My Unforgettable Month in Nusa Penida

July 28, 2019

The Green Lion

by Isabella Terrazas

As I looked for different opportunities for my last summer before college, volunteering abroad always floated to the top of my list. I wanted to go somewhere far from anything I had ever experienced, and I wanted to participate in a project where I could see myself helping a cause I deeply believed in. After reading a few reviews and informational sheets, I found myself registered for the Turtle Conservation project in Nusa Penida just three weeks before my departure.

I tried to research Bali and Nusa Penida, but I ended up on Bali experiencing a culture that no travel website or backpacking guide could have prepared me for. Upon my arrival in Nusa Penida, I was welcomed by the coordinators who were all beaming with joy. I immediately knew that they would be an integral piece to my experience for the next few weeks.

I learned so much after our first morning with the comprehensive Turtle 101 lesson. After that, we new participants were set to work. Each morning and afternoon, we were assigned different jobs in the turtle centre: cutting fish, feeding turtles, or cleaning tanks. We also did street cleaning, beach cleanup, and trash bin making. One day, we brought a speaker and walked down the street picking up trash, singing, and it became fun to pick up trash. I quickly noticed the connections I was making with these locals and other participants was something very special.

Over the weeks, our original group was shrinking as people’s departure dates came and went. After three weeks, I had such an amazing time that I was able to extend my stay one more week. It was so fun to see the passion and eagerness that filled all the new participants each week. They were so open to learning about how to make the biggest impact on the turtles and the community, and the older participants were able to assist the coordinators in teaching. We became closer to the coordinators, and it truly felt like a family.

Our nights were just as wonderful as our activities during the day. One evening, we had a karaoke night, and we all sang with the coordinators and cooks for hours. The cooks were all dancing in the kitchen as they finished cleaning up. We would have evening jam sessions with the younger coordinators on the porch. Every Thursday, we had a special dinner and bonfire. At the bonfire, participants who are leaving give speeches, and the coordinators sing and play the guitar. We would stay up all night singing around the fire and spotting shooting stars as the tide came in.

When my last day came, the hardest goodbye hit. I never thought this summer voluntourism trip would have such a big impact on me. I learned kindness and gratitude from the locals and open-mindedness and happiness from the other participants. Nusa Penida will always be a special place for me, and I cannot wait for my next Green Lion adventure, wherever it will lead me.

The Green Lion

We hope you enjoy reading about the experiences of other travelers. If you are travelling with us right now and have a great story to share, please reach out to us :)