Trip to Nicaragua

The idea of making the trip with Sarah settled in quite easily. There was no way in the world that I would allow Sarah to go to Nicaragua on her own.

It didn't matter that she had already gone to 4 country's in Europe for World Youth Day with a group of kids (including her cousin, Lauren) from St. Therese Church in Alhambra; a mere adolescent at the tender age of 16. Or that she had already visited Peru with her friend, Joanne. Or that she has gone to Brazil for her Critical Race Studies program or that she went to New Orleans, LA to work for a Post-Katrina legal program through UCLA Law School. None of this mattered. The only thing that mattered was that she NOT GO to Nicaragua without me. It would be completely illogical. Either I had to go with her or go first.

After all, I had heard about this place all my life. This is the place that my mom and dad came from. This is where they lived, walked, met and fell in love. This is where I was knit in my mother's womb - into the Sirias family. This is where my soul finds it beginnings.

So, I started doing one of the things I love to do, plan an itinerary. This comes easily especially since I have a geographical compass in my head. I've always believed that I could be spun around and upon stopping, tell you which way is north.

Sarah, her dad, and I decided to compromise by going on the trip to Nicaragua together with her friend, Catherine for the first leg of the trip. The second part of the trip would include Costa Rica and Panama. Sarah's friends, Tifanny, and Michell would join us in Nicaragua and the 4 girls would go on the remaining part of the trip while Jack and I departed happily back to Los Angeles.

Sarah completed her undergrad in 3 years from Loyola-Marymount University in Communications Studies. After working for a year at Clear Channel-Katz Advantage (radio), she got bored and decided (quietly) to apply to several law schools. I would see several pieces of mail arrive from different law schools and tell Sarah, "Hey, you ought to apply to law school, they seem to have you on their mailing lists." She continued to remain silent until one day when I came home from work to find a half-sheet cake decorated in the blue & gold UCLA Bruins LOGO. Gracie, her sister, had made the cake and stood there beaming when I walked in the door. After all, Gracie and Oscar are both UCLA alums.

Fast forward - 3 years later. Sarah and I have gone and come back from our first trip to Nicaragua. Jack was a good sport for putting up with 3 strong willed women, me, Sarah and Catherine. Jack survived the challenges of getting lost in Managua, culture shock - seeing all the changes since he was last there, and my taking possession of the rental car to drive the wild streets of Nicaragua. Driving in Nicaragua requires honking your horn and driving like a Nicaraguan to get from one place to another - and you'll do just fine.

Catherine, an avid reader, was a delight. She fit into the mix just like she was born into the family. She must have read 3 books during the week that we traveled together. I'm sure she'll never forget the downpour of rain, the bath and the church bells in Boaco. None of us will ever forget about the machete man on the road.

Sarah told me of the time when she was in Rome for World Youth Day in the Jubilee year of 2000. She was in St. Peter's Square with two million other youth from around the world and suddenly she saw Catherine across the courtyard. She stared and stared then they both made eye contact. When they saw each other they ran toward each other and hugged in jubilant joy. Each of them went to WYD 2000 with different groups yet they encountered each other in St. Peter's Square. What are the chances of that happening?

Sarah's after-the-bar exam trip to Nicaragua was indeed a great way to celebrate this milestone event, graduating from law school and taking the bar exam. We have indeed been blessed.