Costa Rica: Service and Sand Session 2, 2026
July 9, 2026
Hi Parents!!! Today was our first full day in Costa Rica and it was a fantastic introduction to the culture and community. We woke up and tried a traditional Costa Rican breakfast of eggs, rice and beans, and all the tropical fruits you could want! My personal favorite was the rice and beans, but it was all so tasty! Along with the food, we were given the most fresh and delicious fruit punch.
After our breakfast, we went into Alajuela, which is a city about forty minutes outside of San Jose. While we were there, we split up into two groups and did a scavenger hunt. During the hunt, we learned about the culture and history of Alajuela while getting to practice our Spanish by talking to locals. All the locals were so friendly and helpful, even when my Spanish was not amazing (like when I asked to make my ice cream instead of to have some). After our scavenger hunt, we went to lunch where we all tried different Costa Rican foods. A lot of us had the tortiempanada which was a mix of a quesadilla/tortilla and empanadas (two of my favorite things!) Along with our meals, we tried papaya, pineapple, and cas juice, and all were fresh and delicious!
After we ate, we had a little time to shop, which we all spent in a cute thrift/clothes store. We all bought fun graphic tees, all of which were completely random and silly – which makes for an incredible memory!! After this we went back to the hotel and swam, where we played football, Marco Polo, and escape from Alcatraz! After some much deserved rest, we played some card games and some get to know you games. Even with knowing these people for less than 24 hours, at this point I felt so comfortable and happy with them all!!
After our chill time, we had dinner at the hotel. Most of us had pasta bolognese, but there was also Alfredo pasta and fish that we enjoyed! Of course this meal was also served with the delicious juice from this morning. We got to know each other more during dinner, and we are already starting to joke with each other like friends who have known each other forever!! After dinner it was straight to pack and sleep since we have a very early morning tomorrow in order to get out on the rapids!!
-Charlotte R
