Candice Hinckley Archives

One week from tomorrow I will be in Nicaragua! I can't believe that the time has finally arrived. For the last six months, Nicaragua has occupied my thoughts and my energies, and most of my correspondences as well, perhaps to the chagrin of my family and friends who would like to hear about the rest of my life.

It's been a long 36 hours. We left BU early on Friday afternoon, so most of us got up and around very early that day. A bus took us to Philadelphia for an evening flight. We landed in Miami and, by the time we arrived at the hotel, it was nearly midnight. Up again for an early flight to Managua, and we made it to the Jubilee House compound just in time for lunch.

Spent most of the day meeting the staff and learning about their work here.

This morning, we all piled on the bus again and got a tour of Ciudad Sandino and Nueva Vida. It was mostly a drive-through because it is too dangerous to get out and walk around. Some of us feel torn about taking pictures. On one hand, we want you to see what we are seeing in order to understand the depth and breadth of poverty, and the need for everyone to help in his or her own way. But the people lingering in the doorways and picking through garbage in the dump are not photo ops. They are our fellow human beings who have lost much hope and most of their dignity. It seems intrusively rude to stick cameras in their faces. But document it we must. So, we try to do that with respect and sensitivity.

We just returned from a day at the clinic and most folks are in the pool cooling off. I went straight to the shower! Can't believe how incredibly sweaty and dirty I get down here. The wind blows most of the time, and it kicks up so much dust that my mouth feels gritty and my nose is full 24-7.

I have never been this dirty in my life, and I consider this effort to be covered from head to toe in filth a personal best!

I said in my last blog that we were taking a trip tomorrow, but that is today because I typed my entry yesterday, which was at that time today. Got it? So, this time I mean it for real when I say that we are taking a trip tomorrow to El Porvenir, the coffee co-op, where we will meet the CEO - the president of the co-op - do a little hiking, maybe buy some great organic coffee, though I don't know for sure that they sell any there. These cordobas are burning a hole in my pocket, let me tell you!

Well, this morning, my immune system threw up, if you will pardon the expression ... and I had to miss the morning activities while I regained my equilibrium. So, everyone piled onto the bus to head for the clinic and I hit the sack...

It is early Saturday morning. Breakfast will come along in about half an hour, then we do a group photo, pile on the bus, and start the long journey home. It is long in every sense of the word. Not only are our blogs unable to capture the experience for you, be prepared for looks of consternation and bafflement when you see us in person and ask, "How was it?"