Today, Nayla (myself) was the first student leader of the day. We started off the day with breakfast, delicious watermelon, banana, and pineapple with yogurt, and fresh organic dragon fruit juice. Then we had a humbling seminar about culture focusing on how our privilege, being a world leader, makes it important to not only understand, but to be proactive in being genuinely involved throughout our time here. After this sobering conversation we started off our culture day by going to El Plomo (the neighborhood). Artesanias Mujeres del Plomo (the handicraft women of El Plomo) is a jewelry store that also works with the children of the community to help sustain an efficient community economy. Here in Nicaragua, conservation and using everything given is one of the most important things here. El Plomo keeps to that by using seeds as beads for all their jewelry, as well as recycled paper and bottles. It works as an interdependent relationship; the children in El Plomo collect the seeds, recycled bottles, paper, etc, and the women of El Plomo in return provide books and school supplies. The children then help make jewelry after the school day, and the staff in return provides a safe haven and tutoring. Here in Nicaragua, it’s important for women to step up, help, and be active in their community. So everyone in El Plomo does what they can. This touched every glimpser and GG leaders’ heart. Everyone bought at least 2-3 things at the very minimum (I’m proud to say I bought the most with Jasmine in a very close second). After building our own jewelry, we went to a local cooking class teaching us how to make a national dish, Nacatamales made with corn dough, well-seasoned chicken or pork, tomatoes, green peppers, olives, raisins, mint, rice, potatoes, special sauce and wrapped up in banana leaves and boiled for 3 hours. Our last culture experience of the day was going to a dance lesson. We wore the traditional skirts and learned dances from all influences that helped make the traditional Nicaraguan dance what it is today.
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
- 2023 Trips
- 2022 Trips
- 2019 Trips
1146 posts - 2018 Trips
772 posts - 2017 Trips
880 posts - 2016 Trips
940 posts - 2015 Trips
977 posts - 2014 Trips
625 posts - 2013 Trips
578 posts
Nayla!!! That was so beautifully written and descriptive. I am glad you all seemed to grasp how truly fortunate you all are to have the opportunity you are having. It really shows you your place in the world. I love how you spoke about not only how they all work together there but that they find a use for all of their items we simply discard. I imagine it must have been sobering to see how little they waste versus what we are used to. I’m glad you seem to be getting so much out this. I think each of you will no doubt return forever changed. We miss you so much! And the fireworks weren’t the same without you. BUT if we have to share you and miss you being here I am glad you are there doing so much to not just learn their culture but share ours. We love you!
Dad, Mom, Adarah and Cesar (and your cousin Jonathan)
By the way Nayla…I can’t wait to see what you bought (hint, hint). I love you Nay – Mom
Thanks for the post Nayla, so wonderful to hear how the interactions with the residents and learning about the culture have been transformative. Hi Lee, August, Alex and Haley! hope you all enjoyed the jewelry making and cooking lesson!
These photos are wonderful. Is there any way to post larger sizes?
Hi Miguel, I manage to save the photo on my iPhone. Jayne
Hi Miguel, I use Chrome as my web browser and can see the pictures very nicely if I set the zoom to something like 200% or 250%.
Jireh, Lesley, and Sarah- looks like you are having so much fun 🙂 Keep the updates and pictures coming and keep being the amazing ambassadors you are of our country and Noble. Miss you !
Alejando Lavery!!! I’ve only seen you in one picture; you are still there, right? Food sounds great. Looking forward to my bead project present, keep in mind I like blue. It’s late, but we can credit it to my 50th birthday you blew off. I hope you are enjoying yourself and eating all of the yummy food. I hope Camille is vining your stream. As for me, I’m doing great, working hard to keep you vacationing and enjoying the life of leisure you so richly deserve. Jack is stoned out of his mind on Xanax recovering from the 4th. He got bit by something Saturday by his eye which looked like it was going to pop out of his head. I lost 3 sets of housekeys while I was transplanting yesterday (flowers, not lungs). HAVE FUN!!!
We are really enjoying reading these posts. Great to hear and see what you have all been up to.
Thanks for the post Nayla!! The national flower is beautiful! Thanks for posting so many photos each day! Love to Allison!
A wonderful post Nayla! What an amazing and humbling experience you are all having on this journey, as you described so well. Thank you for sharing this with us. We are excited to hear more stories and to learn from you and the other young people of the history and culture of Nicaragua. Love that your are representing Blackstone Bicycle Works.We miss you here, but are so happy that you have the opportunity to be a part of this group and trip.
Love,
Cauleen and Aaron
Wow great pictures!!!! I am so proud of you Nayla and all the kids. The pictures prove when you get back to the United States everyone is going to come back to Chicago to pursuit a career as EDUCATORS!!! Be safe and continue to have.
I did not know that you were going to Nicaragua. I am glad you had an opportunity to go outside of this country and experience another. It is a privilege that many of our young children do not get to have at such an Age. You are a very smart young lady who deserves to have this experience. I pray that you will give all of yourself, which it sounds like you are, while on this journey and that you will absorb as much as possible to increase your knowledge love and compassion for others in the world. I am looking forward to hearing more of your experience while on this trip so that I can about this journey with you. Love you and extremely proud of you. Mama Judy
Hi Sarah M.
We so proud of you ❤️ you ! Aunt W.