Global Potential Blog

We get to Nicaragua July 3, we was so excited and some of us a little bit scared of what we can find here. It was a long trip to get to Nicaragua from New York but after we get here we went to Chaguitillo and spend the night because was to late to go to Las Minas. In Chaguitillo I felt really good the people are so friendly and they show so much love to us, the house we stay had a toilet J, in Chaguitillo we get to know a museum where they have Indians stuff also we went to the school and differents pulperias “Bodegas”.

We took a car in Sebaco where we were in top of our bags we went up to the mountain and we stopped in El Hatillo. We keep going up and get to Las Minas where all the people was outside waiting for us and looking at us. Everybody gets they host family and we went home. When I saw where I going to stay at I was really surprise it was a little bit different of what I expect, at the first night I was really shy and quiet the food was really really different. Ashley come and visit me and I was that I couldn’t even speak. In this community people go to sleep so early at 8:00pm so I was in my bed waiting to felt sleep.

The second day was more easy because I’m adapting my self for the next 6 weeks. We went to play soccer with the community and also we went up in the mountain and have an awesome view. Today I’m still adapting but is getting more easy. In this community the people are very nice and they show they love to us, they want to spend time with us, even that they don’t know us at all. Something that I’m impressed in how people have fun, live happy with out Internet and a lot of material things that we believe that we can’t live with out it. I already knowing more my self because now I know after I see that here they don’t have to much programs to the improve education so this summer I will love to work with the education. I’m so excited to be here it’s a little bit difficult to adapt my self here but I doing my best because I know this will be an amazing experience and this will teach me to change a lot of things in my life and to appreciate more what I have. It’s a privilege to be here and I’m ready for a summer full of hard work and news experiences

It took me a long time to realize July 3, 2012 was around the corner. I never thought I would be traveling and didn’t feel I was ready for this unexpected experience. I felt really nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. All I thought about was my family and friends and how much ill be missing my soccer team. When we finally got to La Guardia airport, I felt butterflies in my stomach. The day was going by really slow and I had mix emotions. I couldn’t believe I wasn’t going to Ecuador no more but to Nicaragua. When we finally got to Texas all I can think about is that there was one more stop to Nicaragua. All I thought about was sleep and sleep to keep my mind off things. Finally after a long trip we finally got to the capital of Nicaragua, it was so humid and hot. People were waiting for us like they knew who I was already, which felt kind of creepy. After all we got on to a bus and we stop at a gas station to buy some snacks and drinks. After I had bought all my food I realize I wasn’t hungry. All I wanted to do is go back to New York. We got back in to the bus and head to Chaguitillo. Finally, they told us that we have an opportunity to call our family back in the city. I felt so relief I can finally hear their voice. I told them I love them and I miss them so much and that in no time ill be back home. When we got to Chaguitillo we were distributed to our temporarily host families for day. Christelle and me had the chance to share the same room en la casa de la senora Violeta. Christelle had to wake up at 9 to go to a staff meeting. By mistake Christelle forgot to change the time and woke up at 6 in Nicaraguenze time and 9 in NYC time. She took a shower and was rushing and then Violeta ask her where she was going and she said to the meeting. Violeta had told her it was too early and Christelle check the time and she realize it was too early. Soon Violeta woke up christelle that it was time togo to the meeting and then I woke up. I started to take a fresh shower and get ready.

After I got ready I met up with Saul, Angelo and Arnold and we started to play soccer. Then we went to our meeting at 10-en el museo de Chaguitillo. We started to jot down our fear and hopes for the trip. We also started to say our names and introduce each other’s since some haven’t meet before. It was also difficult to understand Kossa but I tired to understand him. Around 2:30 that day we left and went to Sebacco to transfer to another car that was going to take us to Las Minas. It was about a two-hour drive. It started to rain on us and it was frezzing cold. When we finally got to Las Minas we saw so many people. They didn’t seem so excited but I bet they were happy to have us. Then we walk to El centro de salud to introduce each other. Then the leader of the community was distributing us to our new host families. I felt kind of nervous, I hope for a small family. When they showed me my family I saw a lady and a little girl. Shes about 10 and the lady was around her 50’s. When she took me to her home I felt like I was in Ecuador. The house look similar to my house in the campo in Ecuador. I started to see more kids and adults. I thought it was only two people living in the house but soon my host mom told me her family visits her on a daily basis. I felt a little relief because I dislike being overwhelmed.

When I finished unpacking I went outside to play with the little kids and started to introduce each other. Then we started to play soccer we lost 4-1 L, but I had a good time. Soon we ate dinner. I ate rice, beans, spaghetti and tortilla with some juice on the side. I was so full since I wasn’t use to eating rice and beans. I had to use the bathroom and all I saw was a hole in the ground. All I could think of is missing flushing toilets back in NYC. Then soon I went to sleep, I kept waking up throughout the night since all I heard was the strong winds. Around 8 I woke up to eat and we ate beans, eggs, potatoes, and platano and tortilla on the side. I felt kind of isolated that night and morning because I was eating in a separate room and the family was in the kitchen. Soon I went to take a shower but then they told me there wasn’t any hot water. So then I thought to myself if I done it in Ecuador I could do it again. I took a shower without thinking twice real quick.

I got dressed and head out with saul who came to pick me up since I didn’t feel comfortable to walk alone in a strange place. We went to our meeting, which was at 9. We started talk about our roles and started to make our calendar and our important dates. Then we head out to lunch with our family and we had the same thing like in breakfast. After a few we head out to our meeting and we went on a trip around the community to know where everybody house is. Then we went on a high mountain and we had a great view. After that we went to play soccer. Soon we went back home I ate and then went to bed. Soon I had a stomachache. All I could think of is how much I miss my mom since I sleep with her. She always new when something was wrong. I felt so lonely at that time since I couldn’t go outside. I woke up my host mom and she did some tea but then I started to throw up and didn’t feel well. I miss my family and friends so much I hope I get to talk to them soon.

Soy de republica Dominican  dejame contarte mi experiencia con potencial global

En este momento estoy en Nicaragua con gp y es un placer de esta en este lugar que

Muy importante para mi conocer parte de esta comunidad que es Las Minas. Mi experiencia al llegar a esta comunidad es ver que todos estaban esperandonos al llegar se quedaron mirandonos como si fueramos importantes para ellos. La personas de Las Minas son muy lindas y ya se estan acostumbrendo con nosotros muchos, Las Minas tiene muchos lugares bien importante que podamos ver como las montanas, como es la Mirada de las montanas.

Yo vi algo muy importante en esta comunidad que es poco visitado por las personas y es muy importante visitar esta cominidad por que tiene una Hermosa vista. Las personas son responsables, respetuosa con un poco de timidez pero podemos trabajar en esto. Es una comunidad de pocas personas pero hay muchos ninos que podemos jugar y hay una juventud con mucha capacidad de entender las cosas. Mi experiencia ah llegado mas alla al conocer Las Minas, al conocer como viven las personas son muy famosos en “ Gallo Pinto” que es una comida para ellos muy importante, tienen una cultura diferente a los demas paises. Tienen poco material pero mucho amor en ofrecer y estan interesados en trabajar en proyectos con nosotros como parte de la familia de GP.

Yesterday when we get the time to come to Las Minas I was very excited, then we start to claim the mountain. My feelings was really good but when we get to the Hatillo and that family that my brother haved when he came 2 years ago to Nicaragua, Ms. Mirian told me if I was Leslie brother and I said yes I am Leslie brother then she started to ask me how my brother has been and I began to speak with her and I told her he is good now in DR, then when we get to Las Minas I was thinking that I will be bored because I thought they will no be to much people but when all the community was outside I saw that they have a lot of people and I ask where all this people come from? Then when the GP staff told me who going to be my family they was so happy with me and we stared to talk how is United States and if is cold there, I said yes that is more cold than here because here in Nicaragua is winter, they ask me if I was cold and I wasn’t cold. Here my experience has been really nice because now I’m making news friends in the community.

Bonjour je m’appelle Sako Kossa j’ai 18ans ca fait 1mois j’ai rejoint GP. Mon premier voyage avec GP c’est au Nicaragua. Je suis dans un village qui s’appelle las minas, la 1ere fois que j’ai rencontré les gens de la communauté c’était au centre de santé, ils étaient presque tous venus nous accueillir j’étais très ému par cet accueil. Après, on a commencé à se présenter, le chef du village a présenté à sa communauté c’est quoi GP. Après ça il a appelé chaque famille d’accueil.

Quand ma famille d’accueil est venu il y avait mon père adoptif il m’a pris dans ses bras, j’ai eu une larme dans mes yeux parce qu’il m’a serré tellement fort il était grave content. Quand je suis allé chez moi il y avait ma mère adoptive avec mes trois frères et ma sœur et ma belle sœur ils étaient tous contents. Mon père a commencé à me faire visiter la maison quand je suis arrivé dans ma chambre j’étais content parce que le courant était allumé presque toute la nuit.

J’étais un peu déçu de moi parce que je parlais pas l’espagnol et pour communiquer avec ma famille c’était difficile ça veut dire je parlais avec des gestes.

Having to share the summer experience with youth, to explore a different culture and to be challenged and learn what matters to me in life and experience life in its simplest form are my reasons for travelling to Las Minas, Nicaragua this Summer. It has only been a  couple days and I have lived and learned to appreciate the  solidarity that exists in my community. Community members are very supportive; from the beginning they welcomed us with open arms, invited us to their homes and shared with us their food.  So far, from the many discussions we have hosted, we felt that our presence is very much appreciated because members from Las Minas would always come by just to listen to us. Whether the discussions were in English or Spanish, they are not shy to peek around and watch and listen. What I admired the  most is the involvement of the youth in Las Minas. My little sister has not stopped to amazed me with her questions wanting to know about me and the other youth. I value the time I spend with her and is really thankful of being here, sharing and learning.