what it means to live as a Nicaraguan Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We didn't complete any specific assignments prior to leaving for the trip, but we would have daily sessions where the professors would discuss the science behind the trip for the next day. For example, the geology professor displayed a map and discussed the reason for the high volcanic activity in the region prior to our hike on Volcano Maderas. Although it may not have been as rigorous as other courses I have taken, it was just as (if not more) informative because learning about the world while you are standing in the area is a more memorable and direct approach to learning.

On-site administration of your program

There was very good communication at every point along the trip, as well as an in-depth informational meeting on the first night in Las Penitas about the culture we would encounter in the country.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The first location I stayed in was an Airbnb on the beach in Las Penitas, and it was amazing. For the first time in my life, I was able to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean, and we were able to safely analyze the nocturnal animals that lived on the beach. On Ometepe Island, we stayed in a hostel that allowed me to meet and interact with people of all different cultures outside of our group, and it was incredible. The name of our final location translates to "Hotel Paradise", and it does not disappoint. It was located in a caldera, by the clearest lake I have ever seen in my entire life. We would dive to the point where the pressure began to affect our ears and anyone at the surface could still see us. It was incredible.

I never encountered any food that I could not finish. There were some unique dishes, like an entire fried fish on a plate (head included, but I was able to eat and enjoy every meal. I didn't suffer any ill effects from any food either.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Having very little knowledge of Spanish, it was very difficult for me to interact with the locals. I relied on the other students who could speak to translate for me. But I never felt excluded from the culture either. With their broken English, and my very broken Spanish, I was able to communicate enough to solve the task at hand. The locals welcomed us into their world, allowing us to see what it means to live as a Nicaraguan.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not encounter their heathcare system at all. There was the knowledge of the Zika virus, but there was not an active outbreak of the virus, so we were just told to be cautious with mosquitoes. I only needed to renew my tetanus vaccine prior to leaving, but that was only because I had elapsed personally on the shot.

When we visited the major cities, like Leon and Grenada, I became more apprehensive of my surroundings, as is typical for travel in any major city, but we didn't have any incidents. We traveled as a group and always did a head count before moving to make sure no one was left behind. I would just recommend to be smart in the major cities, and be aware of your surroundings.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

There were options for each budget, especially when it came to meals. I splurged on the food, because I feel food is one of the best ways to connect to a culture, and I spent an average of $7-8/meal, and that was commonly the highest price range of the menu.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The leadership encouraged attempting to learn the language, but neither professor knew Spanish either, so there was a strong dependence on the translators to assist us all.

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• Hostel

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