Volunteer in Costa Rica

Project: Teaching English Samara

Having only been a uVolunteer for 24 hours, my new 'family' decided an outing was necessary for my initiation and immersion in 'Tico' lifestyle, so we decided to go and check out a Surfing competition in Playa Guiones; in fact this was the top surfing competition in the whole of Costa Rica, so our expectations were high. First of all we had to get there…so we started to walk with the intention of hitching a lift (thinking that it was about 30 mins away). Our party of 6 was quickly four as two of our group gave up after 200m.

After declining the offer of borrowing a car from some local Colombian amigos we bartered for a taxi fare with Oscar, a local cabbie. I soon got the feeling that this wasn't going to be easy when I realized the passenger door was only partially attached to the body of the 'car'. "eeez not new car, huh!," said Oscar. "Haha," we responded nervously…20 minutes later the window handle came off in my hand… "$50 dollarzzz!" shouts Oscar, laughing hysterically. What's next, we thought, the steering wheel? Oscars highlight was probably when Caitlin reminded him of the local phrase: "Only tourists drive in straight lines". He then gladly provided an example of the opposite. After driving through shallow crocodile infested waters, dusty paths full of 'loco' quad bikes doing about 70mph we arrived in the resort to find…

The finals of the surfing competition were the next day and today was only the junior semis and there weren't many people about. So we headed for the beach, which is famous for having no shade at all, so for the gringos sunbathing wasn't a good idea. We started to walk along the beach, plodding along, trying to reach a building near the end of the bay that looked like a hand holding a nipple/bell/mushroom.

Then we decided to walk round the edge of the bay and hopefully enter another one on the other side…this was when it got interesting. What seemed like a fun little climb among the rock pools looking at the crabs turned out to be simultaneous with the return of the tide. The boys were in front finding it pretty easy (of course) but as we reached a part where the waves were forced against us we dallied too long. Within seconds the waves started to get bigger and stronger. The girls then caught up and informed us we couldn't head back as the tide was blocking our path… Team uVolunteer then kicked into action and with much altruism we somehow made it through the unforgiving waves and sharp rocks: cameras dry and intact, and only a few bruises. Fortunately we were able to celebrate our good fortune as in front of the nipple house was a sort of geezer where waves were channeled under the rock and came spouting out of the ground for us to shower beneath, Caitlin being hit by a Giser.

At this point we looked back to the edge of the bay where we had come around and we were really grateful to have made it. Where we had once stood were 6-8 ft waves crashing against the cliffs. So we found the nearest bar, enquired where on earth we were and drank lager until Oscar came to rescue us. Nature rewarded us for our bravery/stupidity with a beautiful sunset. We were then driven to Buenavista where a music festival was taking place. More fun took place with fire dancers and over-friendly German tuba players wearing Lederhosen, but perhaps we should end that story there! Finally we managed to arrange a lift home... Will write more about my time volunteering with uVolunteer in Costa Rica soon.

View The Nosara Trip Photo Gallery.

Other Volunteer Stories by Oliver Macaky
Part 1: Trip to Nosara
Part 2: Teaching at El Torrito
Part 3: Don Cesar's Birthday
Part 4: My Final Week in Samara


Please feel free to contact me with any questions about any aspect of uVolunteer's programs. uVolunteer will provide my email adderess if requested.
Age: 24, Country: England, Date: February 2007.

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