After a two day coach journey, we finally arrived in the community, El Terrero in Nicaragua immediately we were paired off and sent with our host families. We have been made to feel very welcome, and on the first evening we were all invited to a ‘fiesta’ in aid of us! We danced the night away with the young people of the community! Well… until our bedtime of 8pm!
The following day we began work, and have been working each day since. We are completing a Community centre that is situated next to the school.
Zulu Ten, and the new community centre
We also have another project which is a half hour bus-ride away in an even smaller community, named Las Palmas. Here, we are helping the people complete their museum; that was built in memory of the famous poet Leonel Rugama who was killed in 1960 by the National Guard.
Luckily, each day the weather has been hot but with a cool breeze so rock lifting, making cement, digging and transporting soil has been productive. One day whilst we were working, all the children from the school came out and gathered around a tree. A piñata was hung and the games began!
.jpg)
Leading up to Easter there are a number of religious ceremonies taking place. So far, we have walked alongside a religious procession through the village ending up in the Church. The people singing and praying the whole way. There as also been Palm Sunday where the Church was filled with Palm leaves.
Despite this busy first week we have found time to swim in a nearby rock pool, watch a local baseball match and witness the incredible sunsets at a certain place we’ve nick-named ‘Pride Rock’! This overlooks the whole valley. All in all a fantastic first week.
The sunset view from Pride Rock
Tomorrow: we check in with Zulu Eight to find out about our brand new Environmental Project in El Cebollal
hannah johns zulu3. Hi Han. How're the blisters? Easter Bunny's brought loads of chocolate. If you walk fast there may be some left! loads of love. Dad, plus M&B, A&J
ReplyDeleteTo Isabel Pahud de Mortanges Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteLieve Bella,
Verwarring... je staat ingedeeld bij een andere groep samen met Samuel en nu zie ik je op de foto met een groep in Nicaragua!!Veel plezier de komende paasdagen met jullie kleine trektocht.Wij gaan morgen naar de Matthaus Passion in Leiden met Pim en Karin en het weekend naar Dalfsen waar oma Bila ook komt logeren. Pap hoopt paard te kunnen rijden en mist je hulp met Marco en Jerke. Lieverd, je laatste week gaat beginnen, heel veel plezier en volgend weekend hopen we met je te kunnen bellen.
Dikke zoen mam en pap xxx
Michaela Turton Zulu 2
ReplyDeleteHi Micky
How's the trek going and how are your feet bearing up? Keep plodding on and on and on!!!
Dad and Carl in London tonight to see Tangerine Dream in concert.
Hot cross buns ready for tomorrow, looking forward to having 4 days off. Going Easter egg hunting tomorrow and i won't forget to get you one, only hope it's still here waiting for you when you get back !!!!
Dan settled down well in his new job and seems to be enjoying it.
HAPPY EASTER MICKY
Love Mum,Dad,Carl and Daniel
For Sophia Carr-Gomm Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteHey Darling!
Lovely to see you up here and to read your report! Charlie wrote a long post to you but computer wiped it by mistake. Looks like you're having a ball. We all miss you and can't wait to see you!! Loads of love from us all,
Dad & Mum xxx
To Nathan Denne Zulu 8
ReplyDelete16 sleeps to go!!! Not that I'm counting of course ; )
Hope you're enjoying your time up in Nicaragua and still enjoying the rice and beans. Please please please don't come back too tanned as I'll be v jealous - it's been raining over here loads and even snowing in some parts!
So here's my past week or so in brief: I've finally found a dress for James' wedding so the hunt for accessories is on, applied for accommodation and am v scared about the insane cost of a room in the south, been deaf in both ears for about a week but better now (lol no joke I actually couldn't hear a thing!), watched my stash of chocolate easter eggs grow (I'm sure you'll help me eat them all), read Engleby which I found slightly odd, done a bit of work on the old scrap book, and worked v v hard as per usual at the hospital. Oh and by the way I still haven't played on SMB, I'm waiting for you to come home because it's easier then! It's now easter weekend so that means 4 days off work : ) <---- happy Lauren! Going to Alton Towers on Saturday and planning to max and relax for the rest.
Hope you're still having a fantastic time. OJ, miss you, can't wait to see you at Heathrow!
Lauren xxxx
Roxsari Quesada Zulu 9. Hola Roxs! Espero que la esté pasando demasiado bien por allá con Luis, Santos y todos los otros guaymíes (que son demasiado tuanis, por cierto). ¿Cómo va esa escuela? ¿Y qué tal el inglés? Mándele saludos a todo el mundo por allá (especialmente a Santos, Luis y familia, porfa). Disfrute cada momento al máximo y nos vemos muy pronto en Wash up!
ReplyDeleteDaniela Flores Zulu 6. Dani, ¿cómo está? Fijo la está pasando súper bien allá en Golfito. Se ve demasiado tuanis! Por acá la vida va bien, pero no es tan divertido sin atún y polvo de galleta para el almuerzo :P Diviértase demasiado y trabaje duro y me cuenta todo lo que hicieron cuando nos veamos en Wash up! Un abrazo, Sebas
ReplyDeleteClare Davey Zulu 1
ReplyDeleteHi darling, Happy easter to you. I hope your enjoying your trek and your feet are not too blistered! It is Good Friday today. nana is here and we are going to St Eds at 3pm and back to Paul and Sians for hot x buns. Tomorrow we are off to Kevs till monday. We will be thinking of you and look forward to seeing you in less than 3 weeks time. Enjoy the remainder of this wonderful adventure.
Love u lots Mum nana George dan and paul xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sophia Carr-Gomm - Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteHi honey, so great to see the photos and hear your voice via the blog. So you're in the construction business now! Is there no end to your talents!
You will be glad to know that when I got back from Barbados I was so suntanned that I was a darker colour than Harley, but after 2 weeks in the wet windy and cold Sussex climate it's all peeling off. Rats.
We are all missing you like mad - it has been sooooo long! really looking forward to you coming home.
Anita, Nick and Corinne are here at the moment, and Anna, Josh and the littlies are coming over for the annual easter egg hunt on Sunday. We finally dismantled the yurt - it had actually died, totally beyond repair - but the wooden base left in the garden would make a great stage! How is your spanish doing? hopefully you have been getting loads of practice with your host family.
Well done for completing the coast to coast - what an epic journey - you must have all been incredibly proud of yourselves. Love you to bits my sweet, and hopefully we might get a skype when you get back to base camp
All my love Mum xxxxxxxxx
Anna Dawson Zulu 9
ReplyDeleteHi darling hope this get to you on time to wish you a lovely birthday on the 11th April. I hope you have a great day, you will have finished your time in Costa Rica and all your projects. I know it will have fulfilled everything you wished. Enjoy the rest of your time on your travels, I will be thinking of you.
We got back to Leeds late last night, Mum Tash and Becky have gone to York until Sunday to spend time with Ing and family.
Take care love end enjoy your time with all your new friends.
All my love
Grandma xxxx
Hi Nins
ReplyDeleteNitin Rishi Zulu 10
Seems you are enjoying it. Must be a lot of fun.
Smile in the photographs.We all miss you . Take care Pa
Nitin Rishi - Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteHey Nitin, sounds like this phase has been good too. Uve had a good expedition. Went to cape cod this weekend - was pretty nice. Last few weekends left - six flags on sat (finally! fingers crossed), then DC the weekend after then Ma coming.
Enjoy the last stretch!
Parthiv
Nitin Rishi Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteHi darling
Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying your time in Nicaragua. There has hardly been any news from your group so really looking forward to hearing from you soon. All is well at home. Not long to go before the end of your time with raleigh. You will miss being with all your friends but enjoy your travelling. Hope phone works. Naani sent lots of love to you.
Love you,
Ma xxx
Sophia Carr-Gomm Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteHi Soph, so nice to finally see you on here:)and to see your having such a wicked time, Im missing you too and cant wait to catch up and hear all your stories when you get back:) Im coming back for the whole of July so you can meet Jasmine then, she is getting bigger and stronger by the day and she cant wait to meet her cousin too!!The weather here is nice and sunny and Im glad the winter is finally over:)Loadsa love and hugz and see you soon luv Marianna xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To Natalya Chapman, Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteNataloushkita, j'espere que Paques s'est bien passe avec ta famille de Raleigh et Nicaraguaienne! Super d'avoir enfin des nouvelles de ton projet - cela semble avoir ete une experience sensationnelle, comme les 2 autres! Je ne peux pas croire que vous n'avez plus que quelques jours avant la fin de votre sejour - quelle tristesse d'arriver a la fin! Avec un peu de chance, il y aura encore pas mal d'occasions pour etre avec tes amis avant le retour pour certains. J'attends le week end avec impatience simplement pour avoir l'opportunite de te parler! Tu nous manques mais c'est supportable parce que tu t'amuses bien! Bisous et gros calins, Mamanxxxxxxxxxxx
To Nitin Rishi, Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteHi darling
Just got back from a short trip to India. Got to spend a week with naani. Kept meaning to show her your Raleigh blog but you know her... technology and she aren't exactly a magnetic attraction! She sends her love and misses hearing your voice. India was hot - I spent a few days in Bombay. Saw Gyaan aunty and she was telling me about your visit to her. As always, chocolate ice cream and choc. cake were on the menu! I spent a night with her and Nanna maasi. Boston is getting Spring-ish. My irises are peeking out as are my lilies. The herb garden is yet to venture out - I guess it needs to be quite warm for that. From the sounds of it, your Raleigh time is coming to a close. How quickly it seems to have gone by - and then you'll be gallivanting around the continent. Lucky chap. Hopefully then you can stay in touch more thru email etc. I owe you another letter. Will it get to you before you leave? Love you lots. Maasi
To Natalya Chapman, Zulu 10
ReplyDeleteNataloush, voici mon dernier blog sur Raleigh - a partir de maintenant emails vont etre de rigueur pendant tes voyages! Aujourd'hui devrait etre votre depart pour "field base" - j'imagine que vous devez tous vous sentir tres triste d'avoir a dire au revoir a vos familles et nouveaux amis... Avez-vous reussi a terminer le centre communautaire et le musee? Xiqueta meua, estic molt orgullosa de lo que habeu fet pa eixeis persones! Te vulc un munto, y tu, me volx?! J'espere que votre long voyage de retour se passe tres bien et, des que tu peux, un petit coup de fil sera tres attendu! Ce week-end on est a la maison, rien de prevu!
Millions de calins et bisous, Mamanxxxxxx
To Natalya Chapman, Zulu 10.
ReplyDeleteOH!! MUFASA!! How's it going? Alright? Sooooo i wrote you a mammoth blog and then it frigging deleted itself cos of signal so THAT'S annoying!!!!! Are you back at Fieldbase right about now? Hope the journey back was ok and you didn't suffer from severe car-sickness!!!!! :O) Must be having your partaaaaay tonight? Hope it's epic. Don't be tooooooo sad in the next few days, this is only the beginning of all the good stuff....just think how much travelling you'll still be doing all together. Alpha 4 reunion is on the cards, no?
Doinig some diss work, it's due in just under a month.....eek! So scared, trying not to panic. Although, still have time to go to le cine tonight, see a bit of Clash of the Titans!! heh heh so proud of you, Natty, i hope it's been amazing. Apparently Whitter's has cancelled two dates so hoping she won't cancel London-town!
Missing my baby sister so much, dreamt about you the other day...agh!!!!! Can't wait to speak soon, Te Quiero!!!!!! Keep safe, Besos, Wabby
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx