Today was certainly one of the busier days! We had one our earliest mornings today and after breakfast we took the trek to begin our activities. We had the opportunity to speak with farmers and representatives from Prodessa about agriculture, differences in our production systems, and cultural/societal differences and their role in all of these things. After that, we had the opportunity to talk with two Nicaraguan veterinarians about the differences between methods of certification and studying between our two locations, the culture of animals in Nicaragua, and other general questions we still had about the agriculture industry here. To finish out our events for the day, we went to a local cattle operation where we got a special look at some very centralized cattle issues, we got to investigate a specific Nicaraguan cattle system, and we got to ask questions about livestock production. All of these activities, and all of things we have taken part in while here in Nicaragua thus far, have been truly amazing and eye-opening. However, we are very fortunate to be on this trip with our professors from The Ohio State University who guide us through all the changes and realizations we are making on this trip, in addition to guiding us through the learning experiences. We ended today in reflection led by our study abroad instructors and I am so grateful for The Ohio State University and the extraordinary faculty they have, who challenges us as students to grow and learn and think everyday.

After we got back from our tours we had dinner and then we began our evening meeting in an open space at our beautiful hotel. The meeting began with our professor expressing gratitude for the group and our willingness to participate in the program and bond with each other. After that, he posed us all some questions and encouraged us to answer. First, he asked us why we decided to go Ohio State. The answers ranged from things like “it was affordable”, “it was close”, and “there are so many opportunitites” to “the agricultural reputation”, “it’s a family tradition”, and “I just knew.” In your first year at Ohio State you get to hear a wide variety of reasons for why people picked the university, and you yourself have to justify your decision often, as well, and this makes you pretty aware of all the reasons why someone would decide to go here. He then asked us why we chose to go to Nicaragua through this trip. Some people mentioned that they heard about it and orientation, some said that it was one of the opportunities that they always wanted to take advantage of in college and specifically at Ohio State, some said because it was a good way to get credit and travel the world while also being financially reasonable, and some said that they just “winged it.” Since the trip is nearly over and we get closer and closer to beginning our second semester, it was kind of nice to reflect on and remember why we are where we are in the first place.

Photo by Abby Motter

The last question that he asked was why we all selected the majors that we did. On this trip, the majority of the students are Animal Science majors, however, the following majors are also represented: Meat Science; Forestries, Fisheries, and Wildlife; Agribusiness and Applied Economics; Agricultural Education; Entamology; and Environment, Economy Development, and Sustainability. That being said, many of us had different reasons for picking the majors that we did. However, what was challenging about this question is that our professor pushed us to answer the question “why?” five times after we gave our reason behind our choice. I personally am so grateful for this trip because it has allowed me to reevaluate my life, the things I value, and things I want to do. Studying abroad and going to a different country, especially through a program like this, genuinely is life changing. During this meeting it was very evident that I was not the only person that has been affected by this trip in such a deep way; during the meeting we all thought deeply about the things we wanted for our lives, why we wanted them, and how our time at college and this trip have both affected all of this. All of us on this trip have the amazing opportunity to travel the world, to travel the world with friends, to grow closer to professors, to learn about international agriculture, to see cultural differences, and (maybe most importantly) to challenge ourselves to grow as professionals, leaders, and individuals, and we could not be more grateful.

On the afternoon of Jan 9th a small group of us went to visit with a Nicaraguan village that is known for their pottery. While we were there, we got to actually watch one of the villagers make a piece of pottery. I was amazed that he was able to spin a fairly large piece of pottery in less than 5 minutes. It was also very interesting learning about the different tools they use in the pottery making process. For example, their polishing tools and colors were from various rocks, minerals, or even seeds that are native to the land. Also, the paintbrushes were made from old pens and the hair of some of the women in the village and the detailing tools were made from bicycle spokes. It was truly an amazing process and the resulting lives of pottery were fantastic.

Photo by Abby Motter

There was so much we learned from this visit especially about culture and tradition. It was amazing that these people were able to continue using the same process for hundreds of years and keep creating the same incredible pottery. I also think it’s awesome that the whole community was brought together towards the common goal of preserving their tradition and culture. 95% of the villagers are involved in the pottery making process and it is their main source of income. We were only there for a short time, but they definitely taught us a lot.

Photo by Abby Motter

Before coming to Nicaragua, I had a goal of making some sort of personal growth during the program. The visit with the pottery making village definitely stuck some chords with me. After the visit and while I was journaling I realized that I hope to preserve the rich tradition and even the culture that I have had in my life. This could be anything from baking the same famous cookie recipes as my grandma and great-grandma to continuing to keep in touch with my huge extended family through family reunions or other events. The village really showed me the importance of tradition, culture, and family.

Today in my opinion, was the best day of the trip by far. The plan for the morning was to head over to Laguna de Apoyo. I was looking forward to this day the most because I did a lot of research on it because it was the subject of my final. This beautiful lake was once actually a volcano but about 2,300 years ago a huge explosion left a crater which eventually filled up with rainwater and became the lake it is today. Fun facts: the lake reaches depths of 656 feet, is considered the the lowest point in all of, and is the cleanest water in all of Nicaragua.

After waking up very early and eating breakfast the group drove about 45 minutes to lake, arriving at around 8 a.m. Let me just tell you, driving down into the crater to the lake is one othe most beautiful experiences you could witness. The first thing all of us noticed is how big the lake actually is in person. By the time we reached our hotel/resort destination, the excitement of the group was palpable. It only grew even more as we walked through the hotel, seeing all the gorgeous trees and flowers, cabanas and huts, and hearing all the beautiful tropical birds chirping away. What makes it even better is that because we got there so early, we had this paradise to ourselves. After placing our orders to prepare for lunch and lathering on sunscreen (because as I’ve learned the hard way the Nicaraguan Sun is not something you want to mess around with), we walked past the beach shore, to the water, and jumped right on in. The water was just the perfect temperature for the day, cold enough to be refreshing but warm enough so that it wasn’t too cold. It was also so clear and blue, almost as if it was one of those picture ads for the Bahamas come to life. About 10 feet off the the shore was a steep drop forcing all of us to actually swim. We all spent hours here swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, and soaking in the sun on a floating dock about 50ish feet off shore. After awhile lunch was served where so,e of had pizza, others had fish, and the rest a good old hamburger.

Photo by Abby Motter

All in all this day was definitely very enjoyable for everybody. It was a much needed R&R day after several days of constant traveling, and not only that but it was also a wonderful way to solidify the friendships we’ve made on this trip; making it a very good way to spend our final day in Nicaragua and wrap up the trip.

Photo by Abby Motter

Tonight, we had another amazing dinner at our hotel. We all had a great day hearing from Cargill and seeing the Masaya volcano. After coming home for dinner, we staring the evening discussion and activities. Our activity tonight examined socioeconomic status and how we relate to a typical Nicaraguan family. As Mr. Hornsby read statements, the students and Dr. Hattey (representing a Nicaraguan family) took steps forward or backward depending on our answer to the question. “Good” answers moved forward and “bad” answers moved backward.

This activity showed us how truly blessed all of us are with everything that we have. At the end of the activity, many of the students had a few steps in between. There were groups toward the front and some groups toward the back of the pack. However, Dr. Hattey was miles behind us. I think that some of us had never really realized how much more we have than Nicaraguan people. Even though people do have hard times and do go through a lot, it is difficult to grasp how far ahead each one of us is from a typical Nicaraguan family. I think that this activity showed us that we should feel blessed to have been dealt the hand that we were in life and humbled to live so easily.

I think that this activity will leave an impact on everyone that went on this trip. Many points of our pre-departure course encouraged us to view the difference between Nicaraguan culture and communities and those of the U.S.A. This activity highlighted those differences and allowed us to learn and grow from them. When we arrive home, each one of us will all be better people because of this trip. Another part of this activity that I loved was that it taught you not to judge a book by its cover. I never expected some of my peers that were in the back to be in the back and vice versa. Another thing that I learned was that no matter where a person stood, they are going through their own personal struggle. This thought allowed me to realize that every single person you meet is fighting a battle that you know nothing about. This program helped me to think that if everyone realized this, the world would be a much better place.

I am so excited for everything else that this program has to offer. Looking forward to learning from another eventful day, I wish everyone here in Nicaragua and back home the best of luck.

After the Cargill presentation, we went to a local artisan market to buy souvenirs. There was so so much stuff there-hammocks, maracas, wooden carvings, jewelry, and tons more. It was awesome to walk around and see all the crafts from local Nicaraguans! After shopping, we got on the bus to drive to the Masaya volcano. The volcano was incredible, the view was amazing and the pictures were great. The sulfur dioxide was a bit irritating to the lungs, but it was definitely worth it to be able to see into an active volcano. After the volcano, we headed home, but stopped by a local supermarket. It was interesting to compare prices of products to the ones back home.

Photo by Abby Motter

When we were at the supermarket and artisan market, the main observation was the comparison of prices. A lot of products in Nicaragua are cheaper than in the United States, but but are really expensive for Nicaraguans, since the average monthly income is 400-800 cordobas, 400 being the extreme minimum necessary to living, which is equal to about $15 a month. The poverty in Nicaragua is extreme and kills many people every day. Going to the volcano was really cool because volcanos are a huge part of the Nicaraguan history and culture. They form many parts of the land, such as the lake we are going to swim at on the 9th.

I really enjoyed the activities we did today because they focused on a more cultural, day to day lifestyle of Nicaraguans and what shapes their history. I was very excited to see the artistic part of the Nicaraguans culture, such as their crafts and the artistic representation of volcanic history, like the ones we saw in the Masaya Volcano museum. There are always two sides to a story, the indigenous Nicaraguan’s side is often overlooked, although it’s a beautiful and rich story.

First, it was really nice to sleep in a little bit this morning! We had a great breakfast and were soon joined by two representatives from Cargill Corporation. One gentlemen was a vet, the other one was a manager of production. They shared with us some of the companies history, it’s work in Central America and how it operates here in Nicaragua. Cargill owns Tip Top Chicken, formerly a Nicaraguan company, and owns a feed mill, hatcheries, and processing facilities. Here in Nicaragua Cargill not only processes for stores on a large scale, but also delivers their product to mom and pop shops which allows them to form strong connections with their consumers.

The company focuses a lot on social development programs, for example, here they assist 21 different primary schools in providing mid morning snacks and improving safety. The health and safety regulations, as well as environmental laws are followed in every country Cargill operates, some countries like Nicaragua has lax laws so Cargill will follow its own stringent regulations. The company also works in providing small farmers with resources and training on how to form cooperatives and produce a higher quality product. This helps Cargill receive more of a quality product to process as well. They have 2,500 full time employees and are very dedicated to their poultry receiving the best care. The vet insures the animals are provided with the appropriate vaccinations, housing, and feed. He oversees over five million birds!

Talking with Cargill was extremely beneficial for our group because we all have an interest in animal sciences. The company also offers great internships and career opportunities for students studying agriculture. It was interesting to learn about the large scale production, but also the care and attention they provide to the communities and product quality.

“Why did you choose Ohio State?”
“Why did you choose the Nicaragua study abroad program?”
“Why did you choose your major?”

At first these seem like fairly simple questions. We’ve all been asked them at one family function or another. And for the most part, we have pretty sound answers. So tonight at our discussion when Tim asked us these questions, we were confident with our answers. It was only a problem when he asked why again.

“What so you mean, why?” We asked. “We just told you why”.

“I’m not asking the same why. I’m asking why you choose to answer your first why the way you did.”

This ‘second why’ lead to questions like, “why do you like animals” and “why do you care about the environment”. These lead to a ‘third why’, questions like “why do you want to help people” and “why do you want to be happy”.

The thought process, and the purpose of this discussion, is basically that you can start with a seemingly simple question, an ask yourself “why” five times. By the fourth or fifth “why”, you will be reaching your deepest motivations and wants and fears.

This kind of self questioning and introspection can be used to evaluate some major life decisions, and to learn more about yourself.

It was also an important step for us to be so personal, so open, and so honest with each other. It was a show of trust and closeness that speaks to how we all are growing as individuals and a group.

Today’s afternoon began after a delicious lunch in the beautiful city of Leon. When we were done eating, the group was given almost an hour of free time to explore a little bit of the hottest city in the country. We began the mini exploration at the center and heart of the city, the Catedral de Leon, which is a very large and beautiful white structure. As well as that, several others of us visited little shops along the nearby streets. Once our time was up, we regrouped and headed for a cattle ranch about an hour away. The ranch had numerous mixed breeds of cattle and we learned a great amount from a few of the workers. We also had the great privilege to see a calf that had been born just moments before our arrival! There was also other calves and bulls that we observed. After our short stay and tour of the area, we left for the buses once again and began our drive back to Managua and the Hotel el Raizon.

Photo by Abby Motter

The cattle ranch, although small to us, is considered a large-scale operation. They are also facing huge problems in their production due to drastic climate changes. Before, they were able to obtain 80-90 gallons of milk from just 50 cows, but today they need approximately 70-80 cows in order to get around 65-90 gallons. Another problem with the extending dry season is that crops/plants that the cows use to feed are disappearing. In order to cope with these changes and still keep production going, the operation has needed to come up with different techniques and solutions. Some examples would be changing to solar energy and using an irrigation system with the help of solar pumping. The ranch also has underground water sources that they can use to hopefully help create a semi-solution to most of the problems.

Photo by Abby Motter

Today was able to teach us many different aspects of farming in a very different culture. It was interesting to see how the ranch used mixed breeds of cattle depending on milk yields, adaptability, etcetera. I am also sure that being able to see a newborn calf was very extraordinary for most of us as well. This experience helped us to learn more about different ways and techniques with agriculture. This whole program has been very eye-opening for all of us and we are excited to continue to learn more!

This morning was our first morning back in Managua, staying at the Hotel el Raizon, since out first morning in Nicaragua. Waking up in the same place really made me reflect back on our time in the country so far, and the personal changes we have all went through. It was a fairly early morning so that we could beat the traffic out of Managua. Many of us were excited about the cereal that was served at breakfast. We then we traveled to León – which is just over 2 hours away. We met with a group of farmers from various communities surrounding León and also with two veterinarians who teach at the National Autonomous University, both of these meetings were organized through Prodessa which is an organization that works with facilitating the discussions of issues and solutions in various areas.

Photo by Emily Bauman

During our dialogue with the farmers it was interesting to share what methods are used in agriculture in Ohio and to hear what practices they’re using. The individuals in this group were raising corn, wheat, yucca, beans, sorghum, sesame, cattle, and pigs. However, very little of these products are being exported, such as the yucca and sesame, and they are producing enough to consume either in their family or in the community. Also, if possible the produce is sold at a local market. As far as livestock goes, a farmer usually keeps 3-10 pigs roaming and the cattle present are primarily dairy cattle. These individuals are currently experiencing a climate change from 6 month wet season and a 6 month dry season to only a 2 month wet season. The drought is effecting the amount of milk production as well as the growing season for crops and is increasing the amount of plant pests present. After our conversation with the farmers, we were able to talk to veterinarians about veterinary school in Nicaragua and about common practices. It was interesting to learn that they’re veterinary degree only takes 5 and a half years, which is the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree, and certification from the government. Otherwise, there academic process is very much like ours. We found this dialogue very intriguing as an animal science dominated group.

Photo by Emily Bauman

During this morning I was very interested in how Prodessa interacted in the community. I am majoring in Community Leadership with a specialization in Community and Extension Education, and I was noticing the similarities between Extension and Prodessa. While the Land Grant University system in the United States is very unique, other counties do try to model it. Prodessa worked with facilitating dislodge with farmers to solve problems, but also with the university and to research methods being used in the community to ensure the highest effectiveness.

In the evening, we had a discussion about the similarities and differences between agriculture in Nicaragua and the United States. We discussed similarities on the concentration of conservation. Both countries are concerned with prevention of erosion by reducing incidence of deforestation. In addition, the choice between making a profit to feed families and growing products organically is very prevalent. However, there are also many differences which include the scale of agriculture. In the United States, farmers concentrate on the biggest production systems, but in Nicaragua there are so few resources that farmers have much smaller production systems. In addition, animals are used to make a profit in the United States or for companionship, but animals in Nicragua are to improve how each family can live. In all, the goal of agriculture is to feed lives in the best way possible, but the approaches to this vital industry vary greatly.

During the discussion, we learned about the intricate relationship between agriculture, people, and the environment. Every choice people make about how they produce their crops, which food to buy, and how they live their lives effect the circle of life. The main thing the conversation reinforced for our program was that life is intricately related.

As an Animal Science major, this discussion was important to a future career in agriculture. The decisions people make about animal welfare or using antibiotics affect how veterinarians can treat their patients. When producing crops for animals, the feed used to grow the animal effects the environment. Finally, the decisions we make in our own lives about the food we eat effect families throughout the world.