Packing & Advice For your trip to Nicaragua
Clothing: It will be hot. Cotton clothes are most comfortable. You don’t have to pack a change of clothes for each day. At your Nicaraguan home, they will do your laundry and will keep your clothing very clean.
Work clothes: Long pants, cotton shirts, comfy dresses, T-shirts, comfortable shoes, cotton socks, sunhat or caps (just think of comfy clothing during your summer at home). You may wear shorts if you wish.
Clothes for other occasions: Lightweight slacks or skirts, shirts and blouses, bathing suit, flip flops. As you are traveling during the rainy season (May through November), bring a poncho and/or buy locally an umbrella. Don’t forget your sleepwear!
Special equipment: Flashlight and extra batteries (sometimes the power might go out), camera, sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, and carrying your laptop is really up to you. If you are a light sleeper, bring a pair of earplugs. At night and early morning, in the city of Granada, dogs might bark, you might hear buses start running early, and you could be awaken by the noise of the traditional gunpowder of religious celebrations, and the magical sound of bells from the churches (your rooms will not have any A/C, you will have fans).
Bedding: the homes in which you will stay will provide pillows, and sheets, but you might feel more comfortable carrying your own pillows (this is really up to you). Your home will provide you with towels, but you might be glad if you brought your own, especially for your weekend trips to the volcanic lake (Laguna de Apoyo) and to the Lake Cocibolca, and when you or the group goes to a beach for swimming. Bring your own washcloth.
Water: you might bring your own water bottle. Remember that purified water will be available at all times at your Nicaraguan home. And/or purchase water bottles at any of the local stores or supermarket. Avoid drinking tap water.
Food: we make sure that the meals eaten at your homes are prepared under healthy conditions and include vegetables. In your diet, rice, beans, meat, chicken and some vegetables will be part of your daily meals. If you drink tea, you might want to bring a supply of teabags or purchase them at a local supermarket. Some participants might be interested in bringing their favorite quick snacks: granola bars, trail mix, peanut butter, etc.
Medications, health precautions: Bring all prescription medication you may need. If you are sensitive to insect bites, bring your prescription "bee sting kit." Bring whatever over-the-counter medications you might want (Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, etc), although, most of these are available at any local pharmacy. We also recommend that you obtain and bring a prescription intestinal antibiotic such as Septra or Bactrim, in case, despite all precautions, you have an encounter with Nicaraguan microbes. You should consider getting all your shots up to date. We strongly recommend that you visit an international travel clinic if there is one near you. Ask your doctor or the travel clinic about any preventive measures. We also recommend that you bring a little bottle of antibacterial hand sanitizer, available in drug stores in the U.S., to carry in your purse or daypack at all times. There will be a first aid kit with us here in Granada. We will take every precaution to keep you healthy, and our staff will ensure that you receive medical attention promptly if you should need it while you are in Nicaragua.
Money belt: Like all countries, Nicaragua does not escape from having some thieves. We recommend a money belt, which you can tie around your waist under your clothes and zips shut. Funny packs are not recommended as they are very vulnerable to being snatched. Although credit cards can be widely used, we recommend that you bring your basic spending money in cash, in bills no larger than $50 or $20. We will show you the banks where they can assist you in changing dollars to cordobas whenever you need to do so (although dollars are accepted everywhere). Please do not bring Traveler’s Checks! They are useless in Nicaragua! There are a few ATMs in Granada, from which you can get cordobas with major US bank ATM cards (Visa debit card ATMs are more available than Mastercard).
Credit Cards: if you bring any credit cards, make sure you leave copies of your credit card numbers and telephones with your parents at home. You should have this information readily available in case you loose any of your credit cards during your trip.
Passports: upon your arrival to Nicaragua, every student will give their passports to the Visiting Professor of your University who will place all passports in a safety box during the entire trip. These will return to students on the day of their return to U.S.A. (this measure although optional, is highly recommended).
How to Pack?
1. Pack Light. We will all fit into a van with the luggage. Is it too heavy for you to carry? You might consider taking some of your stuff out.
2. Pack a good carry-on. Luggage may get lost. Think of what you most need if your suitcase didn't get there (medications, toothbrush, etc – no liquids or hazardous forbidden by airlines) until two or three days after you get there, then put all of that into your carry-on.
What Extra to Pack?
Do not carry any gifts for individuals at your community service locations. Although, as a work groups you might offer a gift of sports equipment such as a volleyball and net, or baseballs gloves and bats, a basketball, table games to the entire community group, and these gifts are very welcome and positive.
Can you bring school supplies? The answer is yes, and they will be very welcome, for those interested in working with children and orphans. School supplies are readily available for purchase in Nicaragua at less cost than in the U.S. For the most part, do not worry for any materials, we will allocate part of your paid fee to purchase them and help the local organizations where you will be working.
Advice during your Community Service:
Patience is key. Necessary while the student is trying to adapt to the culture and language. Students often have trouble adjusting to the casual work environment and a more relaxed concept of time. These early frustrations make many students feel like they want to move faster, but it is important that students are patient and give themselves time to adjust to their short-time and work environment.
Keep a positive attitude. It is also important to remember that the social, economic and environmental problems of Nicaragua are deep-rooted and not easily resolved. Some students may feel that they are not doing much to make a difference. Remember, the project you carry out will be based on your described skills and interest matching with those needed by the organization and will help to meet their overall goals. Every little bit helps, and what is left behind will have a long-lasting impact on the organization and their efforts. Often times the day-to-day sharing of ideas and experiences has a profound impact on the intern and the people that work in the organization. Keeping this in mind will help to maintain a positive attitude and to accomplish your goals and the goals of your host organization.
Be independent and take initiative. Our staff along with the organizations will provide continued support to the students throughout the Spanish Study Abroad Program experience and will work to help design a concrete project that can be carried out in your two (2) week program. Sometimes this project must be carried out with what seems to be little support from the host organization. Remember, this is not because your work is not valued by the host organization. Your work is important because you are contributing something that the organization itself does not have the time or resources to do. It is critical that students are able to work independently, are motivated, pro-active, have a positive attitude, work well with minimal supervision, and have a lot of initiative.
Advice during your FREE and FUN TIME:
Avoid walking alone especially at night time. Try to make local friends with whom you can practice your Spanish and when you go out, do it with your family or at least one or more friends. Families will have a restriction about the time to return at home every night, and on the socializing you can do (specifics will be given on your day of arrival). Please remember that you are representing UC, University Honors, and the United States at all times. Drinking and inappropriate partying (coming home late, drunk, etc.) are not tolerated by UC during this program. You are under the UC student code of conduct and could be sent home.
Avoid walking on the streets while counting money, talking on a cellular phone, or wearing expensive jewelry. All these are eye catching for small thieves.
Take good care of your laptop. LAPTOPS are not needed as there are plentiful of cybercafés around the city. But If you bring your computer, do not lend it to anyone. Do not leave it unattended anywhere you go. These are expensive and most Nicaraguans are not fortunate to own one.
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