Today we all woke up at 5 in the morning — horray! What a wonderful experience that was, in all honesty. Going to our usual place to eat, Buffet Esteli, we arrive at 6 AM to eat our simple breakfast of beans and rice. A small bus arrives and we cram into it like sardines, only to be pleasantly surprised with a much larger, white bus that gives everyone their own seat! The hour long bus ride to La Pita, a community in the bowels of Nicaraguan hills, was bumpy, but people still got to sleep. Due to the fact that we are living on a dollar a day (holla for a dolla a day!), we banned electronics, yes, this includes cameras that function only as cameras. The members were split into pairs at random, and given to 10 families. Each experience was completely different; some planted, some chopped down trees, some gathered bananas, some watched movies with children, and some got to drink delicious coffee and prepare spicy stew. This was from 9 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon, and, as a special thank you, we even brought packaged Buffet Esteli to all the families, so that we may all bond in delicious rice and bean harmony. Returning back, everyone reflected on the intensity of the day. The majority of the members agreed that, even though it was clear that the families did not have a lot — windows that were punched into the wall, hammocks made of American flags, and even floors that were simply made of water and dirt –, we did not feel like we were living in poverty. Everyone felt as if the community had been kept together by the purity of family unity. Yes, an uplifting experience. Everyone has been stitched together through the trials and struggles of hoeing trenches, carrying heavy firewood, and using dull knives to cut potatoes — proving that even though today was intending to be challenging, no one ever felt out of place (with all of our American guilt, of course.)
2024 Trips
- T1A-BAY: Turrialba 1 6-5-2024
- JA1A-BAY: Jarabacoa 1 6-6-2024
- TA1A-BAY
(formerly RB1A): Las Tablas 1 6-7-2024 - JD1A-CHI
(formerly RB2A): Juan Dolio 1 6-10-2024 - T2A-BAY: Turrialba 2 6-10-2024
- JA2A-BAY: Jarabacoa 2 6-12-2024
- T3A-CHI: Turrialba 3 6-13-2024
- C1A-LA: Constanza 1 6-17-2024
- CH1A-BAY: Chitre 1 6-17-2024
- SP1A-BAY (formerly RB3A): San Pedro 1 6-18-2024
- TA2A-CHI
(formerly CH2A): Las Tablas 2 6-18-2024 - C2A-BAY: Constanza 2 6-20-2024
- T1B-WM: Turrialba 1 6-24-2024
- JA1B-CHI: Jarabacoa 1 6-24-2024
- TA1B-BAY
(formerly RB1B): Las Tablas 1 6-24-2024 - JD1B-NYC
(formerly RB2B): Juan Dolio 1 6-28-2024 - T2B-BAY: Turrialba 2 6-28-2024
- T3B-LA: Turrialba 3 7-1-2024
- JA2B-BAY: Jarabacoa 2 7-1-2024
- C1B-NYC: Constanza 1 7-5-2024
- CH1B-BAY: Chitre 1 7-5-2024
- H1B-NYC (formerly RB3B): Heredia 1 7-8-2024
- TA2B-LA (formerly CH2B): Las Tablas 2 7-8-2024
- C2B-WM: Constanza 2 7-9-2024
- T1C-NYC: Turrialba 1 7-12-2024
- JA1C-BAY: Jarabacoa 1 7-12-2024
- TA1C-CHI (formerly RB1C): Las Tablas 1 7-12-2024
- JD1C-LA (formerly RB2C): Juan Dolio 1 7-16-2024
- T2C-CHI: Turrialba 2 7-17-2024
- T3C-BAY: Turrialba 3 7-19-2024
- JA2C-NYC: Jarabacoa 2 7-19-2024
- C1C-NYC: Constanza 1 7-23-2024
- CH1C-WM: Chitre 1 7-23-2024
- SP1C-BAY (formerly RB3C): San Pedro 1 7-26-2024
- TA2C-NYC (formerly CH2C): Las Tablas 2 7-26-2024
- C2C-CHI: Constanza 2 7-26-2024
- T1D-BAY: Turrialba 1 7-30-2024
- JA1D-CHI: Jarabacoa 1 7-31-2024
- TA1D-NYC
(formerly RB1D): Las Tablas 1 8-1-2024 - JD1D-WM
(formerly RB2D): Juan Dolio 1 8-2-2024 - T2D-NYC (GK): Turrialba 2 8-6-2024
- JA2D-WM: Jarabacoa 2 8-7-2024
- T3D-NYC: Turrialba 3 8-8-2024
Previous Trips
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772 posts - 2017 Trips
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625 posts - 2013 Trips
578 posts
I am visiting Nicaragua for the first time this february and would like to see Miraflor and do some volunteer work. I have a week to offer. In Seattle I am an ESL teacher. Thank you for your thoughts, Caroline