At a bus stop on the outskirts of León, I saw something small and furry huddled in the corner underneath the bench. What I saw broke my heart: a baby kitten, sleeping on a heap of garbage, the epitome of being forgotten and unloved by society. I couldn't tell if it was sleeping or dying. And to be honest, I'm not sure which is worse. If it survives, this kitten is condemned to permanently living on the streets, becoming one of the many animals that roam the streets of Nicaragua, dodging traffic in search of garbage to eat. I don't want to imply that this problem is specific to León or Nicaragua, because it definitely isn't. However, I've noticed a certain attitude that develops when one witnesses enough street animals like this kitten, because I notice myself becoming this way too. You become numb to it. After walking the streets every day, seeing countless animals starved and injured, it simply becomes a normal part of life. You learn to avoid street...
Learn about my work with Amigos de las Americas in Nicaragua and Paraguay, and follow my journey as a Chinese-American reconnecting with my roots through language and travel.