The students worked hard to prepare for the trip during the spring 1998 semester by refining a national curriculum developed by the March of Dimes and a Hispanic organization. The goal was to develop a program that would be appropriate for this rural, low-literacy population. All members of the group agree that their Nicaraguan experience was very rewarding. They were able to develop effective relationships with the nursing staff and physician at the health center. They also had the opportunity to meet with Lidaya Zamora , director of nursing at the Polytechnical University, to discuss forming partnership experiences for American students through Healthy Cities.
Plans are also underway to develop mentoring relationships with the Nicaraguan nurses.
During their stay, one student had some very special news from the States. Ziegler learned from a telephone call to her husband that she had passed the state board examination. As a way of celebrating and acknowledging her new status, Riner arranged for Ziegler to be the first to administer an infant immunization. According to Riner, this study abroad experience was unique in that an actual educational intervention was provided in the host community by the visiting students, which was based on assessments done on previous visits. Plans are being made for visits to educate and make friends in Posoltega in years to come.