Esteli Nicaragua
Comments in response to MattÃs upcoming trip to Nicaragua.
ìI was telling Seah about Matt’s plans.
She said it was as ill conceived a plan as when her friend Karen Pence
– the most white bread girl on earth – went to Africa and took a
decade to recover.
And I said – yeah, I should write his aunt Susan and ask if she is
really going to let this happen. Instead I am writing you – in case
Susan already is on the verge of hysteria about it.
Tear up the ticket. Lose the bucks.
Send Matt here and we’ll treat him badly but with hospitals close by.î
ìDiane, did you feel like you couldnÃt say no?î
ìYou know, at your age itÃs too late to have another.î
ìHeÃs going where?? With a girl his age??î
ìToo bad you will never see him again.î
I was lying in bed the other night with these comments floating in my head when I sat up and thought, I wouldnÃt go to Nicaragua. What were we thinking? But then I wandered down in my pajamas and read EdÃs offering.
Great plan. Sounds like a mini-peace corps gig.
Good for Matt & Hillary, good for Nicaragua.
Buena suerte!
So there, all you nay sayers, it is a good plan, even if we donÃt see him again.
I am outraged! (grin) My comment has been published out of context. Here is the whole of what I said:
What a terrific time Matt and Hil will have just figuring out where they are and where they are going. An adventure right up my alley! Too bad we shall never see them again to hear all about it.
While I may have some little niggling trepidations — and I think we all should — I truly believe the whole plan to be a grand idea and would never suggest that the kibosh be put on it. No matter the actual events, these will be four weeks in Matt’s life that he will never forget and Alternte Mode says, “This is a good thing.”
Comment by Alternate Mode — April 8, 2004 @ 9:06 am
Well, maybe I was glib when I said, “Great plan”, but I still think Matt & Hillary’s trip will be a life-changing, never-to-be-forgotten adventure.
I was a little puzzled to see Alt’s ìToo bad you will never see him again.î That has too many possible meanings for me to decipher it. (fear, joke, awe at Kerouac redu,…?)
Maybe Mike & Diane should talk to local Nicauraguan migrants to get a feel for what it will be like down there. Langley Park, the town next to the Univ. of MD is full of Nicarauguans. I can direct you to some Nicauraguan restaurants run by immigrants who’d be glad to talk about their lives. Does Boston has any Nicauraguan enclaves? Unfortunately it can’t be done on-line.
Comment by rakkity — April 8, 2004 @ 10:09 am
Obviously, in todays climate of hate, any trip to another country has some risk. (Even though my bride is a seasoned traveler, I have some anxiety about her planned trip to Ireland later this fall.) However, I know Matt to be a very perceptive and thoughtful young man. He will be just fine and will learn a lot about himself and the people he meets.
The bottom line is he will teach those he meets that not all Americans are like POTUS.
Comment by shinydome — April 8, 2004 @ 1:11 pm
I think I agree with Ed on Matt’s trip. Just think positively. I let Pete do a lot of stuff and sending Brian off to New York without ever seeing Columbia was certainly chancy. Not to mention letting you hitch hike around the country. Lordy!!!!
Comment by HO — April 8, 2004 @ 10:56 pm
He doesn’t wear pajamas.
Comment by What? — April 9, 2004 @ 3:08 pm
I ask the nay-sayers–how many of you have actually travelled in Latin America?
If you had, you would know that Latin people are:
Incredibly kind and generous
Protective of children, regardless of nationality
And Direcor Edgelina would never encourage Matt and Hil to come if there were any danger.
Plus, Matt will:
finally learn Spanish
begin to overcome fear of failure
perhaps even discover a something he can be passionate about.
So make way, and fret not!
Comment by Nicaragua-Ho! — April 27, 2004 @ 9:26 am
as the other half of this little expedition i’d like to just say that i think its a brilliant idea! we’ll be fine. i know kung fu. matt’s not stupid. and ALSO it gets us out of acton for a month. and volunteer work. and i HAVE been to nicaragua before and its a great country. i’m not worried about us. so none of you should be. so there. and matt has a fear of failure? hm… that explains a bunch.
Comment by the other half — April 29, 2004 @ 5:39 pm