch time. Lunch was served and then we had to pack to leave for Managua. We said our farewells to our host families, and then headed out.
Tomorrow, we will leave for the airport at ten in the morning. Our flight is scheduled to leave Managua at twelve forty five in the afternoon. And hopefully, if all goes well, we should arrive in the states at 5:30, and clear customs by 6:15 or 6:30.

This country is beautiful, as well as the people who inhabit it, I will never forget this experience, ever (:

Seeya when we get home!

Peace,
Genevieve Rowe

22 June, El Limon

Right before leaving today, we planted a small lemon tree next to the preschool at the community center in El Limon, a token of gratitude from our delegation to the families who so generously gave us their beds and cooked for us during our two day stay. To say it was a privilege to have shared two days in the life of the people of El Limon sounds trite. But it is a very appropriate word to use. Their sense of community, of openness, and genuine hospitality and warmth is something rarely experienced in our culture in our time.

I was very proud of our youth as I watched them working hard on road repairs these past two days. They really put their backs into it and all participated. We had lots of rain in the Esteli area and the road and paths to the homes we stayed in were very muddy. Parents will hear the mud stories, I’m sure.

The piles of rock and dirt for the much needed road repair were bought with money earned by the teens and raised by our SEYM meetings. The road is the village’s lifeline to Esteli. The children use the road to get to school. The milk is delivered evey morning by horse on the road. Filling the washed out places, digging trenches for water runoff, and stacking big rocks to divert the rainy season waters was the most important task the village needed to have done and the work of our youth made quite a difference in the length of the job.

Tomorrow we return home, ready for hot showers, air conditioning, and our own beds. But we all will be returning changed by the experience of Nicaragua and full of memories of this beautiful, poor country.

Kathy Hersh, very tired chaperone

We're back from Ometepe

We have returned from three days on the island of Ometepe where we enjoyed the gorgeous views of the two volcanos, hiked through the Charco Verde reserve (and saw howler monkeys), and swam a lot in "the sweet sea", as Lake Nicaragua is also known as.
We returned late last night and are off and running this morning to Estelí for the final stretch of the trip.

Lazy days in Ometepe

We've just spent three blissful days in possibly the most beautiful place on earth. Flowers of unbelieveable hues bursted from every corner, their lingering fragrance spicing up the air. We got out of the van and were greeted by the incredible sight of a vast, rolling lake hitting the black sandy shores, a massive volcano adding to the picturesque view. Immediately, clothes were discarded and bathing suit clad teens were rushing into the welcoming surf. We lazed in hammocks as the sun set behind the distant mountains that framed Lake Nicaragua. Our initial plans of visiting a waterfall and another beach were impeded by one of the largest landslides in the island's recent history. We laughed, we danced and had a good time celebrating Elizabeth's 17th birthday Nicaragua style. Tomorrow we will be venturing into Esteli. These next few days will be harsh and trying but I believe we will be able to endure it because of our desire to improve the lives of others.

Peace and love,
Nicole