Hola everyone! (and Salam Ammi!). Me llamo Aliyah, I’m today’s lider del dia.
I woke up this morning after one of my awesome roommates Lucy, woke up so that I could wake the rest of our delegation up. I walked through the hostel knocking on doors and yelling “hello friends, it’s time to get up!” We had an INCREDIBLE breakfast of pancakes, bananas, and watermelon accompanied by delicious juice, and as the resident vegetarian of the group I was so stoked to have the same meal as everyone else. After breakfast we had our mental warm up on Las Hormiguitas, the organization we were visiting and working with today. (We’ll be working with Las Hormiguitas for our CAP as well.) During our mental warm up we had a moment of silence to mentally prepare for the day we had ahead. Then we headed to Las Hormiguitas where they introduced/explained their organization, their mission and what they do. We then drove over to the dump with them following us.
Today was a little heavier than most of the days we will be here. With Las Hormiguitas, we visited the dump next to Matagalpa, where families and individuals living in dire poverty searched for materials that would help them make a living and get by in their day to day life. Twice a week, Las Hormiguitas takes a mobile educational center to the dump to help continue the education of children who can’t attend school due to their families need for them to help and work in the dump. Today, Las Hormiguitas added an extra day to allow us to interact and work with the children. We weren’t allowed to wear any bracelets or watches, and we couldn’t bring cameras to the dump. It was really important for us not to isolate ourselves and to actively internalize and be present with the environment that we were in. I can honestly say that I am so, so proud of our delegation and how they held themselves during a difficult experience. At the dump, I was taken aback by the weight of compassion, understanding, and the level of maturity I felt from the group. These individuals had internalized the stress that Alex, our Program Coordinator, had placed on the fact that today, we were not going to be able to change the lives of the people we met, but if we could use this experience to change our drive and outlook on life, we can work towards a better world for these children and others who struggle day in and day out, not knowing if they will be able to eat their next meal or survive through the next week.
Personally, I struggled to completely understand what these children and families go through. As someone who always has the next meal and comfortable shelter guaranteed, my struggles and drives are so different and disconnected. I wanted to use this experience to push me over to a new level of understanding, compassion and connection to people who I struggled to connect to in the past. Our reflection after the visit to the dump helped me get closer to that level. We discussed how poverty looks different in the States and in country, and how we as individuals can enforce new understanding and how we can use the deep emotional state we were in to involve ourselves in positive change.
As we continue this journey and continue to develop new ideas and perspectives, I ask you at home to grow with us and think about our impact on the world. Let’s think about what we take for granted and what we define as struggle. With your support and growth, we will be able to make a difference in the lives of people like those who we met at the dump today.
Gracias,
Aliyah
Wow, very powerful.
Wow! What an eye opening and humbling experience for all of you.
Thanks for the excellent write up. Sounds like a life changing experience you all had.
Jennifer, Hiii I miss you. Hopefully you’re doing great, learning, and having fun.
You guys sound like you’re having a great time and learning so much! Jose I’m so sorry I missed your call. I’m at the soccer camp. I’ll answer for sure next week and hopefully you can call me before then. I love you, see you soon❤️
Hey Glimpsers,
could you pass on a message for me?
Tell Alex I said “HAPPY (day late) BIRTHDAY!! from M1A”
Thank you! And i hope you guys enjoy the rest of your trip.
Great job guys! Can’t wait to hear all about it @Kassandra! – your fam
we miss you!! LOVE SUPER STAR!!!!
Well written Aliyah!
Sounds like a great day to embrace the diverse levels of appreciation and struggles. To borrow a song title from our daughter’s playlist (Hi Jennifer), the day feels like it could be described in one word…”HUMBLE” by Kendrick Lamar (clean version of course!)
Yes, very powerful. Aliyah, thank-you for sharing this experience, and reminding us to take a few minutes to reflect on what we have, and how fortunate we are.
Lucky you that Lucy is your roommate! I’m one of Lucy’s moms, and I do miss hearing her stomp around the floor early in the morning, waking me up, and getting me outta bed…yes, she’s great for that!
I guess I don’t need to tell you how much we miss you, but I can’t tell you enough, Lucy, how proud we all are of you. Looking forward to reading your blog. Monkey hugs, & Alice kisses, miss you, & love you, Lucy! Lisa
P.S. can’t wait till you’re home, it’s just no fun driving your mom crazy by myself, plus you do it so much better than me!
Very well written post, Aliyah. We are all so proud of you. Cant wait to hear all the details of your trip.
-nani ammi and nana abba (your loving grandparents)
What am amazing post – so much personal growth with understanding how the rest of our world lives. This will be life-changing experience for all of you. Thank you Global Glimpse leaders for your guidance.
Nancy
Lucy’s mom
Seems like a very difficult day! But I’m proud to hear that everyone in the delegation walked away with a new appreciation for life and how great they’re lives at home are and how easy it is to take for grated the simple things in life like water etc.
To my daughter Britany know that we miss you and we are proud of you and we think of you every day with everything we do! We love you!
Brit, I know today you were deeply effected by what you saw and experienced! Remember you are not helpless and the situation can be resolved when you are empowered as a leader to cause change. Your heart is so compassionate, so I leave you with this encouragement. This is why we pray. To request strength for the battle of inequality, the humility to never forget others, and the peace that God will provide while we get our selves together. The things you do today will change there situation for a better tomorrow ! Love you. Mia is hiding under my bed. She learned how to use the kitty litter box (Amen!)
Brit-Brit
TT loves you and I’m excited you have this opportunity. Stay positive and do home prouf
Travel in itself is a hero’s journey but travel with a purpose is the making of a leader. Amazing trip, Lucy. Thank you for the post, Aliyah and Lucy. Felicidades! — Janet
We are all proud of you Aliyah. You have set an good example to all of us, to go out and help needy.
Wow Aliyah, very well written. Does sound like a life changing experience for you all. It’s a reminder for all of us who take things for granted and don’t appreciate everything that we have.
We are all so proud of you Aliyah.
Big hug to you?
Lalamom ( Aunt)
Dear Aliyah, very heartening to read your write up. Very proud of you and your mission…
this is going to be pivotal experience of your life.
Best wishes to your team and the people of Las Hormiguitas.
Very well written post aliyah…yesss betey…Alhamdollillah. ..we are blessed to have been granted a comfortable life…May Allah swt make us compassionate enough to understand n feel the suffering of the less privileged. ..n help us in uplifting and bringing equality in the society ..in any which way we can….proud of u betey…love u heaps…Asma khala.
Way to go, Aliyah! Loved your post, it was very eye opening. You have blossomed into such a fine, intelligent young lady. Have a great trip, take lots of pictures and tell us all the details when you are back.
~your favorite moo la laaa