Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Day 9
So currently the group is on our final destination flight from Miami to Boston. We said goodbye to Leah, Jeff, Sarah, and Frank in Managua, Nicaragua at the airport and bye to Hank and Heather in Miami. Doug already left yesterday to Managua alone. We were all worried he wouldn't survive but he's fine and probably on route to Haiti which is where himself, Sarah, and Jeff are all headed. That leaves us 12 kids with Joe. (A.K.A. Jobot, Costello, slowbot, Pop, Joseph (also pronounced like ho-seph), and anything that rhymes with robot)
Basically today just consists of traveling and saying goodbye. :( We all had to get up pretty early, around 5am, and withstand a 3 hour van ride to the airport. From there it's been flying, airports, security, and sleeping all day.
I think for the most part (I don't want to speak for others) people were excited to be back in the US because we have our normal food and it doesn't smell like Nicaragua but we also didn't want the trip to end. We've all grown really close being together in the same hostel, environment, and house. We had family style meals most of the time with everyone taking turns to cook and clean and it all just felt very natural. The greatest part about the trip was being able to go with such an amazing group of people and it wouldn't have been the same experience without them. Saying goodbye will be the hardest part but most of us are already talking about coming back.
Until next time bloggie. --Serina
Found in a sketchbook at the beach house.
On the way to Managua.
Giant portrait.
American junk food in Miami.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Day 8
Today was our final day at the house. Making the most out of today meant relaxation at the beach or the house. Some of us took afternoon naps, feeling comfortable enough to finally rest. Some of us have gotten a little sick, too. Most everyone is feeling ready to return home tomorrow with pictures, souvenirs, and stories.
After a family dinner, we filled out exit surveys for Amped and went over logistics for tomorrow's travel. Jeff revealed superlatives for every traveler:
Best Tan Lines: Joe Costello
Cool as a Cucumber Award: Ben Lawton
Silent Wit: Jerry Waite
Most Insightful: Winter Leblanc
Most Likely to Be An Amped Team Member in the Future: Leah Hewlings
Most Improved Spanish: Paxton Watson
Worst Luck: Rowan Smiarowski
Most Likely to Stalk Frank When We Get Back Home: Dylan Talbot
Most Likely to Return to Nicaragua With Friends: Hannah Lee
SPF 3000: Cam Blair
Most Likely to Have Travelers Diarreah on the Plane Tomorrow: Tim Hoar
Most Likely to Not Make it to the United States Tomorrow: Hank Larkin
Most Likely to Be Mistaken for Jerry: Andy Habel
Better Late Than Never Award: Heather McGrath
Most Likely to get Donald a Green Card Through Marriage: Serina Cook
Trip MVP: Kelsey Abramson
Most Likely to Make a Video of This Trip and Most Likely to File for a Restraining Order: Frank Kelleher
People are slowly falling asleep now as we prepare for an early morning and a long travel day. See you tomorrow, United States!
Good morning Nicaragua!
Third floor deck.
Snorkel? Check. Flippers? Check. Frisbee? Check. In a pool? Check.
Crab in the pool.
At some point, people need to stop encouraging him.
We lost Winter for a sec, but then he was up in a tree.
Frank at family dinner offering free hugs.
Monday, July 1, 2013
Day 7
So today was the first full day at the beach house. The transition was a little rough for some of the group going form working all day to just relaxing, considering they talked about the nonexistent maids for about 2 hours. They had names, Sergio and Gracie, and there bodies were brooms with clothes and faces. Basically they sucked and slept on the job in other people's beds. In the morning we had group breakfast and everyone chips in to help cook and clean and it's really nice to see that everyone gets along great and can work together nicely to get things done. Today consisted of lots of easy going beach time where we explored the "bigger beach". Personally and I think most of the group, if not all, agree that the private beach we walk to right down the road is so much nicer. The other beach was just a bit dirtier because it was more of a fishing port with boats and people chopping up fish and throwing chunks right on the beach. So after we left we went right back over to the better beach after a few of us stayed back to take a turn cleaning up to prep for the family style dinner. The sunset off of the deck of the beach house was amazing tonight over the water right by the cliffs the jut out into the water. It's rare for us to see because we live on the east coast the sun never sets over the water so it was awesome. The dinner tonight was really good chicken wrapped in bacon with pasta and sauce all made by the students with little help. Following dinner we had an all group discussion regarding what we thought of Nicaragua and an expansion on the 2 separate group disscuccions we had a couple days back. We learned the history and background of why Nicaragua has developed the way it has. It made me realize we can't go about trying to help the educational system here in a way we would fix a school back in the USA. it's a tricky thing to try and figure out how to go about approaching varying situations that need attention in this country. It's definitely a growing process that requires a lot of support and time and will continue to develop over time along with the changes Nicaragua hopefully produces over time. All in all in Amped for Education Doug is all about teaching the life lessons of circuit breakers, washing dishes, and making coffee; Sarah is like a mom away from home handing out band-aids, aloe, and answers to our annoyingly endless questions; Jeff stresses out worrying we all have a good time and are being safe while he forgets to take a break himself; meanwhile Joe is teaching as all to have life long gambling addictions.
Love,
Serina
Ben, Leah and Hank making breakfast.
Yup.
Great conversation on the beach.
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