Costa Rica: Service and Sand Session 3, 2026
July 17, 2026
Today was an amazing day!!! First, we woke up to a splendid view from outside our windows. The mountains were fogged over, the flowers were blooming, and the birds were chirping. The breakfast was so good it had us burping. As we embarked on this two week journey we started the day off with a competitive game of volleyball. After the game we spent some time writing down our goals as a group. We put our goals into two categories, Group goals and Personal goals. Afterwards, we sat down before lunch and played a fun game of mafia. We walked down the mountainous Costa Rican streets to a delectable restaurant, where we shared a meal among each other. We had a traditional Costa Rican meal, which included meat, rice, beans, salad, and fried plantains. After lunch, we rode the bus with our lovely driver Mora down to the city of Alajuela. Upon arrival we were greeted by the beautiful city landscape and the charismatic locals. We were tasked with completing a scavenger hunt around the city, which included having to conversate with local Costa Ricans in Spanish. After completing the hunt, we finished up our day in Alajuela with some scrumptious ice cream. We took the bus back to Hotel Honeybee, which was only about a ten minute ride. We then were given some much needed rest time, during which many of us took a nap. We woke up just in time for another game, which we played while dinner was being prepared. We then had another incredible meal, which was prepared by the hotel staff and eaten at a candlelit table. We ate chicken and rice, and had apple pie for dessert. After dinner, our final activity of the day was group karaoke. We took turns singing our favorite songs, ensuring our connection as a group for the incoming time ahead of us. In conclusion, today was unbeatable especially when the whole group gathered together as one.
Signing off,
Hannah & Alastair
July 18, 2026
We started are day by waking up at the crack of dawn to the beautiful view of honeybee hotel. Then drove to start of our adventure of river rafting, which was three hours away by bus. We got to the rafting place and enjoyed a delicious meal of rice and eggs to start off our day. Then we boarded a second bus to the start of our trek down to the river. We had to switch vehicles to a 4×4. We cautiously creeped down the hill as we neared the river. Once we finally got to the riverbank, a deluge of rain started, with our spirits high and our clothes wet, we played a match of hackysack while waiting for the boats.
Eventually the rafts were able to make it down and we started are journey through the river with five of us per raft. Many were nervous but right when we started the nerves went away and became the feeling of fun. Through our journey we got very wet and even a fish jumped into one of the rafts! This brought a lot of team work and challenge for the group but overall made it stronger. As we finally got to camp, the rain refused to let up, making moving our bags to the tents a challenge. After we finally got setup and had lunch, and then having a lesson on some new words that we can use with are host families and within all of the community service hours we are doing the next couple days. Ending our day with some fun games and a delicious dinner.
By Greyson & Kenzy
July 19, 2026
Today was our second day on the river, we started our day with a calming yoga session while the rain fell around us. Then we were treated to amazing banana pancakes, made by our raft guides. After packing up our campsite and a car ride to the river we split in into our groups and got into our rafts. On the river we passed through many fast rapids, and had the chance to swim in the river and look at howler monkeys, while enjoying a pineapple. We then got out of the river and after another short car ride had a delicious lunch. During our car ride back to the hotel we slept, looked out the window and bonded as a group. After much needed shower and rest time we got together to play games like charades and hacky sack. Our dinner was generously prepared for us by the wonderful hotel staff we ate at a candle lit table. Then we enjoyed more games. Finally we prepared as a group for the homestay days ahead.
By Imogen & Findley
July 20, 2026
We started off our day by all meeting downstairs for breakfast prepared by our lovely chef. Then we packed our stuff and prepared to leave hotel Honeybee. Then we had a meeting and did activities like a game of drawing and guessing words. After that we had a quick Spanish lesson to prepare for the homestay and also wrote letters to our host moms. Then we left for a three hour drive and stopped for lunch halfway. At lunch we had delicious food and even saw a toucan right in front of our eyes! We stocked up on snacks for the drive and off we went. When we got to the community we met with our host moms and participated in a traditional Costa Rican dance. Then we learned how to dance salsa and many other moves. After all of that we went to our homes and got settled in. We bonded with our families and gave them our gifts and then ate dinner. Today was a day with many new adventures and the experience was phenomenal.
By Juju & Stella
July 21, 2026
To the tune of lose yourself by Eminem-
Lose Ourselves
Look… If you had… one egg… or one fried plantain…
To prepare for a whole day of work… one job…
Will we finish it? Or just let it slip?
Our palms are sweaty, body’s weak, arms are heavy
There’s concrete on our pants already, strong and steady.
We’re tired, but on the surface we look bronze and sweaty
to break rocks, but we aren’t regretting
what we broke down, the whole town goes so loud
We raise the hammer but the concrete just won’t give out
We’re soaking, now? The floors all broken now
The days run out, time’s up, over – BLAOW!
Return back to the houses, OHH! there goes Hannah
OHH! there goes Ali, were smoked
We’re so rad, but we won’t
Give up working so fast, we won’t have it
We know, our whole body’s tired
It don’t matter, we’re napping
We show that, but were dirty
Were so tired that we knows
when we go back to our homes, that’s when it’s,
back to the bed again, yo, this whole day shifts
We better go kick the ball and hope it goes in the goal.
We better – lose ourselfs in the futbol the juego
We win it, we better never let them win
We only get one trip, do not miss your chance to grow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
We better – lose ourselfs in the futbol the juego
We win it, we better never let them win
We only get one trip, do not miss your chance to grow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
We gotta..
Days escaping, through the mountains is gaping
This world ours for the taking
Make us food, as we move toward a, new day of work
A normal place is boring; but Costa Rica is
close to paradise, it only gets better
The smell grows stronger, we eat, it’s all over
These moms are all on us, feeding us and clothing us.
Were known as the americanos
Fun days god only knows
We feel as we’re at home, but there’s no hot water.
We better – lose ourselfs in the futbol the juego
We win it, we better never let them win
We only get one trip, do not miss your chance to grow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
We better – lose ourselfs in the futbol the juego
We win it, we better never let them win
We only get one trip, do not miss your chance to grow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
We gotta..
We can do anything we set our minds to…
Mc Hannah Cook and DJ Ali Liddle
July 22, 2026
Today was our second day of community service work. We started the day early with a breakfast made by our host moms. After breakfast we walked together to our worksite. Because of the heavy rain we waited to start the work and instead had a fun time making a traditional dessert called cajetas. When the rain ended we continued our job from the day before and helped make concrete. Our host moms came and made a super delicious stew for lunch, then we got back to work for another few hours. Finally we were done working for the day and it was time for much needed rest at our houses. At 3:30 we returned to have another fun cooking class led by our host moms. We worked together making thin circles out of the dough, then they were fried and covered in caramel to create prestiños, a sugary puffed tortilla. After enjoying our food we went back to our houses for dinner and sleep. It was a successful day filled with good food and lots of fun!
By Findley & Imogen
July 23, 2026
Today we woke up and went straight to work like the previous days. We shoveled and mixed rocks and sand for hours and made cement. We finally finished the section of floor that we had been working on for the past days. The kitchen crew prepared ingredients for us to learn how to make Tamales. Greyson, spent the morning cleaning out Banana leaves for our delicious cooking class. We all worked together and made over a hundred Tamales for the whole community. The girls all met at Dona Ellie’s house and watched a movie together then went home to our host families and got ready for bed.
By Juju & Greyson
July 24, 2026
Wow. As I’m writing this blog it is currently the morning after. While I was laying in my bed last night I was thinking about how I could possibly write a blog for a day that was this special. I’m sure everyone has their own thoughts, story’s and opinions on yesterday but this is from my point of view.
I woke up in my homestay mama Mayda house for the last time and packed up everything. At 9:30 mama Mayda made Greyson and I an amazing breakfast which consisted of rooster, rice and beans and coffee. After breakfast Greyson and I met up with the rest of the group to set up for the big talent show that had been hyped up around the town for days. After setting up we had our last group lunch all together prepared by the amazing mothers of the town. At 5pm we all arrived back to the town center where we had been making concrete all week for a group dinner which was tamales that our group had prepared the day before they were so good.
After the whole town arrived the talent show started. It was full of different acts of dancing, singing, soccer, and more. All the girls in our group had prepared a dance to “company” by Justin Bieber which was very fun to watch them perform and me singing and dancing to “vivir mi vida” by Marc Anthony. Followed by dance and singing performances from the local kids and wrapped up with a carnival with all the community dancing and having fun with us. The amount of fun and laughter around the community was so great. After the amazing night sadly we had to say goodbye to the community. This time was full of so many emotions. This experience gave us a whole new perspective into a new world that we had never seen before. In this time even know we didn’t speak the same language we all came together and celebrated an amazing week of fun, hard work and new experiences.
By Ali L
July 25, 2026
We started our day by waking up and getting ready for a delicious breakfast that included pancakes and eggs with bacon. Then we got ready to milk cows which included putting on boots. Getting to the barn some people in the group were nervous to milk the cows because it was many people’s first time. There were a lot of baby cows as well and we even saw a bull. After, we took a tour of the farm which included holding baby pigs and chickens and learned how to make cheese. We had nachos for lunch afterwards then got ready to go zip lining. A lot of us were nervous but overtime it ended up really fun. All were mesmerized by the view while zip lining. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. We made our way back to the farm to chill before dinner then, went on a night hike where we got to see many different types of insects and glow in the dark mushrooms. We ended our night by playing music and watching a movie while getting ready for bed. Today was adventurous and very fun.
By Kenzye & Stella
July 26, 2026
Today we woke up at Crisley’s farm to the yummy breakfast the kitchen crew had prepared for us. After a short meal, we said our goodbyes to everyone at the farm and prepared for a painfully long 6 hour drive to the coast. Once we finally loaded the bus, we set off on our journey. Slowly traveling down long, windy, mountainous roads, we made it to our first rest stop. We stopped at a store called El Jardín, this store held many surprises including a butterfly garden. After our short snack and drink stop, we met our trip leader Karina’s family. After that we finally found our way to the coast, we rejoiced when we finally saw the ocean for the first time since landing in Costa Rica. After a bit we stopped for lunch at another El Jardín. This one also, surprisingly, had a butterfly garden. Once our lunch and souvenir shopping was over, we departed for our final leg of the journey. As we neared the homestretch, a storm came upon us, we dodged lighting and downed trees as we hurried along the coast to our final destination, the one, the only, Hotel El Tecal. When we finally arrived, after 8 hours in the bus, we were greeted by amazing beds, hot showers, and a good nights rest. After a bit of downtime, we headed to La Colonia for dinner. After dinner, we had an amazing run of karaoke, which was tragically cut short by a power outage. We finally ended the night with the power on and climate controlled rooms awaiting, for an amazing night of sleep.
By Greyson
July 27, 2026
Today we woke up bright and early for our surf lessons. We walked down to the beach and learned the basics of surfing. We surfed for a little before we took a break to eat some fresh fruit. We returned to surfing and rode the waves. We walked back to the hotel and had breakfast. After that, we walked back over to the beach, which is a National Park in the shape of a whale tail. We layed out, swam, and played a game of soccer on the beach. We were all sandy, tan, tired, but happy on the walk home. We came back and had lunch at our hotel restaurant. We had some down time before we met to play a game. We then got ready for pictures on the beach. We all dressed up, but unfortunately the rain stopped us from taking photos on the beach. We hung out at the hotel until dinner, which we walked to in the rain. We went to a Tex-Mex restaurant down the street, and then got ice cream for dessert. Finally, we are now celebrating the birthday of a girl in another group, they have a piñata and cake. We are all pretty tired and ready for bed, so goodnight!
By Imogen & Hannah
July 28, 2026
We started our day off by going on a beautiful hike to a rainforest waterfall. Something unique about this trip is that we got to plant our own trees and the waterfall is only seen by the owner of the land and global works groups. We learned the history of the deforestation in Costa Rica and how we can make it better. After we made our way to the waterfall even though it was a bit rough getting there with some muddy legs. The waterfall was absolutely amazing! Then we made our way back and ate lunch then made our way to the beach for one last time. We had a great time playing in the waves, it was a great way to start ending our day. Finally, to end our day we went to a very peaceful yoga class. Giving us a chance to really think back on our trip and how much fun we had.
-Stella & Kenzye
July 29, 2026
Caminamos a la playa
Olvidamos nosotros preocupaciones
Sentimos felizdad y nostalgia
Tomamos el bus de regreso a Hotel Honey Bee
Almerzamos nuestra ultima comida typica
Regresamos a Honey Bee
Inciamos la ceremonial final
Conectamos con cada una de grupo
Amor, memorias, y lagrimas
After our final day, we are all reminiscing on what a great trip we had. We had lots of laughs, adventures, and memories made.
Hannah and Ali, signing off
