Art of Solidarity

First Impressions

     Changing money at the airport really underlined the economic disparity between Nicaragua and the states, and the route of the bus ride from the airport to the restaurant we ate at for lunch on the first day passed through some very poor areas around Managua. Stray dogs are commonplace, and the livestock we saw from the bus were very thin. The restaurant, however, was awesome, and had a wonderful view and great food.

The place was tucked away from the road and seemed to come out of nowhere. Traveling in this country definitely requires a guide who knows where things are and how to get around, as well as a driver who's used to the Nicarauguan way of driving and the roads here. The hotel, too, was great (and would have also been impossible for me to have found on my own). It was on the lake, and the water was an unreal shade of greenish blue.
     The people here are incredibly humble and kind, and it makes me wish I could give money to everyone who asks for it, but that would be an impossible task due to the sheer amount of impoverished people in Nicaragua. Hopefully through our work with our partners in Vimau in Esteli and in Limay, we can affect some sustainable change, even if it is only bit by bit. I'm excited to get to work, and looking forward to pick up more Spanish as we go along.
   
That's all for now. More to follow.

-William