Hola Nuestros Amigos y Familia!!
We have arrived in beautiful Esteli, Nicaragua. Cyndi, Melissa, and 17 students from the Bay Area spent the night on two airplanes traveling to our new home. We were greeted with much excitement by our amazing in-country staff, including our Program Coordinators, Christa and Belkis, the Nicaragua Assistant Director, Javier, and the Esteli 2 PCs, Erik and Tania. Once through customs, we boarded our bus for a 2.5 hour drive from Managua to Esteli.
Arriving at our hotel, we ate a delicious traditional Nicaraguan meal, and were able to rest and get to know one another. Next, we reviewed all the program rules and procedures and became acquainted with the in-country Global Glimpse Staff and all the hospitable hotel staff, including Dona Yubelka, the Hotel Manager, and Luis, the hotel security officer. We got to experience a brief thunder and lightning show with the first big rain of the season!
Today, we all learned about flexibility… we met new friends, travelled to a completely new country, moved hotel rooms with ease, and tried our first Nicaraguan cuisine. This is dynamic group we have here and we are all becoming accustomed to our new surroundings. We are all very proud of how positive each and every one of us remains, despite the long travels and little sleep we were able to get last night.
We were surprised by how close our hotel is to downtown Esteli, with access to many shops and cultural sights right outside the gates. Although it is hot and a little humid, we are all pleasantly surprised by the fresh air the evening brought.
Christa, one of the Program Coordinators, modeled the role of the “Lider Del Dia” (LDD) today. Cyndi will be taking over this role tomorrow. We are so excited for the first student LDD on Saturday. Keep posted for who this might be!!! Sign-ups start tomorrow morning and everyone is excited to take part in this leadership opportunity throughout the trip.
Thank you to all of the family and friends that we met late last night at SFO. Although they may have been nervous, all the students rose to the occasion and are starting to build new friendships with one another and embracing this exciting opportunity.
The student LDD will be posting on this blog every night to keep all our loved ones up to date with our adventures! Please post comments on this blog, as we will be sharing them with the students each night!
Hasta pronto,
Cyndi y Melissa
Thanks for the update! Hope everyone rests well tonight and stay dry!
Hey Alison, we hope you have an awesome time in Esteli. Thinking of you and miss you much already.
lots of hugs ad love!
Mom, dad, Jocelyn and Brycen
Awesome GG team!! Hope you all have a good night rest and ready for fun tomorrow. Thankyou GG leaders and coordinators, you folks are truly amazing. Cheers 🙂
i am so glad you all got there safe and sound. looks like this group is in good hand with lots of energetic leaders. group picture looks great. hope traditional nicaraguan meal is not too unfamiliar. be safe. we love you at home.
I am so excited for all of you! You are all so courageous to take this trip and make a difference in the lives of the people you will be working with. Be sure to take the time to enjoy your adventure and make life altering experiences. Take care of yourselves and know you are missed.
Hi Zach,
We’re glad to hear that you’ve arrived safely in Esteli. We had a bit of rain here too. We can’t wait to hear about all of your adventures. Please take lots of pictures so we can see Esteli too!
<3 Mom & Gena
We’re so happy to hear that you arrived safely and it was wonderful to see your smiling faces! 🙂 Thanks for posting the pic. Sounds like your trip is already off to a great start with new friends in a beautiful new country! Looking forward to your next blog.
To my lovely in n out angel lisa!! Hi gorgeous, I hope you’re having fun so far, and I’m very happy to hear that you and your delagtion landed safely. Hopefully the heat isn’t killing you so far. I’m so excited for your upcoming adventures in Nicaragua, and I can’t wait for your trip blog. I’ll be waiting anxiously at home!!
-your loving ambassador <3
Wow! So nice to see all those smiling faces outside the big yellow bus:-)! Sounds like it’s going to be a marvelous trip! Have fun everyone!!
You all look fabulous! Thanks so much for the update and the group picture….keep ’em coming.
Hi everyone,
Glad you all have settled in. Great photo of everyone. Sounds like you guys are going to have a great adventure.
Dear Rishi,
Have fun! House is quiet here..
Hello All,
Good to see you arrived safe and sound. Have fun!!!
Manley
Dear All,
It is very nice to know that all of you have arrived safely. Keep going and enjoy the new experience and fun.