College Immersion in Nicaragua
(54 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Andrew Oliver
Boston, MA
Argentina Travel Agent Advisor
Here I am, your dedicated travel expert with a passion for Argentina! After spending 6 months in Argentina solo, my experience gives me a specialization in crafting unforgettable journeys to this stunning South American gem. From the vibrant stree...
Here I am, your dedicated travel expert with a passion for Argentina! After spending 6 months in Argentina solo, my experience gives me a specialization in crafting unforgettable journeys to this stunning South American gem. From the vibrant streets of Buenos Aires to the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia, I bring extensive knowledge and insider tips to ensure you experience the very best of Argentina.
It is my whole hearted believe that travel is about connection—whether it’s sharing a mate with locals, exploring the tango scene, or discovering the diverse culinary delights from wine country to street food. The savory flavor of carne asada makes my mouth water just thinking about it. I’m here to help you navigate the must-see sights and hidden gems, creating personalized itineraries tailored to your interests and preferences.
Let me assist you to explore Argentina’s rich culture, natural wonders, and warm hospitality. Your adventure awaits!
Can Be Reached At
1-617-398-7511
Marks Left by Civil War, Nicar
I was taking a semester of courses at the University of Maine at Augusta, and part of it which intrigued me was the 10 day immersion in Nicaragua that we would be visiting. We had been learning many things about Latin American history that were not taught in a typical college setting. To go there and be in one of the Banana Republics was something I really wanted to experience.
We arrived in Managua and then got shuttled off to a small village in the midst of the volcanoes. I saw people sweeping their yards because of all the soot the volcanoes spewed into the atmosphere. People lived in shanties, they burned their trash in their yard. This was a type of poor I had never seen before in my life.
Part of the excursion was to be part of an Eco-village where I would volunteer. I helped to make a hostel for people to stay in, and I worked right beside the locals. There was a child in his late teens or early twenties, he would carry a hundred pound bag of cement on his head to where it needed to go. He was no larger than me, maybe 120 pounds at 5’8. They mixed all of the cement by hand on cardboard. I helped them with what I could, and in the breaks they would talk to me and teach me Spanish. They refused to call me a gringo, instead they called me chele, which translates to fair, or blond, or light-skinned. I felt it was quite the compliment considering gringo has a derogatory connotation to it.
We traveled to a lagoon, I walked into it and about 30 feet of going into it, the ground beneath me went straight down, I could not say how deep, but it was deep and I was not about to find out! We spent the day there relaxing in the lagoon, and then went back to the Eco-village.
We toured Granada and went into cathedrals and ate in the plaza. I could see the bullet riddled buildings, never having been repaired since the revolt by the Sandinistas. There was something visceral about the bullet holes, the past was living in the present. We also got to see one of the zona franca businesses, where businesses from the United States ran and the people working there got paid pennies on the dollar.
Being in Nicaragua helped to form a new reality of what colonialism is and how it affects the entire world. It is hard to really fathom the effect it has in these small countries south of us, but by being there, I was in the world which allowed us in the states to live so freely.
This trip gave me a new found respect for people of all walks and ways of life. I will never forget it, as I will never forget my experience there in Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Americas.