León Homestay

After meeting with the students at the university, we went back to the homes that we would be living in for the next 2 days. Amanda and I were extremely blessed in being placed with Papa Juan and Mama Ruth. They have 3 daughters and now 2 bonus daughters (Amanda and me). We were immediately greeted with open arms and dove right into the Nicaraguan culture.

I felt right at home during my stay with the family. On the first night Juan and Ruth did not get home until late so we went out for pizza and then a late run to the ATM and supermarket to make sure we had everything for the next day.

The next morning after eating breakfast with our families we were rushed out the door to start our day! Papa Juan and Mama Ruth had to work so they dropped us off at Tia Sandra’s (Aunt Sandra’s) and we were on our way. Our first stop of the day was to La Casona where we met with the Police Department in León who works with preventing  . This is done by bringing inmates in to help run the facility after being reinstated into society.

Our second stop was to meet with 2 individuals about community human rights. Here we went into detail about community human rights. The idea of the center is to oversee the different things taking place in Latin America from Motorcycle accidents to human trafficking and sexual violence.

The next stop was to a museum which was originally a prison. This museum gave us very important cultural history including the reasons behind many of the superstitions in León as well as the traditional dances and more.

Our final educational stop of the day was to the Cathedral and downtown León where we were able to explore and learn more of the area’s history. We explored the top of the Cathedral for at least 30 minutes in the blazing sun but with the help of Tia Sandra I learned so much.

Seeing how religious León was became very appealing to me as we counted 1, 2, 3…. muchos (many) churches from the top of the Cathedral. Each building beautifully built.

That evening we were able to spend time with all of our families as a unit as we went out dancing and seeing the nightlife of León. Leaving the next morning was a painful goodbye but thanks to social media, pictures, and a special letter from mi hermana (my sister) Natalie, my family in León will always have a special place in my heart.

-Lauren Hitchens

Upon arrival in León we were greeted by Don Juan who would later be known as “Papa Juan” by Amanda and myself. Don Juan and Profesora Ruth both work in the social work department at the University of León.

Our first stop was to the University of León where a few students gave a presentation about human rights in Nicaragua and talked about what it means to be a social worker here.

After the amazing presentation we broke up into 2 groups for a question and answer session. Ricky and I sat down with 18 social work students from the University of León and told them about our experiences in the U.S. as both college students and minorities. The students asked us a lot of good questions but along the way I learned more from them than I ever imagined.

After explaining why I chose social work as a career I asked 2 individuals why they chose social work and understood that while their are similarities in the profession, there are also huge differences.

One young man stated that he wanted to get rid of the stigma of being a social worker by his family and family friends which consist of doctors and lawyers. He also mentioned wanting to find acceptance for LGTBQ individuals.

Another young man stated that he was from the countryside and that things are still very traditional there. He was raised to help others by his father but in a way that was very old school. This meant that if someone got into a altercation they would have to sit in front of a community of elders and from there the elders would determine that punishment and/severity of the offense.

In addition there are a lot of situations which need mediated in his community and because of his age and personality he is often asked to be the mediator. This young man decided to be a social worker so that he can legally and ethically help his people by counseling them and also finding justice.

This past Sunday, we visited San Juan, Nicaragua. We discovered that San Juan was one of many indigenous towns here in Nicaragua. In San Juan, we had the opportunity to speak with an indigenous leader, Valentin Lopez. Lopez introduced us to some of the important culture traditions that included what we would call back home, pottery. Lopez also explained to us how the indigenous clay is still located in the town of San Juan and eventually demonstrated the process on how to break down the clay and create pottery with it. Most people begin working with clay at the age of 8. We learned that Lopez has been working with clay for 20 years. The first step within the process is something that I found to be obvious which happened to be using tools to break down the clay. Although this was an obvious first step, there was something surprising about the kind of tools that were used for this process. According to Lopez, it is our own feet that is considered the tool to break down the clay. Lopez explained that we “dance” on the clay with our feet to break it down. The next step includes a kick-wheel like machine that breaks down the clay even more. After the clay goes through the entire break down process, it is ready to be created into different pottery pieces. This tradition runs through many families in San Juan. Lopez explained to us that beginners take up to 2 hours or more with this entire process where as to those with experience can take up to 5-10 minutes. It took Lopez around 8 minutes to show us the entire process from start to finish.

Student, Beyla Hood.

On these two days, we had a chance to really experience the fun side of Nicaragua. On Saturday, we traveled to Masaya Volcano Park where we actually got to see the active volcano and the lava inside. We captured some amazing photos.

We then went on to Granada in which we visited Café Sonrisas. The owner of the cafe specifically works with people with disabilities. They make homemade hammocks and serve really great food! We experienced what it is like to be apart of their “world”. We were given ear plugs to put in our ears and eat part of our lunch with them in. The point of it was so that we could could try to get a glimpse into what their lives are like with no hearing. This activity certainly touched me.

We then traveled to Lagoon Apoyo which we spent the afternoon swimming in the lagoon and relaxing. We then went to our hotel and explored the surrounding areas. We really got a sense of the culture in Granada and how different it is than the other departments and cities we have been to thus far.

On Sunday we visited a potter and indigenous leader, Valetin Lopez. He explained that San Juan Oriente, Masaya is an indigenous town and basically everyone does pottery work. He showed us the process on how to make the pottery and gave us an insight to their past culture and present one too. The process that they use currently to make pottery, is the same process their ancestors used with the exception of a kick wheel that decreases the process from 2 hours to 5 mins to shape the pot.

From, there we visited the local craft market to buy souvenirs for our loved ones, and again to engage in the local culture. After that we departed to Matagalpa.

In Matagalpa, we spent basically the entire day on Monday at the co-op. We learned how to make homemade tortillas, how to use natural plants for medicine and preventative care, and even made cough syrup. We watched their native dancing and listened to their cultures songs. We met with the children of the school and really learned the ins and outs of the co-op and community. Unfortunately, I was not able to see the coffee trees due to my allergen of bees. The decision was made for me by someone else not to attend. However, I did not let that ruin my day. Once we finished at the co-op I experienced my first ever tasting of a hot chocolate coffee which tasted amazing considering I dislike coffee. The coffee grown and then used in the cafe we were at, was from the co-op and surrounding community.

-Amanda

I am so sad to say that we had to leave our host families on Thursday and travel back to Managua. When we woke up our family left Lauren and I was left with a goodbye note which really touched our hearts.

Once back in Managua, we met with Julio Mena, the director of ANiCP+ViDA. This organization works on the prevention and education of HIV and AIDS. Julio told us about his life story. He was affected with HIV during the Contra War because he was wounded and another soldier gave him some of his own blood to help him survive. He didn’t know he had HIV so he ended up infecting his daughter, who eventually passed away at 6 years old and also his girlfriend. He experienced years and years of guilt, shame, isolation, discrimination, etc. because of this. Even though it was not his fault that he was infected and did not know he was infected until a year later, Julio was still shamed and stigmatized. Because of what he experienced, he decided to work in the outreach and education field in regards to HIV and AIDS.

On Friday we had the pleasure of meeting a former Sandinista guerrilla from the Contra War (The war Ronald Reagan waged on Nicaragua), Maria Teresa Blandón. Not only did she speak of her time being a part of the revolution at the age of only 17 years old, but she also spoke of feminism. She compared and differed it in the US and Nicaragua. She also touched on marriage and why she doesn’t believe in it. She touched on some really good points, such as religion, which is necessary in society, but there need to be limits to it. Religion calls for absolute power, and if we give that then we are all doomed. When she talked about the Contra War and the revolution she was involved in, she mentioned that the cost they paid was too high. Too many young people lost their lives in the war, and in the end it was for nothing. It made me sad and mad all at the same time. Hearing her story and listening to her words, certainly inspired me to be apart of such huge change when I return to the states.

On Friday we also went to Casa Alianza which is residential center for young people who are victims of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, abuse in general, domestic violence, etc., and also for teen mothers. With human trafficking being my background and the career area I want to go into in regards to social work, I was so excited once we arrived. I had so many questions for the employees once they were finished telling us about the organization. One thing that caught my attention is that she said even if they help the people prosecute legally got the crime against their perpetrator, it doesn’t always mean they will be held accountable, as the government does not want their numbers to increase so it is certainly a challenge to try to prosecute the criminals. This visit was truly my favorite one!

-Amanda

After safe travels, my Nicaragua study buddies and I were able to make it to Nicaragua from the U.S in about 6 hours. We traveled from Columbus, Ohio to Miami, Florida and then finally to Managua, Nicaragua. When arriving to Nicaragua’s airport, I expected my group and I to run into confusion with the security since we were previously warned from last year’s Nicaragua trip group that they had some minor encounters with them. Fortunately, my group and I faced no trouble with the Nicaragua airport security, and we made it in the country safely. Once we left the airport we headed straight to our hotel, San Agustin, to get some lunch and settle in a bit. All of our rooms were very nice and everyone was comfortable with their stay. After settling into our rooms, we then had lunch. Our first meal in Nicaragua included grilled chicken, rice, beans, plantain chips and fresh vegetables. The plantain chips were my favorite and this was my first time trying them. After our late lunch, we had a brief discussion with our directors on board, Dr. Theresa Early and César, with what we would be doing for the next couple of days in Nicaragua. We went over introductions, schedule overviews, safety, and security. This brought a sense of excitement and safety for us all. Next, we took a driving tour of Managua. We went through the Old downtown, Lake Xolotlan, an old Cathedral, and the National Palace. Finally, we headed back to our hotel to call it a night. I cannot wait to experience and explore what all Nicaragua has to offer for us all.

Student, Beyla Hood.

The morning of our 3rd day in Nicaragua, we traveled to León. We met with Professor Juan at UNAN – León which is the University of León. We then went to Sandra’s house to meet with our host families that we were to stay with during our time in León. Lauren and I had the pleasure of staying at Professor Juan and Professor Ruth’s home with their 3 children, 2 birds, and dog, Doky. Their entire family welcomed us with open arms.

When Professor Juan welcomed us into their home, he also told us that we are now apart of their family. He told us we could call him Papa Juan, Professor Ruth – Mama Ruth and Naza, Maria and Natalie our sisters. We ate breakfast, lunch and dinner with our host families, exchanged English and Spanish teaching lessons and even watched tv with them.

The first day in León, we met with Professor Juan and Ruth’s social work students. They gave an amazing presentation on what social work looks like in Nicaragua and how human rights are involved. I learned that social work here is based all around the human rights of people. They tackle issues such as rape, sexual abuse, domestic violence, etc. They had a strong emphasis on combating crimes against women and children. We also had a chance to split up into groups and talk about what social work is like in the US compared to Nicaragua. The students asked personal and professional questions. They seemed really intrigued with our story and wanted to know so much. It was an amazing experience to talk with them, learn from them and become friends with them. We exchanged info and even took pictures.

On the second day in León, we went to La Casona. They do preventative work with at-risk youth and even youth that already had their freedom taken. They coordinate with the local police department to do this work. We had the pleasure of meeting the police officer and hearing from them first hand on what needs to be done to help their at-risk youth. One thing that stuck with me from this meeting is what one police officer said. He said, “We can’t raise our kids like they are rich. We have to raise them like they are poor.” What he meant by this was that they have to teach their kids to work for the things they want and even need. They cannot teach their kids that things are handed to them because especially in countries like Nicaragua, that is certainly not the case. We then met with CIDS which conducts research in relation to social work and human rights.

On our final night, our host families took us out to a nice bar with music so that we could enjoy the rest of our time in León with them and continue to engage and interact with their culture.

Overall, the home stays have been the best part of the trip and I am so happy that we got to experience this. I do wish the homesteads were 4 days this year, instead of 2 days. Papa Juan and Mama Ruth as well as their family will forever be in my heart!

-Amanda

We recently visited León and I would have to say it’s been one of my favorites parts about this trip. I stayed with Sandra and her family and was forced to try to remember some of the Spanish I’ve learned — it actually went better than I expected!

She was the best host mom and really allowed us to dive into the Nicaraguan culture. We were able to explore the neighborhood with her daughter and her daughter’s friends which was one of my favorite things! I wish the stays could have been longer, it was a sad “see you later.”

While in León, we went to the Myths and Legends Museum which actually used to be a prison. We learned about the different dances and an array of myths/legends with one being about a guy who would sell watermelons but if you bought his watermelon, you would die.

With the museum, we also toured the university a little and met with social work students at the university. They shared with us about the human rights here in Nicaragua and we were able to get into groups and ask each other questions. For instance, they had asked in our group how in the United States a case regarding human trafficking might be handled. They also put a great emphasis on how family-oriented their culture is and how a lot of data regarding human rights is under-reported.

Also while in León we visited La Casona which is a place that does preventative work with at risk youth. We talked to an officer there about the drug problems in León and the different activities La Casona offers. For instance, planting in a greenhouse and creating paper mache products like masks and key chains (all from recycled materials!). A really cool thing they do is allow inmates on “good behavior” to visit La Casona and help out with the work going on — and they get to see their family once a month!

Overall, we got a lot of different insights on human rights here and the issues going on. Beyond loving the culture and everything I am learning!

Cheyenne Lenhart

So last post I mentioned that there are problems here, and that the government is not helping very much. I want to talk now about the organizations we have met up with so far and what they are doing to help with the issues here in Nicaragua.
The first organization we visited was NicaHOPE. They provide educational programs to children of families who work in the city dump, La Chureca. On top of helping with math, language and such, they also teach the children how to make jewelry in order to have a skill they can use to bring in money for themselves and their families. The most outstanding thing about this program was hearing how the dump was cleared out (because people were living in the dump) and houses were built for the families who were living in the dump.

When we got to León, we met with some UNAN professors. UNAN’s goal is to oversee the problems that are happening in León. Some of the masters programs they have there are in criminology and sexual reproductive health. Human rights is included in all the programs because they believe that it’s so important. There are many health programs that deal with suicide or mental health or abuse. There are programs that focus on gender issues, both male and female. There are surveys done then help given to students to help them with mental issues and drug abuse.

Then they gave us examples of things that happened that show what UNAN is doing is important. They went to an area that is cut off from much of the country. One night, a girl refused to have sex with a man, so he took a machete and stabbed it through the wall and stabbed her. She was dying but the nearest hospital was so far, and no boats were available. UNAN showed up the following day, miraculously and helped her to get to a hospital.
The work being done by UNAN is an important step towards bettering the human rights situation. Next post I’ll speak of some other orgs!

Ricky Galvan

Hola! From Managua, Nicaragua, Central America

The trip started out with hiccups right away with us having baggage fees that we were not made aware of beforehand which made us all very anxious, however the first two days in Managua were very informative. On Sunday, we spent most of the day flying from Ohio to Managua while stopping in Miami. Flying completely exhausted us, but once we arrived in Managua, we were graciously welcomed by our trip leader fro, El Salvador, César and our driver, Hector.

Once we settled into our hotel, we took a tour of the city and visited several landmarks such as the statute of the silhouette of Sandino. On Monday, we met with Joseph Connelly with The Center for Global Education and Experience (CGEE), who gave us a history lesson on Nicaragua. This first session really peaked my interest. We learned a great deal about the relationship between Nicaragua and the US as well as the corruption and manipulation that the US force upon the Nicaraguan culture. In addition to that, we learned about the division of the country. The eastern side of Nicaragua is very rural and distant from the western side of Nicaragua. Joseph explained that the two sides of the country are like their own country as they operate separately even though they are under the same government. The eastern side is more autonomous and take justice into their own hands. We also learned about FSLN and the Contra War that former President Ronald Reagan put forth during his time in office in the 1980’s. We also learned about the war on drugs with the FBI and the black neighborhoods.

In the afternoon we then went to NicaHope. This organization works with kids from the previous local trash dump community. Though the community has a recycling plant now instead of a trash dump, the children are still being helped. The organization was created to teach the kids other ways to make money so they don’t have to leave school to work at the trash dump. They make homemade jewelry to sell. We also had a chance to tour the facilities and buy some of the jewelry that was handmade.

During the first two days in Nicaragua not only did we engage with the Nicaraguan people and their culture, but we also got to understand how even through corruption and economic hardship, they stand tall and fight the social injustices that affect their society and community on a daily basis.

-Amanda