Costa Rica Service & Sand, Session 2
June 28, 2025
We did ice breakers in the morning to help learn everyone’s names. After that we set intentions for the trip and group norms. Then we went into the town of Alajuela and ate lunch at a traditional tortilla place. We got really good juice there, guava, blackberry, pineapple, papaya! Then we split into 5 groups for a scavenger hunt. We had to ask locals the name of churches, statues, and other landmarks in Spanish. We were also tasked with going to a bakery and supermarket and purchasing items. People were listening to music and dancing in one of the parks we went to. In the town, we saw lots of parrots, and even more pigeons. After the scavenger hunt we went back to our hotel and relaxed for a few hours. Our hotel is on top of a hill, so we get a great veiw of the city and the forest. During our free time, we played in the pool and colored outside. There were lots of super loud bugs flying around! We then ate dinner before having some cake and ice cream for desert.
By Allison and Aydin
June 29 & 30, 2025
We started the day with a 5:30 wakeup into a 3 hour bus ride to the white water rafting experience. We ate breakfast, which was rice and beans with eggs and some tropical fruit, and got on a bumpy tractor ride for a short trip to the river. We were split into groups and were each given a guide. We rafted down class 2-3 rapids for 1.5 hours. We were given delicious pineapple as a snack while we swam in a waterfall for a short break. We then made our way to lunch. The rapids were very exhilarating! That night we slept in a beautiful campsite and hung out in the hammocks. The next day we had a later wakeup at about 8 A.M, ate pancakes and then made our way to the second river. The second river had even more powerful rapids, (up to class 4), and it required a lot of balance and core strength to stay in the raft. But we did it! Finally we took a bus ride to the resort where we played in the pools and hot springs and then made our way to dinner.
By Bay and Charlie
July 1, 2025
Today we woke up to a beautiful rainy morning in sueño dorado at 8am. We then ate a really good breakfast at 8:30 and got ready for the day. At 9:20 we took a 30 minute bus ride to a local cheese farm where we made fresh mozzarella cheese and met amazing people. We also saw really cool animals like poison dart frogs, sloths, cows, and pigs. Somethin really cool that we learend is that alltitude really effects the quality in the coffee. We also learned that one of the pigs that they had was pregnant and really really pig. After that we tried a really cool fruit called star fruit. We took the bus back, and relaxed in the hot springs and pool until it was time for dinner.
By Clara y Ethan
July 2, 2025
After waking up at our hotel, we packed our bags and ate a fulfilling breakfast. We were then driven to the community to meet our host families and met the director of the development association. We greeted and took photos with people from our host families. They then took us to their homes. We spent the remainder of the day getting to know our families by playing games, eating food, and learning about each other. They were very welcoming and gracious with our Spanish skills. Settling into our new home, we washed some clothes and the gave them our gifts. In the evening, after spending lots of time together, we traveled to one of the host families homes for dinner. We learned how to make traditional tortillas, and we also ate plantains, yuca, and chicharones. The gathering was full of music and dancing. We even got to watch a traditional dance performed by girls and boys in the community. Today was a great introduction to the people we will be learning from and spending time with over the next week. ~
By Hannah and Dahlia
July 3, 2025
This morning we all woke up in the separate homes of our host families, after a fun filled night of fiesta. We started the day off early eating different breakfasts prepared for us by our host families. We were then driven to the village’s school in which we participated in various facets of volunteer work. For example organizing the supply shed, obliterating termite infested desks and tables, and painting to make a more comfortable space for this community. After lunch we continued to form bonds with our host families. At 6pm we conveyed at the school once again for a dance class from the locals. Although we were tired we couldn’t wait to dance.
By Sully and Lyle
July 4, 2025
Today we had an early morning wake up to get prepared for ziplining. Our bus was coming to pick us up at 7:40 so everyone had to be ready by then. Once we got to the ziplining place we got harnessed in and took a gondola to the top. There were a total of 7 ziplines and the fastest one went 70 kph. Many of us were scared of heights-including us so the first zipline was very nerve wracking. Overall everyone had a ton of fun and we all were very pleased with the length and speed of the ziplines. After zip lining we went into town to get lunch and do souvenir shopping. The sun finally came out today which was a great surprise! Later today were going back to homestays to play card games like Tonto and Guerra. And then have dinner with the family.
By Nathan and Olivia
July 5, 2025
We woke up and ate breakfast at our host family’s home. Then we split into two groups at the saló comunal in town. Group 1 cleaned the streets and picked up trash. The other group cleaned ditches next to the main road which are responsible for taking rain water to the nearby river. It was very difficult and dirty work. As we worked, passing cars honked in appreciation of our works. One man even stopped to give us pineapple and another gave us coconuts to drink out of. Then we returned to our homestay for lunch. After lunch we went out at 1 pm to go to a butterfly garden, we went on a walk around the farm and learned about the different butterflies. It was down pouring so we didn’t go on a hike afterwords. We went back to the homestay and enjoyed dinner with our families and relaxed for the rest of the night.
By Romeo and Sam
July 6, 2025
We woke up for our last day helping out in the community. We ate a delicious breakfast around 7:00 am and then went to do volunteer work. We met at the church and split into three groups- Two of them worked in different churches, painting and moving around furniture. The third group collected trash, cut down trees and weeds. Around 11, all the groups met together and finished cleaning and organizing the central church and the land around it.
After we finished work we went to our individual host families and ate our final lunch with the families. Once we got home we took showers, played games and got ready for the communities going away party. There we played Frisbee, swam in the pool, and played an intense amd fun game of soccer with everybody. Then we ate and made a few speeches and gave our letters to our families to say our farewells.
By Luke and Serena
