Day 28 Evening: A Beautiful Goodbye

Tonight was the final night of the conference. When we arrived in Panama we learned that tonight would be a white party... we had not packed for this. EEK! Christi and I tried to shop a bit for with little luck, so we made do with what we had. I did pick up this $6 black and white dress that worked out perfectly. Most clothing shipments go through the canal, so clothes are much cheaper here because they don't have the shipping cost to the US.

 

Our last night. I keep trying to think of the words, but I don't have them. Love is all I can think of. One of our hosts greeted me and said mi amorcita, my little love. Everyone we met has been so filled with love. Even the words they use about hosting us... they say they recieve us, like we are a gift to them. At the district conference we have gotten to see almost everyone we have met along the way. I'm not much of a cryer... but I keep tearing up every time I greet someone or leave someone.

It is no secret that we have had a lack of sleep this trip. And I am a person that needs sleep to be a functional human being. However, on this trip, I have had at max 6 hours of sleep per night... and that is a very generous estimate. The other part of this trip that is very difficult is being on point at all times with zero alone or rest time. I can not explain the exhaustion.

I literally just took a two minute nap. Seriously. We grab sleep everywhere.

With all of that said... we suck energy from our hosts and new friends. In every city we meet someone new that gives us such a boost. We want to talk to them, to learn from them, to laugh with them.

Hugging everyone goodbye was very hard. I honestly don't think I can ever say what their love, generosity, and kindness has meant to all of us. We have been humbled to the max.

To anyone reading this blog who has hosted us, driven us, spent an afternoon, a morning, an evening with us, eaten with us, laughed with us, talked with us, loved us...THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. We love you so much. You have no idea how much your life impacted us. We appreciate you taking the time out of your life to receive us. There are many times we did not speak the same language, but your kindness and love transcended any language barrier. Your smile gave me energy when I was too weak to talk. Your hug made me warm. And I think most importantly, you let me know I safe and at home. There are many wonderful aspects to this journey (the GSE), but you are the best. I love you all so much.

My wishes for you:

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind always be at your back,

May the sun shine upon your face,

May the rain fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Santa Ana, San Salvador, San Miguel, Chinandega, León, Managua, Jinotepe, Granada, San José, Cartago, Heredia, Panama City:

Liliana, Eli, Henry, Mario, Olga, Eduardo, Juan Carlos, Tony, Maybell, Meli, Niki, Sandra, Enrique, Manuel, Antonio, Jesus, Felicidad, Alejandro, Saskia, Julio, Jessica, Fernando, Francisco, Gladys, Ariella, Roberto, Roberto, y Roberto, Neny, Tito, Ramon, Lydia, Eduardo, Chuck, Alvaro, Humberto, Cristina, Jorge, and anyone I missed who we met along the way.

I will miss you. I will love you. And with all my being, I hope we will meet again.

 

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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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