I stayed I Granada which is a beautiful city right by the lake of Nicaragua. The first four weeks I took Spanish classes, which I benefitted from a lot. 
Program Volunteer Nicaragua
Project: Volunteer in a Youth Center in Nicaragua
I have learned Spanish which has been a dream of mine for the last 6 years, but hadn’t been realized, because I don’t learn languages that well in class rooms.
I came to Nicaragua in the beginning of February. I was very excited about going, but still nervous because I didn’t know any Spanish when I arrived. I stayed I Granada which is a beautiful city right by the lake of Nicaragua. The first four weeks I took Spanish classes, which I benefitted from a lot. The teaching was one-on-one so the class was fitted exactly to my level. 
During my stay there I traveled around to places like Leon, another colonial city, and Isla de Ometepe, which is a volcanic Island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. At Ometepe I horseback rode, swam, relaxed on the beach and ate tons of delicious fruits.
After that I worked at a community center, which is a form of school where children or adults can get help with homework, take English classes or take other classes like Street Dance, folklore or even clase de Piñata. I co-taught in a Spanish class, assisted in 2 English classes a day, helped serve lunch for some of the children and helped in a homework class. I enjoyed it so much, the children were just lovely, except for some times, when they didn’t want to work, but I guess it’s only natural for 8 year old boys would rather play than do Spanish.
During my stay there I traveled around to places like Leon, another colonial city, and Isla de Ometepe, which is a volcanic Island in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. At Ometepe I horseback rode, swam, relaxed on the beach and ate tons of delicious fruits.
I ended up changing my plans about staying in Nicaragua until June, because I realized that four months was a little too long time for me in one place. I switched to a Costa Rican project for my last three weeks. What I loved most here in Costa Rica, besides the breathtaking nature, has been the dorm life. I stayed at the dorm in San Ramon and have enjoyed the company of my roommates. With the other volunteers I have traveled to Manuel Antonio, a beach town on the Pacific and La Fortuna next to Volcano Arenal, where we white-water-rafted and went to Monte Verde to zip line. So much fun!
I am so happy that I have gone on this trip. I have learned Spanish which has been a dream of mine for the last 6 years, but hadn’t been realized, because I don’t learn languages that well in class rooms.
Astrid Vestergard
