Day 9: Eskimo

Tuesday, April 9, 2013 4:48pm

Our site visits didn't begin until 9a today so we we able to sleep in. Christi and I are sharing a room with no windows, so we slept pretty late. Well, as late as you can sharing a bed in 100 degree heat without an air conditioner and confused roosters crowing throughout the night... but we woke up pretty rested.

I did wake up with actual feet and not these pillows I've been walking around with, so no cute feet in the sand pics for me!

Definite cankles

I spent the majority of last night massaging my feet and slept with them elevated. However, 10 seconds later, they were back to cankles. There is something about me and travel that my skin has strange physical reaction to. Not only am I retaining water like a camel, but I have developed some rash or mites or bites on my hands and feet. Thankfully, the doctors are bringing me some cream tonight so hopefully it will help.

Definite cankles

Today Christi was scheduled to go see some women's agriculture cooperatives with Saskia, Jimmy was going to a bank and Parker and I were going with our host to two universities.

We are currently living with a single mom and her children. Sandra is a lawyer in Chinandega.

------Side note: We are all hanging out in the living room chatting about our days and in walks Jimmy with three grocery bags of bottles of water and and some cervesas and is dressed up from visiting the bank earlier that day. I think he has officially became the dad of the group.

The first university we went to was so intriguing. It is called Universidad Autónomia de Chinandega. We had a great young lady, Jessica, to translate for us, which made the day go so much smoother and we were able to get more out of the conversations. It is a private university of about 1500 people. As we met with the dean, it was apparent how similar this college is to OTC. They have grown out of space in the past few years and are renting more buildings and trying to make due with every piece of space they have. They have many non-traditional students and last year even graduated a 65 year old, which they were very proud of. Most of their students work as well. They hold Saturday and Sunday students to accommodate the working population. They also have late-night (hoot owl) classes and she was very interested that OTC also worked with the students in that way.

Mission Statement

Computer lab

The university has also recently won some sort of international grant project. They were awarded money for a simulation lab for their law students. The lab in a courtroom in the middle of the school that real trials can be conducted at (as well as simulations) and students can observe. It looks like any classroom at OTC. There is great technology in the room and honestly was the nicest spot in all of Chinandega that I saw. They were very proud of the classroom (as they should be) and our host was also interested in conducting court there as it would be more private than the courtrooms in the city.

We visiting the cashier's office (where the girls loved Charlie), the registration office, and advising areas. The dean and I even discussed the chaos of scheduling classrooms and she showed me the room with two whiteboards where the faculty duke it out for classroom space and times. (Sound familiar, Vanda?)

For Matt Harris. I still don't get calculus in Spanish.

After the university, we ran into Paul and Jimmy and their hosts for lunch. We then went to a private school to tour a museum. Parker was super happy because he was FINALLY able to partake in some futból.

Rickshaw Selfie

I love every door here

We visited a resale shop. I think they suit Parker well

 

------------------April 10, 7:45a

As we were waiting to leave for dinner, there were a couple of little girls playing across the street. And kept jumping out and waving at us and then jumping back behind the bush. They were about 4 or 5 and adorable. As they got more and more courageous, they came closer and closer. Jimmy went inside to get some little flashlights to give them. We started showing them the light and walked towards them. The girls help arms and shyly came up to us. It was super sweet. They then ran around with the lights and had a blast.

Cash Money

We went to Merriem's house for dinner. It again was very delicious and we were so appreciative of the hospitality of our hosts. We had good food and better conversation. Parker has dove completely in with Spanish and has definitely excelled the most out of the group. Mine is getting a bit better and we are are picking more and more up in conversations.

Never met a dog she did't like

We had another Missouri moment last night. The doctor was giving us all rides home (about 12 of us in a 5 person truck). We have crowded in cars like clowns before, but last night with the heat we did as any Central American (or country kid) would do, and climbed in the back for the ride.

Sandra and Christi in the back of the truck

We stopped by the doctor's house on the way to pick up some cream for my weird skin. When we got home, I had the most humbling experience of the entire trip. I was putting cream on my feet and Sandra's sister, Flor, came out and grabbed the cream and rubbed it on my poor, swollen feet. And yes, I cried like a baby. It was so generous. Sandra has been such a great host to all four of us. Saskia set up such great visits for us. We have really loved our time in Chinandega, and now off to León.

A HUGE THANK YOU to Saskia and all of our new friends in Chinandega. We felt so welcomed. It was such a pleasure to get to know all of you. We are in debt to you for your kindness and generosity.

 

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