Community Action Project day 1 is a success!
Note: Our Community Action Project is refurnishing an abandoned ramshackle structure so the community would be able to use it as a school. We raised approximately $450 and received many generous donations from local stores.
Like every other day, we woke up early in the morning and had Gallo Pinto for breakfast. Right after breakfast, we got onto a school bus and traveled to el Robedal. Although we arrived at our destination a tad bit late, we had a successful day.
When we arrived to el Robedal, we were greeted with eager and curious locals ranging from all ages. We began to work at our designated locations. We were divided into four groups and had specific tasks to complete. For our first working shift, everyone either shoveled sand off a truck onto a tarp, moved bags of cement, or collected local resources like rock and water. It was strenuous work because of the radiating heat from the sun and the rocky terrain.
By the next shift, more locals had joined us in our endeavors. The most dangerous part of the project (fixing the roof) was appointed to professional volunteers within the area. We glimpsers primarily focused on building a wall of rocks around the perimeter of the structure. We were able to leave the community early today because of our efficiency and dedication.
When we returned home, we took a short break then continued to work on our CAP project by searching for more donations. Some store owners were generous enough to donate buckets of paint. After all of our work, we ate cheeseburgers and other American foods at a nearby restaurant. Everyone was happy with dinner and we quickly scurried home to our nightly meeting. The nightly meeting was a success and the leader hat was handed down to Coco after she got into a bridge position and recited the alphabet backwards with her eyes closed in an English accent.
Think you for reading my blog! We will all be back home soon. Goodnight and wish us good luck!!!
-Benjamin Chen, Lowell class of 2016
Benjamin, Your mom and I feel proud of you and your team, keep up the good work and take care, we love you and will see you soon.
Adam Chen.
OMG!! My baby I am so proud of you! This picture says 1000 words! Earlier I thought be nice to see Jessica in action in a pic. I imagined you with a shovel, to my surprise I open tonights blog and see this pic. Of you with a shovel LOL…. this made my night! You look so cute hun! You guys are all just great and I bet you have all learned alot. We are some proud parents and can’t wait to see you all again!
Hey claudia…im currently waiting for caltrain due to andreas(oscar) little brother not wanting to leave so we missed the train and now we are waiting an hour for the next train…great day…i met this guy with camo crocs…one cool dude…anyways this is where claudia talks about me and crocs aha…i might even wear them at the airport aha…well i miss you if you didnt know and i love you claudia…take care and be safe
Hi glimpsers good luck, have fun continuing the project and make the most out of the last days left together in Esteli. Brianna work hard on the project and hopefully you still have sunscreen. Love you and miss you take care.
Jessica , I’m a proud big sister you’re doing wonderful things ! You have a heart of gold I’m so glad you went on this trip ! Learning nothing but great things I love you gorda ! Keep up the good work , lol looks like you’re working hard btw 😉 see you soon !
Hi Love, It looks like hard labor actually fits you well. Now I am afraid that because you are having so much fun, you may want to stay in Nicaragua a while longer. Keep up the good work. See you soon, Dad
OMG! Claudia we are so proud of you, you are working so hard so you deserve a big bag of ******TAKIS****** I will have them ready for you, I told papi that when you come back you can help him work in the yard. we love you and miss you. see you soon Sofia. Papi, Lety and 3 Dogs
Hey cloud sorry mami had to ruin the surprise so I can drive you around again.I thought papi would be mad I got a car but he was actually very happy. He’s already talking about doing uber. You need to hurry home so we can take papi to dinner for fathers day. We all miss you here! Me and papi are getting along amd we been hanging out. The other night we watched a movie about Cesar Chavez he also told me about how he came to the united States. He woke up one morning and was like “voy al norte” got his stuff and went on the train to the north. Now I know where I get it from! Hurruy home cloud we all miss you.
Wow! We are so impressed and proud of the work you are all doing. Good luck and Best wishes for a successful project. Can’t wait to see the progress.
xoxo from all of us hana!
Congratulations on securing so many donations for your CAP project! It sounds like you got off to a great start and put in a lot of hard work on Day 1. Very proud!
@Emma – love and miss you <3 <3 <3 can't wait to see you!
“People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck