Although I'm not a fan of Maroon 5, this song came on during our trip to the ecological reserve visit we I did with some site mates a couple weeks ago. Driving in a moto-taxi in the rain when this song came on, and you bet we belted it at the top of our lungs. When an English songs comes on in public, we get a little exited.
Anyways, this trip was super fun, strange, tiring and disorienting all at the same time. We drove out to the reserve with one of the engineers we work with and were dropped off. We excitedly began the walk into the reserve...and walked...and walked...and walked some more. Yeah, we were lost. But here in Nicaragua,when people get lost they ask for directions..that doesn't necessarily mean they are always helpful hahahaha. So after asking 5 different people and heading in three different directions over trees, through stranger's properties, running into cops, crossing a cliff, and WALKING some more. WE MADE IT! It was all worth it. Although we are only just in the investigation process of the reserve, the area is beautiful. Lots of flora and fauna and wonderful people living there. We talked to a lot of farmers about their lands, and even got a mini lesson on some medicinal plants from Nicaragua. I'm excited to go back and see the growth of this project.
PICTURES:
Anyways, this trip was super fun, strange, tiring and disorienting all at the same time. We drove out to the reserve with one of the engineers we work with and were dropped off. We excitedly began the walk into the reserve...and walked...and walked...and walked some more. Yeah, we were lost. But here in Nicaragua,when people get lost they ask for directions..that doesn't necessarily mean they are always helpful hahahaha. So after asking 5 different people and heading in three different directions over trees, through stranger's properties, running into cops, crossing a cliff, and WALKING some more. WE MADE IT! It was all worth it. Although we are only just in the investigation process of the reserve, the area is beautiful. Lots of flora and fauna and wonderful people living there. We talked to a lot of farmers about their lands, and even got a mini lesson on some medicinal plants from Nicaragua. I'm excited to go back and see the growth of this project.
PICTURES:
 Coffee plants |  Loved the trees |
 So...we're supposed to be on the other side... |  No problem, we'll just walk over |
Huerto Update:
Our Huerto has been a very challenging project. I love our little Huerto but boy does it take a beating. From flooding, to stolen veggies, to broken fence. We were fortunate enough to get to the rabanos (radishes) before any theives or pests got to them. We were able to share them with the school so they could add that to their school lunch :) The chiltoma (peppers) were transplanted from their seed bed into a real bed and are now happily growing. We also planted some trees that are currently growing in baggies before they can be transplanted to their permanent home. As of now, all is good in the Huerto world.
Our Huerto has been a very challenging project. I love our little Huerto but boy does it take a beating. From flooding, to stolen veggies, to broken fence. We were fortunate enough to get to the rabanos (radishes) before any theives or pests got to them. We were able to share them with the school so they could add that to their school lunch :) The chiltoma (peppers) were transplanted from their seed bed into a real bed and are now happily growing. We also planted some trees that are currently growing in baggies before they can be transplanted to their permanent home. As of now, all is good in the Huerto world.
 Sometimes...no radish grows |  Is it just me, or did someone rip me off on the bag size? |
 Chiltoma growing happily in their new bed |  My babies :) |
Classroom Antics:
Teaching has been such a growing, humbling, crazy, amazing, frustrating and incredible experience. The first class I ever taught was a complete disaster, and now I look forward to every day I get to spend with my crazy fourth graders. From the second I walk into the class, I am ambushed by 25 kids trying to hug me and super excited to do some science! You all now how passionate I am about the environment, so having little munchkins just as excited to learn just melts my heart. Sometimes I see them at church or in the market and it is so heartwarming having my kids introduce me with excitement to their family members. I har "profe profe" all over town now.
But it is not always "rainbows and butterflies". Teaching is s tough job, that requires a lot of labor, patience and tolerance. Kids will be kids, and they will push your buttons. Or sometimes it rains and only 5 kids come to school and you feel like the entire lecture is ruined. It's times like this that I just need to breathe and remind myself that I am not in Nicaragua to change the entire education system, simply to do the best I can with the limited resources I can find. And my kids make it all worth it because everyday they do something crazy that just has me cracking up.
Teaching has been such a growing, humbling, crazy, amazing, frustrating and incredible experience. The first class I ever taught was a complete disaster, and now I look forward to every day I get to spend with my crazy fourth graders. From the second I walk into the class, I am ambushed by 25 kids trying to hug me and super excited to do some science! You all now how passionate I am about the environment, so having little munchkins just as excited to learn just melts my heart. Sometimes I see them at church or in the market and it is so heartwarming having my kids introduce me with excitement to their family members. I har "profe profe" all over town now.
But it is not always "rainbows and butterflies". Teaching is s tough job, that requires a lot of labor, patience and tolerance. Kids will be kids, and they will push your buttons. Or sometimes it rains and only 5 kids come to school and you feel like the entire lecture is ruined. It's times like this that I just need to breathe and remind myself that I am not in Nicaragua to change the entire education system, simply to do the best I can with the limited resources I can find. And my kids make it all worth it because everyday they do something crazy that just has me cracking up.
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