By Taylor McKelvey

Professor David Buck is leading Thiel students on a service trip to Nicaragua this March.

This trip will be from Mar. 3 through Mar. 11 and will be focused on service and working in Mangua and La Paz, Nicaragua. This trip’s vision of service is the cultural learning experience that each student gains. During one afternoon each student will shadow someone from the community, and learn about their culture and lifestyles. Therefore, this is not a mission trip.

This will cost, approximately, two-thousand dollars, per student. This cost may fluctuate depending on the length of the trip, number of students participating, and the cost of airfare. This cost includes the room and board with a host family, the sight-seeing trips, meals, and transportation, including airfare. It also includes twenty-four-hour trip guidance and translation with experienced Compas de Nicaragua field supervisor.

The current payment schedule is one-thousand due Dec. 1, another due Dec. 12, and the rest by Jan. 30.

Since there is no scholarship money available for this trip, fundraising is an option. It was mentioned, by Dr. Buck, that he had conducted a candy-bar sale in past years, and it was helpful for students.

Some concerns that students had, were if it was worth the money and if the host families were a safe to stay with.

Senior Irene Hooks replied to these concerns, “I went two years ago, and it is totally worth the money and I plan on going again.”

She also said that the host family she stayed with last time would lock up her room every time she left the house. Dr. Buck added by saying that typically two or more students stay with one host family, so a student is never alone.

Dr. Buck also said that this trip is a great combination of work and play. The students have plenty of free time, the trip is not fast-paced, and is enjoyable.