Six students traveled to Nicaragua during spring break for an international experience in agriculture. Go Abroad Nicaragua prepared a jam-packed educational and fun week doe the students. A welcome BBQ was hosted for the group at Laguna De Apoyo, a saltwater lake atop a volcano.
Monday, the group traveled to Chinandega for an educational excursion to Chiquita Banana Providers. The following day was spent traveling northeast to Esteli to explore Plasencia Cigars. Wednesday, LSU students started the morning in a fun and exciting way by taking part in a zip-line canopy tour of Mombacho Volcano. The afternoon was spent visiting the home and orchards of José Antonio Alvarado Correa, the Central American Parliament President. The students described it as a breathtaking experience that allowed a look in to agriculture and environmental policy, conservation efforts, fruit production, and a hands-on encounter with a young spider monkey. Thursday was spent in Altamira on an educational excursion to Manolo Porro’s rice farm, where the students saw rice production and plant pathology research.
The group’s final day in Nicaragua was spent in Granada. Students were given a budget and sent on a scavenger hunt in the local market. They then prepared food donations with their purchases and delivered the donations to residents in a nearby community. Students concluded the week with a tour of Lake Granada’s islands, swimming and reflecting on the week’s experiences.
The students included Cole Sawyer, junior in agricultural business from St. Francisville, Louisiana; Alexis Latona, a junior in education from Lakeland, Florida; Tim Sandles, a graduate student in agricultural education from Madisonville, Texas; Jade Halliburton, a graduate student in agricultural education from Magnolia, Arkansas; Christen Wall, a sophomore in agricultural business from Springfield, Louisiana; and Alexis Agard, a junior in agricultural business from Houston, Texas.
Christen Wall put together this video from their trip abroad: