D-Lab: Energy had a really great trip to Nicaragua. Almost everyone is headed home today and last night we had delicious food at a fritanga to celebrate a long, wonderful week.
I led the group to blueEnergy, on the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. This part of the country is quite distinct from the Pacific coast, in that it's a very mixed culture of indigenous groups (of which there are many including Rama and Moskito), Creoles, Mestizos, and a very few white people doing development work. Common languages include English, Spanish, Creole, and Moskito, and you'll hear all on the street.
Memories from our trip include:
A great charcoal burn in which we learned that coconut husks carbonize absolutely brilliantly, and that people in this deforested region are PSYCHED for charcoal. Carrying the coconut husks for the burn.Discussing the interestVisiting the ever-burning town dump and seeing the kids who spend their time there hunting for salvagable goods, barefoot, (hopefully) dodging the syringes and many other dangers.Watching children dive with great enthusiasm into a pool of brown water that is fed by a small stream and the effluent of many pit latrines.Visiting the island of Khakabila and helping to repair an anemometer on one of the wind turbines blueEnergy has installed there, while enjoying the friendliness and island atmosphere.Learning about blueEnergy's wind turbines.Learning about blueEnergy's wind turbines.
