Lucha por la justicia

much has come to pass in a week I must say, I've met five other exchange students: one from Mexico, another from El Salvador, two from Austria and the last from the good ole' United States (Oregon specifically) All five are wonderful people and I look forward to beginning official classes and meeting more Nicaraguenses here in the city

though I have much to tell, specifically today I got the shock of my life. Up to this point I have seen the strict class divides present in this city. While out with friends, driving through the streets, I've have seen children as young four or five knocking at car windows for coins, offering food and goods to sell.

However, it was not until my trip to Mercado Oriental, a well-known market that I truly saw poverty in its ugliest form. On the ride towards the market we pass through one of the poorest neighborhoods. The streets are strewn with garbage, stray dogs run wild along the sidewalk. The elderly are literally sleeping on sidewalks, their heads resting on a thin mats or cloth. In the market I'm pressed from all sides with people pleading for me to buy their homemade goods. Those who do not have booths sell all kinds of foods: candies, bread, ice, water, everything. Further into the market there are more children sleeping on the ground outside. A woman with two babies in one arm and a cup in the other begs for money. Another woman pushing a young girl who is mentally disabled in a wheelchair, pushes through the crowd, a cup in hand.

Could you imagine shopping for goods here all the time? My friend asks me. For many people of Nicaragua there is no choice in the matter. The prices in the grocery store are what the rich and middle class can afford. For many the markets are their resource for their daily bread.

As I take in the sights and sounds of the market I cannot help but feel guilty. All I have to do if I'm hungry or thirsty in my hometown is walk to the store and buy food with ease, or to my refrigerator, my cafeteria, a restaurant, whatever it may be. Our place in the world is but an accident of birth. It's so easy to forget that until you see those who are less fortunate. What can you do but try to change the world around you. This experience marks the beginning of my journey on that path.

Found in Translation

So now I'm rounding about a week of living here in Nica as it affectionately called by the people here, at least the young ones. Already I am learning so much Spanish. It's strange to imagine yourself being able to truly speak another language if you haven't been taught since birth but if you have no choice, things fall into place a lot faster. Thank goodness for those natural instincts.

I am getting along well thus far. I have met some great people through my program and will meet three other exchange students this weekend. Of course there have been some shocks (cold water for showers always) and mistakes (there is a key difference between the word coger and recoger, ask a native speaker) but still I have adjusted well the country, especially the...

FOOD

I could write a whole book about how heavenly the food is so i'll save that for later, however

a great thing happened

on the morning of Tuesday the 20th, I awoke around ten and walked into the kitchen to get a drink of water. I went back to my room, showered, got dressed and began to watch the festivities on CNN. When I returned to the kitchen to get more water my sister, Maete was fixing special drinks. I asked her what they were for and she responded "la celebracion" I asked of what and she said "La toma de poseccion de Barack Obama." A bit in awe I asked, "So you are going to celebrate as well." She replied "Por supuesto, es bueno por todos." I sat with her and my host mother Marina and watched most of inauguration in Spanish. It felt good to have people around me who were excited as I was on that day. I suppose its safe to say that some things are so wonderful, so important in history that they cross language barriers.

Te sin azucar

This is my second day in Nica and already I have learned many things.
Firstly now I know how new immigrants to the United States feel when they first arrive. Let's just say I have been doing a lot of smiling and nodding because there is so much that I cannot understand yet. My host mother, Marina, a heavy set bright eyed older woman has been very understanding. She tells me her husband is away on business in Spain and that he should be back soon. I meet her son as well who is in his late twenties and has the cutest daughter imaginable: 7 month old Emily who giggles and smiles at me when I first meet her.

Then there is Maete, my little sister who is at the tender age of fourteen. She tells me about life as a teenager here. Everything from the music that is played here (bachata, merengue, salsa, and the infamous reggaeton) to the coolest clothes. When I first meet her I have on a fitted T-shirt and a long skirt. I figure it's better to be conservative than sorry. She asks me if I always dress so formally and tells me that I should wear "mini faldas" or mini skirts instead. So it's a bit more liberal than I thought, but for now I think I will stick to my guns.

I have seen several parts of the country already. Catalina which is beautiful. It's a giant volcano and touristy site. Today I am going to Granada which according to my sister is the most beautiful place in the country. I have also seen the incredible poverty here. There are beautiful houses like the one I live in. Surrounded by flowers and trees. Then there are the places where people literally live in wooden and metal shacks. Selling goods on the sides of the streets. The class divide is painfully apparent.

This morning I had a light breakfast. Bread with pineapple jam and fruit. I ask for tea and Marina brings me a piping hot cup of black tea. I ask for sugar and she says "tengo algún si quieres, pero siempre tenemos té sin azúcar" (i have sugar if you want but we always have tea without it" I decide not to have any sugar with my tea. When in Rome do as the Romans do.

Tres dias

I haven't left yet.
I'm in my hometown of Detroit, Michigan awaiting my departure on Friday, January 16th.
There's a lot of last minute running around. Mostly trips to CVS and Target, picking up sunscreen and bug spray, hair combs, and toothpaste. Long phone conversations with family and friends. Now the jitters have officially kicked in. I just got back from my first trip to California. I saw Pasadena and many different parts of the city of Los Angeles with my best friends and roommates. There was Spanish everywhere. The street signs, the ads, the music. That taste of the west coast made me even more nervous and excited for my journey that is to come.

Of course I've read the horror stories about the possible dangers.

In fact I see them everyday. Whenever I tell someone I'm studying abroad in Central America there's a look of surprise followed by a "Be careful out there!" then followed by a "We'll I'm sure you will have a great time." I'm hoping both will happen. That I will be careful and have the time of my life.

For now Nicaragua is a dream, an idea that exists only in my imagination.
Soon it will be my reality.
I can almost feel myself stepping off of the plane and into a world I've never seen before.
I'm nervous, but I am so ready.