Nicaragua: Day 3 and Day 4

Day 3

Today we took the donations that were given to us further in the year, and we organized them into tons of piles to take to the children. We sorted through clothing, food, medical supplies, school supplies, etc. While Kevin, Maddie and I were doing that, Meaghan and Douglas went to the market to buy extra food and supplies we could give to the children individually to take home to their families. We packed 90 separate bags individually with oils, soaps, a scrubber, pasta, rice, beans, a toothbrush, toothpaste, fluoride strips, floss, diapers, etc. We had them all in super colorful bags to give to the students on Monday (tomorrow). I’m so excited to see their reaction to having new food and items at home.

Day 4

Today was literally one of the most exciting days in my life. It was Monday, so we went to Escuela Especial today to see the children. The entire ride there I was so nervous, excited, happy, scared, SO many different emotions ran through me I couldn’t even handle it. We packed the 90 different bags into the taxis and when school was out at noon, we would pass them out to the students.

When we got there, I was assigned the room that I cleaned a few days before: the pre-school room. I was really excited! I walked right in with one of the translators, Kristal, and the first thing I saw was one student, Tatiana turn around and give me a smile that lit up the entire room. I worked with them and at first kinda felt intrusive and really different, but when the teacher, Marta, had the kids sit on the floor and pass a basketball to one another it was like I was home. Everyone was happy, and every person in the room was smiling. I rolled the ball to a lot of students, some of them unable to hold/ grasp the ball so they just smiled and laughed while the ball rolled on their lap.

When it was lunchtime, we watched the children eat. Most of them are not properly fed at home, and so when the school provides them lunches it is a big deal for them, the teachers and us.

After lunch Kristal and I walked to the room for the deaf and it was full of gorgeous young girls staring at us. We sat right down and saw the activity they were doing: they were making jewelry to sell to buy things they could use at school. They first started signing sign language towards me asking me if I spoke sign language. I just responded with the sign for "a little bit". The were so interested in my hair color (they were positive that it was fake and dyed, they're not used to seeing natural blondes) and they were asking my name. In sign language, it's really hard to always sign someone's name by spelling it out, so they make a new sign for you using the first letter of your name in sign language. After a while of deciding, they decided my new sign for my name where they would take their first 3 fingers (an M in sign language) and touch each side of their mouth because it symbolizes my dimples. Every person has their own sign language name and it is something characteristic about it. I think that was so much fun to witness and be part of. 

At the end of the school day (noon) the children were so excited when we handed out their bags to them. They lit up and their faces were so pure and kind I couldn't even believe it was real.

After school was over, Douglas, Jenna and I all traveled to the Social Services building in Rivas, to go to the homes of former students, and hopefully future students to persuade them to bring their child to Escuela Especial. We went to two houses today, and at the first house it was just one big room that 22 people have to sleep in. Grandmas, children, babies, parents, grandchildren, etc. So many people in one house I could just not even believe it. They slept on chairs, floors, beds, everywhere they could find. There were 3 children there that had special needs. There was one child, Alexis, who was two years old and blind. There were 2 more children who both were brothers with the same dad, and they both were mentally ill. One of them was Luis Pablo who was 13 and had aggressive problems. His brother, Nicky, was 17 and had attended Escuela Especial for 2 years until he was too old.
The second house we visited was a little different. There were two children with special needs here, Franklin and Enclara. Franklin was 15 and Enclara was 12. They both sat in cribs their whole entire lives, since when they first could have gotten help, the living conditions were so poor the physical therapist couldn't be able to help them. We did not see them because they were not there when we were, but we heard about them from their older brother who was at home when we visited. Franklin and Enclara were not taken care of when they were younger, to the point where now there is nothing we can do to help them. Their bones and limbs are so bent and cripples that even straightening their arms will break them. I wish there was more I could do for them. I really hope I can see them before the trip is over.

Thank you all so much for the support!
- Makena

Nicaragua: Day 1, and Day 2

Day 1:

                Today we landed in Nicaragua and were greeted by Lisa -Marie and a Mariachi Band. We took a van to the hotel about an hour away, and it was so much fun talking with everyone in the van. I saw so many stray dogs and cats on the streets at night, we had to stop a few times to make sure we wouldn't run them over. We were all so nervous and excited to meet the children that we were in the van just so excited because none of us can wait!  We finally got to Hotel Hamacas around 1 in the morning, when we unpacked our bags, got our supplies, and fell asleep.

                What I felt and saw in Nicaragua that really stood out to me is how kind and genourous everyone was. Meaghan said "Buenos noches" to the baggage handler and he replied with, "Usted es muy linda!" which means You are very pretty. EVERYONE I met today is so sweet. At first the people in Nicaragua just stare at you (it’s a little intimidating) but once you smile at them, they smile back so pure and kind. 

Day 2:

                Today we drove to Escuela Especial! The kids were not there today, because it was Saturday, and school starts on Monday and ends Friday. We went to the school and looked around for a little. It was so beautiful. The buildings were blue and white because every school in Nicaragua is blue and white because that is the flag’s colors. We walked into the main area and met all the teachers. They were so kind, because they devote their lives towards these children when they don’t get the love and support they need at home. You could tell how much the teachers cared about the students, because they would do their very best to make sure they felt loved and supported. When you walked in their rooms you could just see how much they cared, because they had homemade decorations, and supplies.

                We started off cleaning the school. Maddie and I were assigned the pre-school/lower school room to clean and we worked right away. We cleaned the bathroom, floors, chairs, wheelchairs, desks, we organized with Ms. Gutmann, and we mopped it all after. The chairs the children sat in were completely dirty and filthy. The wheelchairs had spiders crawling around them, and some trays they ate on had termites. While I was scrubbing down their chairs and toys I couldn’t wait to see the faces on these kids when they would come to school and get to sit in a clean chair, and eat off clean trays.

                When we finished cleaning the pre-school, Maddie and I cleaned the Physical Therapy room. The room had homemade stairs the children could walk up and down on to build leg muscle, there was tables they work on, and on the floor there were ABC mats the children would lay on, roll on, sit on, stand on, or do anything on. The mats were so filthy and dirty; they have never been washed before. We scrubbed and scrubbed until they were clean and looked almost brand new. This will help the kids in so many ways, because not only will the mats be clean and look better, but it will help not spread germs, and diseases the children may have. 
             
               I really am counting down the days until Monday, when we finally get to see the children and play and interact with them at school. I feel like Monday will be so much fun that I can barely wait to see what the children will do/ say/ act with us around.

-Makena

Nicaragua!

In December of 2012, my life changed forever, and the trip hasn't even started yet!

I am so excited to be going to Nicaragua to work in a school for children with special needs.

www.childrensglobalalliance.org

In 5 days I will be heading to the trip I've been waiting for since December! I've worked hard to be able to participate on this trip and I'm still counting down the days until I get to be able to go on the trip of a lifetime! I'm a little anxious and nervous for what I will be experiencing. I wonder what the children will say, if they'll like us.. etc. I have never been more excited for something in my life, and I can not wait until I get to go!

I've read the blogs from both the Cambodia trips and seen pictures and videos on Facebook, and everyday I wake up thinking about the children I will meet, I'm practicing my spanish, sign language, research on different disabilities, and even seeing Kevin, Meaghan, Maddie, and Douglas around town I just can't help but be so excited!