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Nicaragua 2005, “Selección Florida”
Volume 1
Day 1, Friday, July 8, 2005
By Mariah and Kamryn, Jacksonville Juniors, Jacksonville, Florida
It all started at Jacksonville International Airport, where we met everyone that was going from Jacksonville. Meghan, Leah, and Kamryn brought leftover pizza from the night before to eat. We were all sleepy from waking up at the crack of dawn. Once everybody checked their bags and had their tickets we made our way to security. It didn’t take but only a few minutes for everyone to get through security. We made a last-minute bathroom break, then boarded the plane for an hour and a half flight to Miami, Florida.
Being a first time flyer, Marion was made nervous by Meghan, Kirsten, and Leah. The plane was so small that you could feel every bump, jerk, and turn. We sprinted to the next gate in high hopes for getting something to eat, but we were barely even able to make the flight. Maggie, Sarah, and Jen met us at the gate, frantic that we were not going to make it on time. We boarded the over sized plane filled with Hispanics. No one could find their seats at first so everything was chaotic. We finally did and we shortly found out that not only were we sitting next to each other but that we were sitting next to a Nicaraguan too. He figured out that we didn’t know much Spanish but that we were eager to learn some. So he tried to teach us. We got about as far as, “Bien y tu?” About two hours later, we landed in Nicaragua.
It was about three hours shorter than the five hours it was supposed to take. When we got off we found out that fortunately only one bag was lost. But Britta wasn’t too optimistic that we would find it. While waiting for Britta’s bag, we found that not many Nicaraguans were fans of our big bus. When we all loaded the bus it took us to the hotel for about fifteen minutes, just enough time to get ready to eat. We ate a traditional Nicaraguan meal at the “Pyramid”. Then we went back to the hotel to take a nap to play at the top of our game at practice that evening.
At 4:30 we met at the bus and drove to the gym. It was small and had a cement floor covered with a thin layer of gum and tin roof. It had no air-conditioning so we were sweating a lot. We were excited to play but weren’t too crazy about sweating.
After practice, we drove back to the hotel for showers. Then we drove to Game 1 of the Nicaraguan World Series. It was like any American baseball game, people were yelling screaming and selling food, but all in Spanish! It was a good experience. After the game, we left to go to Managua’s version of KFC, Tip-Top. It was good. We had chicken, beans, fries, rolls, and rice. After dinner we went to the hotel and fell to sleep. The first day was a blast and we are looking forward to our next days
Day 2, Saturday, July 9, 2005
By Britta Doherty & Jenna Crump, Jacksonville Juniors, Jacksonville, FL
Today we woke up and ate breakfast: eggs, orange juice, bread, and fruit. After breakfast we all loaded up on the bus and headed out sightseeing. Our first stop was to the Cathedral Vieja, which was an old cathedral that has not been used since the disastrous earthquake thirty some odd years ago. While we were there we went to the Museum in the Palacio Nacional which was a tree museum and tree preservation place. We also walked through a memorial/garden and learned of carvings on a wall similar to David and Goliath.
Then on our way back to the bus we were bombarded by little kids with little creatures made out of palm fronds and of course we had to buy them for a dollar each. Then we all got back on the bus and drove up a mountain where we saw the top of a volcano. We also saw a zip-line similar to the one we will do later this trip.
Once again we loaded on the bus and we went to the local mall which was four or five stories high but very narrow. We ate in the mall - some Americano food which was muy bueno. Afterwards we went to a local artisanal marketplace, which was a very good taste of culture here. It was interesting to see what people do to make a living. Then everyone headed back to the hotel while Tim and Britta went to the airport to try to get her bag back - but the search of the missing luggage has yet to be solved. Now what you have all been waiting for...
THE BIG GAME AGAINST THE MANAGUA SENIOR NATIONAL TEAM!
Game one: USA- 7, NCA- 25 = loss
Game two: USA- 25, NCA- 13 = win
Game three: USA- 5, NCA- 25 = loss
Game four: USA – 17, NCA- 25 = loss
We played at the hall called Poli (Polideportivo de Espana). Afterwards we had some cokes with the opposing team. Tim called it the “ten minute social hour” where we attempted to talk to the other girls. After that we came back to the hotel and showered then went to dinner. We went to an Italian restaurant where we had pizza and salad and played the napkin game (a game of CJ’s where we have to come up with a different idea to use the napkin). After that we headed back to the hotel to get some shut-eye. More tomorrow with our new adventures.
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