A big hello from Playa Gigante in Nicaragua! I am currently in my 5th week here working with Project Wave of Optimism and loving it and all the people I’ve had the chance to meet so far. It seems like just yesterday that I was here with my group semester (shout out to the Quetzal homies) and falling in love with it all so much that I had to return to volunteer with WOO. Returning to a place I had already been, I knew exactly what to expect, however I had no idea how difficult it would be to come back and not have 13 of my closest friends alongside me. But this has been made easier by the other volunteers here, as we spend much of our downtime together surfing or hanging out at the office or beach.
The work varies day to day here, with meetings for different projects or planning every couple days. I also help teach English on Tuesdays and Thursdays to the kindergarten through 6th graders at the local primary school. This has easily been one of my favorite parts about volunteering down here because it is truly heartwarming how excited the kids get for class and when they see us teachers. I also help out with the teen club on Sunday mornings when we all meet at the beach to play baseball, surf, or other games. And I want to make sure to note that no matter what the schedule is, each day involves surfing or at least getting in the water, usually at sunset.
Besides working with kids in the community we work a lot with visiting groups that come down every couple of weeks. We recently had twenty high school students from the Bay Area come and their major service project was a giant clothing sale to raise money for the remodeling of the school’s garden. The spring semester Carpe Diem group also was here and left earlier today. We had a very fun week with a focus on Semana Santa and getting to know the people of Gigante by having a Community Beach Day for all the kids. It is currently Semana Santa, the week before Easter that many people have off and come to Gigante for their vacation, it is very hectic. There is a rumored 3,000 people expected to flock to this little town to celebrate!
A major part of the Project WOO volunteer experience is immersion into the community by living in a homestay, and just between you and me, I have the best mother. It is just Lucia and me living at my house, but her son and his wife and daughter, Allison, live across the street so it really feels like I am living with all of them. Allison (la princessa, as she is often referred) is the cutest little 4 year old, she and I have spent lots of time debating over watching Dora the Explorer or My Little Pony, playing with Legos or make believe. Because Lucia has a pulperia (small store) connected to our house there are always people there, so I’ve been able to meet lots of people and am at the point where I know most of the people I see around the community each day.
My mother is awesome. She and I are always joking with each other, which has really helped with the language barrier even if I didn’t comprehend the joke in the first place. She is also an amazing cook and has taught me how to make a few things – I have now mastered the art of cooking gallo pinto – look out Minnesota, you’re about to experience Nicaraguan cooking so authentic when I return that you’ll think you’re in Managua. I plan on teaching her a few dishes myself, I am starting later today with some super gourmet grilled cheese.
Although it is an incredible change from what I’m used to: living in a house with walls that don’t go all the way up to the ceiling, depending on someone to prepare meals for me, constantly being covered in a layer of sweat, among many other things, I can’t imagine a better way to be spending my semester. Hasta la proxima! Later bruh, bouta go shred the gnar.
-Jamie Oskey, Self-Proclaimed Semi-Professional Surfer
