Once I heard that there was a very different side, called the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua, I knew that my experience of Nicaragua would not be complete unless I got to visit the other side of the country.

I met a pastor that is connected to my job CEPAD, and he invited me to stay with him and his family and host me for my visit in the region. When the arrangements were all made, I traveled ona 20 seater plane headed for a place I had never ben befoer,and wheni would ask people from the Pacific side of the, too ftern they were not sure either.

I immediatley saw differences. BLACK PEOPLE. the climate was humid, a very tropical climate. The people had Jamaican accents which I was enchanted by because it reminded me so much of home in Philly. The people are so beautiful.The town called Bluefields is really small and it seemed as if everyone knows eachother. My stay at the pastors house has been better than expected. His family and friends from his church are taking me around, and showing me what the town and people have to offer.

Through my conversations with people, I have noticed a common theme that I have heard before elsewhere. The mis and under-representation of the natives and blacks that live in this region. The lack of self identity among the people is seen in the use of drugs, alcohol and violence. The lack of access to universites and work, help keep the walls of poverty in their minds which leads them to not challeng the poverty they believe to be there only reality. Hearing how within the indigenous and black community, there is discrimination according to how light or dark you are, which is not a new thing to me. It seems as though that has been a barrier in many people of color´s history.The way education class has pushed people away from eachother because of fear of not being accepted in the community as ¨one of us¨

Im glad I had the opportunity to see more of the country and hear more stories inorder to peice my experiences together in a more holistic way.

Even though im not Nicaragan, I feel connected with them