Who Ya With?!

It's officially here! Spring break 2k10. That means lots of hustling and bustling around the Manna House as our lives for one month are taken over by leading groups, managing programs, playing tour guide, and overseeing service initiatives. It can be a hectic time of the year, but so far it has proven to be one of my favorites. Why? Perhaps a better question to ask is not "Why?" but rather "Who Ya With?!"

"Who Ya With? VU!" is a token Vanderbilt cheer, and this past week Ian and I got to relive our Vandy spring break as we hosted the Manna team from our Alma Mater. Due to the fact that Manna hosted 3 spring break teams, ours was one of the groups chosen to dwell off-site for the week at El Salero community center.

Not a bad place to stay

Our spring breakers held strong through early mornings, full days, and late nights. Ian and I hoped to introduce them to a variety of organizations and opportunities working in community development in addition to MPI. The week's schedule consisted in volunteering with our programs and the preschool (Esperanza) in La Chureca and hearing presentations/visiting neighboring organizations including USAID, Fabretto, and a teaching hospital. We gave them a taste of Managua with a city tour and visit to Huembes market, as well as a real taste of Nicaragua - a trip to the famed Nica buffet (delicious for only $3/meal), a dinner in the community under a starry night sky, and meals prepared for our gracious cook Fermina highlighting my favorite mixture of rice and beans, gallo pinto. At the end of the week, our group planned and orchestrated a class for "Tuani Hour" in which they introduced the chavalosto some popular American dances. They brought a little bit of Nashville down South to Central America with Wild Horse Saloon-level moves choreographed to Cotton Eye Joe. After Tuani Hour, we took the children to El Salero for an afternoon field day.

Our spring breakers were absolutely wonderful, a breath of fresh air: happy and positive yet critical-thinkers, easy-going. I enjoyed the outside perspective and vigorous energy they brought to Ian and me. I enjoyed the feeling one gets when meeting someone new from a shared background (even though the end of the trip heralded an onslaught of Vandy nostalgia). I enjoyed the intellectual stimulation that is present in the University environment and is always transferred down by groups coming from the midst of academia. I enjoyed the banter and joviality characteristic of a college spring break and the reflection and inspiration characteristic of service work. All in all, it was a great week, paradoxically exhausting and rejuvenating.

So, just in case anyone feels like asking...

WHO YA WIT?!

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Here's my answer:

VU!

GO DORES!!!

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Vandy spring break may be over, but "spring break season" continues as we host groups from Massachusetts and Texas this week. Moreover, I'm only two weeks away from my spring break. (Yes, I'm living in Nicaragua and get a spring break!) Last week, Kelly and I booked our trip to Panama City, Panama. I'll be seeing the canal and who knows what else. Any advice is welcomed and encouraged!

Missing home, loving life, soaking up too much sun,

Jan Mags