Comments on: Nicaragua A First Time Volunteer Experience

By: davendeb

davendeb — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:12:03 +0000

Hi Rhonda, Teresas, actually stayed with PAN, I will make sure to email her and have her answer your question. Have a great time, it will change your life and don’t worry about the little things, we travelled through Central America with very little Spanish under our belt. You will have people with you that can translate and you will have people with you to put you at ease. It is going tobe the time of your life!

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 05:11:46 +0000

I’m traveling to Nicaragua on a mission trip this summer. We are still collecting donation items. Any suggestions for items that are needed the most? Any suggestions for what I need to take with me personally – ie. type of clothing, hat, etc. We’re staying at Angel’s Inn – PAN = Presbyterian’s Aiding Nicaragua. Have you heard of it? Any idea what it’s like? I’m not expecting to be staying at a “hotel” but I also want to prepare myself. As you can see, I’m excited but getting a little nervous.
I also don’t know any Spanish. Should I spend the next few weeks learning some?
Thanks for your ideas.

By: Can You Stop Aging Out Of Travel? | foXnoMad

Can You Stop Aging Out Of Travel? | foXnoMad — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:26:17 +0000

[...] Give back. Don’t think you can? Check out Teresa Wilson’s first time volunteer experience in Nicaragua. [...]

By: Nicaragua Jobs | More More Pics

Nicaragua Jobs | More More Pics — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 17:41:28 +0000

[...] Hard at Work theplanetd.com [...]

By: 33 More Travel Blogs Looking for Guest Posts | The Working Traveller

33 More Travel Blogs Looking for Guest Posts | The Working Traveller — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 00:14:35 +0000

[...] Past guest posts: Nicaragua – A First Time Volunteer Experience [...]

By: Volunteering Global, a Valuable Resource | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:29:36 +0000

[...] [...]

By: Your Own Two Hands | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple

Your Own Two Hands | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:39:07 +0000

[...] [...]

By: Ranthambore national Preserve India, A Tigers Haven | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:58:12 +0000

[...] Nicaragua, A First Time Volunteer Experience by Teresa Wilson of The Wellness is You [...]

By: The Impact of NGO's and Voluntourism | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:36:42 +0000

[...] Nicaragua, A First Time Volunteer Experience by Teresa Wilson of The Wellness is You [...]

By: Villas Tranquilas: A Vacation Property Gives Back | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:41:16 +0000

[...] Nicaragua, A First Time Volunteer Experience by Teresa Wilson of The Wellness is You [...]

By: Travel the World and Make a Difference with The Global Volunteer Network | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 20:51:47 +0000

[...] Nicaragua, A First Time Volunteer Experience by Teresa Wilson of The Wellness is You [...]

By: davendeb

davendeb — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 13:18:31 +0000

Hi Rob, Thanks for your comments. You are absolutely right. There is corruption everywhere. I agree with you, there is extreme poverty in Canada and the U.S. and your points are right on the nose. Thank you for your insight.
It is wonderful to hear the great strides that are being taken with literacy, hunger and infrastructure. Thank you for sharing and reminding us all that the gap between the rich and the poor is everywhere and a very big problem in the West as well as the developing world. We all need to teach the ultrarich to take care of their own no matter what the country.
I still feel that giving, helping and leading by example can help to change the world and open people’s eyes.
Just like posts like this can spark a conversation and discussion that we can all learn from.
Cheers!

By: Teresa

Teresa — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:35:46 +0000

I am so greaful for the chance to share my experience. You know it does not really matter so much where the act of kindness is done but the fact that the kindness is being done. We live in a great world with great people may we focus on that more. Amen

By: Rob Keddy

Rob Keddy — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:47:02 +0000

If people want to come build schools, that’s great. Come have a holiday, see another way of living. No one ever went home poorer of spirit for seeing another culture. Just please, if you have to judge another country use the same yardstick you would at home. Foreign aid that “floods” in lines no more pockets here than diverted tax dollars do in North America. Corruption here is penny ante compared to north america. The government isn’t perfect here but, in the past two years they have improved the electrical infrastructure, raised the national literacy level to 98% or whatever the UN standard is for illiteracy free, paved 2500 kilometres of roads, created a “zero usury program” for small loans and through the “zero hunger program” are working to increase rural family self-sufficiency. The gap between rich and poor is wide but, it’s no more 10 families here than in Canada or the US, and few would count the Kennedy’s, Rockefellers and Gates among the problem. That wealth is concentrated in a few hands would hardly surprise the 10% of Canadian or 12% of American below the poverty line who rely on food banks. You don’t have to leave home to visit extreme poverty. Any aboriginal community or inner city will suffice. There is a large and growing middle class and they do suffer from the same appetites as north americans. It’s sad but not surprising. If you want to help the developing world stop insisting on ever lower prices for the goods they produce. Would you pick coffee all day for less than $5. We’ll they do here so you can have it cheap. Zona Franca’s locate here so they can take advantage of poverty wages so you can have Walmart prices clothes. I don’t know what will turn it around, the developed world will never pay a fair price for coffee. A price that would raise wages. If wages rise here Zona Franco’s relocate to the next country.

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:08:41 +0000

I too want to get involved in some volunteering soon. This series has been amazing to learn about new experiences. Yes, the travel blog exchange has been fantastic for just this type of thing. I am looking for posts for next week. If you have any similar experiences yourself! Cheers.

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:06:56 +0000

Thanks Marina. So true, I have seen it time and time again. The rich in countries getting richer and closing their eyes to the poor. We have often said to ourselves what can we possibly do if they won’t even help their own people. I guess it is to lead by example. Maybe if we keep helping, one day the rich in these countries will wake up and lend a hand as well. I am looking forward to going to Nicaragua myself one day very soon.

By: Corbin

Corbin — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:35:04 +0000

Hey Teresa!

Fancy seeing this post, I struck up a conversation with a fellow passenger on a flight in Toronto a couple weeks back, and she was doing the exact same thing in Nicaragua. I believe she was doing it through her university, but said she loved it so much. It seems very rewarding and eye opening. Definitely something I’m interested in getting involved in. Thanks for the beautiful photos

Great work Dave n Deb on utilizing the Travel Blog Exchange to your advantage. Such a great way to meet fellow bloggers, writers, and travel enthusiasts. Keep up the good work!

By: marina k. villatoro

marina k. villatoro — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:45:38 +0000

Hi Teresa!

Great post! Nicaragua is such a mystery to me! It’s the poorest of all Central American countries, yet the safest. It seems to me the government simply doesn’t care about the poor and whole villages never get any medications at all. I remember while living in Costa Rica, Mangau (Nicaragua’s Capital) had a 8 pm blackout hour. No more electricity! What kind of place is that!

Yet, when you visit some of the areas, the wealth of the 10 families that own Nicaragua is disgusting and they do nothing about it.

It’s amazing, what a resourceful country it is yet so poor!

Thanks for the post!

By: Tweets that mention Nicaragua A First Time Volunteer Experience | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple -- Topsy.com

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:15:25 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Debra Corbeil and Shannon O'Donnell. Debra Corbeil said: @ShannonRTW Thanks for the Retweet! Nicaragua A First Time Volunteer Experience http://bit.ly/3Xqv3R #traveltuesday [...]