The night before I became the leader of the day I was contemplating about what I had to do to put forth my greatest attempt at being leader. I had taken mental notes all week about what the previous leaders had done and before going to sleep I was thinking about all of the positive feedback that all of the last few leaders had recieved. The first thing that came to mind is that I can be prepared to answer any and all questions about the following day. I quickly looked over the schedule and memorized all of the times on it. I knew I was doing well when somebody asked “How long will the bus ride take?” and I said “25 minutes”.
My first mission as leader of the day was to wake everybody up at 6:30 but I didn’t really have to, because there were fireworks going off from 4:00 to 5:00 in the morning. After the real wakeup call, we ate breakfast and got our bodies and minds woken up with some energizers. Then we had our Global Business Seminar, where we learned about fair trade. We also spoke about the impact that a consumer choice can make. For example, by not supporting superpower corporations that commit actions that you do not approve, of they lose out on money. Now just imagine that on a large scale, to avoid losing a profit it would be a smart business idea for the large corporations to change their actions to satisfy the consumers’ concerns.
At 9:00 we headed over to a coffee factory called Beneficio Don Estaban. Unfortunately, we could not see the process that coffee went through from the ground to the cup because the coffee plants weren’t really in season. The factory was just shipping out their last bags of coffee overseas. We watched a powerpoint about the coffee process and how it was shipped worldwide. We learned that different coffee producers followed different regulations on how to treat their farmers so they will not be taken advantage of. We also tried cupping coffee which is how it is taste tested and run through a checklist before it can be sent out of the factory. While cupping, we tried to make the slurping sound that the employees made while tasting, but we weren’t able to replicate it.
After the 25 minute bus ride back to the hostel, we ate lunch and went on another trip. This time we went to Barista, the first coffee shop in Matagalpa. We got smoothies, cakes, brownies, pancakes, and of course, coffee. While we were at the coffee shop, we ran into professional basketball players from the US that played for Matagalpa’s team, Toros del Norte. They were telling us about how it is sometimes very difficult to overcome the language barrier when they are out around the city. After the players left we got a chance to learn how to make a cappuccino. A barista, which is the equivalent of a bartender for coffee, was telling us about her life as a barista before giving some Glimpsers a crash course in cappuccino 101.
Being in the position I was in for the day really make me see this trip in the adult light. When everybody was ordering extra food at Barista I quickly went around collecting money to pay the bill at the end. Going around making sure everybody is present and nobody is being left behind is a lot harder than it looks. Having the pressure on me to make sure that we have a productive day was definitely positive stress that I would take on again.
Hello Jazmine. A hugeeeee hug from NY 🙂 I hope all you are doing good in health. By the looks of the pics i can tell you guys are fine.
Great job on leadership guys. We need good role models.
Jazmine that smoothie looks YUMMY!!! 😉 and the group pic looks AWESOME but who are you guys saluting lol lol
Coffee sounds GREAT right about now. Im up studying Jazmine.
I hope you are really enjoying yourself. Eat lots of goodies 🙂
Im sending you a huge hug and kiss my lil princess.
Take a look at the moon, its the same moon Jesus looked at more then 2,000 years.
I’m doing great. I Love you
Carmen(Jazmine grandma)
Good morning Sunshine: what better than a cup of coffee in the morning ?
Is seeing your beautiful smile. As for the coffee , there’s nothing better than your first cup of
coffee with a slurp aaaah!!!!!! Delisioso !!! Café .
Thumps up for your leader. Great job! .
P.S. From chocolate to coffee interesting what next?
Jaz te quiero mucho, mucho, mucho.
Don’t forget the shing star.✨
Cheston you did a great job as the group leader, your post was on point!!!
I have a question. Why were there fireworks at 4 am?
First chocolate now coffee ( 2 of my favorite things)
Speaking of coffee I’m making myself a cup right now.
Love the pictures!
Hope you enjoyed the crepe Jaz
You guys looked great!
Miss you!
PS Bianca leaves for DR tomorrow, she’s so nervous about flying.
Hope to talk to you soon I love you
good morning everyone….I do not drink coffee but do like the aroma! I must compliment each of you on the very descriptive and beautifully written daily blogs. I feel as if I am right there with you. You all must be so proud of yourselves. Smiles are big and happy faces in all the pics. Someone take a pic of Michelle…her Mom needs one! Have another great day! Xo
It sounded like a good learning experience to see how the change in the seasons could mean a change in profit. It would be great to come up with ways to maximize the In-season process so that when it is the off-season the coffee farmers can still produce a profit, if that is possible. Once again it is great to see all the smiling faces I am hoping those smiles are those of hopes and possibilities for finding better ways and resources to share with the Nicaraguans to better thier future by sharing your ideas and thoughts. I am truly proud of you Glimpsers. Sophia you are always in my mind and I am constantly thinking of your beautiful face I am so happy I get to see it here on this blog keep smiling & keep shinning my sweet girl XOXOX
Sophia’s Aunt
Hi Sophia: Thinking about you and hoping this experience is all you hoped it would be. Your Mom and Nana are so very proud of you (as are the rest of us). Tracy and I hope you had a great birthday. We’d like to see you when you get home to celebrate that and hear all of the things you did on this trip. We love you
Tracy and Aunt Pat
Hey Glimpsers! I look forward to your blogs. This is the last thing I search for before bed and the first thing I look for when I wake up. Global Business day sounded just perfect and I’m glad you got the added bonus-Ballplayers who hail from the USA!!! What a nice taste from home for all of you and especially the ballplayers. Jay I hope you asked them lots of questions. If I know you well, I’m pretty sure that’s them in the pic with you and your peers. It seems like the rain has let up in recent pictures too. Thank goodness, although I know it won’t stop you. Well, until the next blog. Love you and miss you baby boy!!!
Woah it seems like being a leader is a lot of work and pressure, I see that everyone would come back way more mature. And yuuuuum coffee! I wonder how this day went for you Noe!? I hope you put ALL your opinions aside on coffee and at least tried it! It’s so interesting seeing you out of your comfort zone almost everyday. I am so happy to see you smiling in every picture, love you and miss you! Starting tomorrow it’ll be a week till I can hug you! Can’t wait for that day, but until then keep on exploring 🙂
Hello to all. What a wonderful and descriptive blog! I felt like I was right there with you all having a delicious cup of coffee. Alma, I bet you loved it. I am so impressed at how seriously you all take the role of leadership and I have to say another job really well done. Learning about fair trade and consumer choice is very important and to see how this impacts every country is an incredible lesson. Alma. I know what an advocate you are of Fair Trade. Alma, mi princessa, I love you and miss you each and every day. I am sharing everything about your trip with Abuela and Abuelo. Pictures too. They send you their love and blessings. Many XOXOXOXOX to all. Keep up the good work. Very proud.
Hi Jaz, I miss you so much! I wish you where here. But I know that you are having a good time over there. I love you so much Jazmine xoxo(:
Oh yeah! Tomorrow My dad is going to pick me up. Mommy told you that I’m scared of flying… that’s true
See you soon!!!
Hope everyone is doing well!! Mmm coffee another one of my favorites I’m sure it taste and smelled wonderful…Kaylene I love you and miss you!! Joe is sending his love and hopes the deep woods deet is working lol
Cheston, it’s terrific to see how seriously you’ve taken being a leader. The coffee business lesson seems interesting. Makes me think about what it takes to get my iced coffee everyday … and that I should appreciate all the people who have taken great care to make it happen. Ally — get into the pictures!!!!! I think we see your pink shirt, but I’m not sure. We need to see that beautiful face. I think tomorrow is a day-off, so a chance to talk? Hope so. We love you.
Mom and Dad
Hiii Rayyy~ I miss you so much! I hope that you and your friends are having the best time in the world. I’m in a call with you right now listening to you yell at me for not posting on this blog thingy :DD Well I did, and I’ll keep my promise I just made and post everyday. Til the next time we talk! Love you!!
Hey Alex how are you i hope that ur having a good time remember that we love you so much hope you have a time to call us because i think that u forgot about daddy’s birthday
I miss you so much! I am so happy that you are out and exploring Nicaragua (and helping the community). It’s honestly amazing what you and others are doing for the community. I’m sorry we didn’t really get to talk on the phone much today, but I hope to hear from you soon! Love you!
I could not imagine myself at the tender age of 17 having to experience so much in one day, and on top of that having to write a well descriptive reflection so everyone visiting the blog can read. It’s beautiful to have experience this process with each and every one of you all. Raymond, I was expecting a phone call from you today, but I guess the day was jammed packed and exciting. I’m in Pennsylvania this weekend visiting Mya and Alyssa,everyone says hello and are so happy for you and your trip. Sending you mucho amor y besos. <3 Mami
Hey Kayla i hope your enjoying your experience there we all miss you. Chloe is going crazy looking for you to come through the door every time the door opens. I see your working hard keep up the good work. We miss you alot. Oh Shauna said Heyyy!! Muahhh love you