When in Nicaragua

Buenaaas dias amigas and amigos! It has only been two short weeks in Managua and I already have so much to tell you.

Here is Betsy in one of the relaxing hammocks outside of our guesthouse. All of us have already taken advantage of these to take a quick nap, read some books, and get to know one another! However, beware of the mosquitoes my friends!! They are relentless. 

Our first weekend and we are already on fire!! The view of the Masaya Volcano had most of us speechless as smoke and fumes from the crater rose to the sky. This is a bunch of us looking out on an edge of the massive volcano. Not going to lie to you, but my arms were trembling from trying to take this selfie!

Right before heading to San Onofre, a rural community nearby, we started to color posters about proper hand-washing techniques and the importance of clean water for the community members. We all played some Spanish tunes and attempted to combine our artistic skills to create these. If you look very closely, you can see one of our friends drawing a detailed sketch of a chicken! 

This is Casa Base also known as the local clinic in San Onofre. We've learned so much about maternal and child health and empowerment, it was surreal to be able to physically see these processes taking place before our eyes. Our community health leader educated us on her conversations with pregnant women about prenatal nutrition and even let us eat food in her home! If you see the road right outside Casa Base, that is where many of the children from San Onofre showed us how to play an exciting and sneaky game where everyone holds hands in a circle and sings a song until someone is out! Watch out, they somehow always win!

This joyful moment was right after a few children from the community led us on a strenuous hike up this mountain. After minutes of sweating from the steep incline and attempting to converse seamlessly in Spanish, we made it!! The view was absolutely breathtaking with so many blue and green colored hills and natural wonders. It was so massive yet so silent at the top. After taking it all in, I asked one of the children : "¿que debemos gritar?" or "what should we yell?" They responded and we all yelled at the top of our lungs in unison: "Dios Vive!!" 

When in Nicaragua, my friends!! Until next time.