In June, three administrators had the chance to go on an immersion experience in Nicaragua to learn the culture, experience new things and be pilgrims of the country of Nicaragua. More importantly, they listened to stories and connected with the people, young and old. They understood more than ever before and their lives changed. Mark Latta, dean of the School of Dentistry; Colette O’Meara-McKinney, Associate Vice President, President’s Office; and Mary Ann Danielson, Associate Vice President, Academic Excellence and Assessment helped to influence others as much as the Nicaraguan people influenced them at a Spirit Plus Lunch on Sept. 26.
The travelers felt the easiest way for them and others to understand the Nicaraguan people, culture and lifestyle was to first understand the history behind it all. Nicaragua is one of the largest countries in Central America, but is also one of the most sparsely populated.
“Many of the people we met and the poverty they live in and the circumstances of the country are so very much impacted by Nicaragua history and very much of an eye opener for us,” Latta said, emphasizing the great impact the history had on the people.
On the immersion experience, the three colleagues had the opportunity to speak with some very interesting and influential Nicaraguans and visit some outstanding places. Through these people and places, they saw the struggles, aspirations and all the things that make these people so proud to be from Nicaragua and have had the experiences they have.
“People were so grateful to do so much and you could see that when we met the wood carver and his family,” Danielson said. “He was so proud to introduce us to his wife and his 12 or 13 children and what they were doing and the schools they went to.”
The Creighton colleagues also had the opportunity to go to the Batahola Cultural Center where they learned a lot about the culture of the Nicaraguan people, the respect levels towards heroes and that Nicaraguans view heroes as more than those just in their country.
“They revere their heroes but others who have made substantial impact in Central America [as well],” Latta said. “The Nicaraguan people embrace all leaders who are trying to lift up those who are disadvantaged and impoverished, especially those people of rural areas. After the Sandinistas came to power, the first thing they wanted to improve was literacy of all.”
Now there are 1.2 million children who attend school in Central America, decreasing the illiteracy rate.
“I met one kid who viewed this opportunity to go to school as a real gift,” O’Meara-McKinney said. “[The children] found a real appreciation and joy in this place. This wasn’t an easy thing for them to achieve or for their families to make it possible. Many of them come from families where literacy is still a major challenge or they may be learning to read and write and their parents aren’t. He [a student who was ready to graduate] when asked about his dreams and aspirations he responded with ‘“I want to be somebody.’”
The three colleagues also had the chance to learn about gender roles. Women often felt their voices and opinions were nowhere to be heard. Women were motivated by the collective voices of other women. A woman named Luchilla was a former president of a co-operative who believed that there were two significant influences in her life, God and the revolution. The revolution changed to a large extent women’s role and began a woman’s movement. The Sandinistas were trying to control the social movement, but women questioned and maintained a strong presence and challenged the system.
“To be born a women meant your destiny was predestined and you began working at nine, began dating at 16 and be married by 18,” Luchilla said. “That was your life and that is all there is to it.”
Women collectively came together to create a power for themselves that allows them to really advance themselves. They did this by creating organizations such as the Association of Women Builders, an all-female construction company.
All three Creighton colleagues were challenged to reflect on this experience and how it changed them individually.
“An essential element of being away and being uncomfortable and going from the head to the heart is the community that we shared it with,” Latta said. “It is a very important part of the process where we experience things and do reflections as a group and celebrate the ucaris and that was a very important part of our own formation while in the midst of this particular experience.”
O’Meara-McKinney believes that to fully understand everything that was happening and absorb things, she had to get herself a little raw to absorb everything that was happening. One must under go an immersion experience where one is moved out of his or her comfort zone and then he or she tends to run things through a different filter.
“Without a doubt it continues to shape my thinking and decision making,” O’Meara-McKinney said about her experience. “Having this experience influences what I think about scholarship opportunities for students, what I think about what we do with professional development with and among our colleagues.”