Kylie went on a service trip to Ometepe, Nicaragua with BOSIA (Bainbridge Ometepe Sister Island Association) for two weeks at the end of June/beginning of July. 18 high school students and 6 chaperones stayed with host families in three different towns. Kylie's group was in Los Angeles, one of the larger towns. They brought school supplies to distribute at the schools and worked on building a fence behind the elementary school. They also had some time to explore, climb a volcano, and visit a few other towns. Kylie worked hard, but played a lot, too! She had a wonderful experience and would love to go back again as a chaperone after she graduates from college.
Organizing the donated supplies before the trip.
At the airport getting ready to leave.
On the ferry from Managua to Ometepe
Ometepe is an Island in Lake Nicaragua.
The whole group once they got to the island.
Once they got to Ometepe, their main transportation was these trucks. Here's her group heading to Los Angeles.
Always trying to stay hydrated.
Sometimes working on the fence was more play, like when on of the Ometepen men found a scorpian and cut of the stinger for the kids to look at. (She didn't actually eat it!)
One of the chaperone's host family's home. They ran a small hotel.
They also had a pet monkey!
And it was right on the lake.
After a hard day's work!
The elementary school where they donated supplies and built the fence.
Class room at the school.
The bathrooms at the school. Only one had a door...
A garbage basket made from re-used soda bottles!
One of the local fruits called mamones.
The bricks they had to move to build the fence.
Part of the fence they constructed.
It was hard work moving all the bricks to where they were needed on the fence.
Horses, dogs, and pigs roamed the streets, grazing on whatever they could find.
Kylie's group minus one chaperone.
At El Ojo de Agua (the Eye of the Water), a beautiful, clear, natural spring.
Probably the only whole group picture of them.
Cool buildings in Alta Gracia, one of the largest cities on the island that the kids got to visit.
Streets of Alta Gracia
Sign at the BOSIA office in Alta Gracia
The boys from Si a la Vida, an home for street boys, and one of the groups BOSIA helps to support.
View from about 1/2 way up the volcano they climbed.
Finally made it to the top!
Enjoying lunch after a hard climb up.
Coming back down...muddy and steep! It rained the whole time.
The treacherous climb!
Another view
Taking a break.
The last kilometer or so was climbing stairs, hard on the knees!
After climbing the volcano. She slipped in the mud a few times!
The whole group!
After they were done climbing they went to a beautiful sandy beach to clean off some of the mud. Definitely worth it!
A view of the other volcano on the island, Concepcion, from the beach
On the last night there was a party held to thank the families for taking good care of their kids. These are some of the siblings of the delegates. The one in red is Kylie's little brother Jorge.
One little boy, Esteben, loved hanging out with the ladies!
Beautiful sunset on the beach.
So many gorgeous sunsets!
Kylie's host family's home
the kitchen
The back yard, bathroom on the right.
Close up of the bathroom
Kylie's bed
and the rest of her room
The front yard
Her host family
Kylie with her host family
Her "siblings"
Ferry back to Managua
Boarding the ferry
Adios, Ometepe!
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