Saturday was a very touristy day for our group. We left JHC at about eight in the morning and headed for the Masaya Volcano - an active volcano here in Nicaragua. Smoke constantly comes out of the top and we were told that from the side of the crater opening that we are not allowed to walk to you can see lava inside the crater. I had visited Masaya Volcano last time I was here, but I don't think I appreciated it then like I did yesterday. Sarah, a member of JHC, told us a story about how the volcano keeps her humble and focused when she is doing the kind of work that they do here at JHC. The last time the volcano erupted it spread out very, very far and we could see the line between where the lava ended (which was covered in big volcanic rocks) and where the lava did not reach (which is green and still has houses and buildings). The distance that the rock traveled, both being thrown out of the volcano and melted into lava that flowed out, is astonishing. Sarah told us that when she thinks about the kind of power and force it takes to make that happen she is reminded that she is not in control. This is important when you consider the kind of work she does where the end goal is enormous. She commented that the power of the volcano reminds her that it is not her job to fix everything but that she simply must continue to chip away at the problem and continue to fight. The whole analogy is perhaps too difficult for me to convey in my own words but the feeling behind her analogy makes me feel better about my own goals when I do work both with the Bucknell Brigade and other organizations.
After Masaya volcano, we traveled to the shop of Pedro Guerrero, one of the most famous potters in Nicaragua. He spun a wheel for us, which he does with no electricity and completely on his own. He also talked more about the work he does with pottery. One thing I was particularly impressed with was how few tools he has to make the beautiful things he makes. This is how most of the artists here in Nicaragua work and it makes me appreciate even more their artwork.
After visiting Pedro, we ate lunch at an outdoor restaurant with an amazing view of the Laguna de Apoyo, a dormant volcano crater filled with water. We swam in Laguna later in the day and it is amazingly beautiful. Eating at the restaurant, however, was uncomfortable for me. We were surrounded by people and dogs that were eyeing our food and it was hard to eat and not feel a certain sense of guilt.
The incident that really hit hard was when I noticed a younger boy, probably nine or 10 years old, who was sitting off to the side. When one of the waiters would clear a plate from the table that still had food on it the boy would whistle to the waiter and gesture for him to bring the plate over. The waiter never did but watching this boy do this the entire time we ate was heartbreaking.
After lunch, we spent about two hours swimming and then headed to the market to do some shopping. I really enjoy the market we go to because the actual artists are often in the shops and you can meet them and feel confident that they are receiving a fair price for their product instead of being exploited by numerous middlemen.
We returned to JHC for dinner and then headed back out to attend a "discoteca" for the evening. It was a lot of fun and almost everyone really showed off their dance moves on the floor! It was nice to have a nice outing where everyone could let loose a little, especially for me after several very emotionally trying days.
