After nearly 13 hours of traveling by plane and bus over the course of two days, we have arrived in our home for the next 16 days,our hostel El Castillo.  Today, our bus driver Carlos and his sidekick drove us from the capital city of Managua to our home base, Matagalpa.  The route took us from a low land urban area through the countryside into an urban area entrenched in mountains and hills.  Along the way, we were bombarded by the sites, sounds, and smells of central to northern Nicaragua.  The sites of the Cathedral of Leon and National Palace in Managua, the cattle and horses along the road in the countryside, and the beautiful mountain panorama outside of El Castillo all caught our eyes.  The sounds of street vendors in Managua, the bus, car, truck, and motorcycle horns on the road through the countryside, and the trucks spewing advertisements through loudspeakers in front of El Castillo all caught our eyes.  The smell of diesel fumes and toasted bread in Managua, the smell of cattle in the countryside, and the smell of charred meat outside of El Castillo all caught our noses.

Students continue to break down barriers and step out of their comfort zones as we acclimate to our new surroundings and each other.

This was the view along the road as we took the bus from Managua to Matagalpa.

This was the view along the road as we took the bus from Managua to Matagalpa.

This was the view along the road as we took the bus from Managua to Matagalpa.

This was the view along the road as we took the bus from Managua to Matagalpa.

Students acted out cultural norms for each other.

Students acted out cultural norms for each other.

Students had to work n groups to act out cultural norms.

Students had to work n groups to act out cultural norms.

For most of our meals, we enjoy them on the beautiful balcony of El Castillo (or hostel)

For most of our meals, we enjoy them on the beautiful balcony of El Castillo (or hostel)