Nica. Photo: Brendan Simmons
My passion for traveling has allowed me to experience different parts of the world and see some amazing landscapes, try exotic foods, and get lost in new environments. At times, though, my travels feel a bit selfish. I question if they’re just contributing to my own need for adventure and escapism. I only get a taste of the culture from an outsider’s perspective and never fully understand the lives of the native people. Worse, I wonder if I ever make a genuine connection along the way.
Deciding to take a chance at a new kind of travel, my husband and I signed up for a volunteer trip with Waves of Hope (WOH). We’d be going to Nicaragua, a country we’d always wanted to visit. So without knowing what to expect, we went to Central America with open minds and a hope that we’d bond in a new way. When we arrived at El Coco Loco in Manzano Uno we were greeted by an enthusiastic group of North Americans committed to improving the lives of the surrounding community and providing a memorable experience for all volunteers.
A typical day with WOH started with a morning surf at sunrise, connecting with the other volunteers and enjoying the beauty of the coastline. For me, surfing requires patience, courage, and presence, helping me to fully experience the moment and connect with the ocean. Thus, it was the perfect start to each day. A much needed after-surf breakfast was comprised of homemade peanut butter, bread, and granola as well as seasonal fruit and a full hot breakfast. Incorporated into daily meals were superfoods from the region, raw ingredients, and fresh juices. The food was creative, delicious and served in appropriate portions that left us satiated without the typical American food coma.
Next, we headed out for the service part of the day with three local Nica WOH employees, Katya, Lester, and Ezekiel. These three were the perfect hosts who were always quick to help with our broken Spanish, answer a ridiculous question, or keep us on track at the worksite. After spending a week sweating, playing, laughing and talking with our new friends I learned a lot about their lives, their perceptions of gringos, and our shared aspirations for the future. At last, I had found a connection with locals in a far off place.
The main reason we were in Nicaragua was to help build a new elementary school. Upon seeing the state of the current school I felt sincere gratitude for the opportunity to cultivate a much better environment for learning. As the kids were taking lessons under a thatch roof held up by a few poles and corrugated steel we were 15 meters away digging trenches for the foundation of the new school. The new school is being built with concrete to protect from the wind and rain and keep the kids, desks and school supplies safe. Let’s be honest, digging trenches, carrying bricks and moving rocks is not exactly my strong suit but it was by far my favorite part of the volunteer experience. Working with the local contractors, seeing our progress and giving back felt extremely gratifying. And of course interacting with the kids and finding ways to communicate without sharing the same language was a humbling experience.
Photo: Waves of Hope
We wrapped up each day with a restorative yoga session on a beautiful open-air, raised studio. The hour allowed our bodies to relax, rejuvenate, and listen to the ocean. The yoga provided a time to reflect on each day and reconnect with our intentions for the trip. I cherished the evenings after yoga when we all shared stories of the day and dreamt up ways to further help the community that had given us so much during out stay. As I left the eco-resort I felt that I was leaving a smaller footprint than I usually do on my travels and had a greater understanding of the Nicaraguan culture and people.
Looking back on the trip, I can say that the whole experience exceeded my expectations. Having had a few days to reflect, I realized that working with Waves of Hope resonated so well with me because the founders, staff and overall vision align so well with my personal beliefs. I value and incorporate physical activity, good nutrition, community involvement, spiritual practice and overall connection into my everyday life and was so excited to meet like-minded people on a trip so far from home. It all seems like a fleeting memory but I am keeping the Nica and WOH people in my heart until the next trip.
Note: You can learn more about Waves of Hope here.
