Feliz Vacaciones

"When I was a little one

I would stay by your side

Walkin’ in your shadow, close behind.

And you would tell me all about the mystery

You said you’d always be shining in that sky.

Mother mMoon, do you see, the sky is changing

Getting brighter all the time

And I wish that we could stay this way

But I am bound for the sunrise."-Daisy May

kiddos in granada

I've first-handedly experienced a Nicaraguan field trip, and I am never going back to United States standards again.  The entire secondary school (about 60 people) went to Granada for a day trip as their last day of school before their two-month vacation.  I was lucky enough to come!  Allow me to list off all of the things that wouldn't fly back home that made this trip what it was:

1. The vamped up rented school bus with a speaker system that made you forget entirely that the bus originated from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (I have this idea that when the buses come down to Nicaragua to be used as public transportation, the first thing they do is put in a speaker system and say to themselves, "those kids must have been so bored getting to school everyday!")

2.  All 'safety' standards aside, we packed the bus three to a seat and even brought in a wooden bench so people in the aisle can have a seat.

3.  A trip where one spends more time on the bus than outside of it probably wouldn't count as "valuable usage of time."  Yes I see it as uncomfortable and odd and cramped... but it was ever worth it.

4. There was never any counting system, so I am still praying that everyone made it back safely, and that no kid is still wandering around the Managua zoo.

5.  I am certain that parents would be making a lot of phone calls if they knew we had to walk part of the way home (more on this one later).

this bus- so unbelievably full

We truly did spend a lot of time on the bus.  But it loved it (mostly).  It was five hours to Granada, and once we got there we took, of course, a bus tour throughout the city.  We stopped at the lake, got out, walked around, got back in.  We stopped at the park, got out, walked around, got back in.  We did, however, take out some lanchas (small, flat boats) around the isletas (little islands).  I have never seen a more excited group of kids- everyone was thrilled to be on a boat, on the water, in the sun.  It was a beautiful sight- three boats filled with kids cheering and whooping and tracing the waves with their fingers.  Beautiful, that is, until the last turn into the dock brought in a heap of water into my lap...of course it happened to no one else.

On our way out of the city we went to the Managua zoo- not quite sure how I felt about the white-tailed deer exhibit, the very overweight jaguar, or the dead, skinned baby cows the tigers were munching on for lunch, but I do know that the kids loved it.  They were looking for me everywhere, grabbing my hand- "have you seen the tigers? What about the buffalo?  Come see this!"

The dance party continued on the bus all night long, despite people's lack of energy, water, and patience.  The music kept playing while at one point (to stay awake), I leaned my head out the window- the full moon was beaming down on us as the stars made their way through the clouds.  I was thinking how beautiful that light was, shining down on the yellow piece of metal rolling down the road.  I didn't know how thankful I really should have been at that time.

Around 9 o'clock, we were almost to Achuapa (about 5 km from Lagartillo) when we literally couldn't go any further.  They were doing road construction and there was no way around.  We were told we either sleep on the bus until 6am or walk.  We walked.  No complaints, either.  Everyone gathered their things and followed the moon into Achuapa.  Once there, we refilled on water and a bit of food.  I had fallen asleep on the sidewalk (I knew I brought my copy of 'The Brother's K' not to read while on the bus but to use as a pillow!) when we decided to make the walk all the way up to Lagartillo (mostly uphill).  We left around 11, all 60+ of us.  Girls were wearing flimsy sandals, some were still dehydrated, while others wanted to run.  The moon shone down on us and lead the way while we each made the trek back home.  Most field trips don't end with a midnight walk home, but be that as it may, no one complained.  Everyone just walked and keep each other company with conversation and more singing.  It was absolutely beautiful.

We reached the impalme (intersection of our road and the main road) just over an hour later.  With everyone exhausted and my ability to speak Spanish quickly diminishing, we all crashed to the ground.  We all watched the stars, breathed in and out, and waited for everyone to reach the top before we hiked it in to Lagartillo.  On this day, everyone was wearing white shirts (it's easier to travel in groups when everyone is wearing the same color-smart thinking).  As I looked around, everyone was glowing from the reflection of the moon. 

Something was in that moon that night- something that gave us all what we needed to make it home.  We were all beaming in our exhaustion, knowing that no road construction could ruin our day.  Kids were still talking about the lanchas, the zoo, the water.  And as we made the final walk into town, one kid muttered with a smile, "Feliz Vacacciones."  Indeed.