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Tuesday July 17, 2018

Hey families!

Everyone got in safely today throughout the morning and afternoon. The first group that landed went on a walk around town and got some delicious smoothies. We hung out in the park and got to see some different types of stores here in Alajuela. When the next group arrived, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant called Taco a Taco. We had casados which are a typical Costa Rican dish that includes rice, beans, salad, corn tortillas, and meat or vegetables.

After lunch we played a name game and then had an orientation to the trip. We then had some time to settle in and get know each other a bit. Before dinner we did a bit more exploring around Alajuela and then ended up at a pizza restaurant. We had vegetarian, cheese, and pepperoni pizza. It was an extra special day today because it was Max’s 17th birthday! We sang happy birthday to him as a piece of cake with a candle was brought out. After dinner we had an activity where we shared our fears, hopes, and dreams.

We are very excited to head out early tomorrow morning for Bahía Ballena. Our leaders of the day will be Gisselle and Joe and they will be writing the blog post for tomorrow.

We’re excited to start this adventure with this group and hope they come back transformed!

Patrick and Jen – Program Staff

Wednesday July 18, 2018

Hola Parents, guardians,and friends

Quote of the Day:

“If it excites you and scares you at the same time you should probably do it”

We started off our day at 6:30am. We gave the students some time to prepare for breakfast which started at 7:00am. Breakfast consisted of scrambled eggs, toast, yogurt, and marmalade. Shortly after we boarded the bus to get to where we are staying now which is Bodhi Surf and Yoga which is Bahia Ballena, Uvita. On our way we made stops to a crocodile bridge, the town of Jaco where we had a very beautiful view of the beach; we also stopped to see sloths! We arrived to Bodhi at 1:00pm and we unloaded and had lunch. For lunch spaghetti, rice, beans, and chicken.

After lunch we went on a community walk to see what the daily life was for a local. We were introduced to different types of plants, went into the beach, and at the end of the walk we stopped at a tour guide’s home and had a coconut. Dinner was at 6:00pm and we had what is known as “casados” which means married. It is called “casados” because it is what the wife would typically serve the husband. Casados consisted of black beans, rice, fajita chicken, spaghetti, palmitos (hearts of palm trees) and salad. After dinner we played an ice breaker game called “string story.” Each student will pull the string out of the bag and wrap it around the finger while telling a story, once the string is completely wrapped the story must be up. Lastly we finished the day with a surfing intro with our surf instructor Gibran. We have enjoyed Day 2 so much and are super excited for what is to come.

¡Pura Vida Mae!

-Gisselle Rodriguez and Joe Keller

Thursday July 19, 2018

Today we all woke up to a breakfast of fresh fruits, oatmeal, eggs, and toast. After breakfast we hiked down to the national park and got our first lesson on surfing. We all instantly fell in love. Not a single person left the ocean without catching a wave. We fell in love with surfing at the first paddle. Riding a wave is unexplainable serenity. We walked back, sunburned and sea salted to a lunch of soup, ham and cheese sandwiches, and a yummy punch. We saw monkeys, parrots, a macaw, and some massive centipedes.

We then took a quick Costa Rican bus ride to an after school program for the youth. There, we drew whales and played with the children, learning more about them in Spanish and in English. At the end of meeting with the children, we engaged in a circle of recognition, thanking people for bringing light into our lives in ways they may have overlooked. This day has posed us with many challenges, yet we learned a lot about our GLA peers and ourselves. Today has introduced a new outlook on life for many of us on the trip, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for us next.

Brushing our teeth nightly!

-Dallas and Mallory

Friday July 20, 2018

Today, as leaders, we woke everyone up by hitting a metal cup with a metal spoon, bright and early at 6 am. At 630 we had breakfast in alegria. Afterward we had service at the park.

At service we picked up organic and inorganic trash. We helped paint benchs, tables, and moved tables to better places. After service we played a game of soccer with Kelvin, a local and ex-professional soccer player. Ben liked the service but didn’t like soccer. Maddy liked and soccer, even though it was very hot. We liked how everyone was helping and invoked at service in helping the community.

When we got back to Bodhi we ate lunch and had a discussion about how sports affect us both positively and negatively. Then we swam in the pool. After resting we went back to the beach to surf and learn how to turn on our boards. Even though the water was choppy we all had fun surfing in the rain.

At night we ate dinner and began our World Cup activity where everyone split into groups who had different view points on FIFA World Cup. Although some people do don’t take it as seriously as others, other did a good job staying in character. We discussed the negative effects FiFA could have on the country that most of us were unaware of. At the end of the night we were all exhausted after a full day of activity’s.

Ben said he learned that being a leader took a lot energy, “right after the activity I went straight to bed and passed out”.

As a group we learned a lot things such as how to turn on the surfboards, that FIFA isn’t as much as a benefit as it seems to be. People lose there homes and property due to the space needed for stadiums.

Meeting Kelvin was very inspiring because even though he was a professional soccer player he was very humble when he met us and he talked to us about how the locals very much apréciate us helping out the community.We learned that to lead a group you have to be assertive but also patient so we can all work together.

Trying new things everyday,

Ben and Maddy

Saturday July 21, 2018

Hello!

Getting everyone up this morning was a struggle. But the breakfast we had this morning made it worth waking up so early. We had french toast and maple syrup, fresh fruits, eggs, and oatmeal. After we had breakfast we got right into our busy day. We walked to the beach at 7:30 and began our lesson with Gibron. Today we learned how to paddle out and get over different types of waves. We learned that if you can see over a wave, then you should go into plank position and allow the wave to pass under you.

To get over a big wave you have to do a turtle roll (which is sooo hard). It started to rain so the scenery was so green and pretty. We walked back to home base and had lunch. We ate quesadillas and veggies plus some chips and salsa. After we ate lunch we made the executive decision that everyone needed a nice nap. Some people took a walk to a little corner store and others stayed behind to rejuvenate after the extreme days we have been having. We had service on the yoga platform. We watched a TED talk and explained our feelings towards it and why we felt that way.

It was really interesting to see people’s opinions and how they changed because of the video. We also planned out our service for tomorrow and that was definitely a hardship. Eventually we agreed on a plan and we now have a wicked fun day planned for the children of Forjando Alas. After that we did yoga which was a must need stress reliever. For dinner we had lasagna, salad, and garlic bread. Our nightly activity was a very fun game called mango and everyone was so into it. Today we learned a lot about each other and how we can help out as much as we can towards one another.

I was surprised by how energized people were towards the games we played and i’m proud of all the hard work we have done so far while being in Costa Rica. The big inspiration guy of the day was Tupac because of the quote he said “The most expensive thing in the world is trust. It can take years to earn and just a matter of seconds to lose.” Today I learned that I am a pretty good blogger if I do say so myself.

See you in the next episode of GLA,

Krissy and Trent

Sunday July 22, 2018

We woke up at 6 to eat breakfast and get ready for rafting. we left at 7:30 and hit a few bumpy roads on the way. we got to the river and we’re all eager to get in and start rafting. all of us had a lot of fun and some of us even fell in. we had an amazing snack and used leaves as plates. after we got out of the river we went to lunch and had really yummy food. then we came back and had a movie night. we watched surfs up and almost all of us fell asleep. we were surprised how quickly people fell asleep during the movie. we are proud of everyone’s determination to get back in the raft when they fell out. we were impressed by the chefs at where we went for lunch. we learned that it’s hard to get everyone’s attention without sounding mean.

From,

Liza and Mia

Monday July 23, 2018

Today we learned about the different types of breaks in waves and where the safe zone is.

The most surprising thing that happened today was getting burgers and fries for dinner.

Most proud of the service we provided for the kids.

The most inspirational person today was the yoga teacher.

Today I learned that I like yoga and how it makes you think about the world around you.

From the bottoms of our hearts,
Max, Jack, and Kyle

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Thursday July 5, 2018

Hey parents!

All of the students arrived this afternoon after long mornings of traveling from all around the United States. When the first group arrived we settled in and had a nice lunch at the hostel which included rice with chicken, salad, and beans. We also got to try guanabana juice. After lunch we wandered around Alajuela stopping through markets and the park. Once the whole group arrived, we went over an orientation of the program and discussed the different types of leadership styles and what it means to be a leader. After that, we went to dinner at Taco a Taco and had some casados, a traditional Costa Rican meal.

After dinner we did an activity where we discussed our hopes, fears, and goals for the trip. It was interesting to learn that we all had similar feelings and ideas about the trip and we hope that everyone can achieve their goals throughout the program. We’re excited to head out tomorrow morning for Bahía Ballena! When we get there we’ll have lunch and then everyone will get to see the town on our community walking tour and later on will have our introduction to surfing lesson. The group seems nervous and excited for their Costa Rica adventure! Pura vida!

Buenas noches,

Patrick and Jen

Friday July 6, 2018

Hello parents,

In our first day in Bodhi we learned lots of new things about Costa Rica and its culture. For one, we learned about a lot of diverse plants and wildlife, which we do not see much of at home. For instance there are over 30 different types of mangos, and many different types of citrus trees. Another thing we learned today is that over 60% of the economy is heavily relied on by tourism. Also, natives from Costa Rica are known as Ticos for men and Ticas for women.

A couple things that we found surprising were that, the weather conditions could transition from one second being scorching hot, to the next being poured on by rain. Another thing that was quite interesting to us was the different animals, the most surprising one was a sloth, super hard to spot, but when you see them it is very cool. Something that we are proud of from todays experiences was being able to practice our leadership skills, and being able to step out of our comfort zone in order to meet new people.

Someone that inspired us today was our tour guide Olham. He taught us of many different things about Costa Ricas environment, and the history of this country, and he made us interested and engaged to learn more about Costa Ricas culture. To sum it all up, today was a great experience and a lot was learned, and we are looking forward and excited to learn how to surf, and also help the community.

Wish you all the best!

Max and Nate

Saturday July 7, 2018

Hello,

We woke up today at 6:00. It was terrible! Well, maybe not that bad. Then we had eggs and fruits for breakfast. I had gallo pinto (rice and beans). It was good. It tasted like rice and beans. The difference is that the rice is cooked in bean water. It’s fascinating. We’ve had rice and beans for every meal.

Then we hit the surf. It was a pilgrimage. We walked through rocks, water, mud, sand, dogs.

Then we surfed. As excited as I was to start surfing, we didn’t start surfing until an hour after we got to the beach. This was a result of becoming enlightened about the area, Costa Rica, and the whale’s tale. Surfing was exciting. It was immensely invigorating.

On the walk back we met a series of stray dogs. They were super cute. We didn’t touch them (don’t worry mom.) There we some chickens too.Lunch was magnificent. It was ham and cheese, or jamón y queso as they like to say in Costa Rica.

For service we went to an after school program. At service I bonded with Josue. He is a young, talented and intelligent man/entrepreneur. I could see it in his eyes. We played together and talked about corrupt police systems. I comforted him.

The best part of the day was getting into the air conditioned van. For dinner we had spaghetti and garlic bread. After dinner we traveled along the gravel to the yoga studio where we learned a lot about each others lives and feelings.

We hope you enjoyed this eloquently-put journey.

Sorry, we forgot to take pictures.

Were are off to read literature.

Lots of xoxo xoxo xoxo,
McKennon and Eli

Sunday July 8, 2018

We began the day by heading to breakfast for some eggs with vegetables and fruit. We mostly ate the fruit. After breakfast, we walked to the beach and met with the local high school students there. We did a group activity with them called “ninja” which they seemed to really enjoy. Then, we partnered up with the students and did a beach cleanup. It was very inspiring to all of us to see how happy and appreciative they all were. They seemed to make the best out everything we did. We also taught them how to surf and played soccer on the beach with them. Teaching the students to surf made us all very happy as we saw how excited they all were. It was eye opening to see their kindness toward all of us. Then, we were grateful to get a bus ride back from the beach as we were very tired!

We rested up for a little and then got to lunch for some very tasty rice and chicken. After lunch, we headed back down to the beach for a surf lesson. We learned how to turn and lean on the board. Although it was difficult at first, everyone seemed to have success by the end. Next, we walked back and relaxed for a little before dinner. At dinner we ate some amazing lasagna. Then, we did a group activity called the human knot. It was so much fun, but very difficult for us to undo the knot. Everyone loved the activity and are determined to do it again and have success! Finally, we had a relaxing yoga class which was a nice change from our general activities. We were all relaxed and exhausted by the end of the night.

Goodnight Parents!

-by Elle and Ian

Monday July 9, 2018

¿¡Que mop!? ¡Pura vida!

We started the day with eating a very filling breakfast, after that we went the park and worked with locals to help paint the park; benches, tables, and sidewalks. We also picked up trash and repaired some of the table bases. After that we played a quick game of soccer with Kelvin, a local leader and former professional soccer player, and some other locals.

After a hard game of soccer we helped the locals learn a bit of english while they taught us a bit of spanish. We then went into the pool as a group and bonded. Afterward we went surfing in the rain. We learned how to paddle out and had a competition against each other with all the stuff we have learned through the week. After a tiring surf session we swam and body-surfed in the rain. Once we got back to bodhi (out hotel) we had a little time to rest and then ate dinner. While at dinner we started our discussion about our activity for the night. We split people up into four groups, local leaders, fifa executives, Brazilian government, and a human rights group.

After dinner we started the discussions on if countries should host mega sporting events like the olympics and world cup. As the moderators it was interesting to see how people got into their roles and their views in those roles. We are now writing the blog. What surprised us the most was how well we worked together with locals even with the language barriers. What we are proud of today was how we were able to leave our mark on costa rica with helping build a park. Who inspired us today were local kids who were willing to take time away from their vacation to give back to their community. We learned that we can do a lot of work in a short amount of time if you work together.

Love,

Nayna and Aaron

 

Tuesday July 10, 2018

Hello parents,

Today we stared the day with a breakfast of scrambled eggs, pinto gallo, french toast, and fruits, which everyone was very excited about. Following breakfast, we quickly got changed into swimwear and activewear and packed our backpacks with sunblock, a change of clothes, water shoes, and a beach towel and left behind electronics to head to the small town of Silencio for a white water rafting trip! The scenic ride took about 1.5 hours and was accompanied by our guides who were very knowledgeable about Costa Rican history and culture, and also a quick stop to purchase some tasty mamones/leychees.

When we finally arrived in the small town of Silencio we pre-ordered our lunch for when we returned from rafting (everyone wanted a meal of rice and chicken, french fries, and a side salad) and took some quick pictures of the beautiful palm trees and plants that surrounded the restaurant. When the rafting ride stared our group split into an adventurous group and a more mellow-riding group. Both groups learned quickly the importance of working together in order to steer and avoid falling out of the raft. Everyone in the adventurous group ended up in the water, and even some of the mellow riders fell in!

Everyone had so much fun and really enjoyed the mid-ride snack of fresh fruit, guacamole, salsa, beans, and chips, and a quick stop at a beautiful waterfall that everyone took a turn swimming under. We finished the tour exhausted, excited to look at the funny action shots that were taken during the ride, and ready for a yummy lunch! When we returned home we walked to the local market to purchase some Costa Rican goods. Following, we had a delicious dinner and finished the night by watching the sports documentary “Iverson” and a few sports clips that encouraged a discussion on sex-based segregation in sports today.

In all, we are proud of our teamwork to complete the rafting route. We also learned more about the importance of teamwork to achieve a common goal and the growing need to bring attention to pay-gaps in women and men’s sports and the affects of sex-based segregation and stereotypes on young athletes.

Goodnight!

Mia and Sofia

Wednesday July 11, 2018

Hi families,

On our 7th day of our adventure we did a variety of different activities and had great experiences. It began with a nice pancake and egg breakfast that everyone enjoyed. We then went out to the beach and did our 4th surf lesson.

We learned a lot about the types of breaks in the ocean and what causes them. After that we went to a local market and bought some nice souvenirs for us and our parents (you). There were a lot of different types of foods and crafts that symbolized Costa Rica. We then ate lunch and soon after went to Forjando Alas for our service. There we played games and decorated rocks to surround the trees we planted with the kids from the local youth group.

It was very nice to see them have a great time with a smile on their faces almost every time we communicated with them. It was sad because of the fact that it was our last time seeing them but it was a great experience that none of us will forget. We then returned back to Bodhi for a peaceful yoga lesson that made everyone quite relaxed. We then ate dinner and discussed leadership skills through group skits, which was a treat for everyone. In conclusion, Today’s journey was very impactful and enjoyable for each and every one of us.

Farewell from yours truly,

Max Brazer and Eli Sherman

Thursday July 12, 2018

Hi parents!

In our final full day at Bodhi we had a remarkable adventure. We woke up to a delightful breakfast, followed by an 8am hike. This hike was a long 7 miles, but was worth the amazing view. On the hike we saw exotic animals that we were lucky to see as we were the only group who got to see them. The animals consisted of a cute species of monkeys, toucans, sloths, frogs, and lots of small dogs. At the top of the mountain we were greeted by a kind man who treated us to freshly picked water apples, which were very delicious. On our way back from the hike we stopped at a local market and all enjoyed some ice cream and sparkling lemonade. The lunch we had consisted of delicious bean and cheese empanadas.

After this we headed out to our final surf lesson, the tide was super high which made the conditions rough, but perfect. We paddled past the white water and into the huge green waves. At first they were hard to catch but we all got the hang of it. Hannah caught some sweet action shots during our final surfing extravaganza. We then all showered and got ready for our outing to Carlitos for dinner. The meal was very delightful, soon after the dinner we shared our thoughts on who made a positive impact on each of our trips by giving that person a lollipop. This made everyone feel special in a unique different way. To sum our day up, we all went to the yoga studio and reflected on the whole trip through a series of fun activities. This day was special to everyone as it was our last day at Bodhi.

This is Nate, Elle, and Sofia signing off.

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Saturday June 23, 2018

Hey families!

¡Pura Vida!

Today your students successfully flew to Costa Rica from all over the United States and one drove in from Costa Rica. In total, we are a team of 15 students plus Jen and I (Patrick). Today every student landed at slightly different times. The early morning crew struggled to open their red eyes and the late night arrivals showed up starving. As the students trickled in we had an orientation to GLA, some ice breakers and name games, and ate traditional Costa Rican food, which tonight was “casados”, a rice and bean based meal. The group that landed in the afternoon went on a walk and passed a park where people were dancing and playing instruments. In the end everyone started dancing!

After dinner the group went back to the hostel and did a game where they set goals for themselves and then worked to create a plan for how much they want to use or not use their phones.

Tonight we are staying in San Jose, but tomorrow we are driving to Uvita, where we will meet with the rest of the Bodhi team. Bodhi is our partner organization that will facilitate the majority of the program, such as surf, yoga, service, and room and board.

Starting tomorrow students will be writing the daily blog.

As for now, buenas noches!

-Jen and Patrick

Sunday June 24, 2018

Hola!

We learned more about each other on our four hour bus ride from our hostel in Alajuela to Bodhi Surf and Yoga. When we arrived we met more Costa Rican’s with interesting back stories. After settling in to our new rooms for the week we got to tour the Bodhi base and local Uvita. As we made our way from central to coastal Costa Rica we drank from coconuts and met some sloths and crocodiles, as upclose and personal we could get without putting our lives in danger. Overall it was a pretty successful day diving into the culture (but not the pool) however we have a 6 am wakeup tomorrow so… Buenas noches and ciao ciao for now.

-Maddy and Christiana

Monday June 25, 2018

Today was our first full day at Bahia Ballena. This morning we woke up at 6:00 and went to breakfast. We had gallo pinto, eggs, oatmeal, and lots of fruit. Next, we made the 20 minute walk to the beach. After that we took our first surf lesson, it was definitely fun but SUPER tiring. I’d say the class definitely enjoyed it. Our surf instructors were very helpful and patient with us. Next we went back to Bodhi and ate some lunch. Then Jen and Patrick told us their Stories of Self, they were very interesting and insightful!

So then, we went to the yoga studio. It was a nice and peaceful place. We discussed the definition of service, we discussed a specific Indian custom called the circle of courage, and watched a Ted Talk about leadership and how one small act can impact a person’s life for a very long time.

Finally, we went to Forjando Alas and did an activity with children called “All About Me”. Everyone told a little about themselves in their second language, Spanish for us and English for the kids, it was quite challenging. All of us were very excited to be with the kids and the kids were excited to have us. An inspiring person today was Yerleni. She is the executive director of Forjando Alas. She was very kind and wants to make a difference in the children’s lives in the Uvita/Bahia Ballena community.

After that we went back to Bodhi and and ate pasghetti (Spanish for spaghetti). After that we went to the yoga studio and everyone told their life stories. It was amazing to hear about how different everyone’s lives were and what everyone had been through. It was a great way to get to know each other a little better.

We are very excited to do more service and more surfing tomorrow. So far our experience has been amazing and we can’t wait to see what more GLA and Costa Rica has to offer.

-Logan and Luke

Tuesday June 26, 2018

Today we started the day with service at the local parquecito. We painted and refurbished sidewalks, tables and benches by adding bright colors. Unfortunately the unexpected tropical rain washed away some of the colors however we still had fun with the locals. We ended by reflecting on an impactful video and discussion about defining service.

After service we went surfing at Bahia Ballena. We came at high tide and the waves were a little choppy-but we managed to make it work and have fun. Today we practiced more and learned to turn left and right into waves.

When we got back from surfing we had a wonderful dinner of hamburgers and french fries. Following dinner we all participated in a group activity which simulated the impact of the World Cup in Brazil on the Brazilian culture and their economy.

Today we learned about the different types of service we can provide: temporary and unsustainable. Providing sustainable service is the most beneficial to communities because it leaves a lasting impact. Something that surprised us the most was that 22,000 people were displaced from their homes in result of the FIFA World Cup. We are learning a lot here… and growing.

Off to brush our teeth,

Josh, Grace, and Sage

Wednesday June 27, 2018

Hey families,

Today was, I cannot describe it in any other way, amazing. Started off the day as a leader today and had a super good breakfast. Surfing was so good today. I caught the best wave. I went about as far as I could out and then rode it all the way to shore. After surfing we headed to this marketplace and I bought some things for my siblings back at home. After that we came back and got clean and ready for service work. For our service today we hung out with the kids from Forjando Alas. At first we only had the younger kids and it was so surprising how crazy these kids athletic skills were. They were running up a rocky road with no shoes on and then playing soccer barefoot. Their energy was so cool it see and it was such an amazing experience seeing and knowing that I helped out their mood.

We all learned how good it feels to know that we helped make someones day better. Something we learned was how tough these little kids are. They were running on rocks with bare feet and playing soccer through minor injuries. We are proud of how well we all did surfing and also we are proud of helping the community out. The surf instructors were a huge help and inspiration today. They were calm, cool, and collected while teaching us and even when a sting ray was very close to one of us. We all learned how much of an emotional and mental impact helping out can make on yourself and the people you are helping. Sometimes there are more emotional improvements than physical improvements.

-Sarah and Jake 🙂

  

Thursday June 28, 2018

Yesterday we went white water rafting. We learned all of the motions and strokes needed to be successful. We were surprised how good the meal they prepared for us was and how generous the proportions were. We were also surprised for how massive the rapids were. All throughout the trip the instructors land the drivers that got us there were extremely nice and provided a comfortable atmosphere in which we could properly and comfortably respect one another and experience a different culture. We were proud that our tribe was respectful and also how only 6 out of 15 fell out! We are very proud of everyone who fell out because they maintained a super positive attitude.

Today everyone is a person of inspiration because everyone stayed positive and respectful during the whole trip. We the leaders of the day (Ben and Lilly) learned new things about ourselves today. I, Ben learned that my ability to raise my voice ,in a culturally appropriate way, is a good way of getting everyone’s attention and bringing the group together quicker and more efficiently. I, Lilly learned to always be ready for a new adventure even if it’s terrifying. I also learned that to lead you need mutual respect and to try and get to now everyone and connect with them each individually.

Sincerely,
Ben and Lilly

Friday June 29, 2018

Well hello parents,

Today was a big day for us with our development in surfing along with leading service at forjando alas. We started the day with early morning surfing and there we learned how to ride green waves. While many of us got some good waves I personally are the water a few times. After five exhausting hours of surfing we made the walk back to bodhi for a great lunch of quesadillas. The main event of the day was yet to come as us students would lead service at forjando alas. While many of the activities planned didn’t work out, we still managed to have a great time with the kids and teach them some English.

We made them food, did arts and crafts, taught them how to dance “step”, and beatboxed with them. It was very difficult to say our goodbyes to the children but the experiences we made with them will last in our memories. Personally joe and I learned that’s despite our short time in Costa Rica we could have a positive impact on the community. We learned that we can be great leaders and guide our group to bring out our best potential.

With compassion, humility, and grace….

Joe and Noah

Saturday June 30, 2018

Hola familias,

Today we learned how to surf the green waves and about different animals on the hiking trail, such as monkeys, sloths, hawks, and different colored birds. What surprised us the most was that we all made it to the top of the trail, which was a 5k up and a 5k down, to see the view of the whale tail. We are all proud of being able to reach the top of the trail and make it to the green waves. Luis, an surf instructor, was really inspirational because he pushed a lot of people through hard times and told them they were doing great. He was there to help and give us advise on the water. At the end of the day we did a game, called the lollipop game, where we would give out a lollipop to someone that you appreciated or who did something nice.

From Maddy and Peterlee

 

Monday June 11, 2018

Hello families!

The first night has come to an end, and what an exhausting and exciting first day it was! Your children just traveled the world by themselves and made it safely to Costa Rica. As we settled into the hostel, we played a game to learn each other’s names. We had lunch, which was delicious! It had rice, veggies, and chicken. The juice was pineapple, star fruit, and orange juice all mixed together.

Before dinner we played a game where we set goals for ourselves and tried to guess each other’s goals. We are excited to see how students work towards their goals of making friends, learning to surf, and service work. Then we grabbed some take out and had dinner in front of an old cathedral just up the street.

We are a small group of 9, but we have students from Colorado, California, Wisconsin, Kansas City, Texas, Boston, Oregon, Florida, and North Carolina. It’s quite diverse! The students are now getting into their rooms, and will soon be asleep. We are excited for the full day ahead! We will be leaving bright and early for the beach and the Bodhi camp.

Til next time,

Jen and Patrick

Here are some pictures from dinner.

Tuesday June 12, 2018

¡Pura vida!

After a nice and early breakfast at the hostel, we left San José for Bodhi with some stops along the way. We got out at the crocodile bridge and admired some crocodiles (from a comfortable distance) while some of us sipped on coconut water. Our driver, Wali, managed to spot a sloth along the way and pulled over to show us!

After we arrived to Bodhi and settled in a bit. We had lunch and a quick orientation while meeting the rest of the Bodhi team. One highlight of the day was the walk we took around the community. Through intermittent downpours, we learned how to spot different types of citrus trees, tried mangos and mangas (very different!), and checked out some important spots around town.

When we got back to Bodhi we had a discussion about service and what it means to us and talked about the upcoming projects in the community. After dinner, our surf instructor, Gibran, talked about the philosophy of surfing and got us all excited for the week of surfing ahead! We can’t wait to get to the beach and our first afternoon of service-learning at Forjando Alas tomorrow!

Moving forward, students will be writing the blog. We have started the “leaders of the day” part of the program, and one of their responsibilities will be to take pictures and write the daily blog. The leaders will write about what happened during the day and what they learned.

 

Thursday June 14, 2018 (Part 1)

*Blog is about yesterday (Wednesday June 13)

Hello parents and families of GLA kids,

Yesterday we started our day off at 6:30 with breakfast and started to get ready for surfing. We had a 20 minute walk down to the beach, learned how to surf some gnarly waves, and had some fresh pineapple during our break. All of us were pretty proud of catching some good waves. As the day went on we walked to the local market in which we bought some souvenirs and authentic Costa Rican food. Around 2:00 we went to Forjando Alas in which we did after school activities with the children. This included playing soccer, duck duck goose, and the telephone game. The kids were so friendly and energetic this really surprised us all. We started to create a bond with the children as the hours went on. At 6:00 we came back to the home base and had some dinner. Finally, we ended the night off with sharing all of our life stories. We learned about how much it means to feel apart of the community. Travis (one of the owners of Bodhi) had been very influential through out the service hours and was encouraging everyone to come together as a group. I learned about how important it is to create relationships with our peers as well as the community members. ¡Buenas noches!!

-Kya and Averey 🙂

 

Surfing and service made up the schedule for the Costa Rica GLA Kids. Learning to turn and slow down engrossed us in activity till noon. An energetic game of soccer was played on the hot beach while we took a break from the waves. Around 11, The crew then walked back from the beach and was happily surprised by hamburgers for lunch. After a period of resting time we began to plan a service outline for the children Forjando Alas, the organization we have been working with to help. We played fun games with the kids like duck duck goose and sharks and fishes, and also made slime. We then came back and ate dinner with a post-meal yoga session.

Missing American food,
Your children

Written by: Jena Leighton and Elias Blank

Thursday June 14, 2018 (Part 2)

Surfing and service made up the schedule for the Costa Rica GLA Kids. Learning to turn and slow down engrossed us in activity till noon. An energetic game of soccer was played on the hot beach while we took a break from the waves. Around 11, The crew then walked back from the beach and was happily surprised by hamburgers for lunch. After a period of resting time we began to plan a service outline for the children Forjando Alas, the organization we have been working with to help. We played fun games with the kids like duck duck goose and sharks and fishes, and also made slime. We then came back and ate dinner with a post-meal yoga session.

Written by: Jena Leighton and Elias Blank

 

Friday June 15, 2018

Hey parents!

Today is Friday, June 15. This morning we woke up at 630, had breakfast, and then quickly headed to surfing. Today in surfing we learned how to do turtle rolls and paddling out, while still practicing surfing waves. A turtle roll is when you are paddling out and flip your board and roll under a wave as to not get pushed back. After surfing, we came back to Bodhi to eat lunch and go swimming in the pool.

After a quick rest, we gathered our things, put on sunscreen, and headed to community service. During community service, we partnered with a Costa Rican youth group of students our age. With them, we made activities for the younger children and taught lessons for the younger children. During this, we were challenged to only speak Spanish, while they could only speak English.

It was very interesting to see people using creative ways to get around the language barrier. After the community service, we came back home for dinner and a late night game of celebrity. Overall in our opinion it was a very fun day. The most surprising thing was how kids as young as six who didn’t know any English found ways to speak to us through friends and body language.

We are very proud of our leadership and how people stepped up and led us to work well with the kids our age in Costa Rica to get work done. An inspirational person today was Yerleni. She is a mom of one of the kids at her after school program and finds a way as the only employee to deal with limited resources and still provide education, fun, and life skills for all these kids while keeping kids safe. She works very hard and was an inspiration to all of us. Finally, we all learned some more Spanish vocabulary and how to paddle out in big waves! Attached below are some pictures.

-Jake and Dietrich

  

Saturday June 16, 2018

Today we woke up to go white water rafting in a local river with us and some other fun people. We learned about local plant life and weather impacts near the river. While on the river we were thrown around like a rag doll in the boat. The river was strong and powerful enough to topple a boat. Everyone enjoyed the snacks and lunch we received from a local organization. Some of us learned how to white water raft for the first time today and we all had very much fun and look forward to the next day.

-Vido and Melissa

Sunday June 17, 2018

Today we woke up, had a quick breakfast and then headed out to catch some waves. Surfing today was full of “getting trucked”, according to Kya. A few people had some quick encounters with a jellyfish, but all is good now. After surfing we came back to Bodhi and enjoyed a nice lunch that consisted of chicken, vegetables, and of course rice and beans.

Our service today was all about understanding our relationship to the ocean and giving back to the environment. We helped pick up trash off of the local beaches with the assistance of some local Costa Rican teenagers. Afterwards we helped teach them how to surf, but also helped hype them up when they caught a wave. It was an overall fun time helping the community while also making a friend or two.

After service we came back and had some down time before our final yoga session. During this time many students called or FaceTimed their dads to wish them happy Father’s Day. Our yoga session was relaxing and much needed for our sore bodies. We did something called “partner yoga”, which is a fun way to gain a deeper stretch while also assisting someone else. It’s also good for a laugh or two. At the end we had a relaxing 10 minute cool down where we open our minds to the beautiful sounds of nature around us. A few people were so relaxed they actually fell asleep. We were all a little sad that this was our last yoga session in Costa Rica. We have all had an amazing time here and we will definitely be cherishing our final days here.

-Written by Allison and Avery

Monday June 18, 2018

¡Buenas Noches los padres!

Today we started our day off at 6:30 in which we had our regular eggs, beans, toast, and coffee for breakfast. We then got ready to go on our morning hike called “La Union”. We all struggled to walk up, but it was worth it as we had finished off seeing some great scenery of the town and beach. We were surprised by how long the hike was – It was 8 miles!! After coming back exhausted we all rested up before lunch. We were all excited to see that beef was on the menu along with rice and vegetable soup. Next we got ready for our last surf lesson at the beach. Today we paddled out to the green waves even thought it was pouring rain and most of us caught at least one or more waves.

We learned not to be in the water while it was raining and thundering. As we were walking, I realized that we had been inspiration for one another in different aspects. We walked back to the home base in the pouring rain and started to get dressed up for the dinner at Carlitos. Carlitos is a local restaurant that is just right across the street from us. At Carlitos we had some yummy food including spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, and fries. Throughout dinner we did a lollipop activity and gave a lollipop to a person who has impacted you in a positive way during the trip. I’m proud of all the compliments we gave to one another. We ended the night off with a dance party and watching a movie!! I learned that we need to live in the moment. That concludes our final night at Bodhi 🙁

-Kya and Elise

 

 

Wednesday June 20, 2018

We all just had a tough goodbye at the airport after an awesome week of surfing, service, and adventure. Yesterday was our last day of service at the Parquecito, where we painted benches and beautified the park alongside some local volunteers. We got to meet a retired professional soccer player who was helping organize the project and then enjoyed some popsicles at the end. Afterward we went back to Bodhi and packed up. Then we got in the shuttle to head back to San José. We had a nice pizza dinner and then did a final appreciation circle where we were able to anonymously share the positive impacts we had on one another. We’re so grateful to have gotten to know you all and hope that you reflect back on all of the leaders, learning, and good times together. Don’t forget to keep journaling! We already miss y’all.

¡Pura vida!

Patrick and Jen

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Monday July 16, 2018

Hello friends and family!

Our first day here in San José has come to an end with everyone settling in for a much needed rest. Flights arrived quite smoothly throughout the morning and afternoon and some even got the chance to try a local lunch called “casado” which translates as “married” – here the marriage is rice and beans with a meat, plantain and salad on the side. We did our swim tests in the hotel pool as well as some free swim / jacuzzi time once the whole group arrived. Before dinner we got together to do some quick get-to-know-you activities and headed to a buffet right across the street.

Tomorrow we will have a short city tour here in San José before heading along the windy roads to our host community of Providencia. Stay tuned for another post in the next few days – our GLA students will be writing them from now on!

By: Nico Couto
International Director

Wednesday July 18, 2018

Hello, Parents and Others!

Today is the 18th of July! We had breakfast at 7 and started work at 8. We took turns getting rocks from the river and shoveling to make a bio-garden, which is basically a natural filter that will be used to clean the soapy and greasy water from the house we are working. The river near our homebase is one of the cleanest in the world so Green Communities wants to keep it that way. We worked on it until 12:30, when we had lunch. There was rice, beans, salad, and plantains. We then had a small break and then started our Spanish lessons. We took placement tests to determine which level we were in and then listened to a song and filled out a worksheet. We then had a break and had dinner, and after journaling and then free time and then bedtime.

Thank you for reading his post and I hope you come back to read more!

By Hannah Li

Saturday July 21, 2018

Yesterday, we completed our third day of service, taking huge steps in completing the first two biogardens in the history of Providencia, the town in which we are staying. Then, we had our first Spanish class in our different levels. The authors of this, Jacob and Preston, are both learning typical Costa Rican terms that the Ticos use, such as “Mae“ and “Pura Vida!!! “ After a delicious dinner made by chef Juan, our gracious host at Tami Lodge, fajitas de carne, we had a group discussion about sustainable tourism and the benefits of locally run lodges over huge beachside hotels run by people who aren´t from Costa Rica. Luis Diego, our fearless Costa Rican leader told us the 6 rules to smart tourism. Make sure to ask your kid about it when they get back!!

Today, Saturday, we finished two biogardens after four days of work. Javier, the owner of the house where we built the second biogarden from scratch gave us an emotional thank you, and his family gave us all bracelets and ice cream that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Later, we went to the plaza and played soccer with a bunch of kids from Providencia, including Juan´s son, Gustavo. We unfortunately lost, 5-7, but it was very fun, highlighted by goals from Preston, Myles and Jacob, and outstanding goalkeeping by Diego and Max. Then, the advanced Spanish class helped Juan cook casado, a traditional Costa Rican dish that newly-wed spouses often cook for each other, while the other two Spanish classes played some Costa Rican games.

Thanks for reading our blog post and be sure to check soon for updates about our waterfall hike and ziplining adventures. We also do laundry tomorrow!

Hope the U.S. is ok,

-Preston Helfand and Jacob Cowan

Wednesday July 25, 2018

Today is day 10, and it´s Wednesday my dudes! Day 7 was adventure day 1, which was a 4 hour hike! Although the hike was difficult, and had many spiky trees along the way, the destination was a beautiful waterfall! Check it out on our instagrams @emilygr4 and @s.oficav #selfpromo. In my opinion, the best part of the hike was the delicious butter and jelly sandwich we each received half way through! It was the perfect kick to get us through the rest of the hike #welovebutter. Later that day we did “adopt a gringo”, where we spent two hours in the home of a Costa Rican family with two other members of our group. It was a super fun an immersive experience which really helped us gain a better understanding of how locals live. We finished that night with a movie called “Tambien la Lluvia”, which sadly half of us slept through #hotpockets.

Day 8 was our second adventure day, and we visited the Extreme Forest Park. We did a short zipline which was probably 100 feet, and by far the easiest thing we had to do. That led to a Tarzan swing, which forced us to jump off a ledge and swing high into the air. Next we had to the jungle fly, which was the most terrifying experience of my life. We were pulled high into the air, and then released by our dear friends when we were least expecting it. We then swung 100 feet into the air, back and forth, screaming all the way. We then moved on to climb the inside of a 90 foot 500 year old tree, which was very difficult and then we jumped out the top and were lowered to the ground. It was quite the experience, and took #bigenergy. We ended the day with Spanish class and cafecito, which is the highlight of the day every day.

Day 9 was service day 5! We started mixing and laying cement for an amphitheater for the community of Providencia, where they will be able to hold town meetings, play basketball, and have concerts. When we got back we did a dance class, dinner, and discussion with the Young Dreamers. We got to dance with them, which was a blast, and we got to see our own directors bust a move #sofiandjonathon4life.

Today we did more service, where we continued to mix cement with the Young Dreamers #cementfight. Then we came back and had Spanish class, and level 1 had a cooking class with Juan. We are about to have the dinner they prepared, and then watch a movie, so we´re droppin to dinner boys.

Goodnight and Pura Vida mae,

Xoxo

Sofi Cavenaile & Emily Greeley

Sunday July 29, 2018

Hello everyone! The Spanish Service Adventure group visited the beach the last three days and I`m going to tell you about it!

The journey to the beach was quite exhausting, yet when we arrived, El Parque de Manuel Antonio welcomed us with is beautiful nature and many types of animals. We came in contact with white faced monkeys that followed some members of the group for a while. Our guide, Leo, was generous enough to show us the sloths that were hanging high in the trees and questionably poisonous spiders along with frogs unable to mate because they are deaf. We followed the long hiking trail to the beach where we all sprinted into the waves and were greeted by the extreme saltiness of the Pacific Ocean. We bonded with group activities like human knot in the water, which did not last very long. However, it started to rain so we left for our hotel. The place where we were staying was very nice and each room was a separate building. The hotel also had a very nice swimming pool, which was the main hangout spot for our group. The buffet food was excellent and we finally received a dessert, which we were craving for a long time.

The next morning, we journeyed to the surf beach! We were all super excited and it was way more fun than we expected. Two hours of surfing was not enough time to fully experience the joy of surfing. Afterward, we ate pineapple and mango and we went shopping on a street market and bargained with local vendors. A few hours later, we went to dinner at a Thai place called Phat Noodle, which is still an ongoing joke within our group. The food was absolutely delicious and some of us also bought brownies and ice cream, which we all inhaled.

The next morning, we drove back to Providencia, which now feels like just home. We went the Plaza to meet the young dreamers, or the local teens and played soccer. However, it was pouring rain and new game emerged which was who could go the farthest in homemade slip n slide, which Max was crowned the winner.

Thanks for reading this blog and keeping up with our trip.

More to come later!

Zoë Peters :))

By Olivia Shaw

Monday July 30 through Wednesday August 1, 2018

Hey everyone! I’m going to tell you about days 15-17 of our Spanish Service Adventure.

Starting on day 15, we began our last service cycle, which was working on an organic coffee farm. The farm belongs to Juan, one of the owners of Tami Lodge and the man who prepares our amazing food every day. We began by working at the biofabrica (bio factory), making fertilizer and shoveling it into bags. While it was fun and educational, this was also the first day we all began smelling like poop (pardon my French)! We learned about all of the different things that go into making organic fertilizer (it’s a lot!) and worked tirelessly to fill what seemed like hundreds of bags.

Day 2 was on Juan’s farm, where we began with a discussion about agricultural production with Arturo. We then got to walk through a conventional coffee farm and an ecological coffee farm to see the differences. The most prevalent thing we all noticed was that the ecological farm had flowers and trees, not just coffee plants. We then began filling small buckets with the fertilizer and passing it down a long chain of people to put a bucket on each coffee plant. It was quite exhausting, but still managed to be fun. Day 3 began with a discussion about water, followed by walking to Savegre River to talk more and see water pouring from the earth. The discussion was quite touching and I think everyone took something away from it. After this, we went back to Juan’s farm and continued filling and passing buckets. Despite major back pain, we finished fertilizing every plant! Overall, the last service day was a major success.

Day 15 consisted also of our final Spanish presentations, which involved expositions about different themes from the advanced level, presentations and dances about different regions in Costa Rica from the intermediate level, and short but hilarious skits from the beginner level. We followed that with game night, which was moving Pictionary. Both teams fought hard, but ultimately, Rachael’s mentor group (my group!) won.

Day 16 was the day we had a coffee tour, where we saw the process that coffee beans go through to become the coffee we drink every day, as well as tasting 3 types of coffee and guessing which was organic, conventional, and “horrible” coffee. We then watched “Cowspiracy”, which lead to quite a few people changing their meal plans to vegetarian for the rest of the trip. To end the night, we watched a TED talk about the dangers of a single story, and then talked about how our lives have been affected by single stories. It was a very touching and emotional way to end the night.

Thanks for reading!

Liv 🙂

Friday August 3, 2018

Day 19 Is the day that we returned from white water rafting on the Pacuare river. The white water was really intense due to the recent flood a couple weeks ago, but the trip was so much fun. Being able to see the mountains and canyons from the water was an amazing experience, because everything was so beautiful. My favorite moment was seeing a huge bird fly really close to where we were eating lunch, watching the huge wings move so elegantly absolutely took my breath away. While in the area, we also got a tour of Cartago. We learned about some of the history of the city and had the privilege to see part of a cultural tradition that occurs every year at this time. Cartago is a very Catholic area, and we saw the hundreds of people that had walked from their home to be at the basilica (which is kind of a large cathedral like religious building) for a special mass. It was a very moving experience to be so immersed in another culture during such an important time.

Sadly, tomorrow is our final day in Providencia. We will return for one last jump in the waterfall nearby, eat with the Young Dreamers for our last dinner here, and have our talent show. Saying our goodbyes will be bittersweet, but hopefully more sweet than bitter as I am so glad to have met everyone here and shared this experience together.

~Aria