Before entering Leon, Nicaragua, we tried to begin our journey with little to no expectations in the hopes of keeping an open mind. The only thing we were hoping for was a rewarding and memorable experience but we left the home stay with so much more. This was a life changing experience that will remain in our hearts forever. We would recommend that, if given the opportunity, everyone should try to submerge themselves into a challenging situation to become more socially aware not only of who you truly are, but to learn about a foreign culture as well. Upon meeting our host for the home stay, Jorge Vasquez, we were nervous about the language barrier but quickly realized this would be the least of our worries.
As soon as Jorge introduced us to his beautiful family and home, we were shocked by the cultural differences, family dynamics, and living conditions and in that moment, it became obviously evident that we have lived an incredibly privileged life. The Vasquez family was so loving and opened up their home to two strangers who could barely speak Spanish however, they were willing to take that risk. They tried their best to make us feel at home and we have gained the privilege of becoming a part of another family that is thousands of miles away from our own home. The fear of the unknown was powerfully present during the home stay due to discrepancies in living conditions such as sleeping, eating, bathing, speaking, and being unaware of boundaries or cultural expectations.
The first night was the hardest because Jorge had to work and communication with his family was limited due to our pathetic Spanish skills. We were really concerned about this fact but the more we tried to communicate with his family, the stronger our bonds with them became. Throughout this journey, we have learned that even in poverty, it is possible to find happiness. The greatest source of this happiness comes from strong community ties that allow people to see each other for what they truly are, which is a human being. A strong community is also improved by strong family connections where everyone in the family is willing to help each other out no matter the circumstances they are going through. As the home stay continued, it became easier to see this untreatable bond and communicate with the family not only verbally, but emotionally.
The last night of the home stay, we were incredibly grateful that we got to express our gratitude to Jorge for opening up his home to us. This has been an empowering and humble experience for both of us. We have both faced challenges throughout this journey that were difficult to overcome but not impossible. This trip has taught us both that you can never be 100% certain of anything in life and if you’re in your comfort zone, it is difficult to learn adequately. Jorge and his family have not only given us patience and a wonderful life experience, but a loving and giving spirit that has taught us to be more vulnerable and open to new life situations we have never dreamed of encountering before. His family and our gratitude towards them, will live in our hearts and minds forever as we share this experience with all of our friends and family. We are excited to be in such a wonderful group of people who are as compassionate and interested in learning as much knowledge as we possibly can on this wonderful trip. As we grow stronger with them and as strangers turn into friends, we have become more grateful with each passing day. Thank you for hearing our story and learning about our adventures so far. We are excited for the next step in this journey with sixteen other beautiful souls by our sides.
With love and appreciation,
Julia Warton and Halie Brillhart
Julia, Jorge, and Halie!