Spanish Immersion program in Nicaragua

[RetiredAndFree]

I've been wanting to do a Spanish immersion program for some time, but had always assumed it would occur in Costa Rica, a place we've wanted to return to since first visiting. However, a group from our Lifelong Learning program has located a school in Nicaragua that offers what appears to be a wonderful program, inclusive of an eco-lodge, food and activities, for about half of what the same program would cost in Costa Rica.

I've done some basic research, and travel sites like Frommers and Fodors are currently rating Nicaragua as one of, if not the, safest and most peaceful country in Central America. Hmm, will admit that is a bit different than what my perceptions of the country had been.

So we're strongly leaning toward doing it. Am curious, though, if anyone here has recently visited Nicaragua, and how the overall experience was if so?

 

[MBAustin]

I haven't personally been, but friends have been on multiple mission trips there and have not reported any problems.

 

[Sarah in SC]

I would love to go to there! Have heard great things about the country and wouldn't hesitate to do a program like that. We plan to go through there next summer if all goes well with our PanAm road trip plans.

 

[haha]

Can you please give a link to this program?

Ha

 

[RetiredAndFree]

Thanks all. Looks like this is a go!

Can you please give a link to this program?

Ha

Here you go-

La Mariposa Spanish School & Eco-Hotel in Nicaragua (Central America) homepage - learn Spanish in a peaceful and fun environment that includes principals of sustainable living and vegetarian food

 

[haha]

Thanks all. Looks like this is a go!



Here you go-

La Mariposa Spanish School & Eco-Hotel in Nicaragua (Central America) homepage - learn Spanish in a peaceful and fun environment that includes principals of sustainable living and vegetarian food

Thanks, RAF.

Kind of funny, mariposa is a butterfly, but also in Mexico an offensive slang word for gay man. I knew it in this meaning long before I realized it also meant butterfly. Many Latinos seem not to be nearly so careful about PC as we gringos are.

Ha

 

[Sarah in SC]

Many years ago, I spent about 45 minutes in a Guatemalan taxi trying to remember the Spanish word for butterfly. Let's just say that "butterfly" is impossible to explain unless you have "mariposa" at your fingertips. I won't ever forget it now. Didn't know that it was Mexican slang. We had a Peruvian tutor, so mostly only learned slang from Lima.

 

[REWahoo]

Many years ago, I spent about 45 minutes in a Guatemalan taxi trying to remember the Spanish word for butterfly.

Did you really need to ride in a taxi to remember?

 

[ronin]

Went to Nica last year. Very nice experience. People are super nice and had no problems. It is probably the poorest country in Latin America, so it is not all rosas y arco iris.

 

[ronin]

Many years ago, I spent about 45 minutes in a Guatemalan taxi trying to remember the Spanish word for butterfly. Let's just say that "butterfly" is impossible to explain unless you have "mariposa" at your fingertips. I won't ever forget it now. Didn't know that it was Mexican slang. We had a Peruvian tutor, so mostly only learned slang from Lima.

 

[haha]

This is one of my favorite songs. "treacherous butterfly", flying from lover to lover.

He's a translation from the web:

Treacherous butterfly

Versions: #1#2#3#4#5
You are like a butterfly
You fly and you pose and you are going from mouth to mouth
To those who provoke you easily and swiftly
I am the mouse of your mousetrap
A trap which doesn’t kill but doesn’t set free either
I live dying like a prisoner
Treacherous butterfly
Everything is gone with the wind
Butterfly i’m not coming back
Oh, butterfly of love, my butterfly of love
I won’t come back with you anymore
Oh, butterfly of love, my butterfly of love
Never again with you
Fly love, fly pain
And don’t come back to one place
See yourself from flower to flower
Seducing the pistils
And fly near the sun
To feel what pain is
Oh, woman what pain you cause
The minutes go by as if they were years
Look this jealousy is killing me
Oh woman, how easy you are
You open your little wings, thighs of colours
Where your loves pose
Treacherous butterfly
Everything is gone with the wind
Butterfly i’m not coming back
Oh, butterfly of love, my butterfly of love
I won’t come back with you anymore
Oh, butterfly of love, my butterfly of love
Never again with you
Fly love, fly pain
May you have luck in your life
Oh, oh, oh, oh pain
I cried for you very very much
Oh, oh, oh, oh, love
You will fly from me


Taken from http://lyricstranslate.com/en/Mariposa-Tracionera-Treacherous-butterfly.html#ixzz2yVCc0JUd


Ha

 

[RetiredAndFree]

Very entertaining, I much enjoyed the 'shares.'

Went to Nica last year. Very nice experience. People are super nice and had no problems. It is probably the poorest country in Latin America, so it is not all rosas y arco iris.

We've moved beyond first world countries, and increasing poverty comes along with that, of course. The current challenge is to better understand where we fit into that complex cog, i.e., tourism as a method to better understand, and to provide a stream of revenue, but, ideally, not to exploit. It is a delicate balance to be sure.