Written by Macey Tayler, 2023-24 Latitudes Student
When I committed to going to a quaint little town, on the northern coast of Peru, I had no idea what to expect. Google Maps showed me pictures that could only be described as extraterrestrial; but for some reason, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Lobitos, Peru was where I needed to spend my individual placement with Carpe Diem. Now, eight weeks into my trip, I can say that not only does Google Maps not do an ounce of justice for Lobitos, but that there is nowhere else as amazing as Lobitos to spend my semester abroad. This semester has been packed with more laughs, smiles, happy tears, learning, growth, and pure happiness than I could have ever imagined.
Embracing the Waves
Volunteering for Waves, a surf therapy program here in Lobitios that offers surf classes, art classes, skateboarding, jujitsu, and English to the kids in town, has been the experience of a lifetime. It allowed me to have an instant family here in town. The directors, Henry and Luis were welcoming, kind, and quick to laugh and make jokes and it was so easy to tell how much the kids looked up to and respected them. I was introduced to the other volunteers and people associated with Waves as soon as I arrived, and immediately we were laughing and creating good connections.
Balancing Work and Play
With classes at Waves pretty much every day, there is a perfect balance of work and free time. Classes last about two hours and I look forward to everyone. The kids are amazing, and even though when I first got here there was definitely a language barrier, it wasn’t long before we were all joking and playing together.
Finding Home in Lobitos
I live in a beautiful house, on top of a hill, with an unreal view of the ocean and sunset. I ride my bike everywhere or walk along the beach. The dogs I live with have also started to follow me around when I leave, which is cute and sometimes a little annoying because then I have to keep track of them everywhere I go; and little Selva can be a troublemaker. I have improved my Spanish, caught my first waves surfing, and created lasting relationships with many people here. Every Sunday we play soccer, then go to lunch and it has become my favorite activity. Lobitos really has become a second home, and I can’t think of a better place for me to have spent these 11 weeks.
Overcoming Challenges
While I wouldn’t trade my time in Lobitos for anything, that does not mean there were no challenges. It is a very small town, and 90% of the local people here do not understand or speak English. I knew this coming here, and it was a challenge I was prepared to face. But it did prove to be a little more isolating than I was expecting. Especially considering where my ability to speak Spanish was when I first arrived. I felt tired and a little overwhelmed at the end of every day, pushing my mind to keep up with the conversations, and feeling a little discouraged when I couldn’t follow along, or respond how I wanted to. It made me very homesick for the first two weeks. I also got food poisoning, as almost every traveler does when visiting a South American country for the first time. It felt a little discouraging, but I was determined to improve my Spanish, and it gave me a lot of motivation to spend my free time watching videos and practicing with my roommate whenever I could. And eventually, my stomach got used to the food and water. Slowly I became less homesick, and I made lots of friends, and now I can’t imagine saying goodbye.
Highlights and Gratitude
There are too many highlights to document! But it is safe to say, that one of the huge things that makes Lobitos, Peru so special is the people here. There are so many travelers. I was not expecting there to be as many as there are! And the local people are so welcoming and kind. When I walk down the street I am bound to see at least 3 people I know, and I love it. The amount of people I have met with amazing stories and travel experiences is super inspiring. And for such a small town, you can always spot a new face, and then quickly become friends. If you meet someone at your morning surf session, chances are you will be friends and have dinner together that same evening.
A blessing that changed my whole trip has been my housemate Pauline, and another volunteer from Waves, Bea. They were friends before I arrived, and they immediately welcomed me in. I can’t even count the amount of times we stayed up late talking by the ocean with our ice cream, or had tears streaming down my face because of how hard we were laughing. Pauline, who also rents a room in the house I live in, became a fast friend, but more than that, someone I trust with everything, and who really helps me feel at home and safe here. She is always looking out for me and I have been so lucky to have her. And Bea, the other Waves volunteer, can make me laugh in seconds. I am beyond grateful for them.
Obviously, another highlight is the ocean. I feel so lucky to get to wake up and have my morning coffee watching and listening to the waves. I never ever take it for granted, and will miss it so so much when I return to the U.S.
Personal Growth and New Skills
I came to Lobitos having studied Spanish in high school, but when I got here, it was so different. People speak fast and don’t wait to start a new sentence until you’ve comprehended the previous one. It was very overwhelming at first, even discouraging at times. But with the help of a lot of people, especially my roommate, I have improved so much. My friends who are native to Peru and I can communicate fairly easily, all in Spanish, and I can follow along in group conversations with much less effort. I am not fluent by any means, but my improvements are noticed by others, and myself, and after so much work and practice, it feels really good!
Inspired by Macey’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey!
