When you leave the room, which has up to four beds, you breathe in the warm, maritime air. As far as the eye can see, gorgeous nature. Palms, beach, a small copse, a river..,. yea - so man can live!
When you walk the few steps to the restaurant „ Name“, you will be warmly welcomed by a wonderful man to your breakfast. Though his name is Hänsel Hoppe, he is a typical native “Tico” (Costa Rican Guy).
Hänsel: “Food is not only food supply. It has to be an enjoyment for the people who are eating and seeing it.“, and this philosophy and love he puts in, you can taste.
After the delicious breakfast, which is mostly made of Gallo Pinto (Costa Rican traditional food out of rice and beans), eggs and bread, you go to work.
Together with at least one other Volunteer you help in the garden (which is also part of the beach), up keeping the Restaurant, while you are listening to the sound of the music classes from the attached(?) music school. You are surrounded by a group of playful, but not invasive dogs, which you will lock in your heart immediately.
When they need people, you can help in the village school by supporting the teachers, playing with the children during the breaks, or you make the school looking better with broom or wall paint.
Even though in this paradise it is mostly “tranquillo” (calm), there is always something to do. The workers there, who are doing more or less the same work as the volunteers, are really nice people who are happy when somebody is supporting them.
Doesn't matter which language you are speaking, you always are able to communicate. The perfect place to improve your Spanish, or if you prefer to speak English.... this is also understood in Pochote. They also like to speak “Spanglish” there. :)
After my sojourn in Pochote, the small fishing village, which lasted altogether one month, I came back twice in one year.
I wanted to volunteer in different places in Costa Rica. I made a lot of experience, saw awesome places and cooperated in wonderful projects. But Pochote left the biggest mark. You don't have to integrate yourself. You are already part of the fami1y. Its not just because of the work there, which is a great help, it is because of the whole package of nature, people and the work, bound together with the enormous will to change something in Pochote. To offer the children an alternative activity after school instead of lingering in the streets or at home, and to widen the view of the people and maybe your own for the beauty and the love of the earth.
No comments:
Post a Comment