Wow! The trip is almost over. Every second I had with the children changed my life. This has been a wonderful experience to teach and help all of the children. Seeing how they live in the poorest conditions but still have a positive attitude is amazing. Most of the children’s parents will sedate them with medications, lock them in the closet, and/or do not feed them for days straight. We are all humans and should be treated like one too.

         Yesterday we had a fiesta at the school. It was filled with happiness, sorrow, and anger. We danced, smashed a piñata, ate and of course said our good byes to all the children. It was so hard to let go of all the hugs. Tears dripped down my face as each hug slipped away. On the bus they go.there is no words to explain how much I love the children. I will never see them again but I will always remember them in my heart.

         I hope I will always be in their hearts as well, helping them through the hard times, while remembering the good times. May all my prayers impact their lives. Every meal I eat, I will think of them. The kisses and hugs I got from the children will always warm me with love, and never leave me. I will always remember them and love them.

Love is all you need. Yesterday I worked in pre-k. There were two wonderful children who are deaf waiting for me to greet them.   Right after the bell rang for snack, I started down the hall when I realized Gabriella and Winder hanging from my leg laughing with joy. After playing with them for three hours we felt like family. All it takes is a little love and compassion, and they will remember you forever.

Today I worked in a classroom with children that are deaf. While working with them, I noticed the struggles they went through to communicate with me. They just kept persevering, finding new techniques for me to understand them. They taught me to work hard through life, as you will always succeed.

A boy named Jesus, who is blind and goes to Escuela Especial Sor Maria Romero, had two wishes he wanted from us. Juice and eggs. We had a chance to meet the amazing family who raised him. They produce, perform and own a traveling circus. Their house and circus is made up of about eight tents. Seven other tents surround the big tent, which is where the action is, where the family lives. While talking to Jesus’s dad we found out that they have no running water and had their one and only stove stolen two weeks ago. This made us want to give a little back. We went to the store and got them food and cleaning supplies. And of course some juice and eggs for Jesus.  Jesus and his family are very exceptional, teaching me that you don’t need the valuables but the love.

“Life is not about going to school, getting a job and finding the love of your life, but to find others in need of your life.” This quote relates to my trip here because I am taking my life and changing others.

Every Once in a Blue Moon

This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Today in Rivas, Nicaragua, it was 98 degrees. Everywhere you looked it’s green. I am not here to go to the beach, I am here to go to Esucuala Especial Sor Maria Romero, a school with children that are disabled. I, along with 9 others, cleaned the school and now we are teaching the kids for the rest of the week.

        Today was the first time I met the kids. I had questions flying around in my head. Would they like me? What happens if I can’t communicate with the kids? All of those questions went away as I met them. They do not even know me but already trust me. Right when they get off the bus they are excited to be there. Some run up to you and hug you, while others were a little more shy. My Spanish and sign language practice really paid off.

        Today I went on home visits. The first home was in Palos Negros. Erling is only one year old. Erling was born with a birth defect that made him have one leg half the size of the other. Erling has a very thin femur, no hip bone and no achilles tendon in his right leg. At this moment he has a cast on his right leg to fix tendons. When Erling is five he will get more surgeries to fix the leg. They will not do surgeries on him right now because the leg itself needs to be more developed. He is not taking any medications and is not doing therapy. Every 8 days Erling and his mother take a trip to  Managua, Nicaragua for doctor appointments. I feel lucky because I have two legs, I can walk and talk, and I can express how I’m feeling. Today taught me that human beings can be happy no matter their life situation.

“To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world.”-unknown

                         Who inspires me?

My mom: My mom inspires me in many ways. She does so much for me. When I forget my water bottle at home, she will bring it to me at school. She is such a loving person to everyone. I have a great life and it is all because of my mom. She writes an inspirational note in my lunch box  everyday.  This makes me think, laugh, smile and give me the confidence I need each day. I love her and hope to become like her. Thank you mom.

Wilbur Wright: Wilbur Wright was the inventor the airplane. I have always wanted to be a pilot. I am so glad he invented the plane because I can 
now become a pilot, my dream job.“It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge

 and skill.”- Wilbur Wright,  He tried, tried and tried again until he was successful.

Gabby Douglas: Gabby is an Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics. Her life dream was to go to the Olympics. Not only did she go to the Olympics, she won two Olympic gold medals. Gabby moved to Iowa to train with the best coach in the USA. She has taught me that if you put your 
mind to something and never give up that you can accomplish that goal.

If I were an animal, what would I be?

If I was an animal, I would be a turtle in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. I'd have a blue green 

shell that attracts fish for food and keeps me 
warm. Sharks won't be a problem for me because of my camouflage shell. I am not endangered, making my life easy and breezy. Turtles live up to 150 years, so I'd have a long life.  People may hunt me, but they will never catch me because I am so fast. It's fun watching the people swim around me staring with gazing looks. I love how pretty turtles are!

Questions and answers

Questions and answers

What is your biggest fear going into this experience?

     I have a few fears about going to Nicaragua. I think my biggest fear is having a very strong connection to the children. It will put a dent in my heart to think that I changed somebody's life but I won't ever see them again.  I think I will remember the children my whole life even though I am only there for a week.  I will see the excitement and joy of the children in Nicaragua. I will talk to them and teach them.  I hope our time together will change their life. Our time will bring me more connected to the children. It will be hard to leave them with the connection I have. Thinking I will not ever see them again. Never. I will have pictures and blogs of everyday. These children will fill my heart with joy and pride.  To think I changed somebody's life by just saying "hello". Leaving  is another fear.  It will be very hard.  Going to Nicaragua, seeing the children then leaving only a week later scares me some.  I think I will be going back as a new person.  They will change my life forever, and I hope I change theirs too.

What do you think will be the most difficult thing going into this experience?

         Honestly I think that the most difficult thing going into this experience is seeing how little the children have in Nicaragua compared to us.  I think they are just happy with what they have. I am honestly too much of a "wanting" little girl.  I seem to want  a lot of things.  The children just love having us there.


In what way do you think you will change?
          Seeing all the children happy for what they have and not sad for what they don't have will really teach me to see what I have, not what I don't have. Always look at the good side of things, not the bad side. Like if your mom asks you to do chores. Don't look at is as cleaning your house and making dinner, look at is as making your mom happy and great full for your help.

     I will also learn to always look at the inside of people not the outside. When I went to my interview they asked me what are you scared of. I said hobos. Seeing the children with disabilities learning what I learn ,will teach me that even though hobos look scary and mean ,they may be nice and considerate of one another. The children at the school may look different but they may be very nice and gracious of every single person willing to say "hello" to them.

                                                       BEFORE NICARAGUA

Hi, my name is Samantha Nothnagel. I was chosen to be part of a group called Children's Global Alliance, which is a Vail Valley based non-profit organization created to give teenagers a hands on experience in some of the world's most impoverished countries.  

I am going to Nicaragua to a school, Escuela Especil Sor Maria Romero with children that are disabled. I will be teaching children. On top of that I will be cleaning the school, as well as repairing the facilities and feeding the children. I will also be providing medical care, supplies, clothing and school supplies. I applied to go to Nicaragua with the Children's Global Alliance for the inspirational opportunity. Just think who gets to go to Nicaragua to help children with disabilities. I mainly applied because I  thought this would be a life changing event for me. Not only am I able to go to Nicaragua but my twin sister Addison is also going with me. 

Now here is a little bit about me. I am in 7th grade and I go to Eagle Valley Middle School in Eagle Colorado. I go to Vail Gymnastics and I love it. I hope you read my future blogs and have a great day.