Volunteering in Nicaragua!?

Question

I will be heading off to volunteer there for a month this July with a friend..we're both from vancouver, canada. we'll be working on community projects in poors parts of Granada. we think we sort of know what to expect, but we'll love to take any advice from the people who have been there. please share your experience and tips you think we should keep in mind.

thanks!

Answer 1

Wow ... I envy you that are going there to help people who really need help ( good envy ).

Try not to wear any fancy jewelry (including a watch). From what I know there are some part of Nica which is raining, so be prepare and take some shots so you won't catch any colds.

I know also that they were having trouble on the transportation so expect delays perhaps.

Do not over dress or wear nice clothes cuz they may think you are a rich person and may come after you. Some jeans  + a plain t-shirt and regular tennis shoes.

You will love it there. Granada + Leon are the most beautiful towns in Nica. Enjoy your trip and it the most of it.

Answer 2

I am from Nicaragua and although I would not consider Granada the poorest part of Nicaragua it is at least nice and safer than Masaya which is right next to it.  Granada is an old colonial town and filled or use to be filled (before Ortega took the presidency) with lots of tourists.  You will find many Americans and Europeans living there. Granada also has its own trouble - water.  Even though lake Cocibolca (with almost 400 islands) is right there, Granada does lacks constant running water and electricity like everywhere else goes out for hours at a time.  The climate will be very hot and you are going in the rainy season (May-November).  Bring lots of mosquito repelent and sleep with a net if possible.  Do not limit yourself to just Granada when time allowed make sure you visit places like Leon, visit the Ometepe islands and if you can afford and make it down to the Atlantic Coast make sure to visit Corn Island before you leave.  Stay away from drug runned Bluefields.  Also be prepare to see lots of children coming towards you begging including adults.  It is after all the poorest country in Western Hemisphere next to Haiti so the poverty is great and there aren't any government programs to feed the hungry.  They do not have a "welfare" system there.  So, do not take jewelry and dress very casual.  Try not to stand out and watch your back and where you go.  Do not go anywhere alone. Make sure you stay preferrably someone that knows the area well and the customs.  Nicaragua's people are very friendly and even though they experience lots of hardship they always carry a smile.  My parents live in Managua and I now live in the U.S.  I frequently visit there though.

Answer 3

The other answers you have are good. Be ready for some intese heat. DO NOT drink the water. Carry a back pack with toilet paper, wet wipes, anti-diarrea. Most public bathrooms will charge you to use the toilet. once inside you'll realize its an additional charge for TP. Be humble, act like you know where you are going. Don't carry too much money or wear any jewlery. I've been going to Mulukuku for the last 5 years. Spent alot of time in Managua. Small towns are much safer than the large ones. You'll find the people to be very friendly. You will also see that Everyone in the family contributes. 4 year old kids work for the family. make friends and they will welcome you into their houses with open arms. You'll never be the same when you return.

Answer 4

you could probably get some rain and let me say when it rains it POURS usually only for a couple minutes or so but maybe not probably more. Be careful if your around really dusty areas and you sence rain because sometimes they can change to a really really muddy mess and sometimes a muddy river as a flash flood... thats how my cousin died. just be prepared, you probably don't have anything to worry about. It will still be warm out too.

I know there was just a bad tropical storm there the other week with lots of floods.

here is a clip of masaya which is close to granada http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R4g8Mj-N...

a lot of people speak spanish, but there are native languages like miskito (me) and sumo. if you hear someone talking and it's not spanish or english. You would be suprised to how many people speak english.

Try PICO it's a type of bread, yumm. Things are cheap 1 dollar = 18.032 cordobas, at the markets you can buy a piece of bread for 1 cordoba. an expensive meal for me I remember was 40 cordobas (like 2.25 dollars, not american money, nicaragua is in america)

Maybe you would want to pack a couple bottles of water in your check in bag because when I went back, I got stomach problems (if you know what I mean) from the new water, I don't think it will happen though unless your water is comming from a well.

hey you'll probably get to see a few monkeys.

Oh and a lot of pigs, thats the picture in my avitar.

Pig crossings.

Where I was, they had nacatamales only after friday because thats when they kill the pig.

I don't know where you'll be staying but for a warning, be carful with the sinks, remember.... make sure your head is out of the sink or you'll have a head strain the rest the day.

Showers, the water falls from above, not from an angle. Most places the water is cold but thats a good thing there.

lucky.... I wish I could go home :(