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