Checking in from Leon after five fast weeks…
I spent my first week in Nicaragua at a language school called “Hijos Del Maiz”. It is located in a small, tightly-knit community called El Lagartillo, about a thirty minute bus-ride through the mountains from the city of Esteli. All in all, it was a fantastic place to begin my adaptation to a new language, a new culture, and essentially to a new world. In addition to learning more Spanish, some of my highlights included playing baseball and music with kids in the community, as well as venturing to a beautiful waterfall before my departure.
After my week of language immersion, I traveled further north to Sabana Grande where Grupo Fenix is located. I am living with a host family in a neighbouring community called Santo Domingo. My family consists of Terencio,Mayra, and their two children Adaly and Graciela. I couldn’t have asked for a better family to live with, right from the beginning I have felt at home. In my spare time I am usually playing baseball with the Sabana Grande team or playing music with my host family and the neighbours.
I have been working on two main projects over the past four weeks. One project involves working with a group of three solar women who have a business of selling wood efficient “eco-stoves”. These stoves (“fogones”) reduce the amount of wood necessary to cook as well as the amount of smoke produced during the cooking process. This is very important for the region because deforestation and lung disease particularly in women and children are prominent issues. The second project involves constructing and installing plastic bottle lights for people in Sabana Grande that do not have electricity or adequate lighting in their homes.
That is all for now, tomorrow I will be tobogganing down a volcano called Cerro Negro at 50 km/hr!!
Until next time,
Ben
No comments:
Post a Comment