Today I watched three separate funeral processions march through the streets of Granada, and this is not a big city. I know that the majority of these deaths are probably from complications of a cold, or stomach problem, or something equally as innocent for a country that has more than 6 doctors for every 10,000 people. (when the son of my teacher, Maria-Lydia, had a simple stomach problem, I went with her to the clinic. She had to wait half an hour simply to make an appointment to see the Doctor, who she wouldn't be able to see for a few more days after that. After that, if she needed medicine, she would have to get that elsewhere. All that for a stomach ache. What if it were more serious? If he had needed more attention that he could get at the clinic, he would have had to wait even longer to go to an overcrowded hospital to receive horrible medical attention. Most women in this country refuse to have their children in the hospitals because they receive virtually no care there, and it's common to receive abuse from the nurses because they are so overworked.)

Lately during class Maria-Lydia has been having us talk about the political, social, and economic problems we have in the U.S.
After we discuss that, she will tell us how those same situations are here, and always think, wow, what the heck are Americans griping about? In particular, I recall reaming on the health care and educational system, and the lack of programs for poor and homeless people.
And then I felt like the most ungrateful person when she laid out for me those same systems in Nicaragua.
I also feel like an idiot when I talk about the current problems with the economy, since we have played a huge part in keeping Nicaragua this poor. The U.S. has not been kind to this country. Prior to coming here, I did not know that the U.S. appointed Samosa, the dictator whose family ruled and destroyed this country for more than 50 years. We have exploited this country in more ways than I can count.
It's been really interesting to see the other side of the coin with Nicaragua. It's amazing how much dealings the U.S. government has had with this country, and how much the average U.S. citizen doesn't know about it. There's much more to this place than the Revolution in the 80's.