I’ll never forget watching my first group of photo students in Solentiname walk away from me to shoot some of their first pictures. I was standing inside of the poorly lit classroom with a massive smile on my face – I could hardly contain my happiness – and reminded them one las[...]
Archive for the ‘Nicaragua’ Category
March 5th, 2010 - 2:33 pm § in Around Town, Nicaragua
I’m on a Boat: Joys and Sorrows of Pangas
A panga boat ride is similar to when your best friend takes dad’s Porsche out for a spin: fast, unnerving, uproariously fun with fist-clenching close calls. This is the Caribbean Coast’s main mode of transportation, and how blueEnergy can access our communities. Our two-hour panga ride on a rece[...]
“Can you help me with my homework?”
Three nights ago, while I was relaxing on the porch outside of my room, I received a surprise visit from a young man who I had met on several occasions but never actually spoken with. Without telling me why, he asked me if I could follow him. Naturally, I agreed. He led me to another young [...][...]
When Microenergy and Microfinance Meet
Part of my role at blueEnergy is to manage our two loans through our local microfinance institution. Who would have thought a portfolio of a little over $1,200 would be so challenging? Earlier in 2009, blueEnergy received funds to subsidize individual solar systems for two communities: Set Net Point[...]
February 10th, 2010 - 5:40 pm § in Around Town, Nicaragua
Taking Your Time
Before I came to Solentiname, Nicaragua I was determined to arrive and get to work immediately. I imagined riding up to the remote archipelago in a long, thin wooden boat where children and families eagerly awaited my arrival. I would jump out of the boat, introduce myself with a smile, a handshake,[...]
February 4th, 2010 - 12:05 pm § in Doing, Looking, Nicaragua, Nonprofit Spotlight, Tips & Resources, Volunteer
The Experience: Enjoying Your Time as a Volunteer
When I made the decision to leave everything that was familiar at home and work abroad, I knew that having a strong, supportive and exciting group of volunteers to work with would help ease the unfamiliar surroundings. Some people look to be alone, others want a base and the rest want something in b[...]
How I Came to Be a Volunteer
I’d like to be straightforward with you from the very beginning and tell you that I’m no volunteering expert. In fact, I’m quite the novice. I’ve only volunteered once before and that was for one week during my freshman year of college. I had an incredible experience and left intending to do[...]
Nica is Cash Only
Foreigners who are accustomed to traveling abroad know that developing countries are cash-based societies. Even European vendors frequently reject plastic in favor of paper. As the Controller for blueEnergy Group, a renewable energy NGO based on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, I’ve come to reali[...]
