Day 7: We all live in a yellow... kayak

Today we started off with a well deserved late wake up. We woke up at 7:45 and then ate a delicious breakfast at 8 before our kayak ride at 9:30. When it was time to go, we got into groups and set off. There was a lot of wind, which made it hard to paddle forward, but we were able to make it to this  hidden river inlet. The mangrove was surrounded with beautiful flowers and grasses along with many bugs. We made our way down the river,  explored a few different paths, and then turned around and headed back for lunch. It was a super long ride back, but we all did it with the help of each other. We enjoyed a delicious late lunch, and then headed off to a sand bar beach to watch the sunset. It was really beautiful. We all played games in the water, and before we knew it, it was already time for dinner. On the bus ride back, we sang along to a bunch of popular old songs. As soon as we got back and finished dinner, we showered, and then went down to the dock and seminared about today, and what to expect tomorrow with working with the Ometepe Bilingual School.

So on our kayak ride today, we went to a little secret river. Mr Grisbee was telling us how 2 years ago when they kayaked down the river, it was completely dry. But, today, the same river was completely filled with water and grasses and wildlife. And yesterday the shoreline of one of the beaches we went to was so much farther forward than it was the past years. Nicaragua is currently in their dry season, but its just interesting too see how over time, during their dry seasons the bodies of water are gaining more and more water. This was from a recent hurricane, but as well as that, many Nicaraguans do believe climate change is a contributing factor to why there is more rain during the dry season. 

On the kayak ride, we all had to work together really well to power through our pain. It was a long, hard ride, but we all did it. Without our team work, I don't think we all could have made it back so quickly. We waited for the people in the back, helped turn people who had drifted around, and encouraged people who were having trouble going fast. On our trip, teamwork is really important, because we do everything together, and when all of us are able to help each other out, our work and activities run much smoother.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 4: Co-ops and Colonial Towns, Oh My!

Image
 Starting off the day with some early morning laundry at the "pila," or traditional washboard station. Staring our two-hour long journey to El Porvenir and passing volcano Momotombo along Lake Managua.  Taking a nice group photo in our cozy van for the few hours. A gorgeous view of the trail on the base of the mountain to El Porvenir.  A forest fire is present along the mountains we passed along side El Porvenir.  Hopping on the tractor to begin our hour long trek up the mountain.  The view atop of the mountain upon arriving to El Porvenir. The community has 40 families as part of the cooperative.  We recieved a tour of the coffee co-op and here are the migrant workers quarters. This is a Guanacasa Tree, one of the oldest and biggest trees on the farm.  A cacao pod, which we were all able to sample.  The Managua Field School 2018 photo looking out over the vista from El Porvenir.   Franz enjoyed learning abo
Read more

El Primer Dia en Managua

We’ve finally arrived! As soon as the plane touched down, we were off and running. Our first stop was to a little café that served pupusas, and for many of us it was our first time trying pupusas which is surprisingly a food native to El Salvador. After lunch, we headed off for a tour around Managua, stopping first at the Plaza de la Revolución or what can now be considered, ‘old Managua’. There we saw the Old Cathedral of Managua and learned about its use in the country’s revolution. We stopped by El Palacio Nacional , the country’s national museum and learned about some of the historical figures who had a profound impact on the history of Managua, and at one point occupied the Palace. We also saw the tomb of Carlos Fonseca located in the country’s central park. Fonseca was a former commander of the Sandinistas, who fought against the US funded “Contras” in the country’s decades long Contra war. Afterwards, we visited an amusement park that housed miniature replicas of th
Read more

Day 3: It was all fun and games...

Image
The group having fun and playing games with "Los Leones," a group for at-risk boys. Some members of our group buying drinks after a long day at work. Soda here is filled in plastic bags and the glass bottles are left behind. The street vendors making drinks. Salvador and Eliott hard at work making room for a water line extending alongside the new building. Franz shadowed Dr. Flores during his morning rotation at the clinic. Mark Lester, a historian who has lived in Nicaragua since 1985, gave us a lecture on Nicaragua's struggles in the past and present. Dr. Lee organizing pills at the Nueva Vida pharmacy with a pharmacy student who is completing a final internship with JHC. Nathan with Mark Lester. Cole, Carly and, Nathan having fun with "Los Leones". Chants created with "Los Leones".
Read more