Getting Comfortable

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