Aye Omari checking in! Today, we started off with a 6am wake up call (well most of us). After that we headed to breakfast–after a head count, of course. We were all relieved to hear that it wasn’t Gallo Pinto but an egg scramble and tortillas. After breakfast, we headed back to the hostel for our academic seminar in which we learned more about poverty by reading an article called “Rural poverty in Nicaragua”. After we read the article, we got into small groups and categorized statements into the 5 P’s place, people, politics, past and peace.
We loaded onto our bus and we headed to the city dump and as we drove there we came upon fields of trash and debris. Once we arrived at the city dump, we were greeted by stray dogs and workers. We took a tour of the dump and a man named Rodolfo was the first to greet us. He had a huge bag filled with glass bottles and when I say it was huge, it was HUGE! That’s not even the craziest part- he was carrying the whole thing on his head. But the sad thing was that he sells the bag and only makes a 20 Córdoba profit which is less an one US dollar. As we continued walking through the dump, the garbage truck arrived and most of the workers rushed to the truck to get first dibs on the items that were in the bags. During that time, we set a place where we served food and drinks to the workers. at first we didn’t have many people lining up due to the fact that the garbage truck arrived when we were setting up. But after about 5-10 minutes we started getting a line of workers and it was amazing to see the various age groups of people, from about 10 to 65, lining up. I had a smile on my face from seeing everyone there so happy to eat. Ena, being the animal lover she is, couldn’t leave the dogs out, so she found a bowl and poured some fresh water for them and oh were they happy to get that. We were supposed to have a member of the church, Alvaro, be our guest speaker tell us his testimony about the dump, but we ended up getting a special treat and having a worker named Patricia and her daughter Anita speak to us about working at the dump and also allowing us to ask them questions. Patricia told us that her primary find at the dump is clothing that she can clean and repair to be sold , and also that she had been working at the dump for 8 years. At the end she came around the circle and gave everyone a hug. As she was approaching me, I couldn’t do anything but stop and look around and just think to myself, “do people really have to live like this?” Once I received my hug, I couldn’t do anything but cry because she gave me a hug that only a mother could and I felt that as she embraced me in her arms.
We loaded onto the bus and out of respect we rode in silence back to the hostel. I know that was greatly needed and we all got the deserved time to absorb what we just saw and learned. Once we made it back to the hostel, we were all told to take showers. We did a self reflection, but changed it up and we did a full group discussion instead of getting into small groups. We discussed our opinions on the dump and how we felt about what Patricia told us and what we can do differently in our own lives so things like the dump aren’t the only option. We headed to el comedor la Favorita for lunch and we had guiso (zucchini and cheese) and beef stew rice and tortillas. I had just about everything, minus the dead cow.
After lunch, we headed back to the hostel for more free time and also prepared for English tutoring and around 3:45pm we walked to the school for tutoring and to our surprise more kids showed up to tutoring, so we all got to teach (big love to them cause they are on vacation). After tutoring, we headed to el comedor la favorita for dinner and we had guacamole and beans with plantain chips. After dinner, we came back to the hostel and had the nightly meeting with a bonus: PIZZA! yes, pizza in Nicaragua! Each room got their own boxes of pizza and chowed down and went to sleep.
Ps: we love reading all your comments at the nightly meetings we love all the love so keep posting and goodnight from myself and all the other glimpsers
Oh yeah and don’t forget school isn’t a word during the summer.
Hi I’m so proud of you guys .
Hi Elizabeth and Fellow Glimpsers. Today’s city dump trip must have been difficult and an eye opener for everyone. It is truly hard to imagine that some people have to live this way and, unfortunately, it exists in many third world countries. I hope this trip brings awareness and gratitude for what you have. I feel that kids in this day and age, especially in America, have a tendency to take things for granted and also become overly materialistic. But, isn’t it amazing to see people with very little seem happy and content?
I am so proud of you all for helping and extending yourselves in the different communities there. I am sure they appreciate all of you and your hard work. I have no doubt that what you get back in return is such an amazing and indescribable feeling of goodness, and perhaps even oneness.
Elizabeth, I can hardly wait to see you next Thursday.. been counting down since you left, lol! I look forward to all of your wonderful stories, pictures and videos (I hope you have plenty to share). I hope you are able to get addresses of friends you meet along the way. Trust me, they will appreciate a postcard or a letter from you from the States!
I hope you are eating well (and taking your vitamins I hope) and getting sufficient sleep. Papa and I are curious if you are using the mosquito net. If you are given a phone call day, please give us a call. We miss hearing your voice… I know, I know.. not too much longer.
Goodnight for now and hope to hear from you soon. I love you ~ Mama
Hey Omari,
looks like your having wonderful experience. Thanks for letting have a glimpse of your trip. Have fun and take lots of picture. See you when you get back to the states!
Man this stuff sounds like such a great learning experience. I’m glad you guys are making memories and having great and maybe even bad experiences to overcome. Such great people. Btw I love you Katrina rose or as everybody has already gotten into the jab bit of calling you cat. Can’t wait to here from you babe. Hope you’re getting good rest and plenty to eat cause we will be working out when you get back (:
Excuse my auto correct but I’m sure you smart people knew what I meant. Habbit* and Kat*
Wow!! I had tears in my eyes and a knot in my throat as i read your blog. This was such a strong one to me and im sure it is to most of us. Makes me appreciate what i have even more.I am glad you guy’s are having the opportunity to see how other people from different countries and cultures live and the struggles they have to go through to put some food on their table.Gaby sister im soo glad to be able to see pictures of you and everyone else.I’m so proud of you for being that strong girl and not letting your fear of being away from us get in the way of such an amazing and beautiful experience you are half way there. I love you gaby cheeks!!! Lol
I couldn’t be prouder of you guys. You’ve had such meaningful experiences that I hope to go on future Global Glimpse trips. I hope that you keep the photos coming as I really like looking at those and seeing some of the places! Keep up the good work and a shout out to my Bird-mom for being awesome!
Boba/Victor! As I promised to comment on the blogs everyday from now on, here you go! Sounds like you’re having fun and I’m happy for you! I’m having a great time over here, no need to worry about me. My internship is actually going pretty well now. We get to visit houses and the houses are huge. Huge as in mansion, swimming pool, own basketball court, and really nice views. Oh, and I made lots of new friends too that are interns here at EBMUD. I met your middle school friend Elijah, the Filipino one haha. But anyways, I hope you’re making the best out of your trip because being in a different is a really great experience, trust me. I learned myself when I went to Malaysia and Singapore. Hope to get a call from you soon because I miss your voice, I usually just listen to the voicemail you left me. I miss you lots and lots and lots! Goodnight and sweetdreams 🙂
Hey Omari!! We at Cedar Creek say hi! Hope you are having a great time and learning a lot. Show us lots of pictures when you come back!
Hey nephew I’m so proud of you! Hope you are having a great time out there.. we all miss you everybody said hello and we love and miss you!!!
You rock Omari!I am so happy that you get to see how big–and how small the world is–and how wonderful it can all be. Enjoy your visit! Can’t wait to hear more about it!
Good evening all I was so touched by the blog you posted Omari. I am extremely proud that you all have decided to open your hearts to others. Thanks for making a quantifiable difference on the Planet. Love Omari’s Mom
Hello again!
Heartfelt day, trip!if there is a will there is a way, and these families show that, no matter how hard it may be, they make it work . Each of you have such An incredible Unique way about each and everyone of you.With this adventure, I ask each and everyone of you, how has this changed you! Has this inspired you to do more! Has it been hard not having your phones, computers etc. do you notice how much more is actually around you without these devices. I mean I sit hear on my phone writing this. Communication is key, but in our fast paced living here we take all this and lose true values as you all see there in niceragua.
Kat, we r so proud of you, miss you so much, but I am so grateful you get this opportunity.
Looking forward to the next blog! Wishing you all a great night and an incredible next day!
Kat, we love u millions!
Have you found any of your notes mom put in and around your luggage.there’s 5 lol
Counting down the days to see that beautiful smile, we miss you love you, it’s not the same around here without you! Allie said he has no one to watch his shows with lol!
This is an incredible learning experience that will last you a lifetime. Tour are making your Mom prouder than words can properly express. I am excited to see you become the greatness within you.
Hi Omari,
That was a beautiful blog ,and I am glad you are seeing there lives and knowing that no one should live like that. I am so proud of you and all of your humanity and compassion and I know you will fill everyone you touch with your positive energy. This whole experience is such a blessing for you to be part of and it lets me know how amazing you are. We love you and mosaic say hi! We miss you and love you and look forward to reading more about your experience there and we will see you when you get home. Stay strong, Stay positive and stay loving. Peace&Blessings from uncle luke&Mosiah.
That brought tears to my eyes. It is amazing how humble people are, even if they have so little. You guys are doing amazing things! We are so proud of you.
I would love to hear more about your English tutoring!
I hope tomorrow is full of smiles and love.
Ola Omari – what an amazing experience and your writing clearly demonstrates that you are absorbing your environment while engaging and learning. I am so happy for you and I know that you are making lives fuller, including yours. You are a special young man, I have lots of love for you, take care and keep writing, you’re really good at it!
Hugs, Gabriela
Hey Omari!
I very impressed and proud of the good deeds you all are doing. Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Omari, not just for doing the global work, but also for your vivid and personal description of your interactions with the people you met at the dump. Your writing ability has brought home your experience to the rest of us.
Muchas Gracias,
Kerry from Cedar Creek