2016- 2017
NICARAGUA j
Fiel dtripreport
TABLEOF
CONTENTS -
M an agu a.................................3 Las Pozas.................................5 El Jicar o ...................................6 Leon ...........................................7 Tu api & Pu er to Cabezas...8 Gr an ada...................................10 Th e Coh or t.............................11 Th ou gh ts.................................18 W or k Pr ojects......................21 Jou r n al en tr ies.....................23 Con fer en ces..........................36 Ack n owl edgem en ts..........40
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THENORTHSOUTH STUDIES FIELD TRIP Ever y year ,th e Nor th Sou th Stu dies Pr ofil e pr epar es to visit differ en t Nicar agu an com m u n ities with th e in ten tion of bu il din g r el ation sh ips of sol idar ity. Th e stu den ts fir st visited an d stayed with fam il ies in th e com ar cas of th e Ch in an dega m u n icipal ity. Th e r egion cl im bs in to a fr on tier m ou n tain r an ge, bor der in g th e n or th er n Pacific coast of Nicar agu a, an d th e sou th er n l im it of H on du r as. Ru r al agr icu l tu r e occu pies m ost of th e l an dscape al on g with sm al l r esiden tial settl em en ts, cal l ed com m ar cas. As on e ven tu r es fu r th er fr om th e m ain h igh way,com m u n ities en joy l ess access to el ectr icity,com m u n ication s, gover n m en t su ppor t an d m ar k ets. W h il e passin g th r ou gh th ese vil l ages, it is l ik el y som eon e wil l em er ge for m a typical adobe h ou se with a wave an d sh ou ted sal u tation . Th is year ,in stead of h eadin g sou th , we wen t to th e Atl an tic Coast in an au ton om ou s in digen ou s ter r itor y cal l ed el R.A.A.N. After ar r ivin g in th e por t town of Pu er to Cabezas, we pr oceeded to ou r secon d h om e-stay in th e M isk ito h am l et of Tu api. Th is town is on l y 20 k il om eter s fr om Pu er to Cabezas, over a r ou gh dir t r oad, th at fin al l y cr osses a m ean der in g r iver ,su r r ou n ded by m an gr oves - ar r ivin g in a town dotted with tr adition al wooden h ou ses per ch ed over m an icu r ed gr ass th at is m ain tain ed by l oose h er bivor ou s far m an im al s, l ik e h or ses, cows, ch ick en s, an d pigs. Located between a cr ystal l in e r iver ,an d th e sh al l ow Atl an tic beach es, th e com m u n ity r el ies h eavil y on th e seafood in du str y,an d fam il ies ar e u sed to l on g per iods apar t, as m en so often tr avel to th e M isk ito Keys for l obster fish in g. Cu l tu r al l y,Tu api is l ik e a m osaic, com bin in g el em en ts of afr o-An til l es, Ram a, an d M isk ito tr aits to for m a peopl e u n ited by h istor y an d a com m on str u ggl e for in depen den ce.
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MANAGUA December 14th2016 A fter wh at cou l d be con sider ed a l on g tr ip an d even if H ou ston was defin itel y A-1, we ar r ived in M an agu a on th e n igh t of th e 14th fu l l of excitem en t an d a l ittl e bit of appr eh en sion . M y m em or ies of th at m om en t ar e l im ited to tr yin g to an swer m an y qu estion s abou t Nicar agu a?s cu l tu r e, l an gu age an d especial l y wh y th e officer s wou l d n ot l et u s in after ever yon e el se h ad passed cu stom s? Even if we wer e qu ite
tir ed, th e tou r of M an agu a at n igh t was fascin atin g. M ost of u s wer e am azed an d som ewh at con fu sed by th e en or m ou s ar bol es de l a vida or ar bol atas. H u go Ch avez?l igh ten ed por tr ait l et u s par ticu l ar l y per pl ex. Over th e n ext few days, we saw a city qu ite disor gan ized an d con fu sin g for ou r ?gr in go? eyes. Even with th r ee geogr aph er s with
u s, it was al ways a ch al l en ge to exactl y k n ow wh er e we wer e. Lu ck y en ou gh , M ar io th e bu s dr iver an d im pr ovised yet ver y in str u ctive gu ide m oved u s ar ou n d wh il e tel l in g u s abou t th e city,its in h abitan ts, th e differ en t n eigh bor h oods, an ecdotes abou t Or tega an d h is fam il y,etc. Ou r bu sy sch edu l e in cl u ded sever al in ter estin g visits an d con fer en ces in
M an agu a. Ou r gr ou p stopped at th e Assem bl ea Nacion al to l ear n abou t its h istor y an d m eet two m em ber s of par l iam en t. Evel yn Tayl or an d Lor ia Raqu el Dixon discu ssed th e pol itical r eal ities of th eir r espective com m u n ities fr om th e Pacific Coast (M isk ito Peopl e an d th e Afr o-Descen t 3
com m u n ity). W e got a gl im pse at th e im pr ovem en t m ade in Nicar agu a r egar din g m in or ities an d wom en r igh ts as wel l as ou r fir st exposition to El Com an dan te Dan iel ?s ver y con tr ol l ed m essage? Ou r stop at Casa Can adien se gave u s th e oppor tu n ity to m eet an oth er em power in g wom an : Yam il eth Per ez. W e l ear n ed fr om h er com pel l in g l ife stor y th e
difficu l ties of wor k in g in ?l a Ch u r eca?, bein g a sin gl e m oth er in Nicar agu a as wel l as h er wor k h el pin g teen ager s avoid th e viciou s cir cl e of viol en ce. H er m essage was fu l l of h ope an d optim ism . Sh e l et u s with a positive feel in g, h el pin g to cope with th e in ten sity of th e fir st few days in Nicar agu a. M an agu a?s con tr asts, extr em es an d in ten sity br ou gh t m or e qu estion s th an an swer s. After seein g an affl u en t sh oppin g m al l an d a r ich par t of th e city,passin g th r ou gh th e
pr ecar iou s n eigh bor h ood cl ose to ?La Ch u r eca? an d n oticin g pover ty as m an y of u s h ad n ever seen befor e was qu ite a sh ock . In ou r fir st tal k in g cir cl e, we sh ar ed m an y of ou r con fl ictin g feel in gs. H ow sh ou l d we m an age th e voyeu r sen sation som e of u s fel t wh en seein g pover ty an d su ffer in g fr om so cl ose? Th e br u tal con sciou sn ess of h avin g so m u ch ? Of feel in g power l ess, even to som e l evel of feel in g gu il ty? By discu ssin g th ese qu estion s, we got to
l ear n abou t on e an oth er an d r eal ize we wer e fin al l y in Nicar agu a after m on th s of expectation . It was ju st gettin g star ted after two days wh ich fel t l ik e 10, a feel in g th at wou l d fol l ow u s for th e r est of th e tr ip....
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Las Pozas L as Pozas is a r u r al com m u n ity,or com ar ca, as th ey ar e l ocal l y cal l ed, l ocated with in th e M u n icipal ity of Cin co Pin os, in th e n or th er n par t of th e Ch in an dega Depar tm en t cl ose to th e bor der with H on du r as. Th e cl im ate in th e m u n icipal ity is m ar k ed by a dr y season , wh ich l asts between 4 an d 6 m on th s, fr om Novem ber to Apr il wh en th e r ain y season begin s. 5
'' Theonlywayout is through'' Th e m u n icipal ity of Cin co Pin os is an ar ea with exten sive ar eas of r u gged for ested topogr aph y an d sm al l val l eys u sed for agr icu l tu r e. W h il e th e soil s in th e ar ea h ave a vocation for for estr y,th e m ain econ om ic activity in th e com ar ca is su bsisten ce far m in g. M ost fam il ies own sm al l pl ots of l an d. Fol l owin g th e M esoam er ican agr icu l tu r al tr adition , th ey gr ow bean s an d m aize. Peopl e in th e com ar cas al so own l ivestock as par t of th eir l ivel ih ood str ategies.
EL JICARO El Jicar o is th e du sty an d del igh tfu l com ar ca th at wel com ed An n a, Car ol in e, Ch an el , Em al in e, Jo, Sh ain a, Robbie, Ryan , Zoe, Cl au dia, M ar tin an d Ju l ia. Th is l ittl e com m u n ity is l ocated between Las Pozas an d La Uva an d it?s open fiel ds an d r ol l in g h il l s ch ar m ed u s th e wh ol e two week s we spen t th er e. It tak es abou t a h al f h ou r to wal k fr om on e edge of El Jicar o to th e oth er ; a wal k we al l got ver y u sed to wh il e we wer e th er e. Th e
com ar ca?s n am esak e is a th or n y tr ee, bu t on ou r dail y wal k s al on g m ain win dy r oad we wer e al ways gr eeted by n eigh bou r s with a ?bu en as? an d accom pan ied by fr ien ds, k ids an d dogs. Du r in g ou r stay in El Jicar o ou r com ar ca l eader , Jan eth , gu ided u s th r ou gh m an y of differ en t activities in cl u din g a discu ssion with you th fr om th e com m u n ity,a tal k by a wom an wh o l ived th r ou gh th e San dan ista r evol u tion , as wel l as sever al l ivel y dan ces. W e u sed h er fr on t yar d for m an y tal k in g cir cl es, wh er e we sat ben eath tam ar in d tr ees, al on gside a gar den of cacti an d h ibiscu s fl ower s, to sor t ou t th e m an y th ou gh ts an d feel in gs we h ad togeth er. W e spen t a l ot of ou r tim e in El Jicar o wor k in g on pu ttin g u p a fen ce ar ou n d th e el em en tar y sch ool yar d to pr even t th e
an im al s th at l ive in th e ar ea fr om en ter in g. Teach er s at th e sch ool in th e com m u n ity h ave in ten tion s to star t a sch ool gar den in g pr oject with th e stu den ts th er e an d th e fen ce wil l pr otect th e food th ey gr ow. Stu den ts an d teach er s al so par ticipated in sever al h ol iday activities in th e com ar ca. W e wer e bl in dfol ded an d k n ock ed at piĂą atas, we sh ar ed cak e an d tr eats an d m eal s with th e com m u n ity an d, of cou r se, we dan ced som e m or e. Th e fam il ies in El Jicar o acted as gr aciou s h osts wh il e we wer e th er e. Th ey br ou gh t u s to water in g h ol es, tau gh t u s h ow to m ak e m an y differ en t types of Nicar agu a dish es an d patien tl y su ppor ted ou r br ok en Span ish as we tr ied to get to k n ow each oth er. Ou r tim e in El Jicar o was in deed so ver y special : we wer e car ed for an d given space to l ear n an d sh ar e. 6
LEON Ou r side tr ip to Leon m ade way for som e l eisu r e an d expl or ation of th e col ou r fu l city an d its col on ial ar ch itectu r e. W e stayed in th e h otel Su en o del M em e, wh er e we cel ebr ated New Year ?s eve on th e r ooftop. Th e teach er s su r pr ised u s with a m ar iach i ban d an d a l ot of dan cin g en su ed l ate in to th e n igh t. W h en cam e th e m om en t to r in g in th e New Year ,we wer e position ed in th e best spot in th e city to obser ve al l of th e fir ewor k s goin g off al l ar ou n d ou r r ooftop for m in u tes on en d. Leon is an im por tan t h u b for in du str ial , tou r istic, an d com m er cial activities with in Nicar agu a. It is al so r ich in h istor ical m on u m en ts wh ich r em in d u s of its Span ish col on ial or igin s. M ost n otabl y, we saw th e Cath edr al Basil ica of th e Assu m ption of Leon , wh ich stan ds pr ou dl y in th e city cen tr e with its typical col on ial bar oqu e styl e. In th e cen tr e of Leon we fou n d r estau r an ts, sh ops, an d
gal l er ies wh ich in spir ed an d r efr esh ed u s after ou r stay away fr om th e bu stl in g city l ife. W e took pictu r es with th e in ten sel y h u ed bu il din gs an d ar ou n d th e Cath edr al . W e wen t on two side tr ips to savor som e popu l ar tou r istic activities ar ou n d Leon . Fir st of al l , we h eaded to Cer r o Negr o, th e you n gest vol can o in Cen tr al Am er ica. Th e gr ou p tr ek k ed al l th e way u p an d we en joyed a cool in g br eeze al on g with an in cr edibl e view on th e Cor dil l a de l os M ar ibos m ou n tain r an ge. W e al l exper ien ced th e th r il l of r u n n in g down th e side of th e
vol can o (wh er e som e of u s al so exper ien ced th e added sen sation of fal l in g face down on to vol can ic ash ). On an oth er occasion , we m ade ou r way to a beach ou tside of Leon an d en joyed a day of su n . W e r el axed, tan n ed, an d bath ed in th e sal ty Pacific Ocean . Ou r stay in Leon gave u s a n ew sen se of en er gy to face al l of th e adven tu r es we wou l d h ave ah ead of u s in th e secon d par t of th e tr ip, wh ich in cl u ded n ew h ost fam il ies!
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TUAPI& PUERTO CABEZAS For th e fir st tim e in Nor th -Sou th Stu dies h istor y,ou r gr ou p ven tu r ed to th e Atl an tic coast of Nicar agu a. After m an y year s spen din g th e l atter par t of th e tr ip on th e isl an d of Om etepe, it was decided th at du e to a dr astic in cr ease in tou r ism on th e isl an d, we wou l d expl or e a l ess-tr avel l ed ar ea of th e cou n tr y. Th e in ten tion was al so to in cl u de a stay in an in digen ou s com m u n ity in or der to en su r e a m or e bal an ced
Nicar agu an exper ien ce. After car efu l r esear ch an d a pr e-tr ip visit by pr ofil e coor din ator Jeffr ey Bar n es, th e com m u n ity of Tu api was ch osen becau se of its r ich M isk ito h istor y,its wel com in g n atu r e, an d its l ocation on th e sh or es of th e Costa Atl an tica. Th e coastal r egion is gover n ed som ewh at in depen den tl y fr om th e Cen tr al Nicar agu an San din ista gover n m en t an d Tu api is on e of
m an y com m u n ities in wester n Nicar agu a th at bel on gs to th e Region Au ton om a del Atl an tico Nor te (RAAN). Tu api is a beau tifu l seaside com m u n ity abou t 20 k il om etr es n or th of th e por t town of Pu er to Cabezas. It cover s an easil y-wal k abl e on e squ ar e k il om etr e an d is book en ded by th e
Rio Tu api an d th e Car ibbean Sea. Stu den ts an d teach er s stayed in m odest wooden h ou ses, m an y of th em on stil ts to sit above th e fl ood pl ain , bein g so cl ose to th e coast. Un l ik e th e n or th er n com m u n ities visited ear l ier in th e tr ip, Tu api is u n divided by bar bed-wir e fen ces, an d each fam il y?s ?yar d? bl en ds in to th e n ext with n o pr oper ty del in eation .
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Th is al l ows th e dogs, cows, pigs an d h or ses to r oam fr eel y. It is n ot u n com m on to wal k th e win din g dir t r oad an d be m et by a gr azin g h or se or fam il y of pigs sh ar in g you r path . An oth er differ en ce fr om th e n or th er n com ar cas was th e l u sh gr een er y of th e vil l age an d th e dail y r ain s th at m ade for a m or e tr opical cl im ate. Th e Tu api l ocal s ar e m ostl y of M isk ito descen t, an d th e r egion in cl u des a str on g Afr o-descen dan t popu l ation fr om th e n eigh bou r in g Car ibbean isl an ds. Th ou gh m an y ar e fl u en t in Span ish , an d som e in En gl ish , M isk ito is th e dom in an t spok en l an gu age of th e r egion . Th e popu l ation su r vives m ain l y on a su bsisten ce-based econ om y in th at th e l ocal s r aise th eir own l ivestock , h ar vest fr u it fr om l ocal com m u n ity-own ed pl an tation s, an d fish in th e water s off th e coast. Som e l ocal s wor k as con tr act fish er m en an d jel l yfish pr ocessor s, often for for eign com pan ies. Despite th ese l im ited jobs, u n em pl oym en t is an issu e for th e
popu l ation . Th e Tu api l ivel ih ood is fr agil e in th at if th er e is a poor h ar vest in an y given year ,or th e fish er ies su ffer du e to cl im ate ch an ge, th e com m u n ity is depen den t on for eign aid. Th is was th e case after H u r r ican e M itch in 1998, wh en m ost of Tu api was destr oyed an d n eeded r ebu il din g. Th e com m u n ity wou l d h ave been sel f-su stain abl e h ad th e su r r ou n din g h ar dwood for ests n ot been decim ated by Am er ican -own ed for estr y com pan ies over th e year s. W h at was on ce ver y fer til e for est on th e ou tsk ir ts of Tu api is n ow ar id, in fer til e l an d th at span s k il om etr es in each dir ection th an k s to for eign over -h ar vestin g. Despite th e dam age cau sed by for eign com pan ies,
Tu api m an ages to m ain tain a tr adition al vil l age l ifestyl e in a pictu r esqu e an d tr an qu il settin g. Th e Dawson gr ou p spen t n in e days with th eir gr aciou s h osts l ear n in g abou t th eir h istor y an d way of l ife. Ever yon e was sad to l eave, bu t fel t pr ivil eged to h ave been th e fir st Nor th -Sou th gr ou p to exper ien ce th e beau tifu l Atl an tic coast an d its am azin g peopl e.
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Granada G r an ada is Nicar agu a?s ol dest col on ial city, l ocated r igh t by th e sh or e of Lago Nicar agu a. It was th e l ast stop of ou r tr ip, an d a ch an ce to decom pr ess an d spen d som e tim e as a gr ou p befor e goin g back to M on tr eal . W e h ad th e ch an ce to sl eep in a beau tifu l h ostel , in wh ich th er e was a pool an d a fr ee br eak fast of pan cak es an d ban an as ever y
m or n in g. Th ou gh it is n ot exactl y l ik e l ife in Can ada, it pr ovides for a n ice tr an sition between th e tr an qu il ity of r u r al Nicar agu a an d th e fr an tic pace of l ife back h om e. Gr an ada is a r ath er sm al l town with m an y tou r isty sh ops an d ar eas. W ith fou r days to spen d in Th er e, we h ad m or e th an en ou gh tim es to visit th e town , go ou t to eat in r estau r an ts, bu y sou ven ir s, an d h an g ou t at th e h ostel . 10
EL GRUPO
Norte- Sur 11
Chanel Ch an el can al ways be seen with a h u ge sm il e on h er face. Sassy yet sweet, Ch an el al ways h as som eth in g con str u ctive to add to th e gr ou p. Sh e was al ways r eady to l en d a h el pfu l h an d to an yon e wh o n eeded on e, an d sh e al ways sh owed per sisten t effor t du r in g th e wor k pr ojects! Not on l y is sh e excel l en t in Span ish bu t sh e h as al so m aster ed th e l an gu age of Fr an gl ais, th at al ways gave ever yon e a good l au gh . Ch an el ?s positive en er gy k ept u p th e m or al of th e gr ou p an d th e tr ip wou l d n ot h ave been th e sam e with ou t h er !
Jane Jan e is an extr aor din ar y gir l with th e am azin g abil ity of al ways bein g h on est an d u pfr on t with you . H er br igh t per son al ity sh in es th r ou gh at ever y m om en t, m ak in g l igh t of ever y situ ation al on g h er way. Sh e h as an open h ear t to ever yon e sh e m eets an d even m or e so to an yon e l u ck y en ou gh to be h er fr ien d. H er con tr ibu tion s in th e tal k in g cir cl e al ways m ade u s l au gh , or cr y,or l au gh u n til you cr y. Th is gir l is tr u l y a goof, an d you can al ways r el y on h er to k eep you u p to date with h er bowel m ovem en ts.
Josephine Joseph in e is beyon d extr aor din ar y. Sh e is som eon e wh o is al ways u n der stan din g, r eady to m ak e jok es, an d su ppor t you . Jo is sm ar t, sweet, r eady to tak e on an y task an d was a good fr ien d to ever yon e du r in g th e tr ip. Sh e h as su r m ou n ted so m an y obstacl es both befor e an d du r in g th e tr ip an d sh e h as al ways en ded u p on top of ever y situ ation . Sh e m igh t of been sick for 3/ 4 of th e tr ip bu t th at didn ?t k eep h er fr om h avin g fu n an d bein g h er best sel f th r ou gh ou t th e en tir ety of th e tr ip. Fr om l ear n in g Span ish in th e span of a m on th to m ak in g con n ection s with th e l ocal s an d th e Nor th -Sou th peer s, Jo tr u l y ou tdid h er sel f for ou r m on th away fr om h om e.
Benjamin Ben cam e in to th e pr ogr am a sem ester l ate bu t was qu ick l y wel com ed an d expr essed h is en th u siasm for issu es bein g discu ssed an d seen in cl ass. Best k n own for h is facial h air an d h eigh t, Ben al so en joys can oe tr ips, bask etbal l an d bein g cal l ed H er cu l es. M y m ost m em or abl e m em or y of Ben was th e tim e wh er e h e wen t off on h is own way at Cer r o Negr o (to go do god k n ows wh at), an d Jeff gettin g l ost after fol l owin g h im .
Frederique Fr ĂŠdĂŠr iqu e Tou gas is on e of th e m ost h ar d-wor k in g stu den ts I?ve h ad th e pl easu r e of m eetin g. Sh e al ways h as in tel l igen t in for m ation to add to a con ver sation , an d h er k in d h ear t m ak es it al l th e m or e wel com in g. Sh e?s th e fir st to l en d a h el pin g h an d wh en n eeded an d n ever fail s to in cl u de h er sel f in gr ou p activities. Cu te, fu n n y,an d fu l l of facts abou t ch eese, Fr ed is an absol u te essen tial par t of th e NS cr ew an d h er pr esen ce al on e fil l s ou r h ear ts with joy.
Anna An n a is th e m yster iou s on e of ou r gr ou p. Sh e h as so m an y h idden tal en ts an d in ter ests th at we don ?t k n ow abou t, ever y tim e I tal k to h er I l ear n som eth in g n ew. H er in cr edibl e l an gu age sk il l s an d h er abil ity to som eh ow th in k in Span ish was ver y h el pfu l to al l of u s th r ou gh ou t th e tr ip. Ever yon e wan ts to get to k n ow An n a better an d we ar e so l u ck y to h ave spen t th e tr ip with h er. Th e th in g sh e did m ost on th e tr ip was l au gh at th e stu pid jok es peopl e wou l d say an d expr ess h er am azem en t an d con fu sion abou t wh at we wer e seein g. Al ways ju st ch il l in with h er beau tifu l sel f, bu t I k n ow sh e h as a wack y m in d h idden . Sh e is so com pl ex, we al l en joyed seein g al l th ese differ en t par ts of h er. W e ar e so gr atefu l to h ave been th ose l u ck y en ou gh to get to k n ow h er.
Zoe
Pr ior to u s goin g on th e tr ip I didn ?t r eal l y k n ow Zoe, bu t after I got to k n ow h er better sh e?s a pr etty awesom e per son . Sh e h as th e abil ity to pu t a positive spin on al l difficu l t th in gs sh e does an d ch al l en ges th at sh e faces. Th r ou gh ou t th e tr ip, sh e h ad th e u n can n y abil ity to m ak e th ese spon tan eou s jok es wh ich wou l d pu t th is positive en er gy on ever yon e. Sh e wou l d al ways r ip on Noah , m ak in g m e l au gh ever y tim e. H on estl y,sh e is ju st a gen u in el y good per son .
Emaline I don ?t th in k 100 wor ds is en ou gh to descr ibe h ow am azin g th is beau tifu l h al f Col om bian gir l is. Fir st of al l , it h as to be said, sh e is AN AM AZING DANCER. Lik e r eal l y,sh e m ade ever yon e jeal ou s du r in g th e tr ip. Besides th at, Em a is h on estl y on e of th e m ost in spir in g peopl e I k n ow. Sh e is passion ate, k in d, com passion ate an d a (ver y) sen sitive per son , m ak in g h er th e won der fu l wom an sh e is. Em a is al so gifted with h er wor ds; sh e can wr ite or say l iter al l y an yth in g an d m ak e it sou n d beau tifu l . H avin g l ived with r ats for 15 days, we can say sh e?s cou r ageou s too!
Shaina
Sh ain a Laver gn e Cu r r en t age: 18 Eye col ou r : beau tifu l bl u e H air : bl on de Rel ation sh ip Statu s: Giu l ian o Zodiac Sign : Tau r u s Sh ain a is on e of th e fu n n iest peopl e I k n ow. H er sm il e, n ice an d big, capabl e of il l u m in atin g a wh ol e r oom . W h ats even bigger th an h er sm il e? H er sass. Sh e wil l defin itel y n ever l et an yon e con descen d h er (typical Tau r u s gir l ). Sh e wil l car e for you if you n eed th e l ovin g. Sh ain a is so attr active peopl e get distr acted an d fal l ? or does sh e attr act fal l s becau se peopl e distr act h er ? W ith a l au gh as cu te as h er face, an d as l ou d as h er per son al ity,sh e is an u n for gettabl e gal th at can br igh ten som eon e?s day.
Elizabeth El izabeth M ar ion -Gau th ier is a 19 year ol d, Nor th -Sou th stu den t at Dawson Col l ege. At fir st, th e Nicar agu a tr ip didn 't seem as in vitin g to h er becau se it took l on ger for h er to m er ge with th e gr ou p, bu t despite th is, sh e decided to go for h er own sak e an d n obody el se's (som eth in g I ver y m u ch adm ir e h er for ), wh ich says a l ot abou t h er cou r age an d sel f-positivity. H avin g h er with u s was absol u tel y essen tial ; sh e is al ways r eady to h el p oth er s if th ey ar e wil l in g to h ear th e tr u th , sh e's dir ect to th e poin t an d is n ot afr aid to expr ess h er opin ion . Th is m ak es for deep con ver sation s an d spon tan eou s l au gh ter. W ith m or e tim e with each of u s in dividu al l y,El izabeth en ded u p m ixin g in cr edibl y wel l with th e gr ou p, pr ovin g on ce again th at sh e is a fier ce fir e, fu l l of spir it an d deter m in ation th at is im possibl e to extin gu ish . Sh e is on e of th e str on gest peopl e I k n ow an d I am h on ou r ed to be h er fr ien d.
Lara Lar a is th e easiest per son to get al on g with . Fr om patien tl y teach in g oth er stu den ts syn ch r on ized swim m in g ch or eogr aph ies in th e col d El Pil ón water ,to r u n n in g in to th e Atl an tic Ocean to go fish in g in Tu apí, sh e is l iter al l y down for an yth in g, an ytim e. I can h on estl y say th at I h ave n ever ever h ear d Lar a com pl ain . Sh e al ways sees th e positive side of ever yth in g, wh ich m ak es it h ar d n ot to be in a good m ood wh en ar ou n d h er. A gen u in el y cu r iou s per son , Lar a is in ter ested in m an y differ en t th in gs, l ik e al l k in ds of r ock s (th e on es with good vibes fou n d in th e r iver in Tu apí an d th e m u sic gen r e) an d bel l y dan cin g. Al l th is to say th at, in th e en d, Lar a wil l for ever be a Kin g Pu l an k a pr in cess in m y m in d.
Ryan Th er e ar e a l ot of adjectives th at descr ibe Ryan . Ser iou s, cal m , n eat. Th ose ar e exception s. Ryan ?s easy goin g attitu de an d positive appr oach got th e gr ou p th r ou gh som e of th e r ou gh er par ts of th e tr ip. H e wil l tel l you r an dom fu n facts th at you ?r e n ot su r e you wan ted to h ear ,wh ich m ade h im th e Nor th Sou th cl own . H e was al ways th er e to pu t a sm il e on ou r faces an d on ce you get past h is sar castic exter ior , Ryan is a gen u in el y car in g fr ien d. H is sin cer e fr ien dl in ess m ak es h im in cr edibl y easy to get al on g with . Th er e?s al ways an adven tu r e to be h ad th an k s to h is cr azy ideas. It?s safe to say we wou l dn ?t h ave h ad as m an y l au gh s or cr azy stor ies to tel l with ou t you Ryan !
Chelsea Ch el sea, su ch a gen u in el y k in d, l igh t-h ear ted an d h il ar iou s gal . Al ways in a good m ood an d r eady to tak e on an y ch al l en ge th at com e h er way. Ch el s h as tr u l y ou tdon e h er sel f on th e tr ip, defin itel y win n in g for m ost im pr oved in Span ish , cr eatin g cl ose fr ien dsh ips with th e l ocal s an d n ot gettin g a su n bu r n !!W ith h er con tagiou s sm il e an d l au gh , Ch el sea is ju st a joy to be ar ou n d. Sh e em bodies th e wh ol e spir it of Nor th Sou th : h ow open -m in ded sh e is, l iftin g ever yon e's spir its wh en tim es wer e str essfu l or ten se an d ju st tr u l y a gr eat fr ien d. Sh e h as gr own so m u ch as a per son in th is pr ogr am an d stayed deter m in ed an d per sever an t th e wh ol e way th r ou gh . A gr eat dan cer ,Span ish -speak er an d fr ien d, Ch el s over cam e al l th e obstacl es in h er way an d is ju st a won der fu l h u m an bein g.
Georgia Geor gia is on e of th e cu test peopl e I h ave ever m et. Fr om h er qu ir k y per son al ity to br igh t sm il e th at l igh ten s u p an y m ood, sh e is al ways r eady to offer a h an d an d l isten to som eon e wh o is in n eed. Du r in g th e tr ip, Geor gia?s war m h u gs wou l d m ak e an yon e feel better. If you ?r e l ook in g for som eon e to sin g al on g with you to H igh Sch ool M u sical , Abba, or an yth in g el se, th en you h ave fou n d you r gal . If you ?r e l u ck y en ou gh to get to k n ow Geor gia on a m or e per son al l evel , th en you ?l l al so l ear n th at sh e can br eak it down to th e bach ata.
Noah I don ?t k n ow th at th er e ar e wor ds to descr ibe wh o Noah is as a per son , bu t I?l l give it a tr y. H e is th e defin ition of an extr over ted sassy bean wh o can m ak e l igh t of an y situ ation an yon e cou l d possibl y en cou n ter. Fr om pok in g h ol es in Ben ?s m an box to m ak in g l igh t of ten se situ ation s an d h avin g a su itabl e jok e for an ytim e of th e day, Noah ?s positivity h ad a gr eat im pact on th e gr ou p?s dyn am ic th r ou gh ou t th e tr ip.
Claudia I f you ar e ever l ook in g for a spir itu al r em edy or th e m ean in g of you r Zodiac sign you h ave fou n d th e per fect gir l . Th is is Cl au dia, th e beau tifu l fr ee-spir ited wom an wh o m igh t ju st m ak e you r day with h er con stan t sm il e or in cr edibl e an ecdotes of h er wil d l ife. You m ay be l ook in g at th e n ext M ar il yn M on r oe! Cl au dia is on e of th e m ost gen u in e an d fu n n y peopl e you cou l d possibl y ever m eet. Bu t, l et?s n ot for get h er in cr edibl e sk il l s at sk etch in g, cr eatin g br eath tak in g jewel r y,an d m ak in g awesom e t-sh ir ts.
Caroline Car ol in e is a ver y positive per son , an d is al ways seen l au gh in g an d sm il in g. Du r in g th e wh ol e du r ation of th e tr ip, sh e was al ways fu l l of cu r iosity an d wil l in gn ess to l ear n , an d as a r esu l t h er Span ish im pr oved ver y m u ch . Car ol in e fou n d m an y n ew an d u n expected fr ien dsh ips du r in g th e tr ip, both fr om with in th e gr ou p an d fr om th e m an y peopl e en cou n ter ed. I cou l d tel l th at sh e was in h er el em en t wh en su r r ou n ded by th e su n an d th e sea in Nicar agu a!
Geoff
Martin
Pr ior to goin g on th e tr ip, we wou l d on l y see Geoff on th e occasion th at h e wou l d com e by on e of ou r Fr iday sem in ar s. Bu t ju st th e fact th at h e did in vol ve h im sel f in ou r sem in ar s an d th e pr ogr am in gen er al speak s vol u m es of Geoff, becau se h e does it becau se h e wan ts to h el p ou t, n ot becau se h e h as to. As a teach er Geoff is on e of th e few peopl e wh o is abl e to wal k th e l in e between bein g th e biggest jok ester an d m ak in g it cl ear wh en stu ff n eeded to be don e. On th e secon d l eg of th e tr ip, h e was a gr eat addition to th e gr ou p becau se m u ch l ik e al l th e oth er teach er s on th e tr ip h e is a gr eat gu y,wh o r eal l y en h an ced ou r exper ien ce.
H avin g M ar tin as a ch aper on e in El Jicar o was a r eal bl essin g. No m atter wh at tim e it was, M ar tin wou l d be th e fir st to h el p ou t wh en con cer n ed h ost par en ts wh isper ed, ?Pr ofesor ,Pr ofesor !? th r ou gh h is door at n igh t. H is com m en ts du r in g th e wor k pr oject wer e both h il ar iou s an d wel com ed. H e su ccessfu l l y ?got with th e tim es? as h is jok es gr ew in cr easin gl y m or e in tu n ed with ou r s, m ak in g ou r exper ien ce on th e fir st h al f of th e tr ip safe an d easy goin g. H is en dl ess fascin ation with ou r str an ge an d dyn am ic con ver sation s, h is su ppor tive attitu de, an d h is wil l in gn ess to get to k n ow each stu den t in dividu al l y m ade u s al l feel l ik e we wer e in th e best h an ds possibl e. W e l ove you , M ar tin !
Gisela
Jeffrey
Gisel a was th e fir st teach er we h ad as a coh or t. Ou r fir st cl ass of th e fir st sem ester was with Gisel a in h er In tr odu ction to Geogr aph y cl ass. Gisel a was a m en tor for ou r Nor th -Sou th coh or t. Sh e h as been with u s th r ou gh ou t th e wh ol e Nor th -Sou th exper ien ce an d stil l is after th e tr ip. Sh e passion atel y or gan ized sem in ar s an d tau gh t u s som e of th e cor e Nor th -Sou th cl asses. In Nicar agu a, Gisel a was a com pl etel y differ en t per son th an sh e was in a cl ass settin g, sh e was ver y easy-goin g, wil l in g to accept Nicar agu an -tim e an d cl ose to u s, th e stu den ts as sh e h ad n ever been befor e. Sh e was a figu r e we l ook ed u p to an d wh o con stan tl y h el ped u s th r ou gh ou r per son al str u ggl es. Bu t Gisel a was al so h er u su al sel f, wh er e ever y r eal ity we wou l d see, sh e wou l d h appil y r el ate to cl ass m ater ial an d see situ ation s in a m an n er on l y a teach er wou l d. Gisel a is th e on l y teach er th at was pr esen t for th e en tir ety of th e tr ip an d we ar e so gl ad sh e did.
Th r ou gh ou t ou r Nor th -Sou th exper ien ce Jeff h as al ways been th e on e in th e back gr ou n d r u n n in g ar ou n d pr epar in g stu ff for u s be it th e sem in ar s or th e tr ip. W h il e at th e sam e tim e teach in g ou r pr ep cl ass, wh er e h e was an extr em el y k n owl edgeabl e h el pin g u s at ever y tu r n expan d ou r k n owl edge of th e wor l d. On ce in Nicar agu a, I th in k we al l r eal ized th e scope of th e wor k th at Jeff h ad don e to pr epar e u s for th e tr ip. So, I th in k th at th is is th e per fect for u m to say fr om al l th e stu den ts, th an k you Jeff for pu ttin g togeth er th e tr ip of a l ife tim e for u s. You ar e a gen u in el y good gu y,wh o we al l adm ir e for wh at you do an d becau se you ar e teach in g u s h ow we can m ak e a differ en ce in th e wor l d.
Julia Fr om ou r fir st day in M an agu a togeth er ,I fel t an in descr ibabl e k in dn ess in Ju l ia th at on l y few r adiate so for cefu l l y. Sh e becam e ou r secon d m oth er for two week s, al ways th er e for u s with th e m ost gen u in e l ove. As th e tr ip pr ogr essed, h er big h ear t an d in tel l igen t in sigh ts on l y becam e m or e appar en t. Sh e car es so m u ch , an d you feel it in ever y action sh e does. Pu ttin g in th e effor t to get to k n ow ever y stu den t per son al l y,sh e cr eated bon ds with al l of u s th at str en gth en ed ou r wh ol e gr ou p dyn am ic. Du r in g th ose scar y m om en ts of l ivin g al on e with ou r h ost fam il ies, Ju l ia was a r ay of l igh t an d a tr u e com for t zon e for th e stu den ts in h er com ar ca. I?m so th an k fu l to h ave h ad h er fu n n y l ittl e r em ar k s an d cr azy dan ce m oves du r in g ou r adven tu r e so far fr om h om e. I th in k I speak for al l of u s wh en I say th at sh e?l l tr u l y be su ch an am azin g m om , as sh e was for u s du r in g ou r fir st h al f of th e tr ip.
OURREFLECTIONS & thoughts
Not on l y was th e l ear n in g in ter estin g, bu t th e sen se of com m u n ity in Nor th Sou th is won der fu l . It en cou r ages peopl e to wan t to l ear n becau se we ar e al l feedin g off of each oth er 's poin t of view. Ever ybody h as ideas, an d th e m or e we discu ss th e m or e th ey ch an ge. -Cl au d i a In attem ptin g to pu t m y th ou gh ts togeth er r egar din g m y tr ip to Nicar agu a I?ve h ad som e difficu l ty,becau se I fin d th e n otion of a l ife ch an gin g exper ien ce to be a bit too existen tial , bu t I th in k th at?s wh at it was. -Ben M y h ope is to h el p th e l ittl e gu y,I feel as if n o on e in th is wor l d sh ou l d face an in ju stice th ey can n ot over com e. I wish to be a per son th at h el ps peopl e over com e an d r em ove th e in ju stices th ey face in th eir ever yday l ives. -Ry an I?ve al so devel oped a n ew in sigh t on th e wor l d. Nor th -Sou th h as expl or ed m oder n con fl icts fr om th e per spective of a n on -wester n cu l tu r e an d society. Th is was ver y n ew to m e sin ce al l I?ve l ear n ed th r ou gh h igh sch ool was th e h istor y of r ich wh ite m en .-N oah To l ive in a society th at is based on over con su m ption m ak es peopl e for get wh at th ey r eal l y n eed. W h at sh ou l d ou r pr ior ities r eal l y be? Nicar agu a pu ts th at in per spective. -El i zabet h
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" N or t h -Sou t h h as con t r i bu t ed t o m or e t h an ju st m y Cegep ed u cat i on an d m y u n d er st an d i n g of t h e w or l d bu t al so w h o I am as a p er son . I f eel t h at as som eon e w h o i s i n f or m ed on t h e m an y i ssu es i n ou r soci et y , or cau sed by ou r soci et y , I am t o sh ar e t h e cau ses an d ef f ect s w i t h an y on e w i l l i n g t o l i st en . -Sh ai n a
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Nor th Sou th h as tau gh t m e th at it is possibl e to m ak e a differ en ce by stan din g in sol idar ity with th ose wh o n eed it. By l isten in g to th e peopl e, we can pr ovide th em with th e h el p th at th ey r eal l y n eed; we m u st u se ou r advan tageou s position in th e wor l d to m ak e a differ en ce. -Fr ed
Th r ou gh ou t m y exper ien ce in th e pr ofil e, I l ear n ed al so on a per son al l evel , an d h ow to be m or e m in dfu l , r espectfu l , l ovin g an d car in g. It con n ected m e to th e wor l d, to m y com m u n ity an d to peopl e, as wel l as em ph asizin g on pl acin g m ysel f in oth er peopl e?s sh oes. -Ch an el
W h en I l isten ed to m y h ost m oth er expl ain wh y sh e?s n ever been abl e to get an edu cation , I pu t a face on to wh at was pr eviou sl y ju st a n u m ber I h ad l ear n ed in cl ass. W h en I watch ed m y l ittl e h ost sister pl ay for h ou r s with coin s, I cou l dn ?t stop th in k in g abou t al l th e k ids l ivin g in pover ty th r ou gh ou t th e wor l d. Th is cr eated a str on g an d power fu l sign ifican ce in side of m e. -Em a 19
On e of th e im por tan t l esson s I l ear n t wh il e on th e tr ip is th at n oth in g is r eal l y bl ack an d wh ite, m ean in g th at n o situ ation can be seen as on l y good or on l y bad, an d u su al l y th er e is a l ittl e bit of both good an d bad m ixed togeth er. I can defin itel y say th at after stu dyin g at Dawson in th e Nor th Sou th pr ofil e, I h ave devel oped an open n ess to th e wor l d an d a desir e to do som eth in g abou t social an d en vir on m en tal issu es. -Geor gi a
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Th e p eop l e I m et i n t h e r u r al com m u n i t i es of N i car agu a gav e m e m or e h op e t h an I cou l d h av e ex p ect ed t o br i n g t h em as a W est er n er , by t h e i n cr ed i bl e gen er osi t y an d ben ev ol en ce t h ey sh ow ed m e w h i l e t h ey h ad t h e bar e m i n i m u m f or t h em sel v es. -An n a
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I can n ot ex p r ess m y gr at i t u d e i n an y ot h er w ay bu t t o say ; w h at I ?v e l ear n t h er e, h as br ou gh t m e t o t ear s, f u el l ed m y eager t o l ear n an d f i l l ed m y h ear t w i t h h op e, t h an k y ou f or h el p i n g m e gr ow i n t o t h e p er son I w an t ed t o be. -L ar a
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As I r etu r n ed to M on tr eal I fel t a str on ger sen se of togeth er n ess with m y wh ol e l ife in M on tr eal . I fel t as th ou gh wh il e in Nicar agu a I h ad for m ed a fam il y with m y peer s fr om Nor th -Sou th , wh ich on l y str en gth en ed by Cegep exper ien ce. I h ave gain ed a str on ger sen se of m y pr ivil ege an d h ow l u ck y I am to l ive to l ife I l ive. -Car ol i n e
Al th ou gh th ey al ways acted ch eer y with u s an d ?seem ed?h appy,we r eal l y on l y stayed with th em for 2 week s ou t of th e year. Th er e m u st be tim es wh er e th ey ar e n ot so h appy an d tim es ar e tou gh . I was al ways fed wel l an d sl ept com for tabl y bu t I?m su r e it can ?t be l ik e year r ou n d. W e wer en ?t th er e to see th e fu l l exten t of th eir h ar dsh ips. -Zoe I h ave becom e awar e of social , pol itical an d gen der in equ al ities in u n der devel oped cou n tr ies an d h ow peopl e l ive an d tr y to str ive for ch an ge. H avin g th e pr ivil ege to su bm er ge ou r sel ves in th e cu l tu r e, in th e cou n tr y an d to l ear n abou t th e diver se issu es is wh at tr u l y m ade m e wan t to m ak e a differ en ce. -Jo Not on l y h ave I h ad th e oppor tu n ity to m ak e l ife l on g fr ien dsh ips with th e oth er stu den ts in Nor th Sou th , bu t I h ave h ad th e h on ou r of m eetin g, l ear n in g, l ivin g an d con n ectin g with th e l ocal Nicar agu an s. I h ave l ear n t m or e on th e five week fiel d tr ip, th an I h ave in m y wh ol e l ife an d th at in itsel f, is a sh ock in g r eal ization to h ave. -Jan e
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W ORK PROJECTS InEl Jicaro El JĂcar o?s m ain pr oject was bu il din g a fen ce ar ou n d th e com m u n ity?s pr im ar y sch ool . Th eir pl an is to star t a gar den in th e vacan t space th ey h ave beside th e sch ool , bu t with th e am ou n t of an im al s r oam in g ar ou n d th e ar ea, ch ick en s wer e often abl e to get u n der th e bar bed wir e an d h in der an y sor t of cr ops th ey wer e tr yin g to gr ow. Th is fen ce wou l d in h ibit th eir en tr an ce in to th e sch ool ar ea, al l owin g food to be gr own an d distr ibu ted to th e l ocal ch il dr en . Ou r fir st day of wor k con sisted of pick in g u p fal l en br an ch es an d oth er discar ded m ater ial s th at wer e disper sed ar ou n d th e ar ea. M ak in g two l ar ge pil es with th e h el p of l ocal ch il dr en an d h ost
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fath er s, we cl ear ed u p th e yar d an d wer e r eady to m ove on to th e n ext step of r em ovin g th e ol d fen ce. On th e fol l owin g wor k days, ou r team got to diggin g ar ou n d wh er e th e fen ce wou l d be set u p, r em ovin g r oots an d tr ees in th e way. Th e fen ce was pl aced al on g th e sh al l ow tr en ch es an d pu t in to pl ace with n ew bar bed wir e. After a total of five days, th e n ew fen ce was set u p al l ar ou n d th e sch ool ?s ar ea.
InLas Pozas T h e wor k pr oject for th is year in Las Pozas was to pave a segm en t of a r oad. Th e r oad in qu estion h as been paved by l ittl e by l ittl e over th e year s by th e Nor th Sou th pr ogr am an d th is year we fin al l y com pl eted th e l ast segm en t of th e r oad. Th is pr oject is im por tan t for th e com m u n ity an d for an yon e goin g th r ou gh Las Pozas, becau se it pr ovides an al ter n ative an d faster way to pass
th r ou gh th e com m u n ity. Ou r wor k tr an spor tin g r ock s an d san d, wh ich was ver y im por tan t in h el pin g th e wor k er s wh o wer e wor k in g on th e pavin g of th e r oad al l day l on g. W h il e it was n ot th e m ost com pl icated, it was n ever th el ess ver y h el pfu l .
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JOURNAL ENTRIES TheArrival A Day i n t h e Pl an e (14/ 12/ 16) Today is th e day wh er e we spen t so m u ch tim e on pl an es. M on tr ĂŠal to Ch icago, Ch icago to H ou ston an d fin al l y H ou ston to M an agu a. It m igh t n ot seem l ik e too m u ch com par ed to oth er in ter n ation al tr avel er ?s pl an e r ides, bu t for som eon e wh o h asn 't sl ept th e n igh t befor e, th is day was com pl etel y ch aotic an d h igh l y str essfu l , even th ou gh I am h appy to be l eavin g. W h at m ay sou n d obn oxiou s is th e fact th at I am scar ed to fin d a fath er in on e of m y h om es. As weir d as it sou n ds, I feel th at it wou l d be ver y h ar d for m e to be abl e to com m u n icate an d r el ate to th e Nicar agu an m an , over fl owin g with m ach ism o cu l tu r e an d th e n eed to con stan tl y be in con tr ol . On top of h avin g to speak Span ish to th em , I wou l d h ave to pr eten d to be m an l y an d active (wh ich I cl ear l y am n ot). -N oah Ar r i v i n g i n Ci n co Pi n os (16/ 12/ 16): On th e 16th , th e gr ou p wak es u p r eal l y excited. After br eak fast, we pu t ou r bags in th e bu s, an d l eave for Cin co Pin os. Th e bu s is so col or fu l an d I get Nicar agu an vibes fr om it, so I?m r eaaaaal l y excited th e wh ol e way th er e. After an h ou r or so, we ask th e dr iver to tu r n on th e m u sic. Th e l atin m u sic defin itel y m ak es th e r ide m or e fu n . - Geor gi a 23
Managua Decem ber 15, 2016 I fel t gu il ty in a way,goin g th r ou gh th ese peopl e?s h om es, l iter al l y. It was as if we wer e watch in g a sh ow, u s wh ite tou r ists str ol l in g ar ou n d in ou r bu s an d th ese peopl e won der in g wh y we wer e in vadin g th eir spaces, star in g at th em . Al th ou gh , th e pover ty an d th e sm el l of th e gar bage wer e str ik in g, I saw l ittl e gl im pses of h appin ess. A l ittl e boy,bar efoot in th e pil es of tr ash was wavin g at th e bu s with th e br igh test sm il e I h ave ever seen as wel l as a Decem ber 15, 2016 l ittl e gir l in a car d box seem ed to h ave n o Tom or r ow we tr avel to th e com ar cas at 8am to wor r ies in th e wor l d. - Josep h i n e fin al l y m eet ou r fam il ies. It?s k in d of cr azy th at th is m om en t is fin al l y h er e. I?m tr yin g h ar d to ju st l ive in th e m om en t, wh il e al so tak in g in th e wh ol e exper ien ce. I h ope m eetin g th em wil l n ot be as awk war d as I expect it to be. I h ope I wil l be abl e to com m u n icate en ou gh for th em to get to k n ow m e an d l ik e m e. I?m so excited to m eet th em an d r eal l y get in to th e tr ip. I?m so h appy an d pr ou d of m ysel f for decidin g to go on su ch a dem an din g tr ip. H opefu l l y n ot too m an y of u s get sick . I?m pr ayin g th at I don ?t. -Zoe
MeetingtheFamil ies Decem ber 16, 2016 W e wer e facin g th e r epr esen tatives (m ostl y th e m oth er s) of al l th e differ en t fam il ies. Th is pr ocess was fu l l of awk war dn ess: per sisten t eyes exam in in g th e pool of possibl e faces, cu r iou s to l in k th e face to th e n am e. As I was sittin g th er e, m y h ear t was r acin g, m y pal m s wer e sweaty an d ever y sin gl e in ch of m y body an d sou l was sh ak in g with excitem en t, fear an d n er vou sn ess, it seem ed l ik e for ever befor e th ey star ted pair in g stu den ts with fam il ies. El Jicar o wen t fir st, th en Las Pozas. W h en I h ear d th e n am e of m y jefe de casa I spr u n g u p fr om m y seat to m eet fr om acr oss th e r oom , m y n ew m oth er ; Dar iel is. -L ar a Decem ber 16, 2016 After th e in tr odu ction s, each stu den t sits with th eir fam il y m em ber an d tr y to star t con ver sation s. M y m om seem s to be sh y an d doesn ?t tal k m u ch , wh ich pu ts pr essu r e on m e to ask m an y qu estion s an d I star t r u n n in g ou t of th in gs to tal k abou t. W e eat ou r m eal , an d th en say goodbye to th e stu den ts th at ar e stayin g in El Jicar o.- Geor gi a
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EverydayLifeinLas Pozas Decem ber 25 - Fr ed W h en I am at h om e, it seem s l ik e th er e al ways is som eth in g to do. Bu t in Nicar agu a, I h ave absol u tel y n oth in g on m y m in d. I can sit ou tside an d l ook at th in gs h appen in g ar ou n d m e, l ook at l ife goin g by ar ou n d m e, an d I do n ot feel l ik e I am l osin g an y tim e at al l . M y m in d goes com pl etel y em pty,an d I can ?t even catch m ysel f th in k in g abou t an yth in g. It al m ost feel s l ik e som e sor t of m editation . Decem ber 27t h -Ben It?s n ow becom e su per easy with m y h ost fam il y, we?r e al l gettin g al on g wel l an d I?m ju st sim pl y h appy. I?m r eal l y pr ou d of th at cau se towar ds th e begin n in g of th e stay h er e I was r eal l y won der in g wh at I h ad gotten m ysel f in to. Bu t n ow we?r e al l good so th at a good feel in g. On e of th e best ice br eak er s th at r eal l y h as h el ped m e br idge th e gap between m e an d especial l y m y h ost br oth er s was th e basebal l gl oves. Liter al l y ever y day,we?ve gon e an d tossed ar ou n d th e bal l after eatin g l u n ch . It?s on e of th ose weir d th in gs wh er e you don ?t n eed to say m u ch bu t wh at you do bu il ds a str on g bon d.
Th u r sd ay 29t h Decem ber 2016 at 7h 32 - El i zabet h Ju st cam e back h om e fr om Agu stin a?s h ou se was so fu n with Noah an d h er. W e tal k ed wh il e I was on th e h am m ock . Nel son m y cou sin cam e to get m e to so th at I wou l dn ?t wal k al on e, th ey say it?s dan ger ou s. Al so, h e was on tim e!! IM AGINE TH AT!! Nicar agu a-tim e, wh o was on tim e! I was so im pr essed! I am r eal izin g h ow im por tan t fam il y an d fr ien ds ar e in l ife. I am h avin g th e best en r ich in g con ver sation wh en I am by th e side of fam il y (Agu stin a, Nel son , Jael , etc.) an d with fr ien ds. At h om e, we n ever h ave th at, ju st r el axin g with ou r fr ien ds an d fam il y an d tal k in g abou t th e m ost r an dom th in gs, at l east it h appen s bu t it doesn ?t h appen ever y day. 25
Bi t t er sw eet Feel i n gs (29/ 12/ 16) Th ey br in g ou t th e best in m e, th ey for ce m e to h ave discu ssion s with th em in Span ish even wh en I cl ear l y can ?t u n der stan d. M y h ost m oth er is ver y h om el y an d al ways ask s m e if I?m ok ay. M y br oth er s ar e al ways u p to pl ay a gam e an d l ear n som e n ew En gl ish wor ds. As to m y l ittl e sister ,I h ave yet to u n der stan d h er cor r ectl y bu t we pu l l ou r ton gu es at each oth er an d it?s en ou gh for m e to n ot wan t to l eave h er. Last n igh t Agu stin a, m y h ost m oth er h ad a ver y l on g discu ssion with m e abou t h ow im por tan t edu cation is to h er an d I was gr eatl y m oved by h er speech . Sh e was sayin g th at with th e l ow am ou n t of m on ey th ey can ?t affor d to n ot be su ccessfu l at sch ool . Sh e tol d m e th at sh e h as h igh h opes for h er k ids bu t th at Ju stin is gettin g l ow 80?s an d h e sh ou l d be gettin g better gr ades th an th at for a good fu tu r e.- N oah
EverydayLifeinEl Jicaro Decem ber 20t h 2016 In th e after n oon , we h ad th e oppor tu n ity to speak with th e you th in th e com m u n ity. Th is was a con fer en ce design ed to tal k abou t ou r dr eam s. Th e Nicar agu an you th ?s dr eam s su r r ou n ded ar ou n d edu cation . Th ey al l h ad m an y differ en t jobs th at th ey aspir ed to fu l fil an d th e m ajor ity of th e you th wer e gir l s. Befor e th e con fer en ce I h ad pr edicted th at becau se of th e m ain str eam gen der r ol es in Nicar agu a, m ost of th e wom en wou l d say th at th ey wan ted to be teach er s as th at is th e job th at m ost wom en h ol d. H owever ,I was su r pr ised wh en som e of th eir an swer s wer e pol ice officer or veter in ar ian . It was an am azin g oppor tu n ity to be abl e to tal k abou t ou r dr eam s an d r eal ize th at m an y of th eir dr eam s wer e sim il ar to m in e. - Car ol i n e
Decem ber 16t h , 2016 It was an h ou r -l on g wal k to El JĂcar o. M y h ost m oth er an d I wer e th e l ast on es to join ever yon e in th e com ar ca cen tr e. M y sh oe spl it at th e sol e ear l y on in th e wal k an d th e r est of th e gr ou p qu ick l y passed u s. It m ade for som e com edic r el ief sin ce sh e fou n d it ver y am u sin g to see m e wobbl e on th e poin ty l ittl e r ock s, sh e wou l d expl ain to h er fr ien ds wh at h appen ed with m y sh oe an d we al l h ad a l au gh togeth er. - An n a
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Decem ber 29t h : Th is m or n in g I watch ed m y h ost fath er pl ay h is ch u r ch son gs with pr ide on h is el ectr ic pian o. I ask ed h im h ow h e l ear n ed it an d h e said, ?By l isten in g, of cou r se.? Th is is h appin ess. Last n igh t m y h ost m oth er com bed m y h air an d tied it u p in a h igh pon ytail ju st l ik e sh e h ad don e for m y l ittl e h ost sister. Th is is h appin ess. An d n ow, I l ook beyon d th e m ou n tain s yel l owin g itsel f with th e settin g su n an d feel on ce again th at th is is tr u l y h appin ess. - Em a Decem ber 18t h , 2016 W e al l wen t on th e h ik e today. Th e tr ek u p th e m ou n tain was difficu l t an d al m ost ver tical . Th e Nicar agu an s th at cam e with u s l ook ed l ik e th ey h ad n o pr obl em doin g th is m ar ch , so I decided th at if th ey h ad n o tr ou bl e I cou l dn ?t l ook l ik e I was h avin g tr ou bl e. I pu sh ed on an d k ept goin g. Th er e was a poin t on th e tr ip u p th e m ou n tain wh er e I am su r e th at th e h il l was m aybe an eigh ty-five degr ee in cl in e an d we h ad to gr ab on to tr ees an d each oth er ?s ar m s to get u p. A few of peopl e th at cam e decided n ot to do th is por tion of th e h ik e. I feel m igh ty sor r y for th ose peopl e. Th e view at th e top of th e m ou n tain was m ajestic, th er e was on l y a sm al l cl ear in g to l ook th r ou gh bu t it was stil l in cr edibl e. I?ve n ever seen th at m u ch gr een in m y l ife. Ju st h il l after Decem ber 16t h 2016 La n u it passée, je m e su is r éveil l ée à 3h 30 du m atin , in capabl e de dor m ir bien sû r. Dison s qu e l es cr is des vach es, des ch ien s des coqs, l es feu x d?ar tifices, l es cou ps de feu , et j?en passe, n e m ?aiden t pas à dor m ir. Sin on , j?ai r en con tr é m es pr em ier s in sectes au jou r d?h u i : u n ser pen t qu e m on fr èr e a tu é avec u n e r och e et deu x ar aign ées dan s m a ch am br e, m on pèr e s?en est occu pées.
Je m e dem an de com m en t m a fam il l e vie san s m oi, si c?est l a m êm e ch ose qu e ce qu ?il s dém on tr en t en ce m om en t. J?ai r em ar qu é l e l in ge tr ou é, l es sou l ier s br isés, l ?h abitu de des en fan ts de l éch er l eu r s assiettes apr ès l es r epas et l eu r excitation qu an d je l eu r pr opose m es r estan ts. Beau cou p qu al ifier ait ça com m e l a pau vr eté. J?im agin e qu e ce l ?est, m ais je n ?ai pas l ?im pr ession de l a vivr e ici. Peu t-êtr e de l a pau vr eté écon om iqu e, m ais il y a tel l em en t pl u s qu e ça. Je m e sen s m al qu an d m a fam il l e m e pose des qu estion s su r m a vie au Can ada, l es coû ts de cer tain es ch oses. Je com pr en ds qu ?il s soien t in tér essés, m ais je n e veu x pas Decem ber 30 2017 It?s ju st m in d bl owin g to th in k th at fifteen days ago, we cou l d bar el y com m u n icate an d n ow I feel l ik e sh e is l egitim atel y m y secon d m oth er.- Josep h i n e 27
Christmas Day Decem ber 25t h Yester day,Las Pozas r eceived th r ee piĂą atas fr om th e gover n m en t. W h il e it is fu n for th e ch il dr en , I won der h ow m u ch m on ey it cost an d if it wou l d h ave been better spen t on som eth in g el se. Bu t th is is wh at th e gover n m en t does, r igh t? Yester day n igh t we h ad a fiesta. Jan e?s fam il y pu t m u sic on , an d we dan ced for two h ou r s. I m u st adm it I do n ot dan ce ver y wel l , bu t I stil l h ad a l ot of fu n . - Fr ed
Leon Jan u ar y 1, 2017 Today was th e fir st day of th e New Year an d it was su ch an excitin g day! Last n igh t we h ad ou r r ooftop par ty in Leon wh er e th e teach er s su r pr ised u s with a M ar iach i Ban d! Th e ban d was am azin g, an d we al l dan ced so m u ch Jan e
Fel iz AnoNuevo!
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Activities Cer r o N egr o Jan u ar y 1st Th at after n oon we?d pl an n ed a tr ip to a vol can o ju st ou tside of LĂŠon wh er e we wer e stayin g. As we wer e pr epar in g to l eave I cou l d feel th e r u m bl in gs of M on tezu m a?s r even ge in m y stom ach an d I m ade th e gr ave m istak e of bel ievin g th at I cou l d power th r ou gh with ou t Im odiu m . I th ou gh t th e r ide was goin g to be fu n becau se of th e van , bu t th e n ovel ty of it wor e off after l ik e twen ty m in u tes pr obabl y becau se th e M on tezu m a?s r even ges gr owl s wer e becom in g m u ch r eal er. Fr om afar , it l ook ed l ik e a gigan tic pil e of bl ack san d an d on l y on ce you got cl ose wer e you actu al l y abl e to r eal ize th at it was a vol can o. I?m goin g to sou n d l ik e too m u ch of a n er d h er e bu t it im m ediatel y r em in ded m e of M or dor in Lor d of th e Rin gs. It was exh il ar atin g r u n n in g down th e m ou n tain , it feel s l ik e you ?r e com in g down fr om th e h eaven s. On ce I got to th e bottom th ou gh th e r even ge h ad ar r ived, I don ?t k n ow h ow to say th is in a good way bu t I l iter al l y cou l dn ?t h ol d m y sph in cter sh u t.- Ben Jan u ar y 1st 2017
M ost of th e pr obl em s th ey face ar e th in gs I tak e for gr an ted dail y back at h om e; sch ool is given , even a bu r den to som e of u s. Divor ce an d abor tion s ar e com m on an d accepted, I h ave so m an y con su m ed item s I can ?t even cou n t th em , an d I don ?t even u se h al f of th em . I h ave a k itch en , th at doesn ?t cau se m y eyes to bu r n ever y tim e I u se it, a su per m ar k et five m in u tes away th at con stan tl y fil l s m y fr idge, I h ave a com pu ter with access to al l k n owl edge in m y ver y r oom an d I even h ave a bed th at I don ?t n eed to sh ar e with an yon e. Al l th is gu il t of bein g given su ch th in gs an d n ot r ecogn izin g th eir val u e is fu el l in g m y cu r r en t depr ession , bu t it?s al so pu sh in g m e to ch an ge. To th in k th at th ese r eal ization s wer e su ch str an ger s to m e two week s ago, I n eeded so m u ch exper ien ce to r eal ize th e sim pl est of th in gs; I am in cr edibl y l u ck y. For n ow, I wil l sim pl y con cen tr ate on th e fact th at I am on a beau tifu l vol can o, cl oser to th e cl ou ds an d abou t to r u n down th is vigor ou s m ou n tain , I wil l cer tain l y fal l (an d I did, twice) -L ar a 29
PuertoCabezas / Pl aneRide Jan u ar y 3r d , 2017After h is tal k we wer e pr esen ted with a m agn ificen t displ ay of cu l tu r e in th e aspect of son g an d dan ce. Th r ee m em ber s of a dan ce gr ou p cam e an d tau gh t u s h ow to dan ce as wel l as dan ced for ou r en ter tain m en t. After th is pr esen tation th e l eader of th e LGBT com m u n ity cam e back an d did h is im per son ation of Lady Gaga. H e th en expl ain ed after war ds th at h e l oves doin g h is im per son ation of Lady Gaga becau se sh e is fl am boyan t an d ver y expr essive in th e way sh e per for m s an d h e iden tifies str on gl y with h er -Ry an
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Famil ies inTuapi K i n g Pu l an k a/ Ot h er act i v i t i es: Jan u ar y 8t h ,2017 Th er e was a festivity for th e h ol iday in th e basebal l stadiu m th at was su pposed to h appen at two. Of cou r se, becau se we?r e r u n n in g on Nicar agu an tim e, so th e festivities on l y star ted at fou r ,wh ich was two h ou r s l ate. H owever ,it was wor th th e wait becau se it was in ter estin g wh at th ey did. Th er e wer e m en wh o cam e in to th e faces cover ed with m ask s. Som e of th em cam e in on h or ses an d oth er s r an in , bu t th ey wer e al l sh ootin g fir ecr ack er s u p in to th e air. After war ds, th ey m oved to m ak e an isl e down th e m iddl e of th e basebal l diam on d an d th e qu een an d k in g of Tu api wal k ed in . Th er e wer e 3 cou pl es of r oyal ty wh o wal k ed in . Th ey star ted dan cin g with each oth er an d th ey cal l ed Jeff down to dan ce with th em as wel l . Fin al l y,th e official k in g of Tu api cam e down with two wom en by h is h ou se. Geoff wen t in to th e basebal l diam on d an d was ?m ar r ied? to on e of th e wom en th at was wal k ed in l ast, wh ich was h il ar iou s. On ce ever yon e apar t of th e cer em on y h ad wal k ed in th ey cal l ed al l of u s to com e down an d dan ce. As we wal k ed in we wer e al l given a par tn er an d h ad to dan ce with th em in fr on t of th e en tir e com m u n ity -Car ol i n e Jan u ar y 11, 2017 Th is after n oon we atten ded a cou n cil m eetin g with th e com m u n ity m em ber s an d peopl e in ch ar ge, l ik e th e ju ez for exam pl e. Th e in ten tion of th e m eetin g was to h ave an official wel com in g by th e com m u n ity of Tu api to u s Can adian s. Th ey expl ain ed to u s h ow th ey ar e l ook in g for war d for th e year s to com e wh er e Dawson Col l ege visits Tu api again an d h opefu l l y we can bu il d a r el ation sh ip l ik e in th e com ar cas. I fel t tr u l y h on ou r ed to be a par t of th e com m u n ity m eetin g an d witn ess h ow th is in digen ou s gr ou p gover n s th em sel ves an d discu ss th eir con cer n s, ideas, pr ojects, etc. Bein g on th is tr ip h as r eal l y m ade m e r eal ize th e im pact th at Nor th Sou th h as on th e com m u n ities we visit. Th e fu n dr aisin g, th e wor k pr ojects, th ey ar e so im por tan t to th ese peopl e. Even th ou gh th e pl an s with ou r wor k pr oject h er e did n ot tu r n ou t th e way we h ad h oped, th e fu n ds ar e th er e an d th e l ocal s tol d u s h ow th ey wil l wor k togeth er to get it don e. -Jan e 31
EverydayLifeinTuapi Jan u ar y 5t h 2017: Noah , Jo, Jan e, Em a, Ryan , Ben , An a an d I wen t to an oth er par t of th e r iver to do ou r l au n dr y. It was al l goin g wel l u n til th e fam ou s Atl an tic coast r ain pou r star ts an d con tin u ed for 40 m in u tes. W e stayed an d con tin u ed doin g l au n dr y becau se we h ad a l ot l eft an d on l y 4 wash boar ds. W e al l wash ed each oth er s cl oth es an d I en ded u p with ever yon e?s boxer s h ah a (TM I?). It was defin itel y som eth in g I?l l n ever for get. On th e way back ou r wal k was sign ifican tl y h ar der. Not on l y was ou r stu ff h eavier bu t th e dir t path tu r n ed in to a sl ip an d sl ide. Th ou gh I didn ?t fin d sl ippin g th r ou gh th e ju n gl e with 50 pou n ds of wet cl oth es, wh il e dr en ch ed, am u sin g in th e m om en t, I do n ow (th an k fu l l y). By th e tim e we got h om e, it h ad stopped r ain in g so we h u n g ou r cl oth es on th e l in e, got ch an ged, an d h ad l u n ch . -Sh ai n a Jan u ar y 7t h Notr e m èr e est tel l em en t au x petites atten tion s avec n ou s, c?est cu te. M oi et Lar a l u i avon s m on tr é des ph otos de n os fam il l es, el l e a vr aim en t aim é ça. Ch aqu e jou r ,el l e pl ace n os ch am br es à l ?or dr e, pl ace n otr e l it, pl i n otr e l in ge et fait u n n ? u d avec l e m osqu iter o. En m ar ch an t dan s l a com m u n au té l e soir ,afin de visiter u n e fem m e pou r m on en tr evu e (su r pr ise), m a m èr e m ?a pr ise par l e br as, com m e si el l e avait peu r qu e qu el qu e ch ose m ?ar r ive. C?est ce gen r e de m om en t in atten du s qu e j?appr écie én or m ém en t. -Ch an el Jan u ar y 8t h . I don ?t wan t to go h om e an ym or e, I am so h appy. Jo is tal k in g, Sia?s sin gin g, an d Cl au dia an d Lar a ar e swim m in g in th e water. Sh ain a an d Fr ed ar e r eadin g. Ch el sea an d Ryan ar e bu il din g som eth in g ou t of th e san d. El izabeth an d Ch an el ar e l yin g togeth er. Zoë an d Geor gia ar e m ak in g br acel ets an d speak in g qu ietl y to each oth er. Jo an d Car ol in e ar e tan n in g. I l ook ar ou n d at th ese beau tifu l peopl e an d feel n oth in g in m y h ear t bu t l ove. Life is sim pl e. H appin ess can be sim pl e. I k n ow I?l l go back h om e an d fal l in to th e pr obl em s th at n ow seem so m ean in gl ess. Bu t th is tr ip, with its l on g days an d gen u in e h u m il ity,h as offer ed m e ways in to m ysel f an d 32 in to th e tr u e beau ty of th is l ife. -Em a
Jan u ar y 3r d , 2017 I l oved h ow ou r br oth er im m ediatel y took u s swim m in g, it was a gr eat way of gettin g to k n ow u s so qu ick l y. W e swam u n til th e su n set an d th en we wal k ed back h om e. W e ate ou r fir st din n er th er e an d th en wen t to bed. W h en in bed I ju st sat th er e an d th ou gh t h ow difficu l t th is week wil l be bu t I am r eady to tak e it al l in . -N oah
Jan u ar y 10t h , 2017 W e spen t th e l ast cou pl e of days with ou t el ectr icity. To u s, it was on l y a bu r den wh en we n eeded to u se ou r fl ash l igh ts as a sou r ce of l igh t, bu t to th e M isk itu peopl e, n o el ectr icity m ean s n o l igh t, n o u se of th e stove (Er l in da is l u ck y en ou gh to h ave on e) an d n o access to en ter tain m en t. In Ch ayan ?s com pl ain in g wor ds: ?W e h ave n o l igh t, we can n ot do an yth in g fu n ?. -L ar a
Jan u ar y 12t h Ar tel , m y br oth er ,in vited Ch el sea an d I to pl ay vol l eybal l r igh t in fr on t of m y h ou se. As we star ted pl ayin g, oth er k ids star ted join in g in , an d soon we wer e abou t 7 peopl e pl ayin g. At on e poin t, I m issed th e bal l an d h ad to go pick it u p, an d I su dden l y r eal ized it was dar k ! I was so in to th e gam e th at I h adn ?t seen th e tim e go by,an d wh en I l ook ed u p at th e sk y I cou l d see th e fu l l m oon th r ou gh th e cocon u t tr ees? Th is is a view th at I wil l pr obabl y n ot get to see for a wh il e! I can ?t bel ieve h ow l u ck y I am th at I?m h er e, in Tu api, a pl ace th at m ost peopl e don ?t even k n ow exists! -Geor gi a Jan u ar y 8t h I saw th r ee l ittl e gir l s pl ayin g with th e em pty bottl es fr om en gin e oil s an d cl ean in g su ppl ies. ?Look h ow r esou r cefu l th ey ar e! Th ey can h ave fu n with an yth in g!?, I cau gh t m ysel f th in k in g. Th at?s som eth in g I?ve been h ear in g a l ot fr om ou r gr ou p du r in g ou r stay in th e com m u n ities. It was seein g th e h azar d sym bol on on e of th ose bottl es th at m ade m e tak e a m en tal step back . Th at?s wh en I saw beyon d th e r om an tic aspect of r u n n in g ar ou n d th e m u d bar efoot an d m ak in g a gam e ou t of tr ash fou n d ou tside. -An n a 33
Jan u ar y 6t h Th e sou n d of th e m u sic cou l d be h ear d acr oss th e vil l age an d wh en we ar r ived to th e fiesta, it seem ed l ik e th e wh ol e com m u n ity was pr esen t. It m ade m e feel l ik e we wer e so wel com ed, th at th ey appr eciated u s bein g in th eir com m u n ity. Ever yon e dan ced an d th is is on e of th ose m om en ts th at I wil l ch er ish an d l ook back on , r em em ber in g h ow h appy I fel t an d h ow l u ck y I was to be in th is pl ace with al l th ese am azin g peopl e. -Josep h i n e
Jan u ar y 9t h San ta tol d m e th at peopl e in Tu api l ive off th eir fr u its, especial l y m an gos. H er e, peopl e l ive fr om th eir fr u its. Sh e says th at Tu api is a ver y l u ck y com m u n ity,becau se so m an y fr u it tr ees gr ow h er e, way m or e th an in th e oth er su r r ou n din g com m u n ities. In fact, th er e ar e so m an y m an gos du r in g th e season th at th is is al l th at peopl e eat! No on e r eal l y goes h u n gr y in Tu api accor din g to San ta. Becau se of al l th e n atu r al r esou r ces th at su r r ou n d th em , th e peopl e of Tu api can al ways get by by sel l in g an d eatin g th eir fr u its an d seafood. -Fr ed
Jan u ar y 8, 2017 I wen t in to m y r oom to gr ab som eth in g an d stepped on a bee. At fir st I didn ?t r eal l y r eal ize bu t it star ted r eal l y h u r tin g an d I fel t som eth in g dan gl in g fr om m y toe. I yel l ed at Cl au dia to com e h el p m e bu t sh e th ou gh t I was sayin g som eon e gr abbed m y foot so sh e didn 't com e r igh t away. W h en sh e fin al l y cam e in , I was on th e fl oor pr actical l y in th e spl its, wr ith in g in pain . Sh e stood th er e for a wh il e n ot k n owin g wh at exactl y to do. Ou r sibl in gs cam e in an d star ted l au gh in g at u s - al l wh il e I?m l egit on th e ver ge of tear s. Sh e fin al l y yan k ed it ou t an d it star ted swel l in g. Ou r gr an d-m a pu t som e weir d br own stu ff on it. -Zoe
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Departure Jan u ar y 11, 2017 Today was th e l ast day in Tu api an d I am r eal l y sad to be l eavin g m y fam il y. an eI wish we cou l d h ave stayed h er e l on ger becau se I feel m or e con n ected to th e peopl e h er e an d th e en vir on m en t. It?s h ar d to bel ieve th at th er e?s on l y five days l eft on th e tr ip becau se we al l ju st got u sed to th e way of l ife h er e, it?s m or e com for tabl e n ow th an it was befor e an d n ow we h ave to get r eady to say goodbye. Th e days go by so fast h er e an d so m u ch of ou r tim e is spen t al togeth er ,h an gin g ou t with each oth er an d th e l ocal peopl e, ju st m ak in g m em or ies -Jan e
ReturningHome Su n d ay t h e 8t h of Jan u ar y 2017 I am n ot gettin g su n bu r n again ; I l ear n ed qu ick l y to pu t su n scr een . On l y 4 days l eft u n til we l eave, I am h appy an d sad at th e sam e tim e to get back with th e str ess of sch ool an d wor k . Life is bl essed r igh t n ow! El i zabet h
17 0 2 h t 6 1 y r a u n a J
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CONFERENCES nicaraguannational assembly Du r in g ou r fir st day in M an agu a, we visited th e Nation al Assem bl y,wh er e sever al l ocal gover n m en t wom en gave u s a tal k on th e Nicar agu an gover n m en t. On e of th e wom en was a r epr esen tative of th e Car r ibean Coast of Nicar agu a an d pr ovided som e in ter estin g in sigh t of h ow th e gover n m en t is separ ated, yet stil l r epr esen ted on th e Pacific Coast.
casacanadiense& yamil ethperez Th e Casa Can adien se is a Tor on to based NGO th at h as two m ission s. Th e fir st bein g to edu cate Can adian stu den ts in Nicar agu a on th e cou n tr y?s devel opm en t. Secon dl y to an n u al l y r u n five gr assr oot com m u n ity devel opm en t pr ojects in th e r u r al ar eas of th e cou n tr y.Yam il ith Per ez is a com m u n ity l eader in M an agu a par ticu l ar l y in h er n eigh bou r h ood of ?Acaqu al in ca? with th e basic idea of wor k in g to pr ovide to th e n eeds of th e com m u n ity by an y m ean s n ecessar y. Sh e spok e abou t h ow h er u pbr in gin g in La Ch u r r eca pu sh ed h er towar ds wan tin g to be in vol ved in th e com m u n ity. Th r ou gh ou t al l th e h ar dsh ips sh e faced in h er own l ife, it h el ped br in g h er cl oser to h er l ove for social wor k .
j oventud Joven tu d is a n ation al you th or gan ization with its goal bein g to h el p you th to get edu cated an d pr epar e for th e fu tu r e. Th e you th wh o wor k in th e or gan ization ar e between th e ages of sixteen to th ir ty-five year s ol d. Th e or gan ization is divided in to fou r br an ch es: spor ts, en vir on m en tal ism , cu l tu r e, an d edu cation . Each br an ch or gan izes activities to en cou r age you th 36
l ifeof theyouthinthecomarcas l as pozas On th e 20th of Decem ber ,al l th e stu den ts in Las Pozas sat with som e of th e you n g peopl e of th e com ar ca in or der to exch an ge abou t th e differ en t r eal ities of bein g a you th . Du r in g th is exch an ge, ever yon e tal k ed abou t th eir h opes an d dr eam s for th e fu tu r e, an d especial l y abou t edu cation , em pl oym en t an d l on g-ter m goal s.
el j icaro Th e stu den ts gath er ed in a cl assr oom in El Jicar o to discu ss wh at it?s r eal l y l ik e for th ese you n g peopl e l ivin g in r u r al Nicar agu a, givin g th eir own exper ien ces of you th back h om e in Can ada. Econ om ic issu es wer e discu ssed, al on g with th e added pr essu r es of academ ic su ccess. M en tal h eal th , u n iver sity,an d car eer option s wer e al so br ou gh t u p.
j uez haydeedel carmenurbina Car m en Ur bin a is on e of th e on l y fem al e ju dges in th e ar ea. Sh e began th e con fer en ce by expl ain in g th e l ogistics of th e ju dicial jobs an d expl ain in g h er own special ization s. Ur bin a al l owed in sigh ts in to th e cou n tr y?s differ en t l egal agr eem en ts, l aws again st viol en ce an d cr im in al pu n ish m en ts. Sh e spok e of a var iety of in itiatives, r an gin g fr om th ose focu sin g on r ein tegr ation of pr ison er s in to society,to th ose cen ter ed on establ ish in g con ver sation s in com m u n ities on th e r igh ts of citizen s.
fincawithdonaauxil adora W e visited an or gan ic far m in El Car r izal bel on gin g to Don a Au xil ador a. Sh e tal k ed to u s abou t th e ch al l en ges th at com e with own in g an eco-fr ien dl y far m , al on g with th e difficu l ties br ou gh t on by cl im ate ch an ge an d wh at sh e is activel y doin g to cou n ter th em . 37
mayor of santotomas W il fr edo Ram os Car den a is th e m ayor of th e m u n icipal ity of San to Tom as Del Nor te. H e spok e abou t th e pol itical str u ctu r e an d th e ch al l en ges th e com m u n ity faces. H e is th e r epr esen tative of th e FSLN in th e m u n icipal ity. H e r epr esen ts n ot on l y San to Tom as bu t al so al l th e su r r ou n din g com ar cas, wh ich each h ave th eir own r epr esen tative at th e m u n icipal l evel . Th e biggest ch al l en ges th e m u n icipal ity face ar e th e issu es br ou gh t for th fr om cl im ate ch an ge, par ticu l ar l y in r egar ds to potabl e water. In itiatives to r aise awar en ess ar e pu t for war d by th e m u n icipal gover n m en t.
vidadeunamuj er l as pozas Tesl a gave th e gr ou p of Las Pozas stu den ts an in ter estin g in sigh t of h er l ife an d h er back gr ou n d as a wom an in h er cou n tr y. Sh e attr ibu tes th e equ al ity of wom en in h er cou n tr y to Dan iel Or tega wh o activel y pr om otes edu cation for both gen der s an d im pl em en ts l aws to pr otect wom en . Sh e h opes for h er gover n m en t to k eep pr om otin g edu cation an d th e equ al r igh ts for wom en , becau se sh e h as two dau gh ter s th at h ave gr eat poten tial an d feel s th at edu cation can on l y br in g th em fu r th er in l ife. Sh e feel s em power ed by h avin g a job an d sh e wish es th e sam e u pon h er ch il dr en .
el j icaro Reyn a star ted th e con fer en ce by statin g th at wom en h ave a ver y special pl ace h er e in Nicar agu a, an d Dan iel Or tega?s secon d com in g h as br ou gh t abou t positive ch an ges for gen der equ al ity. Livin g th r ou gh th e war ,sh e gave in sigh t to wh at it was l ik e as a wom an du r in g th is tim e of viol en ce. Sh e com par ed th e n ew gover n an ce to th at of th e Som osa Regim e an d Ch am or r o, em ph asizin g th e positive tr an sfor m ation sh e h as witn essed th r ou gh ou t h er l ifetim e. 38
el mer zel ayabl andon Th e pr esen tation given by El m er Zel aya was descr ibin g th e th r ee dom ain s h e h as con secr ated h is l ife to th u s far. Th e fir st ar ea was h is el em en tar y sch ool br eak fast pr ogr am , wh ich in th e en d h as pr ovided br eak fast to stu den ts in el em en tar y sch ool s acr oss Nicar agu a. Secon dl y,h e h as been wor k in g to br in g el ectr icity in to r u r al ar eas by cr eatin g a pr ogr am th at al l ows you n g pr ofession al s to in stal l sol ar pan el s at a l ow cost. Fin al l y, h e spok e abou t th e n ew stoves h e h ad design ed in effor ts to figh t th e u n der r esear ch ed r espir ator y issu es th at wom en an d ch il dr en face with th e ol d styl e cook stoves.
j el lyfishprocessingpl ant Dor wel l took th e wh ol e gr ou p on a tou r of th e jel l yfish pr ocessin g pl an t of Tu api. H e tal k ed to u s abou t th e im por tan ce of th e pl an t for em pl oym en t of wom en an d al so discu ssed th e var iou s ways th at peopl e m ak e a l ivin g with th e sea, su ch as divin g for l obster an d sea cu cu m ber ,fish in g an d gath er in g cl am s.
sedrack zacarias zamora- l obster fishing Th is Tu api l ocal fish er m an gave th e Nor th -Sou th gr ou p a con fer en ce abou t th e l ife of a fish er m an in th is ar ea of Nicar agu a. H e is th e captain of a boat th at goes ou t for twel ve days at a tim e in or der to catch l obster. Th is is th en sol d to cor por ation s. H e wen t in to detail s of th e dan ger s th is pr ofession en tail s as wel l as wh at m ak es a good fish er m an or diver in h is cr ew. H e wen t on to expl ain th e in s an d ou ts of l obster sel l in g, wh eth er it is to cor por ation s or at th e l ocal m ar k et.
santa- l eader of womenintuapi
yadiracardenas
San ta is th e l eader of wom en in th e com m u n ity of Tu api. Sh e gave an exten sive r u n -down of h er r ol e in deal in g with cases of dom estic viol en ce in Tu api. In h er opin ion , dom estic viol en ce h as becom e l ess of a pr obl em over tim e with th e l aws pr otectin g wom en . Sh e al so m en tion ed differ en t in itiatives th at ar e tr yin g to in cite wom en to expl or e jobs, su ch as wor k sh ops to teach wom en h ow to star t th eir own bu sin ess an d h el p th em gain differ en t sk il l s. Sh e feel s th at wom en ar e equ al in th e cou n tr y an d th at m en n ow r espect wom en m or e an d do n ot dar e to oppr ess
In Gr an ada, we m et with Yadir a Car den as wh o is a veter an of Nor th -Sou th con fer en ces. Sh e began h er pr esen tation by r ecal l in g som e of h er exper ien ces wor k in g in Fr ee tr ade zon es in Nicar agu a. Sh e discu ssed h er in vol vem en t in differ en t u n ion s tr yin g to im pr ove wor k er ?s r igh ts. Sh e con cl u ded th e con fer en ce by tal k in g abou t h er cu r r en t job in th e M in istr y of H eal th , wh er e sh e is in vol ved in th e pr even tion of den gu e. 39
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ou r fiel d tr ip exper ien ce of l ivin g with com m u n ities in a devel opin g cou n tr y h as m ade u s appr eh en d th e power of exch an gin g abou t ou r r espective exper ien ces an d l ear n in g fr om ever y per son we m eet. Pr ior to th e tr ip, al l of u s h ad stu died Nicar agu a an d th ese peopl es?cir cu m stan ces for a year an d a h al f. W h en we ar r ived, h owever ,l ook in g for th e an swer s to com pl ete ou r u n der stan din g of th e cou n tr y?s pol itical an d social l an dscape in r eal ity ju st in spir ed even m or e qu estion s. Bein g in th e fiel d an d seein g th e com pl exity of issu es th at can seem str aigh tfor war d on paper em power ed u s with h u m il ity an d a h eigh ten ed desir e to l ear n sin ce we was faced with th e fact th at ou r k n owl edge is l im ited. Th e su ccess of th e tr ip was en su r ed by a gr ou p of h igh l y m otivated, sel fl ess in dividu al s. Ou r ch aper on es dedicated so m u ch of th eir tim e an d en er gy to m ak e it al l h appen for u s, an d we can safel y say th at n on e of u s wou l d h ave h ad th is l ife ch an gin g exper ien ce if it wasn 't for th eir gen er ou s wor k . W e wou l d l ik e to dedicate th is fiel d tr ip jou r n al to th ese am azin g teach er s an d staff wh o we got to k n ow as u n iqu e, ch ar m in g, an d en ter tain in g in dividu al s. Th an k you for you r devotion to sh apin g stu den ts th at wil l wan t to give back an d m ak e a r eal differ en ce.
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North South Studies 2016-2017