14 days and counting...

In merely 14 more days, we'll be departing for Nicaragua and ready to spend close to two weeks exploring, learning, and growing.  This blog will help you stay abreast of our journey and adventures.  Over the next two weeks, each student will be introducing themselves and explaining why they chose to go on this trip.  Hopefully, this will help us develop a sense of community and get to know each other before our trip.

So, I'll begin.  My name is Alyssa Barnes, and I am an assistant professor at North Georgia College and State University.

I first traveled to Nicaragua in February 2011.  I traveled with another professor from NGCSU, three professors from Piedmont College, and other professionals from different school districts around Georgia.  I was new to the group, but all of the other women were making their 4th and 5th trip.  The Teach Amigas group spent a week in classrooms around Chinandega and creating a professional development celebration for the teachers in the local villages.  Falling in love with everything Nicaragua, I jumped at the chance to take students back to experience this amazing culture.

I am looking forward to watching the faces and expressions of the students as they see the extreme poverty, yet overwhelming beauty of Nicaragua.  I know I've grown as a person from my trips to Nicaragua, and I cannot wait to see the transformations that occur in my students.

MAB