1.     Taxis do not stop at stop signs, so wear your seatbelt. 2.     Taxis do not have seatbelts. 3.     Taxis are collective, meaning give yourself plenty of time to get somewhere because clients may be picked up and dropped off along the way. 4.     To get your license, you buy it. 5.     To flush a toilet, you may have to pour a bucket of water into it. It's best to always have one at the ready. 6.     You cannot eat plantains that have not been cooked.  Well you can, but I wouldn't. 7.     Don't be alarmed by men carrying machine guns OR by men carrying bags with princesses on them. 8…

Along this journey I have met some extraordinary people.  I have learned about their unique lives and heard stories of their country's history with war and inequality.  Though some things have been lost in translation, their courage and determination could not be misinterpreted. Lucy is a 30-something single mom who has raised four kids on her own, one of which was born with developmental disabilities. The story of a mom raising a large family on her own is not an anomaly in Nicaragua; in fact, it seems to be the norm. But despite the hardships, Lucy has maintained her strength of character…

The Grounds For Health model is based on a three-way partnership between the nonprofit, the Ministry of Health within the government and local coffee cooperatives. (Get it? Grounds… for Health.)  In this way, the goals of GFH are unique. The hope is that the government will support the proposed changes to the health care system and the coffee co-ops will provide a rural patient population.  During the first week of this campaign, local Nicaragüense health providers attended a training that was hosted by Grounds for Health volunteers – an OBGYN, two nurse practitioners and a midwife from the U…

Cecocafen plays a key role in Grounds For Health Nicaragua, and it is a co-op of co-ops. About 50 families belong to one cooperative and Cecocafen is comprised of several cooperatives.  On our first Saturday we were invited to visit one of those coffee-growing communities, and I LOVE COFFEE, so the visit was really important to me.  I felt like I was in a documentary, or that segment of Sesame Street when they show you where common "American" things come from. (Remember the Crayola episode, circa 1996?)  As we were driving through dense jungle on an unpaved road, I couldn't help envisioning …

Nov. 6, 2010 – Well I made it. I met up with the team in Managua and we took a truck to Matagalpa, where the clinic will be set up. Matagalpa is a small city and it's a little difficult to describe. The urban center consists of two one-lane, one-way streets that are full of noises – honking, bell-ringing and Latin music – and I am fairly certain there is a law against stopping for pedestrians. Aside from the chaos, there are many colorful storefronts and people on the corner selling fruit. Everyone is incredibly nice, but I don't have the feeling of "American appreciation," like I had in …

November 2, 2010 - I left for Nicaragua today and as I was driving to the airport at 2:30 a.m., I thought to myself, "I love my country."  This happens to me whenever I leave the States - I turn into a straight-up patriot.  Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I wish I felt more appreciative of our American lifestyle when I'm actually living it. I don't understand why it takes a $500 flight to God knows where to ignite any type of loyalty and pride.  I guess it's the feeling of loss that makes us appreciate what we take for granted. Like hot showers and water pressure - more on that…

Coming soon: My debut as a columnist from Nicaragua! Next week I'll be flying to Matagalpa, Nicaragua, where I will be volunteering with an organization called Grounds for Health. The team I'll be working with is composed of doctors, pathologists, and lab technicians. The goals are to raise awareness about cervical cancer, perform annual exams for women and train locals to be proactive in health care and disease prevention. I'M SO EXCITED. And scared. I'm 88 percent excited and 12 percent scared.  But I've got my malaria prophylaxis, my Ben's 30 percent deet bug spray, my 35mm and a fedora - …