Nicaragua 2010

Good Morning!

Well, we're finally on our way to Nicaragua! We left Eau Claire this morning at 5:00 a.m., and after picking up the rest of the team in Madison, we are waiting to board our plane at O'Hare. While our journey is just beginning, let me fill you in on how we got to this point.

The NCAA allows Division III teams to participate in an international "tour" once every three years. The volleyball team's last trip was in 2006 when we toured Italy during spring break. Our team first started discussing our options for the 2010 trip last spring, and we began researching various destinations where we could compete, experience the culture of another country, and do some service projects.

As you can imagine, the girls were drawn to warm climates (we had already determined we would travel in January 2010), and most of the tour agencies we looked at had a lot of "tourist" activities, some volleyball and just a day or two of community service. Through a Google search, I found a company called "Bring It Promotions" (www.bringitusa.com) that had done tours to Europe, Central America and South America with several different volleyball programs. In a phone conversation with Tim Kelly, the owner of BIP, we discussed our options and he suggested that we consider Nicaragua. He talked about the beauty of the country, the opportunity to play competitive volleyball, and an abundance of service projects that we could take part in. I read several of the blogs from teams who had traveled to Nicaragua and I was sold, but I left the final decision up to the team.

In May, our 2009 captains – Cassie, Kristen, and Lindsey – presented the team with information about four potential destinations: Greece, Italy, Nicaragua, and Brazil. Nicaragua won out in a team vote, and we booked the trip through BIP. The opportunities for service projects was the biggest draw for our team. I can't tell you how proud I am of these girls for selecting a trip that will likely take them the farthest out of their comfort zones.

We really didn’t know much about our itinerary until mid-December when I met with Tim Kelly at the coaches’ convention in Tampa. Following that meeting, Jodi and I decided we were going to challenge our girls to really make this trip less about us and more about the people we were going to encounter in Nicaragua.

What did that mean? Each player had to pack her personal belongings (for 10 days) in one carry-on and a small backpack. Their checked bag would be solely reserved for donations. This was a challenge for some of our girls, especially the 3-1-1 liquids rule! But they managed wonderfully and – I think – embraced the challenge. Many of us packed “bottom of the drawer” clothes that we will wear while we are there and then wash and leave with someone who needs them more than we do. So we will hopefully have a lot of empty carry-ons on the way home! We gathered enough donated goods to fill 25 large duffle bags full of clothes, art supplies, construction paper, magazines, soccer balls, baseball bats, and a lot more. I can’t wait to meet the recipients of these donations! I should also mention that the girls were not allowed to bring iPods, cell phones or computers. The withdrawal symptoms, so far, have been relatively mild. :)

So now, here we are, waiting for our flight out of Chicago. The girls are playing cards, sleeping, reading, and helping Rachel with her crossword puzzles. They just called us to board, so I’ll wrap it up.

Here’s our schedule in a nutshell:

Saturday (Managua): 2 matches vs. El Salvador & Nicaragua

Sunday (Managua): Match vs. Nicaragua, travel to San Juan del Sur

Monday-Thursday (San Juan del Sur): Service activities in the morning, fun activities in the afternoon; plus another match against Nicaragua on Wednesday night. Service activities might include: visits to schools, hospitals, reforestation efforts, community centers and other things we aren't really sure of!

Friday (Jinotepe): Visit to the “Brazos de Amor” orphanage; match vs. Nicaragua

Saturday (Granada): Masaya Volcano and tour of Granada and the Isletas.

Sunday: Return home

At the end of each day, or when time allows, two or three members of the team will blog about the day’s activities. I am eager to witness how all of our lives will be changed by this experience.

Thank you for your support of our volleyball program and for joining us on our journey!

~Kim Wudi, Head Coach