PWB Nica. 2013 – Between Projects

The Overview

By Jacob Hirsch-Holland

We have just started project number two, in San Marcos, and having spent the last few days marking the halfway point of PWB Nica. 2013 with a little break, here is a bit about my time ‘off’ with Jess, in Ocotal . . .

Anyone who has worked and lived simultaneously with a group of people who you’ve never met in a country that you’ve never visited, teaching children who speak a different language, will know that it can be fairly intense at times. So having a few days in the middle of the project to appreciate some alone time, reflect on what has been, and prepare for what’s to come, is not only rather enjoyable but also fairly necessary!

Some members of the group experienced the tourist life for a few days, some took the chance to have time with partners, however for me there was a mission on hand. In England I live (and have done for my whole life) in a town called Swindon. This town happens to be twinned with a town in Nicaragua called Ocotal and the two have a strong link through the SOL project (Swindon Ocotal Link). So this was my mission and at the last minute Jess decided to join me. And with neither of us having any idea what to expect but packing plenty of circus kit, we set off from Léon on a 5:20am bus to Ocotal.

What awaited us in Ocotal was a surprise and a delight. It turns out that over the last few years the town has been visited numerous times by a group of circus volunteers from Germany and in their wake was a hive of skill and equipment. The project, called Biblioteca de Las Abejitas (Library of the Little Bees) initiated by the German volunteers, included a library and study space, and a circus prop room (full of amazing circus kit!) and training space. It is a place for any child/teenager in Ocotal to study AND practice circus!

Apart from the wealth of circus Ocotal presented us with, we were also welcomed open-armed by the local SOL ‘family’. They took us under their wonderfully hospitable wing and offered a place to stay (with a former Mayoress, our new Nicaraguan Abuelita), took us to parties with families and friends, and showed us the ways of Ocotal. If anyone ever wants to visit Ocotal, just say you’re from Swindon 😉

Our time off PWB proper was relaxing, invigorating and inspiring. We spent it doing shows and workshops for Nicaraguan children. I guess you could say it was time ‘on’.

The Gory Details

By Jess Herman

I never thought I would ever be representing Swindon of all places and now I actually feel honoured and proud to have had this epic opportunity! On the bus to Ocotal Jake and I commented on how we literally had no idea what was awaiting us at our destination . . .

Our host Jorge had told us that when we arrive at the town we can ask anyone for him as he is a local Doctor and well known in the community – he was not wrong! The first person we met pointed to his car (which was driving away) and called him for us! The people of SOL welcomed us to Ocotal and into their homes, they fed and watered us (with rum) and showed us some of SOL’s projects as well as Ocotal’s nature and night life.

SOL is a great project that helps with humanitarian aid in Ocotal. We visited a local health centre in the community which provides a great deal of care to over 5500 patients. We also saw a ‘comedor’ (eatery) in a school which provides free food for some of the children. As well as helping children and families, SOL also helps older members of the community with much needed care.

Jake and I were amazed and exited to find OcalMena Circus (Ocotal Hive) – a place where young people in Ocotal can practice circus 4 afternoons a week. These same young people are youth leaders in the community as they run circus workshops at ‘Casitas’ in different neighbourhoods around Ocotal. How incredible to find social circus in this small pocket of the world. It was very exciting for the young people and for me and Jake to be able to share our various skills with the kids. They soaked up the new skills and tricks we had to offer and were very grateful for the enthusiasm and inspiration.

Jake and I wanted to ‘gift’ a show (this is a translation from Spanish back into English – and how beautiful it is) to the community (in the main park) and to one of the local schools where the comedor is located. We decided to call our little two person street-style show ‘Circo De SOL’…hehe! After the show in the park we passed a hat in support of SOL. Both shows were received very well, with the children at school being a particularly good audience! It sounds nauseating and cheesy but through the workshops and shows – as in PWB – we spread smiles, giggles, and inspiration and so when we came ‘home’ to our Ocotalian Grandmother-host we felt we had really earned her incredibly delicious food and coffee!

One night we were taken for a family get-together by a new SOL friend. This was such a positive and cultural Nicaraguan experience including dinner, poetry recitals, rum, beautiful singing about Ocotal and Nicaragua, and story telling jokes, many jokes! I even managed to get the family harmonising one of my Jewish songs!

Our hearts were filled with warmth by the way they opened their town to us and how they treated us like family – initially because of the Swindon link but eventually because we formed warm human connections.

As this was our time off you may be pleased to know we did manage to fit in a trip to the local mountains were they grow and make coffee. We also spent an afternoon at the Somoto Canyon where Jake slack-roped above the water on the very same place as the picture on Nicaragua’s 50 Cordoba note! However, the height of excitement was when Jake got bitten by a dog – but don’t worry – he has had his vaccinations (I am referring to the dog)!

If anything, the trip to Ocotal enthused us even more about how circus can spread joy, ambition, teamwork, confidence, smiles, communication, and forge strong links and friendships. We feel ready to embark on the second project here in San Marcos to spread the PWB joy and we are sure that we will be returning to Ocotal one day.

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