Dear Beachside Service Alums,

I’m sitting at home base on Isla Palo Seco as my time in Parrita is coming to a close. I look around and am reminded of so many memories that we shared together during your time here, finally reaching 100 in the pool, sweating more than ever during the dance class, mentor groups huddled in circles debriefing the celebrations and challenges of the day, relaxing in the hammocks and watching the white-faced monkeys pass by, listening to the waves crash just steps away from it all, mixed in with the singing of so many birds, the scampering lizards, and of course, being completely covered in bug spray every moment of every day, but still getting eaten alive by the no-see-ums.

By now, you are most likely settled into a routine back in your normal life, with school, old friends, extracurriculars, and all the junk food you could possibly crave back at your fingertips, but I hope that there is also something a little bit different this time around. I hope that you remember your time here in Parrita, that you carry it with you, that it has become a part of you. I hope that it’s more than just new friendships and fun memories captured on gopros.

While those are great, they are incomplete from the time that we shared together. In whatever leadership positions you find yourself, both formal and informal, I hope you consider the best fit for the job, whether that requires direct, relational, or following leadership. I hope that you are continuing to challenge yourself to grow in the style that is the most unnatural for you. I hope that you continue to consider your values, what they mean to you and how they impact your decisions and actions. I hope that when faced with a conflict, you remember the discussion with your mentor group about how we respond to those moments and why. I hope you tell and consider multiple stories as you take in and respond to the world around you, remembering that people are more complex than we often realize. I hope you remember to analyze different perspectives and find the truths that can be held simultaneously from opposite sides. I hope that you are being your best self, living your biggest life in whatever way you can. I hope that you remember the people of Parrita, their resiliency, their hospitality, their pura vida, and the way that it inspired you.

The time that we shared in Costa Rica was short, just 10 days, but it was so full, so deep, and it was real. We had so much fun together, worked really hard on community projects that are still being utilized, and also faced a myriad of challenges that forced us to think and grow. Remember it all, and continue to let it impact you as you adventure onward.

Some of my favorite memories from the trip:

• Working alongside of the students from Escuela Finca Nicoya to paint their fence, building pride and taking a load off the directors plate. Participating in the bingo fundraiser and seeing the community in action.
• Breaking ground for the beginnings of the wren nursery to create a lasting impact fighting climate change for the sake of the people of Isla Palo Seco.
• Painting the dogs at Escuela Isla Palo Seco, and creating a mural to help make the garden more sustainable.
• Building a sustainable garden for the students at Escuela Palo Seco to increase food production and further their involvement in the blue flag program, and wearing a vestido de queso to the final meal.
• Kicking off the tire playground project at Escuela La Costanera. We don’t get tired! Juan Carlos says hello!
• Planting over 200 trees alongside the incredible women of Ave Fenix to help rescue the natural habitat of the Scarlet Macaw and other birds of the tropical forest.
• Did I mention how much we sweat during the dance class? The instructor was so full of life!
• Lourdes showing us her ways in the cooking class, and getting to taste the traditional corn dishes at the end.
• The photo/video scavenger hunt, spelling GLA with our bodies, opening a coconut, mannequin challenges, and synchronized swimming!
• Swim Test turned week-long challenge to make it to 100 with the volleyball in the pool!
• Jumping off the top of the catamaran and spending the morning laying in the sun on the nets! (hello sunburn!)
• Zip lining through the jungle and getting dropped in the water at the end.
• Tubing down the river, holding on to friends for dear life with the most beautiful mountain views.
• The adventure of horseback riding, biting horses, slow horses, fast horses, and the cool, refreshing mist of the waterfall in the middle.
• Body surfing in Manuel Antonio national park.
• Bargaining for the best prices in the market and stuffing faces with tacos and french fries
• Bus rides full of Me Rehúso and any song by Nicky Jam or Enrique Iglesias.
• The laughter, deep talks, and sheer joy of new friendships that will be treasured for a lifetime.

Keep in touch with us as you continue on. We are so proud of the work that you accomplished and the growth that you experienced. You were such a crucial part of the relationship that GLA is building with the community of Parrita. Know that we are cheering you on as you go.

¡Pura Vida!

-Callie

Dear Animal Rescue Project Session 2 students,

We hope this message finds you well. By this time you are back at home, settled into the routine of school and sports and work, likely stressing about your college applications. We hope you can take the next minute or two to read this letter and be transported back to Nosara, Costa Rica.

Oh what a time we had. Your group was amazing. We hope you are still in contact with the friends you made on the trip. Not only did you make lasting connections, but you also served the animals of Nosara. Whether they were the monkeys at SIBU or Refuge for Wildlife, or the dogs at the hotel, it was truly inspiring to see you all interact with so many different critters.

Remember that day when we castrated 65 animals?? Think of the lasting impact that will have on this community- fewer street dogs, fewer accidental litters with no one to feed them, and fewer territorial male dogs. You truly supported the mission of Nosara Animal Care. Additionally, you served the animals here by doing outreach with Safari Vet. You helped to count and document all of the animals in parts of Nosara by doing a census. You helped to build a greenhouse that will eventually offset thousands of dollars in costs for Nosara Refuge for Wildlife. You educated and entertained families with a play that will improve the treatment of animals in the community of Nosara.

But we can’t forget all the fun we had- from swimming in the river on our Rio Celeste trip, to splashing around on Guiones Beach, to surfing, zipping, and horseback riding, or just sharing a meal together at Dos Lorenas. Thank you for joining us on this adventure. We loved getting to know you and seeing you grow. We hope you continue to serve animals and your communities wherever life takes you. Remember to travel sustainably, support local businesses, and consider your environmental impact.

With all our love,

-Jane, Kate, and Gabriel
Your International Team

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Dear Animal Rescue Project Session 1 students,

Oh what a time we had. Your group kept us on our toes!!! You ate all of the fried plantains you could get your hands on and always wanted to pay a visit to Robin’s for ice cream. When you weren’t eating, you were serving the animals of Nosara in any way that you could. It was truly inspiring to see you all interact with so many different critters; from centipedes in the hotel to dogs anywhere we went.

Remember that day when we castrated 60 animals?? Think of the lasting impact that will have on this community- fewer street dogs, fewer accidental litters with no one to feed them, and fewer territorial male dogs. You truly supported the mission of Nosara Animal Care. Additionally, you served the animals here by giving baths and vaccinations to animals in Guiones. You helped to count and document all of the animals in parts of Nosara by doing a census. You helped to build a greenhouse that will eventually offset thousands of dollars in costs for Nosara Refuge for Wildlife. You educated and entertained families at Mascotamania.

But we can’t forget all the fun we had- from swimming in the river on our Rio Celeste trip, to splashing around on Guiones Beach, to surfing, zipping, paddleboarding, and horseback riding, or just sharing a meal together at Dos Lorena’s. Thank you for joining us on this adventure. We loved getting to know you and seeing you grow. We hope you continue to serve animals and your communities wherever life takes you. Remember to travel sustainably, support local businesses, and consider your environmental impact.

With all our love,

Jane, Kate, and Gabriel
Your International Team

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PURA VIDA!

It was so amazing to have such an awesome group come together for the last two weeks of summer!

It seems like yesterday we were all eating rice and beans together, getting ready to embark on a new adventure and meet our hundreds of new dog friends at Territorio de Zaguates. 

Today we want to share with you some of the memories that stuck out from the trip!

To start off our trip we went to the capitol of Costa Rica, San Jose, to see some sights, hug some trees, and try some coffee. We ate lunch at La Tortilleria then broke off into small groups to practice our Spanish with locals. It’s no surprise that Kelly’s group won the challenge! 😉 

Then who could forget adventure day! We zip lined, enjoyed a nature walk, and a slow-mo aerial tram. We saw a tapir, a lot of spiders, frogs, snakes, butterflies, birds, and even a sloth! 

Our first mentor groups gave us a chance to get to know each other even better. We made our flags with our group names (! and Pepe’s Peeps) and shared some values we thought were important to uphold throughout the trip. Everyone in the entire group went above and beyond those initial values and we thank you for that! 

We finally arrived at Territorio de Zaguates to meet our new friends. Our three groups worked extremely well together(yay assembly lines!) and at times even took song and dance breaks… I see a Broadway career in some futures. Together, over the two weeks, we completed a beautiful mural at the front gate, finished tiling the much needed vet clinic, and pushed ourselves to move cement blocks while riding in the back of a truck, painted a fence that seemed impossible to turn green, pulled out trees to be replanted, moved hay, and mixed cement. Then mixed more cement. Then mixed more cement. Until we started dreaming of mixing cement.

All of our hard work definitely paid off and we were even able to wash dogs one day as a much needed treat! We finished all projects started before, and created a better image for TdZ! I hope we will all return one day! You honestly 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 about learning, service, but also about fun and we had so much of it! One of the best and most relaxing days we had was at the hot springs. We got to enjoy the warm water heated by a volcano, the view, the food, each other, and a calming yoga session led by Smara. To top it off, she introduced acro yoga and everyone had a blast! How fun was it to work as a team to achieve poses that many thought weren’t possible! Our student led activities were fun as well! Lap game – where we laughed a lot and learned more about each other and a series of charades, the human knot, and Simon Says. Our group was full of natural leaders and it definitely showed! 

Zoo Ave rescue center gave us an insight on the life of some rescued animals and we had some more delicious ice cream and smoothies. You now know the story about Grecia and how technology can impact in a good way the life of wild animals.

What about dance classes, where we learned salsa, bachata, and the Costa Rican swing? Exotic fruits tasting, Spanish classes and cooking empanadas?  

The coffee tour was full of laughs, coffee tasting, funny hosts and of course….wifi!

Who could forget the hike to the waterfalls?! We were well on our way through the mud until Ricardo got us lost 😉 and we had to backtrack through even more mud, but we finally made it to swim in beautiful blue water! After, we ate lunch, then some of us went on a second hike to one of Costa Rica’s tallest waterfalls…in the rain! That was a nice workout day. When we got home we had a surprise…. pizza dinner! 

Beach day was so awesome! Playing soccer, having burritos, smoothies, brownies, and more POPS, riding the waves with our team of talented surf instructors, and enjoying fresh fruit after. We pushed ourselves to try something new and it was amazing. 

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

It was truly a trip to remember and our lives won’t be the same without you all and all those hugs everyday!!! Every day with you felt like a blessing and I am thankful that I watched you all step out of your comfort zones and grow as leaders. You were all very open minded and adapted to the local culture with ease.

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, we 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 all!

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

PURA VIDA!

With love,

-Samara, Kelly, Pepe and Ricardo

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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.