"Chicago" in Nicaragua?

Are you into acting, singing, dancing, or just in general into plays? Well, each year during this time, UAM's students with the support of the university's cultural program perform a play at the national theater Ruben Dario. Plays such as "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Sound of Music" have been brought to life professionally through the talent and dedication of these hardworking people. So what should we expect this year?

Coming soon in October 24th, performed by UAM students at the national theater, the play Chicago! Even one of our very own exchange student from the United States, Kine Camara, will be dancing! Tickets are on sale already at the university and at the national theater Ruben Dario, prices ranging from $20 to $10. The time will be 7 p.m. We are so excited! Will you be there?

- Adriana de los Angeles Diaz Rizo

Bibloko’s Press Conference!

On March 29th, 2012, Bibloko held a press conference sponsored by Universidad Americana and Fundacion Margarita Te Voy a Contar to announce our new campaign: Donate your own story! The event was promoted by several famous Nicaraguans such as Nicaraguan singer and story teller Carlos Mejia Godoy, Miss Nicaragua 2011 Adriana Dorn, Nicaraguan writer Sergio Ramirez, broadcast, and producer and director of Fundación Margarita te Voy a Contar, Margarita Pasos. They were accompanied by Universidad Americana’s Rector Dr. Ernesto Medina, UAM-CUSE Provost Dr. Marvin Happel, UAM-CUSE Vice-Provost, creator and director of Bibloko, Giselle Poveda, and her work team. We were glad to receive so much support! Even Adriana Dorn herself already wrote a story.

This is only the beginning of Bibloko an amazingly creative initiative that will revolutionize reading and writing in Nicaragua. I invite you all to contribute to this new campaign by donating your own story which thousands of Nicaraguan kids will be reading soon.


For more information about how you can contribute click the following link: Bibloko

- Dina Shihab

TEDx Managua

Congratulations to UAM, academic partner for TEDx Managua!!!

Story Time at UAM

On Tuesday September 11th, 2012, a group of kids from the schools "Sagrada Familia" and "Pan y Amor" came to UAM's central auditorium in order to participate in a reading group activity with dynamics. Several students from Universidad Americana dressed up as different storybook characters to play and encourage the children to read and participate in the activity.

The kids were extremely happy because we were interacting with them. We became children for a moment as we played cat and mouse with them, danced, and hit the floor. It was impossible not to feel the bond of friendship and love that was being built between us and those children. Overall, it was an experience that without hesitating we would repeat again. 

-Nubia Alejandra Aguilar Arevalo

We Got Fabio on Nicaragua - Quizala and Pochomil

I just can’t get enough of the beach, and while I have the opportunity visit water I can actually swim in, my intention is to go as much as possible!

This week three other friends and myself went to two beaches on the Pacific coast: Quizalá and Pochomil. We decided to rent a car for the day trip, which ran us about $40.00, and it was well worth it since some of the terrain was irregular, bumpy and susceptible to becoming dangerously muddy if it were to rain. 

We left Managua around 10:30 a.m. and drove for about an hour before reaching the actual town which had openings to several beaches.First, we went to Quizalá, which was a very secluded beach (we found no other people on the there until the very end of our stay when a family emerged from a house located on the shore) – which we found at the end of a long and rugged road. We had to ask several times for directions, and good thing there were pedestrians and people on motor bikes and bicycles to lead the way.

This beach looked almost identical to some that I have visited in Washington state; aggressive and boisterous waves, overcast sky with rain in the future, a quiet and calm solemnness….ahh but the water was actually warm (as was the air)! I spent a while just listening to the ocean and enjoying the tranquil setting. Looking out on the water, I couldn’t help but be grateful for the power in the sea, it was incredibly memorizing and humbling.

After spending an hour or two at Quizalá and working up an appetite for lunch, we headed over to Pochomil which is the popular beach in the area. This beach, completely different from Quizalá had tons of restaurants on the shore and other people in the water.

For lunch, I had fresh Ceviche with tajadas (plantain chips) as an appetizer, and for the main entree fish with a tomato sauce drizzled on top served with salad and tostones (fried plantains) on the side. The Ceviche was decadent; it was like the best salsa you’ve ever had but with fish – absolutely amazing.

After lunch, I did one of the funnest things so far here in Nicaragua – I road a horse, on the beach, at sunset! My friend Meghann and I went off on our horses (without guides, I guess they trusted us when we said we could ride) and only paid C 100 (aprox. $4.20) for a 45-hour long session. “We got Fabio on Nicaragua.”

I really enjoyed myself on this day trip and I would highly recommend it as long as you are driving in a secure vehicle, preferably with 4 wheel drive (though we didn’t have it). If you are passing through Nicaragua, it’s not somewhere that you “must visit”, but rather if you are living in Managua, it is an easy getaway from the rustle and bustle of the city!

- Kine Camara

My Experience in Nicaragua

My experience in Nicaragua has been quite an experience. Whether it’s taking the bus, getting stranded in random locations, ordering a bean burrito, or attempting to cross the street, every day is packed with adventure for the happy blonde "gringa" that I am. At a party the other night, my other exchange-student friends were talking about their complete lack of culture shock. I cannot boast the same situation. Perhaps because I am an extremely nervous person, perhaps because I have not previously spent more than 3 weeks at a time in any country other than the U.S., or perhaps just because I’m the worst at hiding extreme terror, I seem to have suffered more culture shock than anyone else I know studying with ISEP.

There were many obstacles I had to overcome (and many more I still have to overcome) since being here. Buses were very difficult. I refused to take any by myself for a good two weeks at the beginning. I didn’t like how packed they are, and how everyone on the bus always looked at me like I had just crawled out of a spaceship. Yet, I am happily now taking buses like a pro. The Nica time is also something that took some getting used to. After being punctual for the first few weeks, I showed up to my nine o’clock at fifteen after this morning (the traffic was awful, another aspect of life here that is difficult to deal get used to), but I was early compared to others. Spanish is another thing that is very difficult for me because it is the second other thing I fear besides taking a bus. If I hate anything, I hate knowing I’m doing something very badly. And I speak Spanish very badly. I know that the only way to get better is to keep practicing, and I am improving marginally every day (I hope). The other real hardship I faced was my diet. I am a vegan (a very strict vegetarian who does not eat milk or eggs) and finding food to eat here has not been easy. As opposed to Nicaragua, in the United States there are plenty of restaurants, grocery stores, and products that cater specifically to those types of dietary restrictions. After a week of eating nothing but veggie sushi and granola bars, however, I discovered the burrito stand at school and the wonderfully delicious avocado sandwich. Adjusting to my new diet here has been hard, but very manageable.

That being said, I love it here! It is a beautiful place with the kindest, happiest, most accepting people that I have ever yet encountered. While it is mildly horrifying at times trying to deal with the many differences between this culture and my native one (most notably the lack of tasty vegan meat-substitutes, like Tofurkey), it is also very exhilarating and rewarding. I have made a lot of friends here who are pretty amazing and most everyone is helpful and accommodating (with the exception of some bus and taxi drivers) in spite of it being quite obvious by my appearance and by everything silly I do that I am not Nicaraguan. Sometimes people will come up and talk to me (many of them actually assume I am German), and ask me where I’m from and what I’m doing in Nicaragua. Often these people are children, and one time when (inevitably, this happens in every conversation with a child), I said something stupid like, “Repite, por favor. Mi español no es muy buena...” (my favorite phrase), the youngest child in the group looked at me and said, “Uno, dos, tres...” while holding up corresponding fingers. It was not very helpful, but super adorable! 

I am only one and a half months into this experience, but I can already tell it was a great decision to come to Nicaragua. Though it was (and still is!) difficult to adjust, I am finding the short time I have spent here is one of the most educational and beneficial things I have ever done for myself. I love my classes and my professors, my roommates and friends, and even all the crazy little things that mortified me not very long ago (like the bus and the cheek-kiss greeting). I am learning Spanish (very slowly) and learning about a culture vastly different from my own. There are really no words to describe how rewarding this experience has been so far. This article does my experience little justice. There are really know words to describe it, but I will try: I love Nicaragua!

- Tricia Lebkuecher

"Hasta Luego, No Es Un Adios"

For any of the readers out there who don't know, I have been an exchange student here at UAM-CUSE since August 2011. I can still look back to the days about a year ago when I spent much of my time prepping myself for a year in Nicaragua. I wasn't sure what to expect other than I knew it was going to be hot, really hot, and I was going to have to speak a lot of spanish. Although studying abroad was a little daunting at first, I was extremely excited for the adventure. I had learned bits and pieces of Nicaragua's history and culture through numerous Spanish, History, and Latin American Studies classes. I even spent time reading several books on Nicaragua, all in the hopes that it would better prepare me for my time here. In a sense, it did. I knew quite a bit about the history, and I wasn't completely clueless how to speak in Spanish; however, there were also many things that I was not prepared for.

In coming to a new place, a new country, and a new culture, things were a bit different than my life back home. Yes, there were differences that I was expecting, but there were also many other unexpected encounters. For example, when I first started meeting people it took me a while to get used to kissing on the cheek. I can also still recall the first time I saw someone drinking a Coke out of a bag with a straw, the first time I saw someone eating some weird creamy tortilla stuff, also known as quesillo, or going to the grocery store and not being sure where to put my cart. There were many firsts here in Nicaragua and many interesting encounters; though over time I've come to love many of them. A kiss as a greeting is no longer strange, but rather something that I'm going to miss when I leave. Drinks in bags are still a little out of the ordinary, but I enjoy the experience. And quesillo is no longer some weird creamy tortilla substance--but rather one of my favorite lunch or dinner treats.

A lot of firsts occurred during my first semester. That's not to say that there weren't also many new adventures this semester; but rather, I've spent much of this semester diving deeper into the culture, learning more about the country, and enriching relationships with the people. I've been very lucky to have an extended time, about a year, in this country. It's allowed me to learn a lot more. Nicaragua has a lot of history and I've learned parts of it in all different facets of my life here--whether it be a professor, fellow student, taxi driver, or a random man at the grocery store. They have all offered many different perspectives on the history and culture of Nicaragua and I've very much enjoyed each person sharing their two cents. Each time a new topic or idea is shared I have learned a new way of looking at things. In a lot of ways, it's changed me and how I perceive the world. It's something that I have been very blessed to encounter while here in Nicaragua.

One of the biggest reasons that I am happy to have stayed another semester was for the relationships I've made with people. Sure I had made friends the first semester, but adding more time made those friendships more real. It offered an authenticity to the friendships because I wasn't just here for a couple months. I've also been privileged enough to see the beautiful places Nicaragua has to offer. From the Atlantic Coast, tourist filled San Juan Del Sur, Canyon Somoto, Granada and Leon , this country honestly has some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

If I have learned anything from the traveling I have done, and especially from my time here in Nicaragua, it's that each culture has beautiful things to offer. Yes, cultures may be very different, but that doesn't mean they are bad. If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be to travel. It expands your ideas about life and the world which I doubt can be learned in any manner other than experience. Cultures and people will surprise you and teach you many lessons. So go out there, don't wait.

There are so many things that I have come to love about this country. I'm realizing how strange returning to my home country will be, but I'm happy to know that Nicaragua will always have a spot in my heart. So instead of saying goodbye, I'm saying hasta luego Nicaragua, hasta que nos encontremos de nuevo. 

- Jordan Crownover

Eurocopa Rexona UAM

 

On Wednesday the 5^th of this month, UAM  proudly ignagurated the “Eurocopa Rexona 2012”. With 14 teams this year the competition is tougher than ever. Making history, I am proud to let you know that there is the first all-women’s team that will take their shot at the trophy. We pride ourselves knowing that there are two teams representing the CUSE faculty. Italy, with captain as Ramiro Lopez, has as part of his team CUSE students Roman Santamaria and Issa Hurtado. The second team is Croatia, the captain is Alvaro del Rio, and whose players include Gustavo Salinas, Oscar Tellez, Carlos Alguera and Rudy Gonzalez. Knowing how well CUSE is being represented, expectations are higher than ever. We support both teams dearly and wish them the best. We’re all cheering for you guys!

- Cristiana Herrera

Cerro Negro!

After the tension of the earthquakes and volcanoes' activities, we finally have a concrete date for the Cerro Negro trip! You better recover quickly from Pitbull's concert because almost right away, on September the 30th (Sunday), is the trip in the morning.

If you have never been to Cerro Negro, I think it might be useful to know a little bit more about it or at least see some pictures of where you are going to! 

So, here I leave you some pictures, some interesting information I found, and a link to a page with more info, videos, and reviews of the Cerro Negro Adventure ;) 

 Description 

The Cerro Negro is a young and unique volcano with steep black slopes which lack vegetation. On and around the volcano, lies a big layer of volcanic ash and rocks. An eruption in 1999, left a wide border of black volcanic material and two smaller craters right next to the Cerro Negro which were recently formed.

No other volcano climing experience can compare to Cerro Negro. The volcano is only about 500 meters high (675 meters above sea level), but the ascent is steep and tough. There is no paved trail; just a merely natural path along a rim that leads to the top. The ascent takes about one hour to the top, and although it requires some effort, the superb views are certainly rewarding. The absence of trees provides fantastic scenery, and upon reaching the top visitors have a 360 degree view of the area.

The crater – often emitting smoke and gas – can be observed from above, and the crater rim leads to the other side where the imposing volcanic chain can be seen with several volcanoes (including the Telica and San Cristóbal) lined up one after another. You will enjoy the view before starting the descent. This is a whole other adventure by itself.

One of the volcano’s slopes is too steep to climb – but consequently great for a fast descent! Instead of large rocks this side only has volcanic sand, providing a great surface for running downhill. This thrilling experience takes less than ten minutes before reaching the bottom, but for the less athletic hikers it is also possible to walk more slowly while again enjoying the superb views. Alternatively, experienced snow- or sandboarders can use a wooden board to go downhill, much like snowboarding down a mountain but now on a volcanic slope! One way or another, Cerro Negro provides a unique and intense experience that can be enjoyed by anybody in a fair shape. 

Practical Information 
The most important difficulties are the heat and intense sun. Be sure to bring enough water and sunscreen, but most importantly plan this trip as early on the day as possible. Travel around sunrise to climb the volcano when it is still warming up. It is furthermore useful to bring good clothing: a pair of pants and solid hiking shoes or boots to provide protection against the sharp volcanic rocks. 

Read more from the source: http://vianica.com/attraction/7/cerro-negro-volcano 

There are still some spots available! 
(Find more info here: http://www.facebook.com/uamglobal)

-Itzel Arróliga G.

First 3 Weeks of Class - The Adjustment Period

I am attending the Universidad Americana Managua while here in Nicaragua, and I am finally getting settled into all of my classes. The courses that I am taking are: Publicidad 1 (Publicity), Historia de Nicaragua y Centro América (History of Nicaragua and Central America), Comunicación y Lenguaje 2 (Spanish equivalent to college English course) and Introduction to Spanish Literature.

All of my courses are taught in Spanish, and 3 of them will be counted towards my Spanish major at Western Washington University. So far, the main struggle in all of my classes has been understanding most of what my teachers are saying. I would say that in general, I understand about 60% of what they say during the class, which is frustrating, however I have developed skills in my academic career to succeed despite that. Here are the main actions to take if you want to succeed taking classes in other languages:

1. Ask questions: At the end of each class, talk to your professor to clarify the main points covered during the period as well as the assignments that are due for the following class.

2. Work with other students: Do not be shy! Get to know other students in your class, and ask them for help. Create study groups with them, and ask them for suggestions on how to succeed in the course.

3. Attend class: It may seem elementary, but professors are not likely to fail you if you attend classes, ask questions and make an honest effort to succeed in the course.

4. Make special arrangements: Professors will be happy to see you succeed and will more often then not evaluate you in a way that is fair corresponding to your language ability. For instance, in my History of Nicaragua and Central America course, instead of an in class assessment, I am receiving a take home test.

Using the methods above, I have had a smooth transition into university life in Nicaragua, although there are still some differences that catch me off guard. For instance, we have air conditioning in all of the classrooms and not only the noise coming from the machine, but also the freezing air, are physical noise that distract me at times, unfortunately more often than not. Another distracting element is that students carry on side conversations more often in the classroom; it just seems to be a cultural norm here, but it is mind boggling to me since that is not what happens at my university in the US.

Despite the differences, I am enjoying my new college campus, which is very clean, safe and full of helpful students and staff. It really has been a great place to study so far, and I am grateful for all of the resources that I have as a student at UAM!

- Kine Camara

Granada - Part 1

Something I have enjoyed about Nicaragua is its proximity to other beautiful and interesting cities to visit, in addition to the fact that Nicaraguan’s themselves tend to travel around the country quite a bit. I had been itching for another mini road trip, so 3 other friends and myself headed off to the historic town of Granada for a relaxing afternoon. It just so happened that on the day we went, they were celebrating la Virgen de la Asunción with a horse parade; the streets were packed full with people, cars, horses and vendors. We opted to avoid the crowds and went to Lake Nicaragua instead.

We hung out in a beachside lounge for a short while before agreeing to go on an hour and a half boat tour of the lake and “isletas” or small islands. The tour was absolutely gorgeous, with green hills and volcanoes in the backdrop of the calm lake water and tiny islands dispersed throughout. One of the isletas had a few monkeys bouncing around which was a lot of fun for my friend who loves animals. We stopped at another isleta for drinks and I ordered fresh coconut juice, believe-it-or-not right out of a coconut (cost 50 C or about $2.20, a little over priced for Nicaragua due to the location of the restaurant). At this bar/restaurant there were several exotic birds hanging out, and one of them seemed like it could speak, but all it would do was give crazy looks and then start laughing at us. It was pretty amusing.

I highly recommend taking the boat tour especially if you get a boat to only your party. It only set me back 50 Córdoba (about $2.20).

I am eager to return to Granada for a tour of the historical buildings, cathedrals and architecture that are so famous amongst tourism images. Before arriving in Managua, I was more familiar with the yellow Cathedral of Granada, iconic to the area, than any other image representing Nicaragua. That is of course besides the volcanoes. There will definitely be a part 2 to this story. Stay tuned!

-Kine Camara

Sweat Is My New Accesory

I bet you are wondering what the weather is like, apart from hot, especially those of you reading from the Northwest. It is generally warm and humid of course, anywhere from 75-95 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course it’s almost always warmest beginning around about 8/9 a.m. all the way until about 6 p.m. when the sun starts to go down.I can honestly say I don’t think I will ever arrive at school without being sufficiently soaked in sweat. It gets so warm here, that people water the street. Look:
   
We are entering the rainy season which so far has not been so bad. I am from the Northwest, so I am used to gray skies and moistness for 7-8 months out of the year. Here, you actually get a beautiful, hot sunny day before a 10-40 minute downpour of rain. I have observed that lightning and thunder frequently accompany the rain, and even when it is not raining I have noticed a lot of lightning.

-Kine Camara

Steve Aoki Concert

Spin Productions hosted a live concert featuring Steve Aoki for the first time in Managua. The concert took place Tuesday, August 14 at 7 p.m. at Galerias Santo Domingo. Tickets costs ranged from $30 general admission to $50 VIP. Many people even purchased tickets at the event from scalpers who were generally selling the tickets for about $5-15 more dollars. 

I went to the concert with 6 other international students and we arrived around 9:45 p.m., even though the advertised time of entry was 7 p.m. Upon entry, there was a small electronic stage in an almost lobby-type area that also included about 8 porta-potties, a fast food truck, a Redbull stand and a bar. I was pleasantly surprised to find that a Redbull only cost C 60. 

We then walked to the main stage area which had two VIP sections, one on the left and one on the right. These sections were raised up to a level which gave the spectators there a great view of the main stage.  We were in time to see a couple opener dj´s who did a great job of pumping up the crowd. At this time, we were in the middle and towards the back of the crowd, where convenient walking merchants drifted through the crowd to find customers who wanted to purchase cans of beer for C 25-30.

Right before Steve Aoki came on, we made a dart for the front of the crowd, and this is when things started to get crazy. There was a lot of pushing and shoving, but it was all worth it! After Aoki came on, everyone started screaming and pushing which caused the security staff and firemen to start pulling people out of the crowd. My favorite part of this unbearably hot and sticky situation was when the firemen sprayed the crowd with a hose of water; everyone around me was soaking wet, but it felt great, and with the electronic music playing  in the background it seemed like an enchanted rebirth!

Aoki is a seasoned entertainer and the best part of his show, is his energy and craziness that revs the crowd up even more. He is notorious for jumping out into the crowd, and I am sad to report that he did not try it in Managua. However, he did choose people in the crowd to hoist up on stage and throw out into the crowd on a blow-up boat and then later a full-sized air mattress. The crowd absolutely loved this!

For me, the most surprising moment of the show is when Aoki revealed a large Dim Mak sheet cake and then proceeded to throw the cake directly at one of the crowd members. It was hilarious, but I was grateful the cake wasn´t throw at me!

We exited the event grounds at 1:50am after Aoki had been on stage for about an hour and a half. I would do it all over again with no doubts, but next time I would make sure to have water on me because throughout the show I was extremely thirsty from all the heat and dancing. 

Overall I give Aoki`s concert a 4.8/5 rating. He was a great show and I hope he comes back to Managua soon!

- Kine Camara

Photo Credits: MR560

Ratafin

Problems with rats? Ratafin is the solution!

Ratafin started as an empirical idea that we later transformed into a real project for our Entrepreneurial Class.

Ratafin, is a natural and non-toxic poison for rats. It works faster than other venoms and does not leave unwanted traces such as blood.  The non-toxic poison, when consumed by rats, creates a solid mass inside the rats’ digestive system. As a result, the internal organs stop working properly and the rat dies.

It was discovered and created due to the growing problem of rats found in warehouses. The results of it were so extraordinary that the employee of the warehouses started using it at their homes. Based on the results and its attractiveness for the Nicaraguan population, we believed it could be an excellent product to introduce into the Nicaraguan market, but most of all, a great business idea.

The process of making and developing the business plan was not easy. While developing the business plan, we had to take into account many variables that led us to survey our market, research about poisons, find our providers, distributors, and of course, calculate some financial features. It took us around three months to finish the process!

The last month was the hardest. We had to comply with final projects, exams, and finish the Business Plan on time. We could not let stress take over us. Luckily, as the group was conformed by three people, we could easily work in team, understand each other, and fairly divide the work among us. 

After all, we can say that the whole experience was worth it. We won second place for innovation at the XVII Muestra Empresarial UAM 2012.

-Reyna Boza and Elizabeth Samayoa

CUSE Wins Another First Place Trophy

 

Making their way from the bottom to the top, our very own CUSE team was the first place winner in UAM’s first internal basketball tournament during May and June 2012. The team, named "Los Ramiros," was composed by Ramiro Lopez, Ramon Cuevas, Roman Santamaria, Gustavo Salinas, Issa Hurtado and Gustavo Pastora. After losing the first four games, the team decided it was time to make a change; they focused and trained every chance they had. The team had a rough start, but most importantly they knew they had to keep going. There was no giving up. The results? The CUSE office has a shiny new trophy, proudly sitting in one of their shelves.  The entire CUSE faculty is very proud of the effort these guys put into each and every game. We hope CUSE faculty continues on their winning strike and takes every trophy that comes their way. 

"Fue un torneo complicado. Perdimos los primeros 4 partidos. Practicamente estabamos eliminados y nadie daba nada por nosotros. Pero el equipo supo levantarse. Entrenamos, dimos lo mejor en los partidos siguientes y con la ayuda de nuestra barra pudimos ganar el torneo. Ademas, vamos a tratar de representar a la facultad en otros torneos como el de futbol y volibol. Vamos a tratar de hacer un buen papel, dejando a la facultad en alto y trataremos de traer esos trofeos a casa" - Ramiro Lopez

On another note, one of our CUSE students Gustavo Salinas participated in the Softball tournament along with other UAM students. The team called "Tuasers" was composed of Engel Garcia Mendoza, Luis Norori, Bosco Miranda, Juan Roman, Jeremias Ayala, Cesar Villanueva, Alvaro Arana, and Kevin Castro. Congratulations for winning third place!

- Adriana Diaz and Cristiana Herrera  

First Weekend in Nicaragua!

For my first weekend in Nicaragua, I discovered two absolutely amazing places: the mall and a beach town. I know they are not on equal playing fields – however they were each exciting discoveries in their own way.

I found a little piece of home (The Northwest, US) at the nearest mall, Galerias Santo Domingo. Casa del Café is a great café with all your coffee favorites and sandwiches, salads and desserts. I ordered an iced Americano with soy milk on the side, and it was great! They also have free wifi available, so I am scoping it out as a good homework and studying spot.

On Saturday morning, myself and another female international student went to San Juan del Sur. Our mode of transportation was a “chicken bus” which was mildly scary since it was our first time off on our own. However it ended up being safe and pretty easy (though really hot and sweaty – be prepared!). We got on the bus at Huembes market and got off in Rivas where we could have taken another bus (less expensive option) though we opted for a taxi. In total, it took us about 2½ hours total and cost us about $11.50 each (which is actually on the more expensive side; the other international students who went the day before each paid about $5).

San Juan del Sur is a sweet and mildly tourist beach town on the southwest corner of Nicaragua near the Costa Rican border on the Pacific coast. The town was very easy to navigate and I felt extremely safe walking around. Here are some pictures of the local area:

We stayed at a hostel called “Sueños del Mar” which was a great experience. When we arrived, we were greeted by the owner, Orlando, who was extremely friendly and welcoming to us. We stayed in a dorm style room, which included 8 beds, though the night we stayed the only people in our room were in our party. The hostel had other rooms with 4 and 2 beds (I believe), a kitchen where guests could cook meals and store leftovers in a fridge, 5 showers (the outdoor showers were awesome!), and 3 bathrooms. There was also a great lounge with a sheltered dining area and open patio type space with 4 hammocks up (so comfy, I fell asleep in like 2 minutes). There were also key and lock cubbies that you could leave your valuables in (this made me feel much more secure).  I’m shy to admit that this was the first hostel I had ever stayed at, but it was a highly positive first experience and I would recommend it to anyone!

- Kine Camara

Orientation at UAM

This past Thursday I had an orientation at La Universidad Americana with the other international students studying there this coming semester. On the first day, all of the international students met the key program coordinators that have been working with us to secure our housing, course schedules and overall experience studying abroad. So far, I have been impressed with the availability and kindness that all the UAM staff have shown us – it’s really been great knowing I have all the support I need to succeed and to be safe in a new environment!

Along with an orientation to the school, we were given a brief tour of Managua. Though most of the tour was done in the van due to the hot weather, we were able to get out at a few places for closer looks. The first notable spot was La Plaza de la Revolución which includes the following three buildings: La Casa de los Pueblos, La Catedral Antigua de Managua and El Palacio Nacional.

The tour was tons of fun and ended at El Lago de Managua.

Fun fact: People in Managua often use “Al lago” in place of the direction North (because the lake is north of Managua).

 

- Kine Camara

Festival of Santo Domingo

Yesterday, August 1st, was the beginning of the festival for Santo Domingo, which I don’t known much about but you can read more about here. What I do know is that the festival celebrates the Saint Dominic, and is mixed with participants who are religious and believe in the tradition as well as observers (like me!). We went in the morning when they were having the procession from La Sierritas church to El Santo Domingo church (both in Managua). It was a great opportunity to do some people watching! Here are some pictures:

After the procession of Santo Domingo, I went home for a quick lunch and then left for the afternoon festivities – The Horse Parade. This was lots of fun! People camped out on the side of the street, similar to US parades, watching the floats pass by, full of loud speakers booming Latin music,  live bands sitting on the backs of pick-up trucks, and dancers too! The most impressive part was the 2800 horses that participated! Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures from this event, but you can imagine what 2800 cowboys on horses running around in the street would look like! At times, it seemed like the cowboys were making their horses “dance” to the traditional music…it was pretty awesome.

-Kine Camara

I Should Have Brought My Heels

Tonight I went out on the town and boy does Nicaragua have a booming nightlife! I have to say, I was shocked by the music, fancy (and cheap) clubs, and endless amounts of alcohol for free or cheap! When packing for Nicaragua, I left behind flashy jewelry, high heels, and the majority of my “club”wear; however, after seeing the scene tonight, I see that it is certainly appropriate, and common to dress up just like I do back home. Luckily, I didn’t come to Nicaragua for clubbing, so I am not really at a loss. It’s just interesting because it was the complete opposite of what I had been advised and from what I read in travel books and articles. This experience relates to social class and “young culture” – that younger people and of middle to high class will be the ones out at these clubs rather than the majority of the population. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Western hemisphere, behind Haiti, but so far, I have been exposed to the middle class environment which does not feel too different from back home. Many of the families I have encountered have cars, all of the international students I have met have wifi in their homes, and every Nicaraguan I have met has a cell phone (which if they are young, they are glued to just like in the US). Also – as I mentioned earlier, they have all the reality TV shows that we enjoy, maybe secretly, in the US like Jersey Shore, The Kardashians, and Say Yes to the Dress. The TV in my house has several channels that are completely in English. Either way, I am more shocked about the similarities rather than the differences in the culture here, which is shocking. Below is a picture of some Nicaraguans we have met as well as a couple of the international students in my program.

 - Kine Camara

Day 1 and 2 in Nicaragua

Yesterday I arrived in Managua around 1pm to a familiar overcast sky and sprinkling of rain – though a not-so-familiar heat and humidity. Here is a picture from the airplane:

I was sooo tired that after arriving at the house I fell down to a deep sleep. I woke up to my first Nicaraguan meal – black beans, sweet plantains, and eggs!

I am enjoying my home very much so far. There is a beautiful front living room area/front porch that is awesome because you can relax in the heat and feel the breeze!

 I have my own room which is equipped with a fan, which I certainly need! My host mom is an amazingly sweet woman who has welcomed me with open arms to her home. We have already spent a lot of time chatting and getting to know each other! I also have a sister that is my age and a little brother who is my host mom’s grandson. And last but not least, I finally have the dog I always wanted..Barbie!

Last night I met a few of the other international students who came from different areas of the US – Arizona, Connecticut, and Massachusetts so far! They were all super friendly, but I can already see that it will be hard to practice Spanish around them! The temptation to speak English is too great!

Fun fact: I thought I would be away from reality TV, but when I woke up this morning Jersey Shore was on!

Here is my afternoon snack: coffee with “una torta” which is like a light pound cake.

 - Kine Camara