Waves of Hope

A non profit community development program in Nicaragua

Home again after amazing time in Nicaragua

It’s been almost two weeks now since I woke up early in the morning, when the roosters started making rooster sounds, packed the last of my things and left the lovely green house in El Manzano Uno that I had called my home for the last nine weeks. I cried, the family cried and the other volunteer Genny, who I became good friends with, cried. I’m usually not very emotional, but this was the second time in those two moths I wept.

So why was I so sad to go? There are many answers to that but bottom line is that there is something special with life and peoples attitude towards life in this place. There’s a vibe throughout the community that says “we got your back” which is beautiful. It sounds corny to say but the best way I can describe it is like one big family. I was born and raised in Gothenburg, Sweden which is a big city and the mentality of this small community was something new to me. Thinking back I can’t remember ever feeling unsafe, which is rare any place in the world. I found myself being really at ease with everything, untouchable by earthly drama. Like even my brain was stuck in hammock-mode.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I was just bumming around sucking in the awesome feel of everything; there was actually some work to be done too. The program is built up so that you work trough out the week (25-30 h) and then get the weekends off to do what you please. Which is nice – I usually welcomed that break. Too many cute and energetic kids talking Spanish can be too much in too big quantities. And free time in Nicaragua is even better than just free time. I did a lot of hanging out on the beach, which was a 7 minute walk from my house(?!). I also got to try surfing, which was great fun! I didn’t turn pro but I could kind of stand up towards the end. For more fun you can rely on the local corner store parties. You are guaranteed to be the only foreigner but people get down with the dancing – sweaty for sure. I travelled to other parts of Nicaragua before and during my stay too. Depending on what you like there are a number of things to do and places to see. Nicaragua is an awesome country with volcanoes, beaches, Flor de Caña, chocolate factories and the always so friendly people. This photo is from when we went volcano boarding at Cerro Negro!

Volcan boarding at Volcan Cerro Negro, Nicaragua

Blog by: Aisha Hassan, Past Intern, Waves of Hope