With the images and emotions from Cambodia still
fresh in my mind, the ability to compare and contrast Cambodia with Nicaragua
comes naturally. Coming into this service trip open-minded and free of
expectations, I was immediately baffled, but comforted, by the clean
environment. Those of you who have visited Nicaragua before may respectfully
disagree with me, yet I'm making my determination based on my experience in
Cambodia. Intricately shaped trees line the streets, reminding me of the film
"Edward Scissorhands," drawing the passersby in and claiming,
"Look at me! Look at me!" During this service trip we have the
pleasure of staying at Hostel Hamacas, a quaint home-away-from-home which is
truly inviting and immerses one into the culture of the country with its
vibrant color schemes, lush foliage and authentic decor. I am approaching this opportunity with zero expectations, and so I will just breathe, laugh, love and live like there's no tomorrow.
Originating from Miami and also my new favorite
ladies, Aleyda and Kristal will serve as our translators this week, assisting
us both on site at Escuela Especial and during our afternoon home visits. Known to most as the bubbly individual always seeking to be a better person and foster better
situations for those around her, Lisamarie discovered Aleyda and Kristal
through a companion at a yoga class here in Nicaragua. My initial impression
was that these females were street smart, savvy women with tough outer shells,
women that would get a job done and get it right. And yes, after several
conversations throughout the day, the assumption was confirmed; however, this
kind-hearted mother-daughter duo shares the same passions as Lisamarie and me.
Hardworking, firm and fearless, as a quadruplet we will do our best to
accomplish the work we came to do, both for the students in Nicaragua and the
students we have brought from our little bubble in Eagle County.
Before initiating CLEANING 101, we were given the
opportunity to meet most of the staff, which included some of the following:
Carmen Margherita (physical therapy), Marta (preschool), and Marino (teacher
for the deaf). Meeting Marino, a beautiful soul with a beaming smile, provided
me my first experience with the Nicaraguan sign language. Marino, deaf himself,
was very patient as we learned how to sign his name, because it did take
multiple attempts. When we correctly signed back with "Buenos Dias,"
he lit up like a neon sign in the dark of night. I see a new friendship and
mentor in my future.
And so now, please permit me to take you on a short
journey of the school: 11 metal-gated classrooms, blue-white-blue exterior
paint to represent the flag, lush foliage, banana and papaya trees, a desperate
lack of supplies, no whiteboards, handwritten posters, random activities
obviously supplied by donors, broken manipulatives, no pencils, rooms lined
with wheelchairs and rickety wooden chairs, stacks of unorganized papers,
running water, cobweb-covered equipment, dirt and grime from 28 years of
existence...I could keep going and going, but I think you get the
point. To adequately prepare for our upcoming week with the students, we
needed to show the teachers how invested we truly are, how much this
opportunity means to us. Cleaning the school not only makes us feel good at the
end of the day, but it fosters our commitment to greatness, our compassion for
those who can do nothing for us in return.
Our mission for Day 1 at the school was to clean
and organize every classroom, disinfect the cafeteria, and purify the grounds of waste. Paired up with Kristal, Maddie, Makena and I gained unforgettable
information about spiders, as our intimate encounter with one served as a
defining moment in our day. Did you know that a tarantula's defense mechanism
is its hairs? Apparently when threatened, they release their hairs into the
opponent's mouth, further encompassing the esophagus and lungs, eventually suffocating
them. You may wonder why I added this tidbit of information into my blog? It's
because I took this new knowledge and immediately compared it to my involvement
with Children's Global Alliance-three words: Share. The. Love. Two years ago
when I expressed (in a photo comment on Facebook) to Lisamarie that I wanted to
be involved, she shared her personal objective and desire to bring students
aboard. One agreement spiraled into the next, and the next, and look where the
organization is now. Inclusive of my son Axel and my commitments at home, it is
my world. I am not suffocating like the victim mentioned above, but am truly living and breathing the opportunities
provided me by CGA and Lisamarie Howell. Thank you, LMH, for being my
tarantula. I am surrounded by so much love, which in turn, radiates from my own love-swollen heart.
At the current moment I am overwhelmed with
curiosity and anxiety. How do the classes and teachers function with limited supplies? What will the student-to-teacher
ratio look like in action? What challenges do they face that I haven’t already
been exposed to? How will our limited knowledge of Nicaraguan sign language play out? Will we be accepted by the children?
Once again, this opportunity forces me, whether I want to accept this
reality or not, to be grateful for everyone and everything in my life. So I
remember to breath, laugh, love and live. xoxo
