Well, Hello Again! This time I am writing to inform everyone about my trip to Nicaragua!
Here's the deal:
Who? The entire LASP group (yes all 47 of us will be traveling together!)
What? An awesome difficult, fun, cool, important learning experience in Nicaragua
Where? Managua, Masaya, and Granada, Nicaragua
When? Monday, March 2 through Friday, March 13, 2009
Why? To gain a new perspective of the Nicaraguan culture (there are lots more reasons!)
Here is an overview of my trip (at least what I think it going to happen)
The first three days we will be staying in Managua, which is the capital of Nicaragua. There we will be what I call, "academic tourists". We will be interviewing people, hearing from guest speakers, and visiting many important places. The next six days we will be living with Host Families. LASP is all spread out in the rural areas of Nicaragua. I think I will be living in a small town. I don't know much about this part! After the home stay we will be staying in Granada for two days. After that we will be heading home!
So, I don't really know much about this trip but I do know that it will be a challenge that I am excited and ready for. I am little bit nervous with the uncertainty but I think that I need to be shaken up a little bit and I think this trip will do just that!
I know that I will not be able to use a computer at all therefore I will not be able to update until I get home! I hope you all have a great couple of weeks and don't worry, I will update when I get home!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Five Things I Accomplished This Week:
Wow, It has been exactly one week since I updated! I am sorry. This week was sort of uneventful so I feel like I didn't have much to write. So here are some things that I accomplished this week. It was my last week of My Core Seminar Class so I was busy with lots of school work!
Five Things I Accomplished This Week:
1) The first and most important thing that I finished this week was my Position Paper for Core Seminar (This was due Tuesday). I wrote about 14 pages on the relationship between the United States and Nicaragua throughout history. I had to take a position on the relationship and give suggestions for what President Obama should do in Latin America. I have never really had to write a paper like this before so it was especially difficult for me. I hope that I get a good grade because I worked REALLY hard!
2) On Wednesday, I had my second and final exam, which we call Reading Assessments. This is an all essay exam where we are given four possible essay questions and we respond to two of them in an hour and a half. The essays are graded on ability to think critically as well as incorporate the tons of readings we did and the speakers we heard. The first exam I did pretty well so I hope this one goes better!
3) On Wednesday and Thursday, I worked VERY hard on a group presentation. I was in a group of six people and we all had similar topics for our position papers (see #1). We had to make some kind of thesis statement that brought all of our topics together. We ended up doing a series of skits and on Friday we presented! Everyone seemed to really like our presentation and I saw a couple of nods of approval from our Professors-which was reassuring! After the presentations, we had a party to celebrate our last day of classes. We even had pizza-AMAZING :)
4) On Friday, I went for a run for 40 minutes! Before this trip, I don't think I would have considered running for 40 minutes a serious accomplishment because I used to run that almost everyday! However, here in Costa Rica, running is different. It is not a normal way of life and I can probably count on one hand the amount of people I have seen running on the street. I don't have a team of wonderful girls to go out and run with. I have to go when I feel like it or when it is safe. There are so many variables that I never had to think of before coming here! However, on Friday I was inspired. I ran for 40 minutes all by myself and I even finished my run UP a HUGE HILL! I realize how lucky I am to have the ability to run and I cannot wait to get home and start training for cross country!
5) I packed for Nicaragua. Now this is an accomplishment. In my next post, I will tell you more about my Nicaraguan trip but, I am only allowed to travel with a backpack for two weeks! It is definitely an accomplishment to have completed by packing!
Five Things I Accomplished This Week:
1) The first and most important thing that I finished this week was my Position Paper for Core Seminar (This was due Tuesday). I wrote about 14 pages on the relationship between the United States and Nicaragua throughout history. I had to take a position on the relationship and give suggestions for what President Obama should do in Latin America. I have never really had to write a paper like this before so it was especially difficult for me. I hope that I get a good grade because I worked REALLY hard!
2) On Wednesday, I had my second and final exam, which we call Reading Assessments. This is an all essay exam where we are given four possible essay questions and we respond to two of them in an hour and a half. The essays are graded on ability to think critically as well as incorporate the tons of readings we did and the speakers we heard. The first exam I did pretty well so I hope this one goes better!
3) On Wednesday and Thursday, I worked VERY hard on a group presentation. I was in a group of six people and we all had similar topics for our position papers (see #1). We had to make some kind of thesis statement that brought all of our topics together. We ended up doing a series of skits and on Friday we presented! Everyone seemed to really like our presentation and I saw a couple of nods of approval from our Professors-which was reassuring! After the presentations, we had a party to celebrate our last day of classes. We even had pizza-AMAZING :)
4) On Friday, I went for a run for 40 minutes! Before this trip, I don't think I would have considered running for 40 minutes a serious accomplishment because I used to run that almost everyday! However, here in Costa Rica, running is different. It is not a normal way of life and I can probably count on one hand the amount of people I have seen running on the street. I don't have a team of wonderful girls to go out and run with. I have to go when I feel like it or when it is safe. There are so many variables that I never had to think of before coming here! However, on Friday I was inspired. I ran for 40 minutes all by myself and I even finished my run UP a HUGE HILL! I realize how lucky I am to have the ability to run and I cannot wait to get home and start training for cross country!
5) I packed for Nicaragua. Now this is an accomplishment. In my next post, I will tell you more about my Nicaraguan trip but, I am only allowed to travel with a backpack for two weeks! It is definitely an accomplishment to have completed by packing!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
What Has Happened and What's to Come?!
What Has Happened:
1) This week I graduated from my Spanish Class at ICADS ( Institute for Central American Development Studies). I got a certificate and everything! I spent five weeks and eighty hours learning Spanish and wow, I can't believe it is over! I had a presentation on Thursday. I spoke for almost 10 minutes all in Spanish about poverty! I hope it went well.
2) I met the coolest, most experienced old man in the world. He came to speak to us in Core Seminar on Thursday. He has been a missionary to Costa Rica for almost 50 years. The coolest thing about him was he actaully met and had a meeting with Fidel Castro. They talked about Revelation ( a book in the Bible). Can you imagine meeting Fidel Castro and discussing the bible with him just like he is an old friend? He told us story after story about his life adventures. He is one of those people who has done it all and experienced everything he possibly could. What an inspiration.
3) I went for a run today with two of my friends. We went to the same park that I go to every time I run. Guess what we found? A TRACK MEET. I felt like I was in heaven. I had no idea how much I missed running and being at meets with my team. We didn't actaully see any running events but we saw the introduction of all of the athletes. If I didn't have a paper to write, I would have stayed there all day. I took for granted going to meets and being with a team because now as I am sitting here I am really missing being with the team and competing in track and cross country meets. Go Messiah Track and Field!
What is To Come:
1) Next week is my last week of Core Seminar. I have my big research paper due on Tuesday. I am frantically trying to write it today. It is about the relationship between the United States and Nicaragua. It is actually very interesting to research. At Messiah, I am getting used to writing papers for my major so this is a stretch because I have to write about something that I don't know ANYTHING about.
2) March 2, 2009- March 13, 2009: LASP (Latin American Studies Program) will be traveling to Nicaragua. I am not completely sure what we will be doing but I do know that it will be an eye-opening experience. Once I know what we are doing I will be sure to update!
3) For the last couple weeks in March and a couple of weeks in April, all LASP students will be splitting up and doing something completely different then we are doing right now. There are three concentration in the LASP program. ALL (Advanced Language and Literature), LASC (Latin American Studies Concentration) and ESC (Environmental Studies Concentration). I am in the Latin American Studies Concentration. There are something like 20 of us. We will be all spread out throughout the country of Costa Rica, working in some sort of community project and living with a different family in a very rural area. All I know about my community project is I am working in a school. I have no idea what age group or if I will be teaching. I do know that I will have some sort of interaction with the kids. I am also aware that I will be living with an elderly woman who works at the school. One of my professors said that this is one of his most favorite projects.
4) When I return from my concentration, I stay in San Jose for a bit with the family I am currently living with and then I go to Cuba (April 19-April 27). More to come about this trip!
I hope you feel informed about what I am up to these days and what I will be doing in the coming days. Even though I gave you a tenative schedule for the next couple of months everything might and probably will change. LASP always tells us to be flexible!
1) This week I graduated from my Spanish Class at ICADS ( Institute for Central American Development Studies). I got a certificate and everything! I spent five weeks and eighty hours learning Spanish and wow, I can't believe it is over! I had a presentation on Thursday. I spoke for almost 10 minutes all in Spanish about poverty! I hope it went well.
2) I met the coolest, most experienced old man in the world. He came to speak to us in Core Seminar on Thursday. He has been a missionary to Costa Rica for almost 50 years. The coolest thing about him was he actaully met and had a meeting with Fidel Castro. They talked about Revelation ( a book in the Bible). Can you imagine meeting Fidel Castro and discussing the bible with him just like he is an old friend? He told us story after story about his life adventures. He is one of those people who has done it all and experienced everything he possibly could. What an inspiration.
3) I went for a run today with two of my friends. We went to the same park that I go to every time I run. Guess what we found? A TRACK MEET. I felt like I was in heaven. I had no idea how much I missed running and being at meets with my team. We didn't actaully see any running events but we saw the introduction of all of the athletes. If I didn't have a paper to write, I would have stayed there all day. I took for granted going to meets and being with a team because now as I am sitting here I am really missing being with the team and competing in track and cross country meets. Go Messiah Track and Field!
What is To Come:
1) Next week is my last week of Core Seminar. I have my big research paper due on Tuesday. I am frantically trying to write it today. It is about the relationship between the United States and Nicaragua. It is actually very interesting to research. At Messiah, I am getting used to writing papers for my major so this is a stretch because I have to write about something that I don't know ANYTHING about.
2) March 2, 2009- March 13, 2009: LASP (Latin American Studies Program) will be traveling to Nicaragua. I am not completely sure what we will be doing but I do know that it will be an eye-opening experience. Once I know what we are doing I will be sure to update!
3) For the last couple weeks in March and a couple of weeks in April, all LASP students will be splitting up and doing something completely different then we are doing right now. There are three concentration in the LASP program. ALL (Advanced Language and Literature), LASC (Latin American Studies Concentration) and ESC (Environmental Studies Concentration). I am in the Latin American Studies Concentration. There are something like 20 of us. We will be all spread out throughout the country of Costa Rica, working in some sort of community project and living with a different family in a very rural area. All I know about my community project is I am working in a school. I have no idea what age group or if I will be teaching. I do know that I will have some sort of interaction with the kids. I am also aware that I will be living with an elderly woman who works at the school. One of my professors said that this is one of his most favorite projects.
4) When I return from my concentration, I stay in San Jose for a bit with the family I am currently living with and then I go to Cuba (April 19-April 27). More to come about this trip!
I hope you feel informed about what I am up to these days and what I will be doing in the coming days. Even though I gave you a tenative schedule for the next couple of months everything might and probably will change. LASP always tells us to be flexible!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
What's New?
I have been waiting for an exciting story or something really cool to post but so far I don't really have anything! This past weekend was really great. Saturday I went for a nice run by myself and it was awesome. It was great to get some alone time outside of the house! All day on Saturday, I attempted to do homework while I read and answered e-mails.
Sunday was a great day. I got up early with my family and we went to church. The service was really long but it was better than it has been. After church, we went to this restaurant called, Spoon. It is this cute chain restaurant all over San Jose. It was so delicious. Then we went shopping at Price Smart, which is like a Sam's Club. At night, we watched Madagascar 2 (definitely not as good as the first one). Overall, it was an uneventful yet wonderful weekend.
This week has been busy but really great so far. Yesterday, I played "mother" and went with one of my friends to the doctor because she was sick for awhile. Let me tell you, the system is so different than in the United States. It was an adventure figuring out how to get her to see a doctor. Everyone was laughing at us because we had no idea what was going on. Eventually, we figured it out and now she has medicine and hopefully she will get better soon! It sure makes for a crazy story though.
Thanks for the continuing prayers and thoughts. They are very much appreciated. I have a big Spanish presentation tomorrow that I must continue working on so that is all for now!
Sunday was a great day. I got up early with my family and we went to church. The service was really long but it was better than it has been. After church, we went to this restaurant called, Spoon. It is this cute chain restaurant all over San Jose. It was so delicious. Then we went shopping at Price Smart, which is like a Sam's Club. At night, we watched Madagascar 2 (definitely not as good as the first one). Overall, it was an uneventful yet wonderful weekend.
This week has been busy but really great so far. Yesterday, I played "mother" and went with one of my friends to the doctor because she was sick for awhile. Let me tell you, the system is so different than in the United States. It was an adventure figuring out how to get her to see a doctor. Everyone was laughing at us because we had no idea what was going on. Eventually, we figured it out and now she has medicine and hopefully she will get better soon! It sure makes for a crazy story though.
Thanks for the continuing prayers and thoughts. They are very much appreciated. I have a big Spanish presentation tomorrow that I must continue working on so that is all for now!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Field Trip #2
Today, we went to the U.S Embassy. The Embassy is located just outside of central San Jose. To check into the Embassy we had to pass through security which took FOREVER (everything takes forever with over 50 people!). Anyway, we waited for awhile and were "escorted" by a woman to a small auditorium where our speakers were going to meet us. This woman then made an announcement to anyone who had to go to the bathroom. I thought that she was just going to lead us to the bathroom but, No! She was our escort to the bathroom. Never in my life have I been escorted to the bathroom!
Anyway, the talk we had was very interesting. We talked with two women and one man who were very good speakers and very nice people. However, I had a lot of problems with their points of views. If you remember a blog from last week when Otton Solis came and talked to us about his problems with U.S Foreign Policy. Well, these people had a view completely opposite of that! Basically, I heard lots of information on how countries in Latin America are weaker than us and therefore we need to help them and spread out principles to everyone who doesn't practice them.
Has anyone heard of CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement)? My guess is probably not, because we don't really talk about policy in the United States very much. Basically, this agreement is supposed to promote prosperity in the people and reduce tarriffs between seven different countries. It sounds really great for the United States because we basically have free trade with a lot of different countries. Unfortunately, this makes the United States seem like the bad guy because we fail to look at the consequences that this agreement has on other countries, like Costa Rica. Yes, there are two sides to every argument BUT, it sure does seem like the U.S pressured Costa Rica and other Central American countries into agreeing to CAFTA. Others (especially other Americans) would say that there was absolutely no pressure applied to agree to CAFTA.
Although these thoughts may not make sense to any of you, these are the kinds of things that are going on in my head. You never learn the severity of what the United States does in other countries until you can see FIRST-HAND what effects they have on those other countries. Everything is not as easy to figure out and I don't know whose side to take. I am not going to lie, down here Americans don't have the best image in the world! I hope and pray that I can try to change that image a little bit in my short time here! Thanks for reading my thoughts. If you would like to talk more about this, feel free to e-mail me.
Anyway, the talk we had was very interesting. We talked with two women and one man who were very good speakers and very nice people. However, I had a lot of problems with their points of views. If you remember a blog from last week when Otton Solis came and talked to us about his problems with U.S Foreign Policy. Well, these people had a view completely opposite of that! Basically, I heard lots of information on how countries in Latin America are weaker than us and therefore we need to help them and spread out principles to everyone who doesn't practice them.
Has anyone heard of CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement)? My guess is probably not, because we don't really talk about policy in the United States very much. Basically, this agreement is supposed to promote prosperity in the people and reduce tarriffs between seven different countries. It sounds really great for the United States because we basically have free trade with a lot of different countries. Unfortunately, this makes the United States seem like the bad guy because we fail to look at the consequences that this agreement has on other countries, like Costa Rica. Yes, there are two sides to every argument BUT, it sure does seem like the U.S pressured Costa Rica and other Central American countries into agreeing to CAFTA. Others (especially other Americans) would say that there was absolutely no pressure applied to agree to CAFTA.
Although these thoughts may not make sense to any of you, these are the kinds of things that are going on in my head. You never learn the severity of what the United States does in other countries until you can see FIRST-HAND what effects they have on those other countries. Everything is not as easy to figure out and I don't know whose side to take. I am not going to lie, down here Americans don't have the best image in the world! I hope and pray that I can try to change that image a little bit in my short time here! Thanks for reading my thoughts. If you would like to talk more about this, feel free to e-mail me.
Field Trip #1
This past Tuesday (February 10), the group visited an organic farm outside of San Jose. It was great to give up classroom time to actually go somewhere but the experience turned out to be a lot more than missed classroom time!
We arrived at the farm and we were greeted by a young guy with his wife and his two year old son. We came to learn so much about this man as we shared a couple of hours with him. Basically, his family owned a farm for all of his life. However, it wasn't organic. Years ago, this man completely turned his farm completely organic all by himself. This meant that his production went WAY down and his workload went WAY up. But he was the most content men I have ever met. He never complained about having to do all of the work by himself. In fact, he has no idea how everything in an organic farm works. He does things by trial and error (Can you imagine how long that takes him to grow crops?)
He told us how blessed he was because God has given him this farm and a wonderful family. He reminded us that although we have so much it can be taken away in an instant. It's hard to explain what an eye opening trip this was because basically we just toured the farm and nothing monumental happened. However, I learned that sometimes God provides us with opportunities that are challenging yet these are the opportunities that change the way we live the rest of our lives.
We arrived at the farm and we were greeted by a young guy with his wife and his two year old son. We came to learn so much about this man as we shared a couple of hours with him. Basically, his family owned a farm for all of his life. However, it wasn't organic. Years ago, this man completely turned his farm completely organic all by himself. This meant that his production went WAY down and his workload went WAY up. But he was the most content men I have ever met. He never complained about having to do all of the work by himself. In fact, he has no idea how everything in an organic farm works. He does things by trial and error (Can you imagine how long that takes him to grow crops?)
He told us how blessed he was because God has given him this farm and a wonderful family. He reminded us that although we have so much it can be taken away in an instant. It's hard to explain what an eye opening trip this was because basically we just toured the farm and nothing monumental happened. However, I learned that sometimes God provides us with opportunities that are challenging yet these are the opportunities that change the way we live the rest of our lives.
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