Week Three: Selva Negra

We spent and amazing weekend in the jungle of Selva Negra.  The air is cool and fresh, quite the contrast from the dust and scorching heat of El Tololar.  Monica was fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of one of the worlds’ rarer birds, the Quetzal.  The hike to the summit of the mountain adjacent to our Ecolodge were somewhat difficult, but filled with lush, green foliage, bird songs and the eerie sounds of howler monkeys.  This getaway was well-worth 2.5 hours we spent standing on an over-crowded bus to get there.

View of the mountain from the lake



Elliot (can you find him? ) and a giant tree

Hot afternoons 

After visiting a few homes with questionnaires for our breastfeeding project, we were extremely overheated from walking around the village and then walking home.  Cold showers feel amazing at this time of day and no bee stings today!  As I got ready to do some laundry, I thought about how everyone should really thank their washing machines each time they are used.

 I spent 1.5 hours washing a pair of pants and a pile of socks.  My neighbor came by laughing and noting that I was slowly learning to wash Nica-style.  Another neighbor, Paula, who also works at the clinic, finished all of the family’s laundry in not much more time than this.  I find myself thinking of my mother and how she grew up in Slovakia washing her clothes the same way and it made me feel more at home. 

A cashew fruit tree

Adolescent photo project, success!!!

The photos that the six teen-agers took for quest to understand identity development and community amongst adolescents in rural Nicaragua was a success.  The photographs are stunning and our group of 6 students were inspiring and very talented individuals.  We hope to present their work at this years Family Medicine Global Health Conference and continue to work with young Nicaraguans in the future.