Nicaragua

Three STRONG-CT students from Three Rivers Community College

Charles Gabriele, Sheri Smith and Kael Wiersch

spent their winter 2007/2008 break in Nicaragua

Our experience in Nicaragua started with the plane ride. We noticed the beauty of the mountains and volcanoes and the sadness of the widespread deforestation. After landing and leaving the airport, there was a great realization that we were not in America anymore. Outside the airport there were armed guards and children begging for you to buy a pack of gum from them. This is a common occurrence throughout our travels. Driving from Managua to Granada, we were all overcome by the poverty and the conditions people were living in. No matter what you are told or how many times you see it on TV, nothing can prepare you for seeing these types of conditions in person. There was garbage everywhere, and what wasn’t lying around, was being burned on the sides of the streets.

We made our way to Granada, which has the potential to be a truly beautiful city. The Spanish influence on the architecture is amazing. Unfortunately, many of these great buildings are left to rot.

The government doesn’t care about them and the people don’t have the money to keep them up. Here there are also many people begging and trying to sell you small items. There is also an abundance of starving stray dogs

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Due to high winds, the ferry wasn’t running so we stayed an extra night in Granada. This allowed us to visit an active volcano.  It was truly amazing to be able to look down into the pit of the volcano, and was worth dealing with the sulfur smell.

Once we were finally able to travel to Ometepe, we were put on a decrepit, overloaded little boat, in high seas. This was quite scary, but we all made it. It was saddening to learn that many of the inhabitants of Ometepe have never left the island. They can’t afford the $3 fare, because it is several days pay.

Arriving on the island we were at first taken surprised by the extreme beauty of it. We were able to see some native animals and plants, including capuchin monkeys, various birds, a tarantula, a scorpion and some very friendly parrots.

We were able to enjoy nature walks, and a trip to a man made lagoon, fed by a natural spring.  There are plantain trees, coconut trees and even starfuit trees all around. It was hard to appreciate all this beauty when noticing the conditions of the people. They live in floorless shacks made of whatever they can scrounge up.

The lake surrounding the island provides much for them. It is used for laundry, bathing and for fishing.  Animals of all kinds roam freely throughout the island. There are chicken, cattle and horses roaming the streets and none of them look healthy.

While the people of Ometepe are extremely poor, we were surprised by how content they seemed with there lives. It is impossible to visit a place like this and not be affected by the people and the land. This trip made all three of us appreciative of all we have.