The Fab 4: the 4th Generation of Volunteers

On August 25th, 2024, Will (on the far right) arrived in Nicaragua, and we finally had our complete starting lineup. Brendan and Finn (pictured on the far left and next to Will, respectively) had been in Nicaragua for two months, while I had been there for a couple of weeks.

IPICA de Granada

The horse festival in Granada is where people from all over Nicaragua showcase their horses. The streets are packed with people hoping to catch a glimpse of the giant horses dancing to the rhythm of music played by the many bands performing on the street. We were fortunate to get exclusive seats in a private tent, where we ate a local Granada dish, Viguron, which consists of chicharrón with a coleslaw-like salad and yuca. It was a grand old time with our friend Julio and my fellow volunteers, Brendan and Finn.

Nicaraguan Independence

Nicaraguan Independence Day is celebrated on September 15th. For the festivities, Escuela Emprendedora organized a march, where students marched, danced, and played instruments. The entire school marched down the streets of Diriomo, mesmerizing the crowds with amazing talents. Finn, Brendan, and I participated in the march in different groups. Finn (left) danced the Güegüense, a traditional satirical dance dating back to the 16th century. Brendan (middle) danced folklore, a style characterized by the energetic music notes of the marimba. I (right) led a march of students who held up banners displaying the values that the school emphasized to the student body.

Ahüizotes

In Nicaragua, people don’t celebrate Halloween, but they do celebrate Los Ahüizotes. Los Ahüizotes is celebrated in the city of Masaya on the last Friday of October. People dress up in outfits straight out of nightmares and march and dance down the streets of Masaya to live bands. I went with my fellow volunteers, business professor Carlos Alemán (on the far right), and physical education professor Carlos Potosme (next to Carlos Alemán). I sported a luchador mask, while Brendan wore a pumpkin mask, and Finn wore a teddy bear mask. The atmosphere was electric, and it was one of the spookiest nights of my life.

Leon Trip

The city of León was a magnificent place, similar to Granada for its colonial architecture, but also very distinct. Will and I decided on a last-minute trip and took a bus to the capital, Managua, then headed to León. The city was buzzing with energy in anticipation of the Purisima, a festival honoring the Immaculate Conception of Mary. We spent our first day absorbing the vibe of the city by observing locals and admiring a beautiful sunset. On our second day, we surfed a volcano (I know that sounds crazy, but that’s what we did) and admired the picturesque, purple-toned sunset from the top of the León Cathedral. It was my favorite trip at the time.

Christmas Concert

On this day, all four previous generations of volunteers gathered for a night of holiday joy and fun. Students at the school showcased their many talents and captivated the crowd. My favorite moment was when a group of students did a rendition of "The Sound of Silence" that left me blown away.

Graduation Night

A day after the Christmas concert, we celebrated our 11th graders' graduation. It was a day filled with emotion. It was bittersweet because we were seeing off students who had left their mark on the school and had been an important reason why it was such a special place. But it was also a happy moment for us, the educators, because we were seeing our students go off to pursue their dreams. I know that these young adults will use the knowledge and skills they learned during their time here to help build not just a better Nicaragua, but a better world.

Beach Day

Every last Friday of the month, we volunteers get the day off. So, at the end of February, we decided to reward ourselves for our tireless work and unrelenting dedication with a beach vacation. We headed south to San Juan del Sur, where we soaked in the vibes and evened out our tans. The vacation helped us recharge our batteries and come back to school ready to teach our kids.