The other half of the students, those who did not give their presentations yesterday, presented the findings of their projects this morning. After lunch together we took off for the craft and souvenir markets in the nearby city of Masaya, known as the craft capital of Nicaragua. One of the craft/souvenir markets is part of the city’s main market, shared with stalls for fruits, vegetables, butcher shops, and beauty salons. The other craft market is specifically designed for tourists, in what looks like an old castle, and it is more spacious but also more expensive.
Robert gave his presentation yesterday, on common trees and key information about them for a nature trail at the Gaia Estates coffee farm.Emily – How healthcare in Nicaragua has changed from before the 1980s, during the 80s, and now.Alejandro – Education in El LagartilloHaley – How Nicaraguan history has brought changes for women.Bobby – The effect of the Sandinista Revolution and the Contra War on Pearl Lagoon.Seth – More on the story of Vicente Padilla and the land struggle.Elise – Interviews with parents of malnourished children brought to the Matagalpa nutrition center.Yuriy – Doing business in Nicaragua.Cora – A Nicaraguan children’s book.Josh – Themes in the book “Sophia de los Presagios” and the responses of people in Guanacaste.Maria – Themes in folklores, legends, and children’s songs in Candelaria.Seth evaluates a new acquisition for his t-shirt collection.Nicaragua is well known for its hammocks.Josh, Jordan and Alejandro preferred eating to shopping.The drink containers on the table are made from gourds from the jicaro tree, common in the Nicaraguan countryside.Jordan thought he was trying out a wooden back-scratcher, but it turned out to be a salad fork.Benson tries gallo pinto-flavored ice cream. (Not really.)