These past few days in Nicaragua have been nothing short of amazing. So far we have traveled to Cuidad Sandino to talk to the mayor, gone to the market in Cuidad Sandino, talked to the banana farmers who have been fighting for justice in front of the National Assembly building for the past 4 years. The group is trying to get compensation as well as recognition from the U.S. transnational corporations Dole and the Standard Fruit company who sent tons of the chemical nemagon to Central American, failing to tell the workers that the chemical was very dangerous (it had been outlawed in the U.S. since the 1950s). Most of the people have external and internal injuries as well as forms of cancer. Visiting the banana workers in their tarp covered shelters was a very humbling experience. We met many families and although it was a heartbreaking experience, we did not leave feeling hopeless. instead we left feeling touched by what these people have gone through as well as touched by the human spirit that still exists among them. we received so many hugs and words of thanks when we were doing nothing more but talking to these people. it just goes to show the compassion that exists within Nicaraguans.
We also went and visited many monuments in Managua, most of which featured the sombrero wearing, mule riding Sandino, who is the founder of the FSLN. We also talked to the cooperative of Jubilee House, which is an all female cooperative composed of single mothers and grandmothers. These women have so much hope for the future. they built their own factory, with no pay for three years and sacrificed countless things for their families as well as themselves. however, each says that it was worth it because it gave them a future, as well as a future for their families. The group has gotten so close in the past few days and we wake up each morning prepared to work and prepared to see things that are going to move us and give us newfound appreciation of the human spirit. I can say for all that this has been an amazing experience that gets better each day. Well we're off to work at a clinic Nueva Vida that receives help from the NGO we are staying with, Jubilee House Community. Can't wait to give details soon!!

Safe Arrival

We are safely in Managua, Nicaragua staying with our first non-governmental organization: Jubilee House Community in Cuidad Sandino. The plane ride went smoothly the bus ride on the other hand, was a different story. Amidst honking cars and bareoot street vendors selling us everything from mangos to water in plastic bags, the accelorator completely stopped working and we came to a screeching halt at the base of a small mountain. although we were all slightly freaking out, we were in good company. An older man approached the bus ringing a bell and selling a cartful of ice cream. So, we munched on ice cream on the side of the road while help arrived to fix the bus. When we finished our ice cream the ice cream man insisted that it was perfectly acceptable to throw our trash anywhere. However, everyone felt uncomfortable and refused to do so. When the bus finally started going, we drove past Lake Managua where a colorful structure was situated. we later found out that this was where Somoza and his 'thugs' threw dead bodies into Lake managua, hundreds of feet below. The volunteer coordinator of Jubilee House, Felicia told us that women would go to the bottom of the cliff and look for their husbands and sons or any other family member that went missing. This definitely brought Nicaragua's tortured history to light.
Managua is a unique, colorul city littered with trash and run down buildings amidst huge 'americanized' bill boards. however, the culture here is bustling with statues and our forms of Nicaraguan pride. We are all so excited to be here and can't wait for all of the adventures to come. Thanks for following us!!