From start to finish day 2 in Esteli has been as colorful and exciting as Nicaragua’s history. We started the day at 7:00 AM with a melodic Buenos Dias from Ena our site coordinator. The group dressed and made their way over to El buffet de Esteli where we had the traditional Gallo Pinto for the first time! After breakfast we headed back to the hostel for our academic seminar on the history and politics of Nicaragua. Nicaragua has a long history that spans the separation from the Spanish crown in 1821, to the rise and fall of the dictator Somoza orchestrated by the Sandinistas, and ending with the current tensions around the proposed canal financed by a Chinese billionaire. The group then toured the city and learned about the history and politics of Nicaragua through a local museum and art collaborative. At the art collaborative the group received art lessons, a primer on Nicaraguan politics from a local muralist, and had the opportunity to create their own pieces. After the art we had dinner and wrapped up the day with big love and shout outs to the entire group and especially our leader of the day Ena. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!