Study Abroad Story

Statement of Abbey Pratt-Harrington

Wilmington College, Wilmington, Ohio

In Summer 2007, I traveled to Nicaragua with my Spanish professor. We stayed with a Nicaraguan family. Their house did not have a floor or plumbing, and we had to walk past a very aggressive pig on our way to the outhouse. The family had a tiny TV with terrible reception, and they watched American movies. They had a wood stove. One morning, I woke to the sound of a pig being slaughtered next door, and chickens would just wander in and out of the house. The adventures didn’t stop in the house, though.

We went out and met with children who lived in a huge garbage dump. Their houses were made out of anything their families could find, and they used glue to curb their hunger pains. We went to a women’s clinic where women are taught about birth control and AIDS, and children could receive medical checkups. We saw the Maternity House, where women could go to have their babies safely if they were at risk for pregnancy complications. We traveled a lot on our two-week trip in Nicaragua; I can’t even remember all of it.

After spending time in Nicaragua, I am so thankful for all the privileges I receive by being in the United States. I feel so sad that there are children living in dumps. I can’t even imagine growing up like they do and never knowing anything else. What really surprised me was how nice the people were. They were giving and sharing, even though they didn’t have much. The women who worked in the clinic worked for free. I was amazed by the altruism of the Nicaraguan community, and I wish we could bring some of that spirit to the US.