DAY 1

We arrived in Nicaragua last night around 10:30, and didn't get to our hotel until about 1 am, so everyone was exhausted when we had to wake up at 6:30 this morning. Driving to Escuela Especial, and seeing Rivas in the daylight definitely woke me up. I was surprised by how many people were walking around, riding bikes, and outside of their houses starting their day at 7:30 on a Sunday. There were at least 10 stray dogs wandering the streets looking for food. Twice, I saw people riding on the street in a horse and buggy.
    The school is beautiful, with blue and white walls, mango and plantain trees, and an awesome garden. The principal, Juana, told us that ninety percent of the students lunches come from the garden. The garden is teaching the students how to be self sustainable later on. We met the principal and two of our translators who were super cool and nice. Juana was so happy to see us. She was smiling the entire time and you could see she was grateful for our help. When I was mopping a classroom the mop was falling off the stick a little, and I didn't notice, so Juana came up and gestured for me to hand it to her so she could fix it. She then showed me how to mop better by making longer stokes. She was so motherly and I was touched by how sweet and sincere she was.
    We got through the disgusting and pushed ourselves to work hard and accomplish cleaning the school for the students that deserve a clean school. I compared my school and typical school day and thought about their perspective. We could change their view on school through just one day of miserable cleaning. They will be so much more comfortable in a cleaner classroom.
    Seeing how welcoming and sweet the people in the school and even at our hotel are even when they live a less privileged lifestyle shows me that they are still happy and still have so much love.
    Looking at all the culture and surrounding, I am shocked. I knew it was going to be so different but imagining it is so much different from seeing it! Even with the crazy humid heat and constant scrubbing, today was a great first day. I have seen so much already. I am so excited to see what the rest of the trip will bring, starting with meeting the kids tomorrow! Tyra and I will be working in a classroom with students with cerebral palsy. We'll help keep the student's attention for the teacher. We will also teach the students with our lesson plans. Meeting the kids for the first time and building their trust will be so great and I am so excited!