NEWSBYCASSANDRA MAXIMOUS

A few little kids in Nicaragua always used to bid us farewell at the end of the day with the parting words "hasta nunca" which translates to "see you never." Oddly enough, these children would say that even if we were going to see them the next morning, but at the end of my month there, "hasta nunca" took on a different meaning... I may not see these beautiful children again.

I still think about my students and friends - Armando and Ulises, Tatiana and Lester, Gabe, Fabre, and Adrianna - all the time. I see them in the pictures up on my bulliten board and in my memories of my summer. I hope that I will return to Nicaragua in the Spring to serve with an Orphan Network trip and perhaps steal away for a day or extend my trip to pay a visit to our beloved barrio (village) where Manna Project is located.

For me, going into the trip, I knew I was going to get to know these communities and then in a month's time have to say 'goodbye.' Allthewhile, knowing who was going to carryon our efforts and mission - the same community of volunteers that had been doing a superb job for nearly a year before us. However, this week marks the end of Manna Project's 13-month program. The 8 year-long volunteers will be packing up their belongings, donating their stuff, finishing up their lesson plans, and handing over the reigns to the new team of year-long volunteers. What a difficult position to be in!

Indeed, service always does a great service to the volunteer. In stepping out to live for others, we inevitably get taught a lesson, have our lives changed, and feel touched by beautiful and painful experiences.

I commend these Manna volunteers for their commitment to the communities of Cedro Gallan, Chikilistagua and La Chureca for the last thirteen months. They have gone from being a new kid on the block who hardly spoke Spanish and couldn't drive a stick shift car, to the most beloved gringos that some of these Nicas will ever know.

And now they will be replaced; replaced by amazing and bright new volunteers but still replaced. Will they be forgotten? Is that okay? After devoting so much of their life to these people, can another gringo with the same rubia (blond) hair just swing in and take their place?

I really dont know if the people will remember them after a number of years...for now, the new gringos will not be able to compare to their dear friends who are moving on. Nothing the new group does will meet the standard they set, until everything sets into place and the communities become adjusted to one another.

Manna Project provides a truly amazing opportunity for average Americans to step out of their world and into another, not just for a week or a month, but for over a year. Through that year, both the volunteers and the Nicaraguans they are serving will grow to be genuine friends and confidents and will learn important and substantial lessons from one another. And then, at the end of the year, things will change. The Americans will return home and the Nicaraguans will be introduced to their new friends. Is it okay to continually take and place strangers into these people's lives? Can we ask young Nicaraguan children who don't understand what love is because their father walked out on them when they were little and their mother beats them, to grow cross to an young American, and then in a year's time, they too will be gone?

I don't know what the best system is, so I do not ask these questions to point out a problem or propose solutions. I simply ask these questions in reflection and challenge of pursuing a continued life of service.

Could you give it all up? Would you go and never come back?

I am so thankful that there are people in this world who would answer yes to both of these questions without second guessing. (And I'm thankful for those that second guess, and go anyways!)

For me anyways, I hope it's not 'hasta nunca' to these people. I'll be back!

While Manna Project offered a variety of programs to get involved in during our month long stay in Nicaragua, we inevitably each began to invest ourselves more wholly in certain departments than others. My personal 'baby' of the month was Children's English. I adored the class with all that is in me.

Children's English was a relatively new program and there were about 8-12 students who would attend on any given day. Students were ages 7-11 and was composed of a bunch of cousins who lived in the same area at KM 13.5 on the Southern Highway and then other students from Chiquilistagua, one of our target neighborhoods. Each Tuesday and Thursday after Spanish Literacy a group of us Summer Volunteers would head toward 'The Land' (a community center in Chiquilistagua) and pick up a bunch of our students along the way, often piling 2-3 children on each lap.

During our first week in Nicaragua, the Summer Vols were invited to pick up a program and run with it. I had absolutely no formal training in education and teaching and thus was going into this with the motto of trial by fire! Lindsay, a fellow volunteer, and I set out to teach Children's English that first week. We looked through a couple of books aimed at their age group and compiled a 2-3 lesson unit on landscape vocabulary. Setting up this lesson plan meant forming the vocabulary list, looking up translations, creating worksheets with word boxes and exercises, and thinking up fun activities for during the class period to keep the students engaged and excited.

We were fortunate to be teaching a very energetic class. Usually by 4pm when class started, I was drained from teaching Spanish Literacy in the morning and playing with kids in between classes, but little Maycol, Marco, Lester, Rebecca, Tatianna, and Fredi (our regulars) always kept us on top of things.

Our first lesson was a hit!

What a success! We introduced these children to vocabulary words such as mountain, lake, river, ocean, beach, forest, jungle, etc. The list was a manageable size and by the end of the hour long session, I could hear them all utter the words under their breath, practicing as they did their final exercise. Could you imagine a bunch of young children showing up to an English class out of their own accord and motivation to learn!?  Their drive for learning and willingness to try new things surprised me each day, I don't believe I would have been so ambitious at their age.

In coming back to the United States and moving back into my apartment in Charlottesville, I have been met with many moments that throw me back to teaching my classes in Nicaragua. I think more conciously about my classes; what kind of planning is put into them?; how am I responding to a given stimulus?

Furthermore, one of my apartmentmates is a teacher's assistant for an ESL class for graduate students entering the University of Virginia. She comes home each day and I ask her about the lesson they taught thinking about how practical it is in light of entering a new culture and new language. Her and I recently talked about different pronunciations that are difficult for those learning English and I was once again thrown back to that first class I taught in Children's English when Lester kept saying 'Beeeesh' instead of 'Beach.' It's funny to think that 'ch' sound in the word is so difficult for native Spanish speakers considering there is a specific letter 'ch' in the Spanish alphabet. But then again, I conceed that English is a very difficult language to learn and again commend these students whether children, grad student, or my host mother in Nica for their conntinued efforts.

As our group of summer volunteers spent more time in the communities and working with classes, we naturally began to feel strong connections to certain people and families. A group of friends that sat together at a table in the back of our Advanced English class included Gabriel, Norman, Fabricio, Adrianna, Elaina, and Aldo. They were all about our age, give or take a few years, and are eager and rather accelerated learners.

Usually we had a lesson planned and then had an alternate lesson for when this table finished the exercises. Often, however, normal conversation about life, language, and anything else that could come to mind would float into the mix. I sat at this table from time to time to help with the lesson and grew to really enjoy their company. Other summer volunteers also became quite close to them and soon they were frequenting our house to just hang out, get guitar lessons, or play catchphrase.

One afternoon this group of friends came over to tell us about a non-for-profit organization that they had started themselves in the Managua area. They call themselves 'Nicayuda' which is a portmanteau word combining 'Nicaragua' and the verb 'ayudar' for 'to help.' Nicayuda is an NGO composed of 7 young Nicaraguans who acknowledge a need for public preschools in their country.

There are a number of good private preschools in Managua but they are also immensely expensive. Thus, Nicayuda has opened a couple public preschools in which young impoverished children can begin learning. That week, after hearing these friend of ours talk about their NGO, a group of the MPI (Manna Project International) Summer Volunteers paid a visit to the preschools. Unfortunately on that day, the preschools were closed due to the swine flu scare. We did get to see the facilities a bit though and later I saw some pictures of Nicayuda's endeavors.

Much of what I have been learning from my time in Nicaragua is the concept of empowerment. We teach classes and work and give to the communities of Cedro Gallan and Chikilistagua not for our own gain and not to just provide classes but instead to provide a means for opportunity. By learning how to read and by learning English, people from this community might be able to use these skills to find open doors waiting for them. I have been asked again and again about whether NGOs should occupy a constant presence in developing nations. While I don't believe they should create too strong of a sense of dependence, if they are indeed doing good work then the good must continue. As I pondered this question, however, the ideal situation continues to come to mind: Nicaraguans serving Nicaraguans.

That's a hard concept to wrap one's mind around considering how poor most of Nicaragua is; How can the poor help the poor? Will we simply ask the 'not as poor' to help the 'dirt poor?'

Nicayuda fits perfectly into this model of Nica's helping Nica's. These young people aren't starting an NGO to boost resumes or merely because they are bored and have nothing better to do. These new friends of ours are putting themselves on the line and meeting a need with their own abilities. They are currently working on gathering resources and aid to improve the conditions of three preschools in the Managua area. If you are interested in learning more information, please friend Nicayuda Nicaragua on Facebook or email Norman at nicayudaconorg@gmail.com.

Before coming down to Nicaragua, we were encouraged to bring clothing donations with us. As I packed, I felt more secure in bringing a larger duffle bag, knowing that about half of its contents was donations. I was happy to be relieved of them when we arrived as well.

It wasn't until the very end of our time in Nicaragua that we saw these donations come to use. Manna Project International has a no donation policy- instead of straight up giving people handouts, instead MPI would rather teach someone the value of items and an honest days work.

One our group's biggest projects was to set up a 'venta' or store to be held on our final Friday working in La Chureca, the municipal city dump. The prices would be set low to attract people to come as well as to make the clothing more affordable for the patrons.

For a couple days leading up to the big sale, there were bags upon bags and a room full of boxes to search through and sort first.

At one point it seemed like a shipment of clothing from the 80's exploded in our house or that we had been transfered back in time. Some of the donations were quite fun to look through, including this cowboy boot vest (pictured below) and the 30 or so babies velvet onsies!

Eventually we got through all the piles and rebagged them to be taken into La Chureca. When we arrived at the school/community center we had to set it all up, which meant unpacking the bags, setting up the price lists, and figuring out an adequate system of getting people in and out in an orderly fashion.

The rhythm would be set to 10 people allowed in at a time, 15 items per person, 15 minutes. They flowed in one door and out the back door and people were allowed to get back in line as long as they would wait their turn. As the first group came in, our neat folded piles of clothing turned into disheveled heaps but soon enough the piles began to diminish and get smaller. The venta was turning out to be quite successful.

As an American consumer, who has paid a visit to the mall since returning to the states, it was amazing and awe inspiring to see a pair of American Eagle pants priced at $44 being purchased for 5 cordobas. With the current exchange rate, that amounts to a whopping $1! Now, that, is a steal!

Despite such amazing mark downs and the push to make these people feel a sense of worth in allowing them to be consumers, at times I could still hear people mutter under their breaths "No hay nada" (translation: "There is nothing").

This was shocking to me. There was clearly stuff. We had filled the bed of a pickup truck quite high with luggage of clothing. It's funny and sad that some of these Nicas, despite being given an opportunity to buy nice good clothing for cheap, still saw a need to complain.

Sure, it would be a whole lot easier to simply be given free stuff, but I remember feeling quite important and accomplished buying my first big purchase with my own money back in middle school. I hope that our donations, that old floral dress I used to wear, Michael's beloved striped polo, and even that oh so lovely cowboy-ish vest make it into appreciative hands and clothe the bodies of beautiful souls trapped in La Chureca.

When calling home the other day, my father asked me in his joking voice (even though he knew full well the answer to this question), "By the way, where are you living again? In a house somewhere in Central America?"  Yes dad, I'm living in a house with 19 other people in a barrio about 15 kilometers south of Managua.

What's it like here? Tucked away past cobbled streets between the trees sits the house that Manna Project rents. It's quaint and perfect for our purposes. While there is no air conditioning, dishwasher, or clothes dryer, we get by well. There are gate men at the front of the neighborhood and I have never once felt endangered here. I have been living in the old servant's room of the house with another gal for the last month. We are frequently visited by cockroaches crawling up our sink and geckos on our ceiling. Again, it's quaint. I'm just thankful to have a bed to rest my head on each night. The work we do here in Nicaragua is what keeps me going, not any sort of haven at the house.

In truth, we don't even spend much time in the house outside of meals, sleeping, and planning for our lessons. As much as we can be, we are in the communities - getting dirty and sweaty with the people.

Last week, I was given an amazing opportunity to do a home-stay with a family that I have grown close to during my time here. Dayana, the youngest daughter is one of my star students and was the first chica that I made a connection with this month. Her sisters and mother attend our classes as well. Loraina, the madre, is such a kind spirited woman who loves to laugh and give hugs. Whenever I see her on the calle she throws me this look that just beckons me over for a hug and kiss on the cheek.

Manna helped set up a one-night, one-day stay with this lovely family in their home in Cedro Gallan. So I packed up my backpack for the night and walked over to their house after our Women's Health and Exercise class on Thursday. Loraina told me that I would be staying in her daughter, Genifer's house. It was literally a hop and a skip away from her own front door and she said there was more space here for a visitor and a proper kitchen. I assured her that anything was fine and I truly meant it. I just felt so honored to be invited in. We sat around chatting for awhile about what I'm studying in school, about Loraina's daughters, and about their barrio (country town). They then invited me to the table to have my dinner and when they didn't join me, I became alarmed. Loraina said that that's just how they do it here. I was her guest. She would eat too and I was not to worry. It was a bit awkward eating without my host family but I got it down quick so I could rejoin them for conversation. We moved up to Loraina's porch and sat outside in the cool brisk evening air chatting and chatting, our laughter rose lightly into the night's air.

I had such a delightful evening with them and finally went to bed at ten p.m. (which was quite late for them since they get up with the sunrise at 4:30 a.m.). In the morning, I was awoken by the sound of roosters but continued to sleep it off for an extra couple hours. Genifer was already awake and her son, Juan Domingo had already been at school since 5:30 a.m.! I grabbed a quick breakfast with her and then was off to play in a soccer game in Chureca (Gringas vs. Churecans - it was a tied game 0-0). Before I left in the morning though, Loraina implored that I return for lunch and so I did. I returned to that lovely house in Cedro for lunch and some more time together in their family room. At 1pm, Dayana and I had to leave though for a surprise field trip to Volcan Masaya (an active volcano just north of Managua).

All in all, it was such a pleasure to spend sometime away from the Manna House and all the hustle and bustle and go and be with the people! I think about my night in Genifer's house often. Their home was simple. One main room with dirt floors and dim lighting. There was a couch and a couple rocking chairs, a tv (Nica's are obsessed with tv!), a stove and fridge, a bathroom, and two smaller rooms with a mattress in each. Their hospitality and love went beyond words and I hope that I can return to pay them another visit in the future.

It's always a unique experience to spend a national holiday in another country. When it comes to some of the big ones like Christmas and New Years, one can be sure that there will be some obervance in nearly every country. However, being in Nicaragua on the 4th of July meant no celebrations of independence or America...why would it?

On this day in Nicaragua, thousands of peole congregate in central Mangua and march to Masaya (a northern department) in remembrance of the preperation for the Sandanista Revolution thirty years ago. The story goes that before the revolution, Nicas came together and built up forces in the north before marching back into the central region and retaking power.

As our group drove through lush green hills, to the Crater Lake in Leguna de Apoya this morning, for a day of reflection, I pondered these two seemingly parallel events.

For many Americans, July 4th means grilling burgers, sipping back a nice cold beer, and watching some fireworks. All the while for some Americans fighting in our wars abroad, being an American on this day is a reminder of why they wake up every morning and put on their uniform to fight for their nation. And even further, on this day, as I sit on my computer miles and miles from the closest American town, I find myself in an ideal environment in which to think about independance.

As Americans, we live in a world of ease and accessibility - in a world where freedom and liberties are written into our constitution and respected by law. Nicaragua does not reserve these same rights and luxuries.

So much about this place is far more beautiful than the USA and yet so much is far more disturbing... The temperate waters of the crater lake this morning contrasted with the psychologically disturbed man that sits on the highway every morning, the beautiful children who come to our after school programs and the gang members that stand outside the school taunting the teachers and children.

As a history major, at the end of the day I cannot help but admire the rich history that both countries retain. While one past seems far more victorious than the other, Nicaragua has won my heart with its natural beauty, the joy in the childrens' faces that I get to see each day, and the hope in the older people's eyes... today I celebrate America, Nicaraguan-style, from a small barrio in Managua.

From the world for “Little Lighthouse,” Farito is the name of the school through which Manna Project serves the surrounding communities of Cedro Gallan and Chiquilistalgua. On Mondays through Thursdays, a variety of classes and programs are offered to all age groups: Spanish Literacy, Math, Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced English classes, Creative Arts, and Comedor (the bi-weekly feeding program).

Farito was started about six years ago by a couple, Halle and Kathy August, who felt called to come down to Nicaragua and begin a preschool and safe center for kids in the community to come and learn. Lori, the Executive Director of Manna Project in Nicaragua got on board with the August’s plan for a preschool (before coming on w/ Manna Project) and began to help teaching at the preschool. She then helped begin a Spanish Literacy program there that originated with simply reading some books on a regular basis. Soon enough however, Farito has transformed into a permanent presence in Cedro Gallan.

Each year Manna Project brings about 8 to 10 people down to work as Program Directors in the community. They spend about thirteen months in Nicaragua becoming immersed in the communities and taking on responsibilities for the classes. As an institution, Farito, is a safe place where children can go and a place where people may learn and further themselves. Unlike school or university, no one is required to come to Farito; however those that do attend programs are willing and motivated.

Instead of creating a situation of dependence, Farito has facilitated an environment for opportunity.

A great concern about ‘gringo institutions’ is that people will associate knowledge, stuff, and riches with foreigners. One mission of Manna Project, is to avoid just that, by empowering the people and encouraging them to come of their own free will. Thus, if you want to learn English and Math or improve your reading and comprehension skills, Farito provides these services.

It has been a sheer joy to participate in such an institution. To watch as little kids become more comfortable reading books and teach older students in the Advanced English course about common idiomatic phrases and homonyms.

With each year and each new round of volunteers, there are more possibilities for programs at Farito. New ideas arise and new paths are made, as Farito lights the way for these communities.

Tonight, my friend Molly and I will be teaching a class on health related vocabulary and idioms in our Advanced English class.  One term we will be teaching is to be 'healthy as a horse.'  This concept of great health seems far from reality in this world of constant pollution, trash, and manual labor.

As I alluded to in previous posts, people in Nicaragua attempt to be conscious of their health but often have not received the education or access to proper resources to adequately take care of themselves.

Each Wednesday, women whose children are in the Chureca Child Sponsorship Program in the Managua City Dump, are required to attend an hour long charla, or health talk. Anywhere from 10-40 women show up for these weekly meetings to hear a variety of different messages ranging from what to do if your child catches a cold to good health practices in the home and STDs and interfamilial violence.

Some charlas proved to hit home more than others. Most children in Chureca consistently have runny noses and need to be taught again and again about personal hygiene such as washing hands and brushing their teeth. Those charlas are valued highly.

The charla that I attended this past Wednesday however was a bit unsettling. The topic of discussion was interfamilial violence. The nurse leading the charla covered only the superficial definitions of psychological violence, physical violence, child abuse and sexual violence. She explained each term and provided examples. As you can imagine this is a particularly hard topic to discuss in any setting let alone in a large community clinic with children running around.

Ezma, the nurse encouraged the moms to stand against violence and not allow their family members to push them around. She noted that commonly women are taken advantage of and young girls are raped by step fathers while small children are beaten by their parents. While these women were told that they could seek out the police, there is also danger in doing so - perhaps husbands will beat them more, or cast children out of the house.  Chureca is a place where machetes are carried around on one’s body at all times - one wrong move or statement could cause injury.

It is thus quite difficult to give these women the confidence to stand up for themselves but all the while I know it unjust to tell them to do otherwise.

During monthly check ups this week, I realized just how close to home even this message hit, when a couple of women mentioned that they had experienced such violence at the hands of their family. Women that I have come to know and children that I have held are people who may fear their situation at home.

As an effort to help educate and inform young girls about their resources, next week our Summer Volunteer group with Manna Project will be putting on a charla of our own for the two communities we teach in, to create a safe place to discuss topics related to women’s health and safety.

When we touched down in Nicaragua just two weeks ago, we were surrounded by fellow gringos. I questioned what they were doing here?  One woman admitted that she was here to get cheap dentist work; however the majority of Americans making their way through customs were missionary and service groups who would be spending anywhere from a week to 3 months in the country working with an organization. I was right there with them.

Manna Project International has been a phenomenal organization to work with; a lot of the work we do is in an effort to empower the Nicaraguan people. I have been given the opportunity to teach a Spanish Literacy class in which I am teaching 2 little boys, Armando and Ullises, how to read syllable by syllable. I also am teaching a Children’s English class and an Advanced Adult English class. It’s amazing to see how willing these Nicaraguans are to go to a class at night or early in the morning simply to get more practice in English or immerse themselves in an English-speaking setting.

Besides teaching, Manna also serves in La Chureca, the Managua City Dump (see my previous posts for more information). La Chureca needs a lot of health-related attention. The Clinic and Child Sponsorship programs are two ways that Manna actively aids malnourished children and serves the greater community. Twice a week, Manna volunteers visit the houses of moms and children in the Child Sponsorship program to check on their health and general well being.  More than often, someone in the house is sick with a runny nose or a cough.  Considering the poor conditions of living amidst kilos upon kilos of trash and waste, it has become almost expected that sickness is the reality.  Additionally, once a month, Manna Project has Milk Day which is when a months’ worth of milk, oatmeal, and vitamins are handed out to those in the program.  I have yet to partake in Milk Day, however, I see that it is both a blessing and a danger.

For my time here in Nicaragua, I set out to look for the Hope Amidst the Poverty and I have surely found some. Despite it all, there’s still a lot of despair. While each organization - school, clinic, community center - aims to teach, heal, and welcome a community, there arises the potential for the Nicaraguans to gain a dependence on gringo- organizations.

So, I beg to ask, dare we stop serving them?  Because Vilma’s family needs the month’s supply of milk and only we give that to her, can we afford to hold back and ask them to find another way?

I believe that there is a real danger in dependence. But I also believe that there is a very real and immanent need. Until you hold a starving baby with a distended stomach in your hands, brushing back her unnaturally yellow (from malnourishment) hair, you may not understand how deep their need flows.

A bit of fresh hope comes from the Nicaraguan rooted organizations. Two examples are NicaAyuda and Juntos. NicAyuda, an unofficial NGO formed by seven young people, formed two public preschools for children that cannot afford private schools.  Also, Juntos, is a Dutch started school that has been taken over by Nicaraguans who are currently working on teaching the basics such as the alphabet and numbers.

It’s sad to think that American efforts abroad may create a false dependence. The most important effort however should be to empower the Nicaraguans to help themselves, without entirely abandoning them altogether.

When traveling to a new country, one of the first things a traveler is interested in is the food. How different is it going to be? What’s a typical  [insert country here] dish? What venue should I try?

There are a few typical Nicaraguan dishes here such as gallo pinto aka rice and beans and nacatamales, a banana leaf dish; however, considering the majority of the population is not exceedingly wealthy, it is important to note how the lower half of society gets their nutrition.

Throughout Nicaragua, there are a series of feeding programs. Each missions house, service organization, and church basically feeds the poor some day a week.  Just like a homeless shelter in the United States, a Comedor, or dining hall, in Nicaragua includes feeding masses of people.  The majority of feeding programs in Nicaragua that I have personally observed are aimed towards the nutrition of children which in truth is a crucial need.

Each Tuesday and Thursday, Manna Project gathers at El Farito, a school room in the neighborhood of Cedro Gallan, to feed anywhere from about 40 to 60 infants to teenagers. They form a line outside the school while volunteers inside prepare plates of rice, tortilla, chicken, and vegetables paired with juice. Five at a time, they enter the room, wash their hands, and are seated. A prayer is then said and food is passed out.

It is a very simple thing to do.

These children are still young enough to not covet great amounts of food but instead are genuinely thankful for what they are provided. A simple meal and a willingness to give them a plate is all it takes.

I have been working in Cedro Gallan for the past two weeks, and it was on this day when I worked in the Comedor that the children who I have been teaching and serving, came up to me and said “Thank You Cassandra,“ calling me by name and being so intensely appreciative that they could put their spoon into a full plate of food and feel nourished for the rest of the day.

Late this afternoon when I was on a bus in downtown Managua, a man hopped on the bus selling vitamins. He marketed white and red pills claiming that one was full of Vit B and would cure your insomnia and the other was going to clean your blood.  I was not really surprised to see this man on the bus so much as I was interested to see who his buyers were.

Clearly, people care about their health and well being here but I sense that most, simply have not been educated about how to take care of themselves and eat nutritional foods.

I cannot wait for the next Tuesday when I can serve up another plate of food and ensure that little Armando and young Diana get a good lunch for the day.