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Mucky Socks

Coming to Nicaragua I wasn’t expecting to be shocked or all that surprised by the conditions in which people live and survive, and I would say that I haven’t been. The things, however, that strike me the most are the slight variations and specificities of life that aren’t surprising, but rather under-the-radar. The everyday, almost mundane, glazed-over outcomes of a historically intervened upon, economically poor society.

On Tuesday we concluded our time at the NicaHOPE community center by driving around the neighborhood they were created to serve, which lies directly outside of La Chureca, the city dump (which Olivia talked about in her post). During our drive we were accompanied by Sofia Salgado, a young woman who had spent a significant portion of her childhood collecting recyclable materials in La Chrueca alongside her mother and sister. She told us that the three of them combined would collect enough pounds of glass, plastic, cardboard, etc. per day to earn 80 Córdoba (about 3 USD). For reference, today I bought two headbands at a market in Masaya for 80 Córdoba exactly.

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A Hope for Women’s Justice in Nicaragua

The Centro de Mujeres Acahual (or the Acahualinca Women’s Center) began around 25 years ago and we were especially interested in this organization because it offered a variety of services to women and families within the community. The nurse we met with provided us with a detailed description and understanding of each of these services. The center was developed to serve 10 different sectors within the neighborhood but when Hurricane Mitch passed through, one of the sectors named Chureca, disappeared due to extreme flooding. This center is comprised of a team of 18 women and two men including one doctor and one nurse. The center was designed to provide citizens within these sectors education and resources to help them with legal assistance, health care issues and treatments, family planning, beauty school, support groups, after school classes and workshops for children, and advocacy. While all of these services are offered, not all of them are working according to plan which made us really nervous. For example, the legal services were created to help women with domestic violence issues and divorce. Domestic violence is a huge problem in Nicaragua due to its machismo culture and heavy patriarchy. The problem with this program is that the government does not really approve of or support it completely. The women engaged in this specific program wish to receive justice but aren’t able to due to a corrupt justice system or the cycle of violence they are trapped in. Some women will just give up after fighting this battle for many years instead of seeking help, knowing that they will never receive it. This center tries to advocate for women’s rights and justice for women but it can only do so much without government support. We really wanted to talk about this organization because its intentions are wonderful but it made us realize that stuff does not always go as planned. Sitting in a classroom and learning about obstacles versus seeing them in the real world has changed our perspective completely. The cause of bettering women’s lives around the community is wonderful and we love that the organization is dedicated to this mission but the lack of support was a wake up call for us. Sometimes, macro level changes need to be made before micro level ones can even be considered and this is a perfect example of that. We really enjoyed visiting and learning about this organization and hope that in the future, things could get better for all of the women and families in the community.

With much hope,
Halie Brillhart and Julia Warton

The Route to Justice

The Route to Justice

A Review of Granada

Our recent trip to the city of Granada gave us a new perspective in regards to Nicaraguan culture and society. Although our stay resembled a vacation, filled with swimming, relaxation and beautiful sights, we learned a lot about the vision that the people of Granada have to offer in the case of human rights. This vision was especially evident during our visit to Cafe de Las Sonrisas.

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This is a small business that strives to empower young individuals with physical and mental disabilities by offering them employment and allowing them to develop a craft. This is essential as many of these individuals are denied the rights of other employees in other Nicaraguan businesses. In doing so, Cafe de Las Sonrisas offers individuals the option to make and sell hammocks and/or work as a waiter or cook in the cafe. Subsequently, these employees are able to obtain useful skills in the business world while demonstrating the extent of their ability. Furthermore, this organization helps the mothers of these children by providing transportation services and allowing them to make and sell handbags. In this way, the company allows these mothers to have a source of income while still having time to provide for their families. In addition, this is one of few organizations that has shown great interest in improving the status of the environment in Nicaragua. The founder of the business, Tio Antonio, explained the current environmental situation by suggesting that the national flower of Nicaragua might as well be a plastic bag. A project that they have begun in order to combat this issue is called “the never ending hammock”.

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This project combines the company’s passion for a greener nation and one that recognizes disabled persons in the workplace by allowing its employees to create the hammock out of plastic bags. We felt that this particular organization had a profound vision for the future of human rights and sustainability in Nicaragua. They have found a way to provide opportunities for disadvantaged individuals while making a significant impact on the current economic and environmental situation in Nicaragua.
Jules and Kelly H.

Experience: Learning the “Hard Way”

Hey all,

Being back in Managua has been great. Each night we have been able to return to a nice hotel with all of the pleasantries. There was another social work group here from another university and they informed me that they were jealous of our group for having had the opportunity to take part in a homestay. I am a firm proponent of experiential learning, as I feel that all other forms of gaining “knowledge” apart from first hand experience comes with (to greater and lesser degrees) a pinch of faith. For example: I knew that poverty was a thing. I knew that privelige was a thing. I knew that love, persistence, and optimism were positive things. However, to truly know them is to experience them — to be transformed by them. Coming out of my experience in León has given me a new appreciation for all of these things on a personal and powerful level, far greater than any textbook or lecture.

This past week we took a trip to Casa Alianza (Alliance House), a youth shelter empowering at-risk clients. Not being able to speak, I was still able to connect through laughs, gestures, pointing, and the assistance of Cora and her Spanish (lesson: we are better together). I was personally touched to be able to meet these individuals who had, for one reason or another, found themselves there. The biggest regret I have had on this trip was not being able to speak with them on a deeper level. I want to know their story, and to share mine as well.

“Casa Alianza” Grafitti (Sourced from CA’s homepage)

To tell a story one needs to have a sender and a receiver. To know the essence of a person is to know what makes someone who they are, arguably being the sum of the experiences that shaped them and the psychological and biological elements that constrained their perceptions and subsequent responses. To do this one needs to be able to exchange this to another through language (verbal & non-verbal). Not knowing Spanish has made the barriers between me and the individuals very stark. Lack of communication leads to a lack of ability to more effectively and deeply exchange who we are, to exchange our stories. Without a Voice, it is much easier to be misunderstood (at best) or ignored (at worst) when we need something, when we are being neglected, when we are being oppressed.

Some final take-aways from this trip thus far:

  • We learn a lot about ourselves through others and a lot about others through ourselves. (Empathy & self-awareness)
  • Personal experience is the optimal form of learning.
  • Language and effective communication are essential to empathy, dignity, and empowerment. (Having a Voice is critical for human rights & social issues)

 

Love,

Don Juan (Jon)

Living en Léon: Stephanie Hadley, Kelly O’Brien & Sue

This past week, we spent three days and three nights staying in the home of a family in León, Nicaragua. Because none of us spoke Spanish fluently, we were anxious to say the least. As soon as we walked into UNAN-León and met with our new family, we were instantly greeted with hugs and smiling faces! There, we met our new house mother, Sandra, and her daughter, Claudia. Sandra is currently in her fifth year of studying social work at UNAN, in addition to her three existing degrees, and Claudia is a licensed pharmacist. When we arrived at our new family’s home, we quickly recognized the large number of people that were living in such a small space. A two bedroom house with one tiny bathroom did not seem fitting for a family of almost 10 people, many of which hold several university degrees. image
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During the first night of our homestay, we spoke with the youngest sister, Carolina, who is 17 and is studying her first year at UNAN-León. She explained to us that although public university is free for students in Nicaragua, many graduates often find themselves unemployed, and unable to find any suitable work due to a lack of opportunity and the country’s poor economic state. In this conversation, Carolina showed us the list of educational programs the university offered, as well as their rank and need in society. To compare: in the U.S., prestigious fields of study such as law and mathematics were at the bottom of this list in Nicaragua and were not as respected within the Nicaraguan culture. However, the most respected fields of study according to this list, were sciences such as psychology, biological analysis, and orthodontics. Although these top fields are highly respected, there is still an extreme drought in the workforce, which leaves less of a demand for these highly respected areas. This economic climate leads many overqualified people to resort to selling food and drinks on the streets or find additional work to supplement to their income, and to live in a way which does not at all reflect their educational achievements. In conclusion, this homestay helped us to understand many of the educational and economic issues that are affecting the majority of citizens in León, as well as provided us with a firsthand experience of their day-to-day lives.

Con cariño,

Kelly, Steph and Sue
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Exploring Leon, Nicaragua!

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!

Julia, Jorge, and Halie!

Cultural immersion: learning through the locals of Leon

Experiencing Leon, Nicaragua with our home stay family, the Ruizs, was both a challenging and beautiful immersion into traditional Nicaraguan culture. Before this part of our trip, we made an effort to have an open mind about the situation and were excited to be exposed to a new way of life and connect with the family. Despite our attempts to not have unrealistic expectations for this experience, our first day staying with the Ruiz family overwhelmed us more than we anticipated. The discrepancy between the living conditions and familial dynamics in their household and our own was shocking and stressful. Being placed in such a new environment in which we were unsure of the boundaries and our position within the household was humbling.

Although we thought we were fully prepared for an introduction to an unfamiliar situation, by the first night we discovered that a larger language barrier existed between us than we had anticipated. A different sleeping situation and relying on a limited vocabulary and nonverbal communication made us fear we wouldn’t make an emotional connection with the family. After the first night, however, we realized that we could form a bond by trusting in ourselves and the Ruiz family. We also discovered a newfound confidence that allowed us to truly connect with our host mother and some of the children that night. We learned about the importance of community to the family through their interactions with their neighbors and each other. Doña Cristina, our host mother, inspired us through her quiet strength and dedication that helped her maintain a store in the home and care for her large family. Through the remaining time on our trip, we continued to make connections with Dona Cristina and her family members on our final night at their home. We enjoyed dancing with Cristina and her nine year old son, Octavio, at the final gathering of all of the participants of the home stay program. At this fiesta, we had the opportunity to truly express our gratitude towards the family with the help of Ana, our translator. It was amazing to finally be able to say what we had been trying to express the past few days and this conversation reinforced the authenticity of our relationship.

The instant kindness and generosity that the Ruiz family expressed to us, two people that they hardly knew, transformed our uncertainty into complete gratitude. Not only were Dona Cristina and her family members giving and patient, but they were also willing to share pieces of their personal lives with us through photographs and stories. Staying with the Ruiz family was the ultimate learning experience: we discovered the limits of our ability to communicate in Spanish, the importance of the willingness to trust in and depend on other individuals and the many difficulties but greater benefits of adapting to a completely different environment than the one from which we came. Most importantly, the loving and giving spirit of the Ruiz family will stay with us forever.

Kelly Haller and Olivia Fitzpatrick

Us with our host brother, Octavio

Us with our host brother, Octavio

Mirrors & Managua

Let me introduce you to myself, I think it is only fair. A story is not complete without knowledge about the storyteller and their perspective. My name is Jonathan Gill, but those who know me usually call me Jon at worst, and a silly nickname that naturally develops at best. I grew up an only child, an imaginative young lad, and a passion to pursue my interests rather than just think about them. I never learn the “easy” way (I don’t believe; I am a skeptic) and always the “hard” way (I call it the only authentic way: through personal experience).I have had many experiences throughout my life, but the one I wanted to highlight was that at the age of 17 I graduated high school and jumped on a plane to Parris Island, SC to become a United States Marine. I wanted brotherhood (as I was an only child) and I wanted to serve in a way that was perceived as honorable by my peers — I wanted to be proud of what I was doing with my life, and many things around me from TV commercials and subtle (and many times overt) sociocultural motivators (“Thank you for your service.”) told me that this was one way to find both. While I had many experiences that developed me into the individual I am today, I found myself in the present moment as a veteran, an Ohio State social work student, and a passenger on a plane flying towards Nicaragua.

I didn’t know Spanish, but I did know that I had been in similar situations before. I had been stationed in Okinawa, Japan for two years, deployed to Afghanistan for 7 months, and moved to a new location frequently with little notice or time to adjust. I would be fine. I might not know the language, but I had dealt with culture shocks and language barriers before, just roll with it was the motto. I had lived out of bags and learned the necessities of travel. I was excited to be someone the other students could rely on when they felt nervous if they were unfamiliar with such things. Little did I know — I would experience the opposite.

Arriving in Managua began out quite strange. When we left the plane there was a place to stand to take your photo and the immigration officials questioned me quite a bit: “What are you here for? — Tourism.”; “Where all are you going? — Managua.”; “What do you do? — I am a student.” All of this with looks of suspicion. I felt awkward. When I asked the others if they had been asked questions they all said no.

When we arrived at our hotel in Managua, Nicaragua, I noticed immediately that the hotel was more like a compound. It has brick walls surrounding it, a thick metal gate that needed to be unlocked from the inside after pressing a buzzer, and had razor wire & electric fences all around it. This was eerily similar to the bases & compounds we lived within when I was in Afghanistan during my time as a Marine. I can recall imagining someone throwing a grenade over the wall, and brushed it off. I felt very on guard and awkward about my initial experience and realized it was making me intensely aware of my military background and national citizenship.

The trip revved up quick and on the  second or third day in Nicaragua we were packing our bags for a three-day home stay in Leon, Nicaragua with one other student and a host family. We were given a lot of freedom, less structure than I was used to in unfamiliar environments (in the military) and I always felt on guard. I was waiting for someone to try and mug me or kidnap me. The first morning we were in Nicaragua we had a history lesson on Nicaragua and I learned that the U.S. Marines had intervened in battles with the local armed forces in the early to mid-1900s. This really added to my awkward identity as a former Marine and now anti-war, pro-peace, veteran social work student. All of this had really had me in an awkward place. I did not want to feel like I was someone ‘alone behind enemy lines’ but the truth of the matter was that is how I began to feel.

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I didn’t realize how obvious this was to others, or to me, until someone pointed my behavior out to me. I was crippled with fear, of anxiety. I knew most of these were irrational but they were emotional, bodily reactions. Walking down the streets of Leon, unable to speak with my host family, and being completely vulnerable in a land that resembled, and became (to me, subjectively) the streets of Afghanistan again.I have met other veterans who had PTSD. The sound of a backfiring lawn mower would send one of my friends who had split seconds before been casually walking over to where I was sitting behind a garbage container, others to suicide, intense substance abuse, or extremely inappropriate and maladjusted behaviors. I was fine. Sure, I would check each window and door in the house to see if it was locked. Sure, I would always be a little more aware of my surroundings, always on guard. This was healthy to me, I was just more aware and more prepared. No problem!

It wasn’t until this trip that a very important conversation happened where I opened myself up, and reflected. I might have PTSD. The intense, persistent, and crushing anxiety that I felt, noticeably more severe than my fellow college students (who I was be much more prepared then, ready to assist! — or so I had thought) forced me to confront this fact. It has been less than a week and I feel like I have already been through another deployment, and it was another war zone — an internal one.

We sat on the courtyard, now back in Managua, and I broke down in tears. I finally came to terms with an aspect of myself that I had neglected to see, or acknowledge. I did not expect to be this challenged or this rewarded through this experience in Nicaragua. The people I am sharing this trip with have slowly become my brothers and sisters and the those whom I’ve met in Nicaragua as well. The more I learn about the people and culture of Nicaragua, the more I learn about love, of friendship, and of the Family of Humanity that can exist as it does here. These are a people who have a history of physical and economic violence from the place that I call home (and my own personal past lineage of the U.S. Marines) and they saw past that. They saw Me. They say me, and they offered a Mirror, an opportunity, and experience, that allowed me to see Me as well.

To realize that in less than one week all of this has happened does not feel real to me. We have at least a week and a half left here in this beautiful land (despite its gross struggles on many fronts). I truly have no idea what else will arise and what others and I have to learn here together on our journey — but I welcome it with open arms and complete vulnerability, knowing that I have each of these beautiful souls by my side.

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Love,
Jon (or whatever silly nickname you may have for me)

Brief update on our activities

game in AtlantaThe group arrived in Nicaragua on the evening of May 18.  We had been delayed awhile in Atlanta because of weather, but people found ways to amuse themselves.

 

The next day after an orientation, we were ready to go learn about Nicaragua history and political situation.

 

waiting to leave first day

We visited the offices of a group that builds houses for people in very poor communities and toured the city.

The next day, we left for the city of Leon, where we met with students and faculty of the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua–Leon and stayed with host families.  We have already learned a lot and had some amazing experiences, which the students will post about soon.  In the meantime, we are back in Managua for the next five days.  Tomorrow we have a work day with the house-building group to learn from the group’s volunteers and families.

Buenas noches a todos! (Good night everyone!)

Theresa Early, Academic and Resident Director