The longer we stay in Isla Pucu, the more I continue to be amazed by the friendliness and liveliness of the people here, and how much we can connect with them, in spite of a minor language barrier. After a breakfast of café con leche (coffee with milk) and chipa, I walked with my host brother to the plaza grande, our meeting place in the morning. We then split into our three groups, one for each school in Isla Pucu, each with a different focus. The group that went to the escuelita focused on teaching 3rd and 4th graders about salud, or health, and how to eat healthy and have good hygiene. The group that went to the colegio, for grades 8 and 9, focused on the environment and recycling, which unfortunately is almost non-existent in Isla Pucu. The final group, which I am in, went to the escuela grade with a focus on exercise and artistic expression. We spent most of the day repainting a playground in the school that was in dire need of a paint job.
After a few days of acquainting ourselves with Isla Pucu, it felt good to finally get down to work and make a difference in the lives of the people. The niños, or children, from the school helped us paint for a while too, and we played futbol with them during their recess. These kids are, without a doubt, the most playful and energetic kids I have ever met. “Rest” is not a word in their vocabulary; they are always running around, playing with a futbol, or trying to carry our backpacks. I cannot describe the happiness and joy we feel whenever we play with them. Although we may not always understand their Spanish, I have truly learned the meaning of “non-verbal communication” with them, as sometimes kicking around a soccer ball creates a stronger bond than simply saying “Hola.” After our work in the various schools, we returned to the colegio to share our experiences at the different schools and reflect upon the day with each other before going off to our host families. Although my Spanish is not the best, it is improving very quickly, mostly due to my total immersion in Spanish in the evening with my host family. I even find myself thinking to myself in Spanish sometimes without even realizing it! As we spend more time in Isla Pucu and get to know the village better, the phrase “Less is more” comes to mind. Although the people may not have many luxuries that we take for granted, like internet or microwaves, or even hot water, the people in Isla Pucu are some of the happiest and content I have ever met. They are simply happy for what they have, like family, and appreciate the simple things in life. They focus on the now, and how they can make the most of it. Although we have only been in Isla Pucu for four days, this time has made a huge impression on me, and I already know I will never forget my time here. I look forward to making a difference here in the two days.
Danny Hoffman