Spring Break: cue Vegas Instagrams and the occasional “I’m headed to Cabo” tweet. Everyone is excited and the anticipation for a week off to relax before the final term is much needed.
Mary Beth Carroll, a freshman in Pi Beta Phi, decided that this year she would ditch the stereotypical break plans and head to Estelí, Nicaragua through the University of Oregon’s Alternative Spring Break program. For one week, Carroll will travel thousands of miles away from Eugene with 20 other UO students and two site leaders in the name of service.
On a whim, Carroll decided to go through the program in order to serve in a unique place.
“I really like the Latin culture that it’s going to infuse. To prepare we are going to a salsa class together as a team,” Carroll said. “I’m really excited to become a part of a community outside of Greek life. I don’t want to get stuck in a bubble.”
Carroll applied during Thanksgiving break and was quickly accepted during the first week of winter break. Her fast emergence into the program allowed her to attend weekly meetings with the other volunteers. Each week the team is taught something new, such as what to pack and what to expect.
“A big thing I didn’t really think of while preparing was how conservative Nicaragua is,” Carroll said. “At our meetings we go over how we can respect the culture and how to make us blend in more.”
When the group arrives in Nicaragua, alternative spring breakers will land in the city of Minagua and then go to Estelí. The goal of the alternative spring break group is to assist the village’s doctors with whatever they need — whether it be checking vitals or cleaning up around the clinics.
One of the site leaders for the trip, Constanza Peterson, is responsible for creating bonding activities for the volunteers as well as making their transition from America to Nicaragua as smooth as possible.
Petersen says she’s most excited about “seeing the team bond and grow together, as well as witnessing personal growth within each participant.”
Carroll will not be the only Pi Beta Phi member going on the trip. Emma Scherzer, another freshman Pi Phi, is joining Carroll for the week.
“It’s nice to have someone I know and that I’m comfortable with since this is such a new experience for me,” Scherzer said.
With only little time left before take off, Carroll has been reflecting on the benefits that the trip will bring to her life.
“My goal is to have a better understand of how people live outside of the US,” Carroll said. “My goal is to really connect with the inhabitants of Esteli. I really want to experience the world, and if I can help people while doing it, even better.”