Arriving at 9:00 Am, Mategalpa tours took us in a van up to the cloud forest 40 minutes away. Our guide walked us through the lush forest full of insects, and birds we never saw but heard because of the thick canopy shading us from the world above. Every animal camouflaged in their own unique way, every organism coinciding with the habitat surrounding them. We then took some silent time as we walked together to connect with the nature and notice everything you miss, when your focus is elsewhere. Once back in town we were granted free time to explore with friends, purchase snacks etc.
Next morning we were up bright and early for the first day of school. 8-12 we studied all in separate groups of 2-5 students, depending on the level of Spanish each of us are at. Afterwards we headed to an Italian lunch for Brittany’s birthday and spent a good time together once again in a new surrounding. At night we walked to UNAN University and talked one on one to locals studying English and participated in a few activities brought from them to us and vice versa. Soma then performed a short rap for the class and then we bid our fair wells.
Our third day in Matagalpa, we had class again in the morning, headed back to our home stays for lunch, then had a few hours for internet use, shopping, and relaxation. After, we then had a cooking class from 3-4 with two of the teachers from the school. The group made enchiladas which consisted of hand made fried tortillas, freshly mixed salsa, bean sauce and pinol (corn, chocolate, water and sugar). It was a good snack between lunch and dinner.
Wednesday came in a rush; four hours of school followed by a walked with 8 of us (the rest stayed back to rest) to the top of a mountain close by the city. As we walked up the mountain it started to rain hard. We kept our hoods up, feet grounded and kept going, crossing two rivers in the process over rushing water with a mental rope and slippery stones. Once we made it to the top, the view was covered with fog, but it was still a great feeling. We then snacked and headed back towards town, 7 kilometers in total. By the end we were soaked head to toe and our raincoats were no longer of use!
Thursday, a.k.a Katie’s birthday, we had our daily dose of school along with a few sweets here and there in honor of Katie! In the afternoon the group ventured about 15 minutes from to the school to a small location called La Escuela de la Hormiguitas. It is a school provided for the children who live on the street and are unable to easily go to school. When we first arrived, the kids were making bracelets, as well as playing various games. We then played a small soccer game, us against them in a small court area. Everyone had such a great time playing and mingling together. It was a great day filled with celebration and fun!
Our last day of classes came around very fast with our active previous days. Some of us went to a cemetery for a few hours of class. There we learned about some history of Nicaragua and their traditions about death. We addressed differences and similarities between the U.S. and Nicaragua in burials, masses, and beliefs. Following class, the group had a dance class in the afternoon. To start off the class, the group was surprised by a dance presentation from a Las Hormiguitas. They danced marengue and salsa for us, then we learned a few moves for later on. At night we went to salsa night at a restaurant next to the school.
To start out weekend, the group packed up, and got ready for trekking. We hiked for 4 1/2 hours, stopping for snacks along the way. We then came to a local house and farm to be served a delicious lunch of chicken, tortillas, beans, rice and vegetables. After, we were taken on a tour around the farm and informed about the various flowers being grown for Day of the Dead, how to extract sugar water from sugar cane, and how to utilize dirty water in the process of growing plants. After lunch, we left to set up camp in a nearby campground surrounded by coffee farms. Our two guides then cooked us pasta for dinner, then we headed off to bed in our tents.
Sunday morning came bright and early. We rose at 7, had breakfast (once again cooked by our guides), then packed up camp. We left the camp supplies to be later picked up, then started to hike once again. Mainly downhill, we hiked, stopping to play frisbee along the way. At the end of our hike down, a van picked us up and drive us to the waterfall, Cascada Blanca. We had lunch in a restaurant adjacent to the waterfall, then swam in it! As our week has concluded, we are about halfway through the trip and excited for the upcoming weeks to come.
-Brynn & Soma
