Nicaragua! Part One (the Journey to Matagalpa)

About 10 days ago, I arrived home from Nicaragua. The trip was incredible. I made countless memories. I want to share on my blog about my experience there, but I have so much to say I'm gonna split it into a few different parts.

Nicaragua! ~Part One~

The Journey to Matagalpa

I left Charlotte, NC sometime in the afternoon on July 17th. After a 3 hour layover in Miami (and some entertaining rides on the SkyTrain) I met up with other Ultimate Workout kids. I instantly made connections with some of them, and we were fast friends. After clearing customs and getting through the passport checks in Managua, Nicaragua, we were greeted very loudly and enthusiastically by other UW's. By now, it's nightime and we were all exhausted and very hungry. Finally, a group of us loaded up on an old school-bus (the favorite Nicaraguan form of transportation) and started the trek to a SDA school, where we spent the night. We had out first taste of Nicaraguan bus driving, which we would all come to love and actually prefer to safe, boring American driving. We arrived at the school, which was off of a crazy dirt road (we ran over a chicken on the way...) and settled in for the night. It was hot as all get out, and huge moths and other large bugs terrorized some of the girls. Screams were heard throughout the building, and the boys tried to heroically kill/catch/destroy the bugs without much success. The next morning, after a dubious breakfast, our group loaded up on a sketchy bus (there were pictures of the Twin Towers blowing up and Osama bin Laden smiling down from heaven on the back...) and got stuck in the driveway for about 20 minutes. The bus was overloaded and bottomed out. Not a good way to start out the trip, but it was pretty indicative of the way it was gonna be the rest of the way. The bus ride was only supposed to be 3 hours long. ("Supposed" to be) Within moments, a heated discussion was under way as we all argued about which was better: USA or Canada. That remained a hot-topic for the entirety of the trip. Anytime there was a moment of silence, somebody would bring up the odd Canadian accents, or the funny southern accents, American ingenuity vs. Canadian ingenuity, Oh Canada vs. Star Spangled Banner. Football vs. Hockey. ect. ect. (All I can say is "I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free!!!")
The bus broke down about 2 hours into the trip. We were stranded at a restaurant in the middle of nowhere for 5 hours. (It was a rather odd place..drug paraphernalia was scattered on the ground) It was a bonding experience! We found ways to entertain ourselves and all got to know each other. Finally, after the bus was fixed we loaded back up and continued on to Matagalpa, our destination. Once again, that's easier said than done. Along the way, we passed beautiful, lush, green countryside. Soon, if began to rain for the second time that day and we all got a little worried. To get to the school where we'd be staying, the bus would have to ford a river. We reached the river, and lo and behold it was too deep for the bus to cross. After and hour of waiting (During that time I traipsed around the woods looking for a place to use the bathroom) our luggage was brought over in a pick-up truck, and a lot got soaking wet. Next, all 30 of us crowded into the same pick-up tuck (at once) and we were all transported up the river to the our final  location. Bonding experience. We all were thankful to God that we made it to Matagalpa in one piece. haha

Getting ready to load up!

As I said, the bus was rather sketchy.

Typical Nicaraguan countryside.

Hangin' out for 4 hours in the while the bus was repaired.

The river our bus couldn't cross and drive up.

The front of our unique bus.

30 people in the back of one pick up? Oh yes. We are MATAGALPA!