Hello PURA VIDA team and Happy Hippos! ☺

By the time you read this, you will all be wandering off to new adventures! Either at home, school, vacation, or with other communities.

It seems like yesterday that we were at the airport, welcoming a group of 23 energetic and warm-hearted students. YOU! Our very first day, all eating rice and beans and POPS together and getting ready to meet our hundreds of new dog friends.  

But first, let’s remember San Jose! Lunch at La Tortilleria and touring the town- history, sights, coffee tasting… and Joe! After we broke off into small groups to practice our Spanish with locals. It’s no surprise that Kelly’s group won the challenge! 😉 Churros and staring at a tree untill we convinced others to follow – memorable! Also, “donde estas” instead of “como estas” was unforgetable as well ☺

We finally arrived at Territorio de Zaguates to meet our new friends. Spending time every day around so many dogs was so amazing! Groups worked extremely well together and over the two weeks, we worked on a beautiful mural at the front gate painting a sloth, toucan, mango trees… and let’s not forget the day when Alvaro came to visit, surrounded by dogs, a flood of dogs!!! We also continued tiling the much needed vet clinic, and pushed ourselves to dig holes, mix cement, and build a fence for the cat house. When that was done, we got a big group together to build a long fence around the entire property! You all learned a lot from service by doing something new – and we are glad we were there to see this process happening. All our hard work paid off and we were able to pet lots of dogs throughout our time at TdZ. 

The hike with all the dogs and staff from Territorio was awesome; how many people can say that they hiked surrounded by literally hundreds of dogs while admiring beautiful views of Alajuela and San Jose?

You were one of the most hard working groups! You knew very well that we have an aim to everything we do… and that we also have fun!

GLA is all about learning, service, but also about fun and we had so much of it. The adventure days were exhilarating! We zip lined over rivers and through the jungle, enjoyed a nature walk where we saw wild animals, and took an aerial tram to the top of the canopies! 

Who could forget the hot springs?! We had a relaxing day with awesome views, great food, birthday cake and an awesome yoga class.  

What about the coffee tour? We learned A LOT about coffee and got to try a bunch along the way and our hosts there were super funny.

Our student led activities were fun as well. It was obvious we had a lot of natural leaders in the group. We remember cheerleading, games, soccer in the park, and we all enjoyed having fun and working together as a team. 

Also, we visited together Zoo Ave rescue center and found out the story about Grecia- the famous rescued toucan with the reconstructed beak. It’s amazing to see how technology can change the life of animals and the passion that people have for improving wildlife. Let’s not forgt that we also enjoyed ice cream and smoothies at the same place!

Then there was the waterfall hike! We pushed ourselves to climb down, then up, 42 flights of stairs to see one of the tallest waterfalls in Costa Rica up close! It was so beautiful to be surrounded by pure nature, walls of moss, and to hear the strong sound of the waterfall.

Thanks to an addition in the schedule, we got to have a beach day! We met our awesome team of instructors, enjoyed surfing lessons, playing soccer on the beach, and having fun together in the sun. Burritos for lunch aaand… pizza for dinner!

Back at work, TdZ staff handed armfuls of puppies to be washed and had a puppy circle in the sun to dry them off and keep them warm. Level of cuteness- overwhelming!!!

Our final hike with the dogs was challenging, but rewarding. Seeing hundreds of dogs run free and cuddle with us reminded us why we were there in the first place. 

Every day with you felt like a blessing and we are thankful that we got to watch you all step out of your comfort zones and grow as leaders. You were all very open minded and adapted to the local culture well.

Our wish is that you will continue to grow every day, and that the new perspectives you gained in Costa Rica will help you take initiative to positive impact your communities at home, and that is wherever in the world your home may be. You all have such great energy, I hope you spread it everywhere you go!

Thank you so much for being part of this Costa Rican adventure, we also learned so many cool things from you!

The best is yet to come!

PURA VIDA!

With love,

-Samara, Kelly, Pepe, Daniel and Ricardo

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.

Hi everyone!

By the time you read this, you will all be wandering off to new adventures! Either at home, school, vacation, or with other communities.

Remember Territorio de Zaguates? All the dogs send their love!

You were the group that ignited the spark and built the path for all the projects at Territorio.  How cool is that?

We began the mural by painting the logo on the front gate. It was a lot of work but it was totally worth it! We helped out by washing the dog’s areas, cages, and beds, dug trenches for the fence to be installed, and cleared the pile of heavy trash and recyclables to help clean the place up. These projects were continued by the following groups and I wish you could see the result, it’s awesome! The entrance is so vivid now, with beautiful paintings with dogs, nature, flower, plants, parrots, insects and sloths.

Hiking with all the dogs and the time we all spent giving them love will never be forgotten. 

Also, remember learning how to cook empanadas, tasting some new fruit during Pepe’s fruit talk, learning spanish and some hip hop moves and a little Tae Kwan Do?

How about when we reached the waterfall at Bosque del Niño and the hot springs..the REAL hot springs! Hacienda Orosi was such a beautiful place with a breathtaking view and we were grateful to have made it there! 

And who could forget the coffee tour with José and the dance class with Alex. 😉 We had  fun learning about and tasting coffee and dancing salsa and bachata! 

The drive to La Paz waterfall was definitely memorable as well. Cruising through the cloud forest was an experience and when we arrived we had a delicious buffet, walked through butterfly gardens and hiked to waterfalls! 

Also, dinner in San Jose was a nice change from our typical rice and beans menu ☺

Movie nights with popcorn by the side were chill, relaxing and a nice way to wrap long days.

Our last day was a long one and was full of adventure. We zip lined over rivers, through the jungle and took an aerial tram to the top of the canopies! 

TdZ and all of us thank you for giving your all to the program. The adventures we had and the time spent bonding with each other and the dogs will be cherished forever. 

We wish you will continue to grow every day and that new perspectives will help you take initiative to positive impact your communities at home, and that is wherever in the world your home may be.

The adventure never ends and the best is yet to come!

With love,

-Samara, Kelly, and Pepe

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.

Hope this letter finds y’all well.

Wherever you may be in life, in the world right now, we’d like to remind you of the few weeks of summer you spent in Yunnan.

The land itself, however, need not be reminded. For a part of what is now the soil was the compost you made, and it is now home to spectacularly complex networks of life that help nurture food and, hopefully, minds, as the eco-farm continues its efforts in influencing the valley toward sustainable agriculture.

Their bread is still delicious.

We hope you still have some good pictures of those photogenic monkeys. And speaking of photogenic, we will probably never forget how beautiful Shaxi was under the 6PM golden sunlight the day we got there.

Perhaps now is a good time to see if you still remember those Bai dance moves?

Which of the workshops & events you recall the clearest now, looking back?

The Great Wall is still there with a certain corner of it cleaner than before, but more importantly, there are people who witnessed a certain group of young change makers now, and the example lives on.  

Finally, we would like you to know that you made an impact on us as well. Inspired by you, some of us have picked up long-abandoned hobbies, others have tried new things from meeting you.

Wherever you are now in life, on the planet, we would like you to know that the changes you made live on, and the cool things you saw, tried and did, are yours to revisit.

Thank you for a meaningful summer.

—Henry, Xiao, Samara

Hope this letter finds y’all well.

Wherever you may be in life, in the world right now, we’d like to remind you of the few weeks of summer you spent in Yunnan.

The land itself, however, need not be reminded. For a part of what is now the soil was the compost you made, and it is now home to spectacularly complex networks of life that help nurture food and, hopefully, minds, as the eco-farm continues its efforts in influencing the valley toward sustainable agriculture.

Their bread is still delicious.

The kids you played with are now a little older, growing up in the same village, except now with a slightly different understanding of the world beyond and memories of joy.

Those kids will most likely participate in festivals and events at the temple activity center in the near future, where the bricks you sculpted are now hard as stone in a solid wall.

Perhaps now is a good time to see if you still remember those Bai dance moves?

Which of the workshops & events you recall the clearest now, looking back?

We hope you still have some good pictures of those photogenic monkeys, and we certainly hope that Xi’An has not become your least favorite place on earth, for reasons that only the 29 of us who were there know first-hand.

Finally, we would like you to know that you made an impact on us as well. Inspired by you, some of us have picked up long-abandoned hobbies, others have tried new things from meeting you.

Wherever you are now in life, on the planet, we would like you to know that the changes you made live on, and the cool things you saw, tried and did, are yours to revisit.

Thank you for a meaningful summer.

—Henry, Xiao, Samara, Yi

You guys did it, way to go. From bats in the shower to scorpions also in the shower, you guys survived everything that was thrown your way. I’m writing this on the last day of the program, and I’m going to be sad to see everyone go their separate ways tomorrow. We have built a tightknit community these last three weeks that I feel lucky to have been a part of. I hope you all enjoyed your time here as much as I have. It was truly a pleasure to get to know all of you. You should be proud of all you have accomplished in your time here.

The transition from the first to last day of service was remarkable. By the end of day one, everyone was exhausted and saying how hard it was to look after a group of students, and that was completely fair. Over the two weeks, there were fights that had to be broken up, students that had to be called down from the roof, band aids that needed passing out, walls that needed painting, and a few classrooms had t literally had kids climbing out of the windows to run away. To add to it, all of this was done in the hot Belize sun without any AC. The service was in by no means easy. The last day was tear-filled and heart wrenching however. And that’s because even when managing the Belizean students was difficult, there was never a lack of love. The students that you worked with looked up to you and loved you. They came to school every day waving with a big smile on their face, excited to be back for another day. You played with them and made them laugh. You taught them and helped prepare them for a better future. You got to know them and made them feel special. They have the letters you wrote for them and I know that they will always remember you. They all loved you too much not to.

The trip was also a full-blown adventure. You lived one hundred feet from a pond that a crocodile called home, and you snorkeled with schools of sharks bigger than yourselves in the middle of the ocean. You explored the ruins of Xunantunich in an absolute down pour and swam through the ATM caves to see the skeletons of Mayan sacrificial victims. You braved cold showers, mosquitos, dorm-life, and outdoor bathrooms. You swam in the Blue Hole, tasted Marie Sharp’s habanero hot sauce, encountered a jaguar, and floated on tubes through caves, disappearing into the pitch black. You also swam with a Mantatee in the crystal blue water of the Caribbean (that in itself is pretty unreal). I know I’m leaving things out, but that is only proof of how great of an adventure you’ve had the last three weeks. Everything you guys have done is impressive. Here’s to stepping out of your comfort zone, you guys really went for it, and I know you have the memories of a life time to show for it.

While it is easy to look back and remember the service you did, the adventures you had, the different cultures you learned about, and the country you explored, it is vital to also remember the friendships you made. Last night I heard countless conversations about ways to see each other again, be it at home or on the road. Do it. You guys should see each other; make the effort, it is worth it.  You became really good friends these last three weeks. Honor your friendships, for each other and yourself. The thought of you guys continuing to be a part of each other’s lives makes be happy, and I hope that this program not only does the incredible task of bringing you across the world to see and participate in a different way of life, but that it also makes lasting friendships that can continue to grow and prosper as you get older.

Like I said before, I consider myself lucky to have been a part of the last three weeks. I have learned so much and I had such a great time Reading this, I hope all of you are doing well, and that your next chapter of life can be as vibrant and fulfilling as this one was. I hope the love of helping others and the spirit of adventure is still alive in you. I hope your all living the lives you want to live. I wish all of you the best of luck, and remember that attitude is everything. Life is what you make of it, so go have a great one.

Cheers,

John

Feeling nostalgic? You can experience that same sense of friendship and adventure abroad again! Check out all our new destinations for Summer 2018, or enroll now.