Declan and Holden describe their new life in Nicaragua
By Joan Janzen
KINDERSLEY - Declan and Holden Bosch from Nicaragua, along with their parents, have been visiting family in Kindersley and surrounding area. In January of this year, the boys moved from Kindersley with their parents, Grant and Kristina Bosch, who purchased an older hotel at a small surfing and beach area called Playa Maderis. The family is living at the hotel while renovations take place to transform it into a bed and breakfast and restaurant.
The boy’s home is located near San Juan del Sur, which has a much larger population of 18,000. However, the Bosch family is enjoying the slower pace, relaxed atmosphere and sunshine at their new home in Nicaragua, a country in Central America, located next to Honduras and Costa Rica.
Holden (left) and Declan Bosch, formerly of Kindersley, now live in Nicaragua. They attended the back-to-school barbecue at Westberry School on Thursday, August 28th, where they got to see some of their friends. PHOTO BY JOAN JANZEN
Declan (left) and Holden Bosch at their new home in Nicaragua. SUBMITTED
Ten-year-old Declan and his 7-year-old brother Holden moved from Kindersley to Nicaragua about seven months ago. “I felt excited to move for the first time in my life,” Holden said.
“But I was really going to miss family and friends,” Declan added. “Grandma and Grandpa were our first visitors at Nicaragua.”
The boys have been spending their month-long vacation camping at Cypress Hills, visiting family, fishing and attending a family reunion. They participated in a hockey camp while in town, but their version of hockey back home involves visiting a roller rink. Declan was also hoping to get together with his friends for his tenth birthday.
When asked what the biggest difference was between Nicaragua and Canada, the boys replied, “Nature … Canada is flat and Nicaragua is like a forest with more trees and more animals.”
The boys have seen lots of monkeys, a whale, a tarantula and have a pet turtle they found on the side of the road. “There are stray dogs everywhere, and we had to chase wild goats off our property,” Declan reported.
There are plenty of activities for the boys at their new home, including surfing and skateboarding. “We spend eight hours a week playing baseball. It starts at 3:00 p.m., but everybody gets there late. We call it Nica time,” Declan said, explaining the slow start of most activities.
“The locals eat rice and eggs for breakfast, but we have eggs and toast every single morning,” Declan said. “In Nicaragua, they make really good fish tacos; I’m not a fan of beans, though. They serve meals at school, and we’ve been eating a lot of pasta, fish, and chicken.” The Bosch family enjoyed a lot of berries while in Canada, as only frozen berries are available in Nicaragua and are quite expensive.
The boys attend a small private school that is new to the area. The class sizes are small, averaging about ten students per class. Their classmates come from Toronto, Quebec, Germany, Mexico, and the United States. Many of the students’ families travel throughout the year.
Their teachers speak English and Spanish, and the boys are learning to speak Spanish. Declan is learning how to play guitar in music class, and Holden claims art as his favourite class.
“For recess, we go to a place called Ocean View. Sometimes we get to dip our feet in the pool. The school is surrounded by nature; it’s beautiful,” Holden said.
“The teachers aren’t as strict as in Canada. It takes a lot before a kid gets into trouble,” Declan added. The brothers are obviously enjoying their beautiful new home in Nicaragua.
“It’s been a quite a journey,” Declan concluded.
Thanks, boys, for sharing your journey with your friends in Kindersley.