EmbassVisit

Yesterday I had the pleasure of going to the embassy of the United States in Managua, Nicaragua. I had been strongly looking forward to this opportunity ever since the very beginning of out trip in Nicaragua. It was my chance to get an explanation from US officials of our interactions in their country.
Prior to going to the embassy, I along with the other members of my delegation brainstormed questions to ask regarding the issues we have covered throughout our trip so far. The topics included Immigration, the Contra/Sandinista revolution, US foreign AID, free trade zones/DR-CAFTA, and others. My questions to the foreign service agents focused on immigration in particular. Our group carefully sculpted questions so that they could not be confused by the foreign service agents, and included all of the things we were passionate about.
Upon arrival to the US embassy, I was blown away by the embassy building. It was by far one of the nicest looking buildings in Managua, and certainly the nicest building I have been inside while in Nicaragua. When we arrived, we gave all of our passport information to the guards and entered the facility.

After we were cleared to enter the facility, we were seated in a nice conference room. Representatives from Consular Services, Politics, Economics, and USAid eventually entered. They each gave a 10-15 minute presentation of what they do at the embassy and how they got to their position in Managua. After we were able to ask our questions to the appropriate agents. My questions on immigration focused on the US stance on visas, remittances, and undocumented persons residing in the US from Nicaragua. Unfortunately, the representatives did not fully answer each of my 2 questions and seemed to focus primarily on the good the US has done in Nicaragua instead of the policies and numbers I was asking about. And this seemed to be the trend for most of the meeting.
I think in the end, everyone was slightly disappointed about the amount of time we had to ask questions as well as the depth to the responses we received. Although this was unfortunate, I still got a new perspective on situations in NIcaragua from the US government perspective.

El campo

This morning we came back from el campo. We spent a whole weekend there with the community and learned about it’s history. This weekend was a very eye opening experience for me and put me completely out of my element. I was thrown into a situation with people I don’t know and in an unfamiliar environment. I was pretty scared.

It was challenging to see the situation that my family was living in. My host mom’s name was Dasi and she has two children. A 13 year old boy name Jorge and a 4 year old named Helen. The father in my family had to leave and go to Matagalpa to work and try to make money to support his family. However, he hardly sees his family. The mother Dasi is the teacher at the community school. However, she does not get paid very much. She only got paid 500 cordoba a month, which is only about 22 dollars a month.

It was very interesting having to live with varies animals like chickens, dogs, cats, goats and other farm animals. I felt bad that all these families have to live in this situation with no running water and little food to eat. Its hard to go there and then think of all the things that you have at home. It was definitely an interesting experience.

The Compo

I can not believe that this trip is already coming to an end. It seems like just yesterday I was packing up the car to head to Newark airport. I know I have not written too much since the beginning of the trip, but that is not to say that what I have been experiencing has not impacted me. On Monday we got back from the Compo (the country side) where we each stayed with different families. After experiencing a glimpse of what it is like to live in Ramon Garcia, an impoverished agricultural-based village, I have come to realize on a more personal level how macro-level policies and decisions have negatively impacted the lower-class of a society. On the other hand, I was exposed to the hard working and persistent mentality of the Ramon Garcia peoples who are determined to do better for themselves, but have limited resources to do so. Although Daniel Ortega seems to be making an effort to help and advocate for the poor, I can not help but be skeptical about the work he is doing. Overall, I left the community with mixed feelings of both anger and frustration. Mainly because of the fact that the children have to pay to go to secondary school and college is not even an option for most if not, all of them. To think it only takes $300 per year to send a child through college. In the back of my mind I feel I can not help but want to just pull that money out of my savings account to give those children a chance to get out, but at the same time, I feel it is more important to address the root causes of the problems.

Where is Honey!?

Tomorrow we are going to "el campo!" I am excited to see Ramon Garcia again and see my host family. This also means no internet for 3 days.. which means no blogging.. yayay! Just kidding.

Today we visited "Los Quinchos!" This is an organization that helps kids get off the streets or help them stop their addiction to sniffing glue. Los Quinchos has a big Finca or farm land that houses about 20 kids that have gone through mental or domestic abuse as well as kids that live on the streets all over Nicaragua. Some of these kids sniff glue because they are trying to calm their hunger.. these kids also come from broken homes and from families that basically abandon them because their mothers were to young and irresponsible. This organization helps these kids by keeping them in a camp like setting outside of Managua. All 20 kids live together and go through physiological counseling and other types of anger management classes. Its like a second chance program that help them change their ways to become a better person and citizen.

Last year when I went to Los Quinchos, Joey Sison and I met this little 8 year old boy named Honey. I am guessing because he had Honey eyes.. either way that was his name in Los Quinchos. We interacted with him and he showed us all the animals they have. He loved to take pictures of the animal too! It was great time with him. I was really excited to go see him again.. after a year I expected to see him a bit changed... more respectful.. I was ready to here out his experiences through out this past year. So we arrived in Los Quinchos and we meet all the little boys and I am looking for those honey eyes.. making sure I don't confuse him with anyone else... I keep looking and I don't find him.. I doubted my memory, I thought to myself how could I not remember him! He has to be here! So I ask one of the other kids and I say "Donde esta Honey?" He told me he was not there anymore.. I think to myself its a good thing right? that means he is a changed child.. he has moved on to do great things in the world. On the contrary.. the professor explained to me that he started acting up and he did not want to be in the program anymore, they said they made him talk to every teacher, mentor and psychologist and he was determined he wanted to leave the program. The professor also explained that this was a bad decision because his mother does not take care of him so the probability of him going back to the streets were really high. This killed me. I introduce to you my first tears on this Nicaragua trip. I feel sad because there was hope for him in this organization and I could not help but think negative and wonder what he was doing that very moment. I also thought to myself, I am never going to see Honey again.. it hit me hard. But I had to bounce back up and all these rush of emotions happened within 5 min. and its only because little Javier grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the rabbits and cows. He also wanted to show me mangos. He was determined! :) So I met Javier, great kid.. fun and fast I think i was running most of the time because all he did was pull me in different directions. I also allowed him to take pictures of the cows, rabbits and pigs with my camera.. great photographer i must say. He also showed me their swimming pool. Apparently they did not know how to swim so I gave Javier and 3 others a crash course on how to swim like a pro! Those kids are awesome and they are completely capable of sucking all the energy out of you! I loved every second of it.

I just reflected on what happened to Honey and I have faith that the time he was in Los Quinchos he learned values and moral. I want to stay positive and hope that he is not back on the streets and that he has found a home were he is loved and cared for. Even though everyone there thinks Honey is "DEFINITELY" doing bad.. I can only hope and pray that he is doing good where ever he is.
:)

Kathrine Avila

Nicaraguan Character

I know that I should probably be writing specifically about the different speakers and events that I went to, but it is not so much the facts that I learn or the places that I have been to that are contributing to my learning. What I am taking away from the people that I meet are their characteristics and convictions. Two days ago we met a woman who had no other options in her life but to live in the municipal dump, rummaging through trash to sell back to middle men and picking through intestines and rotting meat to feed her family, whom of which were still malnourished. My heart sunk learning about the daily lives of a hundred people who live in the dump, but after meeting Yamilette, a woman who has risen herself out of the municipal dump through her will to help others is inspiring to say the least. Her modesty, strength, courage, and positive outlook on life were some of her qualities that were the most impacting to me. Despite the harsh reality of her past and present life, she is still grateful and humble for what she has and what she has to give to her community. This mentality and strength of character is what I hope to bring back with me even if I could come back with an ounce of such admirable humility.

Experiences in Nicaragua

So far, I have been having a very interseting experience. I like how we are able to link the discussions that we have with real life experiences that we encounter in Nicaragua. I went to the dump with the rest of Bonner and was able to witness Nicaragua's form of poverty. These citizens migrated to the Dump because they could not find a means of food for their families. Considering that the unemployment rate is 75 %, this did not shock me. However, the type of food that they eat at the Dump did shock me. I also went to the women's rights nonprofit organization, where I was able to see women organizing themselves and protecting each other from the unjust treatment of women in Nicaragua. This experience enlightened me and the speaker was very passionate.

Moreover, last night's experience was an experience that I will never forget. After the concert (which was a lot of fun), I went to a local concert with a few of the Bonners. There, I came across Witness For Peace advocate Christine and her boyfriend. We were able to walk into a concert (for free) and see the pride and nationalism that the citizens of Nicaragua have for their country. It got a little awkward when a song came on about hating America, but every one was still very nice. After, a few Bonners went back but I stayed out with two other Bonners and Christine and her boyfriend. We went to a local bar/club and every single person there was incredibly nice to us. Instead of feeling anger towards us for being outside Americans, they introduced themselves and taught us a lot about their culture, such as oroper greetings and how to dance to salsa. Also, Chrstine's boyfriend was very kind and handled the taxi ride and music. I am starting to fall in love with the culture and the amount of nationalism this country holds.

A Bit of Peace- Karina Day 3 Post

Today I found a little bit of peace… in a place with a very uncertain future, filled with big hearts and hopeful spirits. Nicaragua. I came to visit you with no expectations, with no idea, but with the intention to become inspired and to let your history, your story, your beauty influence me… to allow you to bear motherhood over me for a few days… to feel your love, to feel your pain, even if it’s just for a little while. I came here with the idea that I could stop it all. Or at least do something to induce change. But after learning that you’ve become victim to unfair policies, unjust political figures, ignorance and corrupt authority, pesticides, homicide, false and unkept promises… that your children live in garbage dumpsters, that your children are being exploited by foreign companies, that your daughters carry on their backs the blame of all the misfortunes of their families, and your sons have lost themselves in their anger and disillusionment… I’ve become hopeless… soaked in guilt and despair. Yet somehow, magically, you have not. You still remain. You have been sucked dry of your milk by sons you did not bear, and still, you continue to produce nutrients for your children and a surplus. You have been covered by pollution and masked with the discards of the world, but you bloom, no matter the season, providing a corner of shade for any tired soul seeking relief from the sun above you. Your children have found a way to grow with their devastations, and not be consumed by them. They have learned how to move in a world that has no path for them. Chameleons of time and circumstance. You parade your scars of battle and revolution with grace and humility. You know the true definition of beauty. Blessed are you because you know what the true definition of honor is. You practice nobility, honesty, and you labor every single moment of the day in hopes to teach your children the joy in true and just work ethic. Most amazingly, you have forgiven all offenses made against you. You hold no grudge. You walk with love. There is so much the world can learn from you. There is so much I have learned from you. And today, as I was drowning in my guilt, exasperated by the sufferings I am witnessing, you sent one of your children to sing to my colleagues and I… and I heard your song of peace. You rescued me from my doubts, from my thoughts. You told me that you have not lost hope, nor have your children, and in turn, I cannot either.

“Yo no soy nada. Ni chicha, ni limonada, me la paso manosiandome. Carambasamba. Mi dignidad”.

Jennifer Ullrich Blog 2

Life has been interesting since learning there are lizards. I am constantly looking around for them in the room and bathroom but it is not as bad as the initial shock of learning there were lizards. Last night we a local family of artisans come and sing for us. They played traditional songs that made everyone get up and dance. In the family there was a nine-year-old girl who sang some solo songs that she made with her father. It was great to see such great talent and to hear songs of the culture!

I am loving this trip and I cannot wait for what is ahead!

Hello Bonner World,

It's day 3 in Nicaragua and everything is so far so good. Nicaragua this year has been great thus far. When I arrived here I wondered if I was going to have a similar experince then the last time I was here.. and so I concluded that I did not want to compare one Nica trip to the other. I want to take this second trip as a second chance. Today I realized that I have not done enough to help Nicaragua last year and this coming year I need scream to the top of my lungs and raise awarness about the social injustices that Nica is going through every single day.

Today I had the opportunity to talk to some people that are staying at CEPAD (the name of the place we are staying) as well.. and I really want to know what they personally think about the current president and what they thought about the fact that he is going to run for the third time for office. Something that was against the law but he personally made sure to change that just so he can run again. They really were opinionated about the president and what they expected from him.. The people in Nica especially college students are iffy about the president, he has done good things but he has not been to transparent with the things he is doing. So i guess what worries many people here is if he is changing the law and running again to just become another Fidel Castro? or Chavez? Which by the way they are all buddies along with my very own ecuadorian president.. So the college students expressed concern about all these relationships and hope that only good comes out of these relationships and they also hope that all these presidents are working for the people and not to get richer or steal from the country. However, if we look at Chavez case.. I am sure he is praying (like one of the speakers today mentioned) that the "petrolio" cost gets higher so that Venezuela gets richer.. Something to think about

Before I engaged in conversation with the Nicaraguense college students, Witness for Peace allowed us to talk to 3 speakers today. We first learned about Neo-liberalism.. which was actually good because it was a refresher and definetly helped me understand everything else that happened through out the day. After breakfast at 7am.. may i mention. We took a trip with Yamilette Perez who helpes her community by having her very own small clinic. This clinic is a free clinic so many people that have flu or any type of sickness come to her for help and she is there! Her story however is very interesting she lived in a dump for a big chunk of her life and she worked there as well, collecting bronze, plastic and basically sorting out the garbage that all of Managua (the capital city of Nicaragua) dumps daily. She had her only daughter in the dump and she showed us picturs of her daughter very un healthy because of her economic status. She did not have money so she often had to eat meat that was thrown away by other people. She told us that she would rub these guayava leaves on the meat so that the smell of the meat is cancelled out and help her eat it better. She would often not eat breakfast or lunch so that she would be really hungry at night.. enough to allow her self to eat the passed away meat. It was hard to her her story but I realized how strong of a woman she is. She is now helping others, no longer working in the dump but instead has a house in a community next to the dump. This allows her to still have the opportunity to help her community. Its amazing to see people go though some really tough times in their lives and they still have time to think of others or still have that burning passion to help others even though your very own life still needs help too. She is a great example of a strong woman.. she got though it all and she is still standing tall and with a smile on her face. She is a very happy person and not many people in the USA can even imagine going through what she did and not be mad at God or at the world. Life can be tough for me.. finals, personal problems but once you hear her story my problems become so small compared to hers. It just makes you appreciate everything you have.. but thats it? Do you appreciate and walk away? NO! You take action.. you do something about all this! This leads me to mention the reflection we had with the whole group about what we are going to do when we get back from Nica. We obviously realized that "this is not ok!" like my roomie Jenn would say.. In our reflection and through out this whole trip i want to brainstorm ideas with others on this trip.. and see what we can do.. Last year we had a Nica forum and that was it.. YES! its hard to balance school and Bonner and other activities on campus and still try to organize an event.. but its not impossible.. So i have challeneged myself .. to do more then what i did last year for nica this year. Actually, this new Nica group silently challenged me to do something more for nica then a simple Nica forum..Which i do not down talk it because i think last years forum was great.. it took a lot of planning and everyone who spoke did a great job.. but this is just a motivation to do more.. to basically improve and build upon the other ideas that have already been implemented by other delegations to help raise awarness for Nica. I just don't want to get carried away by "life" once I get back to the USA and not remember the things I have experinced here.. and so i hope that everyone in this years delegation from TCNJ can push each other and nudge each other when we go back to the US and remind each other that we need to take action! Its been REAL.. I can not wait until we go to Ramon Garcia which is el campo.. and see my host family from last year.. i hope she remembers me because i sure do! I also hope that everyone that is on this trip gets excited for it too.. its hard to get excited because everyone is a but anxious about what to expect in el campo.. Bears, tigers, BUGSS.. ha ha.. I hope that everyones worries do not get in the way of learning from their families and really listening to what they have to say about thier own economic issue. Its natural though to be nervous about el campo.. hack i was when i first went.. its outside our comfort Zone but stepping out for 3 days and embracing it is the way to gooo! I am excited for the following days.. i hope to meet more Nicaraguenses..and talk to more people about politics which i really think is interesting right now.. hot topic..

yours truly,La Gata.aka Kat :)

By the way the other 2 people that we talked to is Maria and an Nicaraguense economist.. Next blog i will mention them.

Megan Gerity Blog 1 (again, posted a few days later)

First day in Managua, Nicaragua and we all arrived safely and healthy. We started off the day with an ice breaker and a quick history lesson, where we practiced skits for different economic and political time periods and events. It was a great way to not only get to know each other, but to understand how Nicaragua has come to be what it is today. We then took a brief bus tour of the city. My favorite part of the tour was seeing how young persons of Nicaragua are trying to rebuild their future for themselves. For example, one poster in a museum exhibit promoted a book that is targeted towards the youth. The book’s main message was that the youth should not confuse pride as synonymous to violating human rights. Instead, the youth must restore the country’s honor through non-violent means. I thought this was a powerful message. I can’t wait to know more.M

Jennifer Ullrich Blog 1 (posted a few days later)

We got to Nicaragua today! Thankfully our both of our flights ran smoothly and safely! When we off the plan we were greeted by our Witness for Peace tour guide, Christine! Christine is very passionate about the struggles that Nicaragua faces currently and in the past. We spend the afternoon learning and acting out the history of the country so we have an understanding of why the country is the way it is. After our tour we have a lovely dinner cooked by the women at our campo. We then assigned positions for each of the ten Bonners on our trip. I am excited to start our roles tomorrow and to learn more about the culture and the history of Nicaragua!

Caitlin Dolan's Blog 1 (posted a few days later)

I entered Nicaragua today. It is my first time out of the country and I am a little nervous. I was greeted at the airport by Christine, who is a Witness for Peace worker. She was very nice and so is the drive, Louise. The hostile that we are staying at is nice than I thought it would be. The food is very good and it is is mostly beans and rice accompanied by a fried banana. We also went to the President’s Palace and took a historical tour around the Somoza’s family estate. The estate was ruined by the 1973 earthquake. I found it interesting the number of PDA displays throughout the streets in Nicaragua, as well as the number of children who came up to the van to make a quick dollar. Today was very light and I look forward to tomorrow.