How was Nicaragua?

We’ve been told, even during our initial orientation, that it will be important to formulate some sort of “elevator speech” of the high lights of your experience. People will ask you… “so, how was Nicaragua?” And the easy response is “Great! Loved it!”. But it’s also important to have a few key ideas formulated about what the experience has meant to us. And to be able to put the last 2 years into context. I can see why this would be important, as we head back into a world and community that seems so “normal” to us. It will be difficult to explain and demonstrate the impact that this experience has had on us, and to take the lessons we have learned and apply them into our U.S. lifestyles.

I have been thinking on this ‘elevator speech’ concept a lot, and haven’t been able to come up with the perfect elevator speech, but have a few ideas floating around. Many of these ideas come from a letter we recently wrote to individuals who have supported us financially in our time abroad, and it is helping to guide my thoughts on how I will summarize our time here. I don’t think this constitutes an elevator speech…unless that elevator is going up 900 floors :) I will try to get it a little more succinct, but until then, try not to meet me in an elevator ;)

p.s. We are currently in Guatemala for a final VMM retreat where we are spending time together, reflecting on the past 2 years and looking ahead together. We will fly to the United States on August 9th and will be visiting family and national parks, and doing some additional traveling. We look forward to this time of travel, but also are excited to see the flatlands of Indiana (is that possible?! :) )
Okay…here’s the note:


July 14, 2017

Hello!

Kyle and Alli here, writing from Managua, Nicaragua. We left the sweet, little town of San Nicolas on Tuesday, July 11 and are catching our breath a bit in Managua. Doctor’s appointments, visiting friends, and a few meetings are on our itinerary. We wanted to take a chance to sit down and write to our supporters and donors to tell them THANK YOU! Thank you for your financial, spiritual and personal support over the last 2 years.

   

As we sit here, reflecting on the last two years, we are beginning to see the depth of our experiences here in Nicaragua. We realize that this experience would not have been possible without you all—our tribe—supporting us from afar. We are forever grateful!

We also wanted to take the time to write out a bit of what this experience has meant to us and what we have “accomplished” during our two years in San Nicolas. I intentionally put ‘accomplished’ in quotes because as volunteers with a focus on accompaniment, it is often difficult to put into words, or numbers, what our quantitative accomplishments have been. We have taught English and other high school and elementary classes, we have worked closely with the school director, we have cleaned and sold vegetables with the local organic farm—La Garnacha. But we believe the biggest accomplishment we have experienced is the relationships we have built in this community. We know that we have been changed forever by these relationships, and we hope that these feelings are mutual for those whom we have crossed paths the last 2 years.

Throughout our time in Nicaragua we have reflected on “The Spirit and Lifestyle of VMM”—a lifestyle guide to our 2 years of volunteer work. One part that particularly stuck with us is this:

“We are aware

that through our service,

we receive far more

than we are able to give

We realize that we are enriched

by our encounter

with people of other cultures  and beliefs.

We come to discover

that we, too, are poor in many ways.”

We truly believe that while we have given ourselves, our time, and our skills 
to this community, we certainly have received much more in return. Our lives will forever be enriched by the lessons we have learned walking along side our neighbors, our coworkers and friends.

We will miss our work, our lives, and our friends here in Nicaragua. But we are also looking forward to whatever adventure is next. You may be asking: “What is next?” And that is a great question. We are currently planning a slow transition back to life in the states. We will be visiting friends, family and national parks in the western part of the United States, as we make our way to Indiana, where we will move back into our home in Indianapolis.

Thank-you again! So VERY much…for caring about us over the last 2 years. And for supporting us financially as we completed this experience and accompanied the people of San Nicolas. THANK YOU!!

Alli and Kyle Stiffney

This may be my last blog post in this forum, but I wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU to all of you for following along on our journey. We are blessed by each of you, near and far!

Seriously! Thank you all so much for your support, love, prayers and encouragement over the last 2 years. We appreciate our tribe so much!

Keep in touch:

Alli- ahawkinsjae@gmail.com

Kyle- kstiffney@gmail.com

Love.

A Note to San Nicolas

As we started to think about saying good-bye, we wanted to be sure we were able to express ourselves and our gratitude to the people who have become our friends and community in San Nicolas. We wrote many thank-you notes, had many conversations, and also had a few tearful words in Spanish to our school community and at our despedida. The words below are some of what we said at these different events. Words are not sufficient enough to  say thank-you for all that we have been given these last 2 years, but it’s a place to start.

(Read our words below in Spanish first, and the English translation is in italics…)

A note that we read at our despedida in San Nicolas:

Hace 2 años venimos aquí para acompañar a la comunidad de san Nicolás. Pero en los últimos 2 años todos ustedes también nos han acompañado. Cuando llegamos por primera vez aquí no conocíamos a nadie, y no hablábamos mucho español. pero a ustedes no les importaba Nos recibieron en su comunidad y en su escuela, y nos sentimos muy amados y bienvenidos. Durante estos 2 años hemos compartido muchos recuerdos y valoraremos estos recuerdos para siempre. Les ensenamos algunas cosas como hacer pan de banana o Espagueti pero realmente somos nosotros los que hemos aprendido más de ustedes. Ustedes nos han enseñado tantas cosas, desde la lengua hasta la comida (lista de cosas), las costumbres y las celebraciones. También nos han dado su amistad, su amor, y han compartido su vida con nosotros. Ahora nos sentimos como parte de la familia San Nicolás, y es muy difícil para nosotros decir adiós porque estamos diciendo adiós a la familia. Pero esto no es adiós para siempre, sólo te veo más tarde! Muchísima Gracias a todos por todo lo que han hecho por nosotros! Les deseamos lo mejor en sus estudios y en su vida, ¡y los veremos pronto !!!

2 years ago we came here to accompany the community of San Nicolas. But in the last 2 years you all have also accompanied us. When we first came here we did not know anyone, and we didn’t speak much Spanish. You welcomed us into your community and your school, and we felt very loved and welcomed. Over these 2 years we have shared many memories and we will treasure these memories forever. We taught you a few things like English and computer things, but really it is us who have learned the most from you. You have taught us so many things, from language, to food, to customs and celebrations. We now feel like a part of the San Nicolas family, and it is very hard for us to say goodbye because we are saying goodbye to family. But this is not goodbye forever, just see you later! Thank you all so much for everything you have done for us!! We wish you well in your studies and your life, and we will see you all soon!!!

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Our note that we read to the high school…

Hace 2 años venimos aquí para acompañar a la comunidad de san Nicolás y aquí en el instituto. Pero en los últimos 2 años todos ustedes también nos han acompañado. Cuando llegamos por primera vez aquí no conocíamos a nadie, y no hablábamos mucho español. Nos recibieron aquí en su escuela como docentes y nos daban su amistad. Por eso nos sentíamos muy amados y bienvenidos.

A los Docentes: (Rey, Juan José, Elvin, Esmilda, Vilma, Miriam, Jasmina y Douglas) Fue un placer trabajar con ustedes en estos 2 años, y hemos aprendido mucho de ustedes. Nos han tratado como un docente, un colega, un amigo y estamos muy agradecido por eso. Cada día nos admiramos la energía, aprendizaje y metodología que ustedes lo traen al instituto. Gracias por su amistad y su paciencia que nos han mostrado cada día.

A los Estudiantes: El inicio fue difícil para nosotros porque casi no pudimos comunicar con ustedes por el español, pero a ustedes no les importaba. Nos permitieron jugar futbol con ustedes, ayudarles en las clases de inglés, y participar en todo lo que había en la escuela. En el inicio nos sentíamos como sus amigos y por eso estamos muy agradecidos. Les hemos ensenado algunas cosas como inglés y computación pero realmente somos nosotros los que hemos aprendido más de ustedes. Ustedes nos han enseñado tantas cosas: el español, la jerga del español, las malas palabras en español, como copiarse durante un examenJ y también como jugar chibolas, béisbol, ajedrez, bailar trompos, y hacer murales. Gracias por su amistad que nos han dado y les deseamos lo mejor en sus estudios según lo que vayan a estudiar en la universidad, elegir una buena carrera y así tengan mucho éxito en su vida. Nunca dejen de aprender!!!!!!

Profe Idalia: no hay suficientes palabras en español, tampoco en inglés para decir gracias a usted por lo que ha hecho por nosotros. Durante estos 2 años usted ha sido nuestra tutora y nos ha cuidado como sus hijos. Nos ha ensenado muchas cosas como hacer comida, como hablar en dichos y mucho sobre la historia de San Nicolás y Nicaragua. Su trabajo en la educación es algo que debe admirarse. Usted ha dedicado su vida a la educación y está claro que usted es una parte importante de los avances en la educación aquí en San Nicolás. Gracias por su amistad, su amor, y su apoyo en nuestro trabajo y vida aquí en San Nicolás.

Nos sentimos parte de la familia del instituto y es muy difícil para nosotros decir adiós porque estamos diciendo adiós a familia. Pero esto no es adiós para siempre, sólo te veo más tarde! Muchísima Gracias a todos por todo lo que han hecho por nosotros! Que el dios les bendiga mucho y les veremos pronto!!

2 years ago we came here to accompany the community of San Nicolas and this high school. But in the last 2 years you all have also accompanied us. When we first came here we did not know anyone, and we didn’t speak much Spanish. You welcomed us into your community and your school, and we felt very welcomed in this school as teachers, and you gave us the gift of friendship. Because of this, we have felt very loved and welcomed.

To the teachers: It was a pleasure to work with you all for 2 years, and we have learned so much from you. You have treated us as coworkers, colleagues, and as friends. We are very thankful! We admire your energy, wisdom and methodology that you bring to the institute each day. Thank you for your friendship and patience that you have shown us each day.

To the students: At the beginning it was difficult for us, because we could not communicate with you due to our Spanish skills, but this didn’t matter to you all. You allowed us to play soccer with the group, and allowed us to help you in English class, and in all other activities in the school. From the start, we felt like friends and for this we are very thankful. We have taught you a few things, like English and how to use a computer, but really we are the ones that have learned much from you. You have taught us many things: Spanish, Spanish slang, bad words in Spanish :), how to copy during an exam…but also how to play marbles, baseball, chess, tops, and how to make cool murals. Thanks for your friendship that you have given us and we wish you the best in your studies and if you continue on to university we hope you choose a good area of study, and have many successes in your life. Never stop learning!

Prof Idalia (director): There are not enough words in Spanish, or in English, to say thanks for all you have done for us. During these 2 years, you have been our mentor, and have taken care of us like your own children. You have taught us many things, like how to make food, ALL the Spanish sayings :) , and a lot about the history of Nicaragua and San Nicolas. Your work in education is something to be admired. You have dedicated your life to education and it is evident that you are an critical part of the educational advances here in San Nicolas. Thank you for your friendship, your love and your support in our work and life here in San Nicolas.

We feel that we are a part of this school family and it is very difficult to say good-bye, because we are saying good-bye to a family. But it is not good-bye forever, it is see you later! Thank you all for all that you have done for us. God Bless and we will see you soon!!

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Even reading these letters now, makes me tear up a bit. Good-byes are never easy. It always seems easier just to ride off into the sunset quietly, but we found it be very therapeutic and important to write and speak these words.

But again, words just aren’t sufficient, we hope our actions (in the past and the future) will show our appreciation beyond what words can do.

We miss you, San Nicolas. Pero, No es adios, es nos vemos pronto!

Love.