Page 1 Xavier University Solidarity Welcome to Semester Nicaragua! Volume 20, Issue 1 By: Mirka & Ben Newsletter Date February 2015 NICA UPDATE STILL TO COME…. ¡HOLA! Now that tiful country. So far and fellow group we have finally set- we have climbed members. Granada tled into this amaz- volcanic craters in Although we are en- Atlantic Coast ing country and cul- Masaya, have ex- joying ourselves we Matagalpa ture, we wanted to plored the cathe- are still adjusting to San Jacinto reach out to all our drals of Leon, and the 6:30AM shouting friends, family, alum- have swum in the Nindiri vendors in the barrio, ni, and Xavier faculty fresh waters of the crowing of the Family Week to update you all on Ometepe Island. roosters at the break Sandino Concert our experiences so Not only have we of dawn, and the un- far! It has only been gone on these amaz- bearable heat. Our 3 weeks of learning: ing trips but we are Spanish is slowly im- from trying to sur- also experiencing proving with each vive our morning the daily life of a laugh that we create bus rides to becom- Nicaraguan, helping for our families. ing a part of our the community in We’re excited for Insight into Group new Nicaraguan our different ser- more sweaty bus families. We have Dynamics: vices sites, and con- rides, ice cream already learned so necting while reflect- cones, and dancing Group Theme Song: Hips much about the rich ing with our families that are still to come! Don’t Lie By: Shakira history of “We would want Martín this beau- on our side in the Apoca- lypse.” - Group Hora Nica = At least 30 minutes– 1hr late If it doesn’t flush the first time, pour more water Meet the Group Page 2 Alex Fath Soph. Ben Weibel Fresh. Major: International Major: International Busi- Studies ness and Marketing Minor: Peace Studies Minor: Spanish Hometown: Hometown: Cleveland, OH West Harrison, IN Nica Family: Doña Nica Family: Doña Ana, Don José Alicia, Maritza, Don Rubén, Osman, Carla. Heidi, Melissa, Miau (Cat) Dajah Siplin Soph. Kaela Allton Sr. Major: Health Services Andrew Hermann Major: Psychology Administration Soph. Minor: Business, Theol- M Business and inor: ogy Major: Philosophy, Poli- Spanish tics & the Public, and Sus- Hometown: Ashland, Hometown: tainability OH West Chester, OH Hometown: Doña Nica Family: Seattle, WA Nica Family: Doña Marcia, Doña Juanita, Do- Urania, Don José, Jorge ña Mayra, Mario, Daniella Nica Family: Doña Jr., Chris, María Fernanda, Nieves, Don Erasmo, Naomi, Luciana Marián Scott Quertinmont Rayanne Pancoast Mirka Gallo Soph. Soph. Soph. Major: Social Work Major: International Major: Biology and Minor: Spanish Business and Spanish Spanish Hometown: Chicago, Hometown: Caramel, Hometown: IL IN Indianapolis, IN Nica Family: Doña Nica Family: Doña Nica-Family: Doña Coco, Alisson, Natalie, Ivania, Ivan, Natalia, Lulú Elba, Don Mario, Hazel, Tania, Osman, Junior Erenia, Elbita, Mario, Ire- (Dog) (Dog) ne, Campanita (Dog), Figaro (Cat), Los Kevins (Chickens) WELCOME TO NICARAGUA! VOLUME 20, ISSUE 1 Page 3 Meet the Professors Antonio Monte Professor Monte is our History teacher at the University of Central Ameri- ca. This Mirna Velásquez and is the Ana Ochoa first time Mirna and Ana are our Dr. Irene Hodgson the stu- wonderful Spanish teach- ers here in Nicaragua. Dr. Irene Hodgson is a dents have They are smart and pa- professor of Spanish at tient women who are Xavier and the faculty attended classes at local Jesuit University in Mana- helping us improve our trip leader of the Nicara- Spanish greatly with fun gua Solidarity Semester. gua. So far, we have been learning about the Pre- hands on activities that She is the professor for also incorporate our new our Academic Service Colombian and Coloniza- Learning and Culture and tion Era of Nicaragua and families. Society classes. It is expect to learn more through her vast about present-day histo- knowledge and relation- ry. ships with the Nicaragu- an people that we are Dr. Walker Gollar fortunate to have this Dr. Gollar is our Libera- unique experience. tion Theology/ Psychology teacher. He was also one Zoila of our Prep Shannon O’Neill Zoila is our dancing in- Seminar lead- structor. She is very pa- ers in Cincin- Shannon is the Study tient with us in our diffi- nati and the Abroad assistant in the culties with moving our Faculty Direc- Center for International hips and staying with the tor for Study Abroad. Education at Xavier. She beat. With Zoila we are With his great passion was also one of our learning traditional folk and dedication to the Prep-Seminar leaders and dances but also Meren- program and course ma- also assists in the coordi- gue, Bachata, and Salsa. terial, he prepared us for nation of the program. the experiences we are having in Nicaragua. Service Corner Page 4 Aldo Chavarría: While in Nicaragua we not only attend classes and go on weekend excursions, but the eight of us also work in the community at four different service sites. Mirka Gallo and Andrew Hermann work at the only rehabilitation hospital in the country of Nicaragua. It is called Aldo Chavarría. Home to the largest prosthesis-making center in Central America, Aldo’s hospital services and prosthetics are free to the population who needs them. Aldo works with both children and adults whether they be in-patient or out- patients. Along with the rehabilitation services, Aldo Cha- varría also has a social worker, a psychologist, a speech therapist, and an occupational therapists on staff. Mirka and Andrew work at Aldo Monday-Wednesday for about 3-4 hours each day. They focus on working specifically with the in-patient/out-patient physical therapy, children, and amputees. Their time at Aldo is spent talking with OTHER SERVICE SITES! patients who are waiting for or experiencing treatment. Kaela & Dajah: Pajarito Azúl The students also assist the doctors in any way they can. Ben & Scott: Olla de Soya San The experience, though still new to them, is both educa- Rafael tional and rewarding. Alex & Rayanne: La Mascota Meet the Castros er, operations coordinator, Kenia Castro Nicaraguan team, without father of Kenia and also whom we would be unable now a father to us all. With Kenia to successfully complete his lively attitude and caring is the trip. She helps Irene nature he assists with the from with the accounting, sched- transportation and the co- Mana- uling, counseling, and coor- ordination throughout the gua, dination during our stay in week. Trying to count and Nica- Nicaragua. Her Nicaraguan transport 8 college students ragua, and lives in the barrio knowledge and constant at 7am is a challenge in it- where we are staying, Bar- availability, helps us have fun, self. His continuous positive rio La Luz. She is our confi- stay safe, and be on time attitude and humor helps dent trip assistant, who is throughout our day. keep our spirits high with us everyday. Whether through the day. Martín’s we are hustling between Martín dedication to the Xavier excursions or walking to Castro community has been a key classes, Kenia is always element that has allowed around to answer our ques- Martín is our amazing and the Nicaragua Solidarity Se- tions and calm our nerves. mester to complete its 20th She is a vital part of the fearless driv- anniversary this year. Page 5 EXCURSIONS! León We arrived in León after a two hour bus ride with the hope of learning more about the historical sig- nificance of the city. Luckily, we did just that. After learning about the pre-Colombian civilizations and the arrival of Conquistador Hernández de Córdoba in León Viejo, we quickly drove over to the modern day city of León. Almost immediately, the city rose up around us with historical monuments, paintings, and statues. We visited the home of Ruben Darío, an iconic poet in Nicaraguan history. Af- terwards, we entered the city’s main plaza which was surrounded by coffee shops, govern- mental buildings, and a cathedral. We toured inside the cathedral and were also able to walk on the white roof of the building. The city’s immense landscape was laid out before us as we began to understand the cultural significance of such an ancient city. Ometepe Ometepe, an island in Lake Nicaragua, was our home for two days. The first night we enjoyed a beautiful sunset at Punta Jesús María. On the island, we visited the renowned museum of pre-Colombian artifacts and currency, sipped coffee at a coffee farm while learning about fair trade, hiked to Charco Verde, and enjoyed fresh fish for lunch. Each night, we gazed at the stars outlining the two volcanoes that dominate the island and talked about the day’s adven- tures. The ferry ride back to the mainland was filled with a longing to return to the island. Nevertheless, we were excited to return to our host families and our service sites, the fol- lowing day. Little did we know, that we would also be returning to our homes which would be without water for two days as the government did repairs. Masaya Masaya, only a short bus ride outside of Managua, is home to Volcán Masaya, an active volcano which emits sulphurous gas from its peak. We took on the adventurous task of climbing up the volcanic crater. With the wind tossing us from side to side, we finally reached the summit. We felt infinite in that moment. After racing back down the volcano we were greeted by two guides who would take us into the bat caves below the volcano.