Day 1: July 31, 2017

The Initiative for Children students arrived to Costa Rica safe and sound and we are so excited for our amazing 3 weeks of service, fun, learning, and adventure! Our students were immediately taken from the airport to have a typical casado lunch, consisting of rice, beans, plantains, salad, and a choice of either chicken, or veggies. Today, our students also signed up for two adventures of their choice: surfing on one of Costa Rica’s best beaches, stand up paddle boarding through the mangroves, zip lining through the jungle, or horseback riding on the beach-all of which should be very exciting in the days to come!

Once we arrived to our Home Base, we unloaded suitcases and got everyone moved into their rooms. We had a delicious dinner and then headed to bed early as everyone had a long day of travel and there is an early morning ahead of us.

Day 3: August 2, 2017

Hey, everyone, it’s your leaders of the day Utkarsh and Dylan. Today was our first day of service and we were introduced to the place we would work, sweat, and grind for the next few weeks! After given a tour of the facility and the improvements that we needed to make, we set out to accomplish our difficult, but ultimately satisfying, goals. Today we acted as worker bees and cultivated a sweat when we were digging dirt to set up a new fence, tearing down walls, pulling weeds, and digging up concrete bases. As we were working, a four-year-old boy, Santiago, showed up at our site, with a gigantic smile on his face and nothing but gratitude for us. He came running into the work site with flowers in his hand.

After four hours of hard work, we returned to home base to freshen up before we headed out to the beach! The waves were rolling, the water was warm, the sand was smooth, and the overall atmosphere was energetic. We enjoyed a good few hours playing in the sand, swimming, throwing around our Frisbee, playing soccer, and taking tons of pictures.

Upon arriving, all of us were quick to bond and quickly got to know each other. We were all from different parts of the United States and from different backgrounds, and we all still “clicked.” Within the second day of the trip, we began the fun and nerve-racking ice-breaker game of assassin (it sounds far worse than it is). In this murder-mystery game, one attempts to identify the assassin before be “killed” themselves. The game lasted all day and was an exhilarating experience that kept us all on edge. The winner is still undetermined.

We also had a seminar on the currency of Costa Rica and watched an important documentary regarding the influences tourism has had on this country. We were all surprised how important of a role it has played and how heavily it has impacted the citizens and the ecosystem. We spent a good amount of time reflecting on and sharing our thoughts on the importance of culture, environment, and our own experiences.

So far, our adventures and our time here in Nosara, Costa Rica has been amazing. We are looking forward to tons of fun, working alongside the locals, and working together as a team that can hopefully change people’s lives for the better-including our own.

Day 4: August 3, 2017

Hey, leaders of the day here. You already know who it is, in case you don’t it’s your boys Arlo and William.

Today we continued our service project and we are progressing extremely fast. We worked up at the school digging up the many concrete post bases and down at the salon we were painting the inside and leveling out the dirt around the driveway and behind the building to build retaining walls. Today was our first day working alongside the kids in the school. It was so much fun to play with them during their recesses and talk to them. Also, the empanada truck came and they shared their delicious empanadas and fresh coconuts with everyone.

After lunch, we went for gelato and met up with Jen, our local director, for a community walk.  She informed us of all the details about the locals and the environment surrounding them. Then we made our first trip to the grocery store. We have never seen so much soda packed into one bus before.

This evening, Kelly took the entire group to the beach to see the sunset, many of us took a mini adventure to a close island to take some pictures. We found many hermit crabs and coral that had washed up on the shore.

Dinner was delicious, as always. We had the classic rice and beans and some curry potatoes and fried plantains to go along with that. Now we are off to mentor groups and the introduction of our capstone presentations.

Day 5: August 4, 2017

Hey family and friends!! Welcome to day 5!

Today was another wonderful day in Costa Rica. We started off with a great breakfast that started off the day of Service and hard work (by “hard work” we totally mean playing with the kids).

Another round of Empanadas was finished off, with cementing, digging and painting.

After service, we had a nice lunch consisting of pesto pasta and jugo de jamaica, which was, shall we add, delicious as always.

We then went into town and were blessed with the magic of the internet. We were split into groups of three and took to different locations. We had ice cream, bagels, and fries. We got to speak with you guys, post selfies and catch up on latest drama. Then we took a little souvenir detour, trying to pass the time while waiting to head down to our first cooking class.

When we arrived at ‘ La Cosina de Lisbia’ we were put into 4 groups, Each for a different step of the recipe. The first 3 groups were Chopping veggies and the last group was mixing it together in the work.

The meal came out delicious, arroz con pollo, with sides of salsa, frijoles, salad, and loads of fruit.

Ivory, Sergina and Lorra had a dance party, jamming out to Spanish and Caribbean music while William and Utkarsh were rap battling it out.

We arrived back to home base with a lovely gift waiting for us, arroz con leche! (Rice Pudding, if you will.) Then we all went off to bed with wonders of who has Ivory’s phone…?

Buenas Noches, and hope you guys stay tuned for Day 6 in the Costa Rican Jungle of teens!

With lots of sleepiness,

Bailey and Ivory J

Day 6: August 5, 2017

Hey family and friends!! Welcome to day 6!

Today was a very hot but wet day! We had a great breakfast that was cereal and tons of fruits. We then had service which was really tiring today and we didn’t get to see much of the kids due to the weekend. We still had some sick people but we managed and finished service off in a timely manner.

After service, we had lunch that consisted of shrimp rice and salad. There were also more fruit smoothies. J

After lunch, we chilled for a bit on the yoga deck and listened to some cool music that was played by Arlo, UtKarsh, and William. After our little break, we left to watch a traditional baile folklorico performance-we were even invited to participate after! It was super cool because we got to interact and dance with the kids/teens. We also got to try on their Ticodance outfits and finished off eating some bomb empanadas.

After our little dance lesson, we headed back to home base for our group survey/pulse check and mentor groups. Our pulse check was a little survey on how were doing and how we’re liking our trip so far. We then had a discussion on leadership.

We finished with lots of amazing food for dinner and some pouring rain! Hope you stay tuned (and dry) for tomorrow.

With lots of happiness,

Kelly and Danny.He J

Day 7: August 6, 2017

Hey family and friends!! Welcome to Day 7!

Today was a very exciting, action-packed day! It was actually cooler today than others because it was cloudy and drizzled. Breakfast today had a lot of fruit (as usual) and eggs with cheese and ham. At service today, we only saw a few kids that often come help us as today was Sunday. It was tiring but worth it.

After service, we had lunch that consisted of corn tortillas with fish, pico de gallo, and beans (fish tacos). We also had a salad and lemon, ginger tea.

After lunch, we had mentor groups where we watched a TED talk and learned about cultural awareness. Right after, we went with our service director, Alvaro, to a recycling plant and learned about eco-friendliness, and the efforts Costa Rica is making in trying to help the environment. The recycling plant demonstrated their process in compressing plastic and some of us were able to break glass.

Right after this, we were spoken to by a member of the local fire department who gave us an educational talk about different snakes we may encounter here in Costa Rica and what to do. He passed around a snake tooth (deactivated), snake-catching tools, and snake skins. Next, he took out two live snakes and let us pet the boa-which most of us really liked.

Then a lot of us hung out on the yoga deck with music and card games. For dinner, we enjoyed rice, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and potatoes with beef. After dinner, it poured again, but we all met on the yoga deck to talk about our survey check in’s and got our schedules and activities for adventures day tomorrow. We are breaking into our groups to go either horseback riding, zip lining, and surfing. The next day is adventure day number two where we will go either surfing, zip lining, and paddle boarding. Stay tuned, you’ll hear from us soon!

With lots of love and happiness,

Alyssa and Jayda <3

August 7, 2017

Hola from Sergio, one of the mentors here in Nosara!

Our first adventure day! We slept in and then, feeling refreshed, we ate a delicious breakfast that included fruit, ham and eggs, and fresh bread from our chef Kim’s family bakery.

With some time before our adventures began, we hung out in the yoga pavilion and watched a documentary called 180 Degrees South, which follows adventurers surfing and climbing their way to Patagonia, learning about the human impact on the natural world and our potential to change it for the best, throughout their journey.

Feeling inspired, my group went first to Playa Guiones to do some surfing of our own.  After a few face-plants and belly flops all around, we were soon standing and riding waves side by side all the way into shore.  We then met some of our fellow surfers who happened to be from the cast of The Walking Dead, riding right beside us.

Another group went flying through the sky, zip lining over the mountain tops and rivers of Nosara.  It was a beautiful sight!  Some of us even hung upside down and attempted flips while zipping.

The last group went for a scenic beachside horseback ride.  They got to stroll along the streets and get to know our town a little better, as well as enjoy the warm afternoon while riding along the shore.

The late afternoon brought in some heavy rain and down time before a satisfying taco dinner.  After an amazing adventure day, I would say we’re all feeling content and excited to do it all again tomorrow!

Day 9: August 9, 2017

Hola!

It’s Kelly, one of the mentors, checking in on day 9. Today was adventure day number two! We were all excited to sleep in again and have a later breakfast. After breakfast, we loaded onto the bus headed to SIBU, an amazing monkey sanctuary here in Nosara run by a Jane Goodall- type woman named Vicky. We were taken on a tour around the facility and we learned about the great work her organization is doing to rescue monkeys, as well we all their conservation efforts.

After touring SIBU, we dropped the first group off at surfing and the rest of us headed to another local soda, or restaurant, for lunch. We then headed out to drop off the group doing zip lining, and finally the stand-up paddle boarding group. We all had a blast! I took the group zip lining. It was perfect weather for adventure day and quite a thrill to fly through the air, high above the trees, upside down! The last two days have been a lot of fun and it was a nice “weekend” break after all of our hard work at service this past week!

As the first week has officially passed, I’m looking forward to all the service, learning, bonding, and adventure yet to come! It was been a lot of fun to watch the students work, learn, and grow as leaders. Tomorrow we will be back to early breakfast and off to service to continue the projects we have been working hard on. I’m looking forward to the next two weeks that will be packed with more hard work, fun, and adventure!

Day 10: August 9, 2017

Hey family and friends!! Welcome to Day 10!

Today was a day full of laughter and dancing in the rain! It was very hot today and super humid we were all sweating a ton at service. Breakfast today was delicious fruit as usual as well as eggs and bread. During service, we spent a lot of time playing with the kids and they drew us some lovely pictures.

After service, we ate paella with a yummy strawberry banana smoothie. There were more dogs then usual and they were all being super friendly so we had a great time petting them.

After lunch, we had some time to shower and played games at the yoga pavilion. During that time some people were also practicing for open mic night which will be later in the evening.

We drove to a small neighborhood made up of about ten houses with all land owners being a part of one family. Here, a lady taught us how to knead dough and make bread in her brick oven that people have used for hundreds of years. The children in the neighborhood came for some food and to play with us. They were very adorable and their favorite game was “caballito” or horseback rides. We also played a lot of “anda” or tag.

When we got back from bread making we only had half an hour until dinner so we just hung out for a bit then it was time to eat. For dinner we had chicken, garbanzo beans and vegetables it was very good! After dinner we had our open mic night, there are so many talented people in our group. There was dancing, singing, rapping and some collaborative acts. All in all, it was a very fun day.

With lots of bugs and sweat,

Heather and Eliana

Day 11: August 10, 2017

Hey guys! Our day 11 has been amazing.

This morning we were able to have a taste of home; for breakfast, we had pancakes and honey!

Today we all worked super hard and achieved multiple goals. During service, we were able to take out four concrete blocks (Dominique said she’d get us cake for it!)- although our average is two a day- and we finished painting the salon for the community. We were able to play with a lot of students that quizzed us on our Spanish skills. They taught us so much.

After service, we had the typical amazing rice and beans with salad for lunch. We then had a discussion based on many different topics: sexism, feminism, racism, homophobia, and misogyny led by Amelia McCahill. It was ninety minutes full of debate, acceptance, and perspective. Luckily, everyone was very loving and willing to discuss some of these challenging and touchy topics.

We needed to cut our discussion short because we had a visitor! As a group, we never stopped moving for over an hour while we learned common Latin dances from our dance teacher, Willy. It was wonderful dancing along with each other, learning salsa, kumbia, merengue, and bachata. We found ourselves wishing that it would never end!

For dinner, we had barbequed pork, rice, steamed vegetables, and perfectly ripe beets. After dinner, we all hopped onto the bus to meet the animal rescue GLA group for a mixer to watch a local musician play a special private concert for us all.

Our favorite part of the day was the hard work we did at service and the connections we made with the children. Hope you enjoyed the run-down of day 11. We are off to sleep now.

Goodnight!

Amelia and Lorra

Day 12: August 11, 2017

Hello friends and family! Day 12 of our trip went great!

We started the morning off with a breakfast of eggs and a wide variety of fruits. After breakfast, we headed off to the service site to continue our projects for the community. Up in the school, groups worked to turn old tires into fun playground structures for the kids. In the back of the school another group continued to work on constructing a room for teachers. Down in the salon, the other half of our group continued painting and building a retaining wall to prevent erosion.

After our morning of service, we returned to the home base to enjoy a hearty lunch of chicken, potatoes, and salad. Sadly, our afternoon plans of riding in ox carts were cut short due to the weather. It started pouring with thunder and lightning just as we arrived. Hopefully we can reschedule!

We also met in the pavilion to talk about our upcoming weekend adventure, Rio Celeste! We are leaving this coming Sunday and plan to stay for three days. Everyone is super excited!

After dinner, Dominique got us our cake for being such great workers at service!!!  It was so delicious, our chef, Kim, has a family owned panadería and it was just as delicious as it was beautiful.

“Buen Trabajo, Más Trabajo, Todo Trabajo!”

Your leaders of the day,

Sabine and Michelle

Day 13: August 12, 2017

Hey everybody! It’s Day 13!!

This morning we had eggs, bread, and fruit for breakfast. Then, we hopped on the bus and rode over to the service site. Today service was a little shorter, so that we could have an activity day for the kids! The morning consisted of one group continuing the construction of the teachers’ room and multiple groups at the salon, either finishing the cement for the retaining wall, or painting tic tac toe boards for the kids. The activity day included a soccer game, an art station, jump rope, and a face painting station. The kids loved it!!

After service, we ate a lunch of fish, rice, beans, and salad. We then had a leader of the day-facilitated activity in the yoga pavilion. We led a Privilege Walk and had a discussion on some of the topics that were addressed. Immediately after we divided up into five groups and had an epic lip-sync battle and competed for a free bag of chips for each of the winners in the group. Lorra, Utkarsh, Christine, and Sarah won with their rendition of “Baby” by Justin Bieber.

Later in the day, we all went to “Super Nosara” (our favorite grocery store) and loaded up on tons of snacks. After, when we got back to home base, a huge rainstorm started!

Now, we’re all working on our Capstone Projects and packing for our trip to Rio Celeste. We leave tomorrow and are all looking forward to it!  WHEN you don’t hear from us for 3 days, it’s because we are gone on our adventure weekend.  Can’t wait to tell you all about it when we get back.

-Lauren and Sarah

August 16, 2017

Hey everybody! It’s Day 17!!

This morning we woke up an hour later and had eggs, yogurt, and fruit for breakfast. Then, we hopped on the bus and rode over to the service site. Today service was a little shorter, so that we could get more sleep after a long weekend at Rio Celeste. The morning consisted of one group continuing the construction of the teachers’ room, another finishing the installation of the tire tables and chairs, and two groups at the salon, either finishing the cement for the retaining wall, or painting tic tac toe boards for the kids.

After service, we went out and had pizza. We then went to the beach. However, it was raining so half of us walked back to home base, where we had a dance party in the pavilion. The others stayed and played beach soccer.

Later in the day, we all ate dinner. After dinner, some of us presented our Capstone Projects. We look forward to listening to the remaining Capstones. See you in a couple days miss you. “LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD AND JOE AND SPENCER, ELLA, AND AVA” – PAVA AND RINA

-Rina and Sophia

Day 19: August 18, 2017

Hi everyone!! Today is Day 19!!!

Today is the very last day of service, and all of us were place at the school. Some were either building the teachers’ lounge or on the playground painting. Everyone was covered in paint from head to toe, but no one seemed to really mind. We did it! We finished the playground and the smiles on the kids’ faces were precious and made us feel accomplished.

We came home to a wonderful meal. Not only was it the last day of service, but it was also Wi-Fi day where we got to call our families. Bailey called Oma (Hi Omy J moon and back!!!). Gar Wai got to call her mom (Hi Mommy, see you soon J). We also had 2 hours for buying present and souvenirs in the local shops.

After dinner, we went down to the pavilion and presented the last of our moving and inspiring Capstones.

“Love you all and see you soon”

Love,

Bailey and Gar Wai <3

Day 20: August 19, 2017

Today was our last full day here in Nosara! We will leave bright and early tomorrow morning to head to the airport. These past 3 weeks have flown by! We have worked hard, adventured, and bonded. We have accomplished a lot! It was so satisfying to see our service project wrap up today. We created a playground, painted the “salon,” installed benches for the soccer field, and built retaining walls! The school and salon look great and the community was very grateful for all our hard work!

Today we met one last time with our mentor groups after participating in a farewell activity where we shared one-on-one with our peers the things we appreciate about each other. Then had a beach morning! The mood was bittersweet as we are looking forward to seeing our friends and families, but will really miss Costa Rica and the new friends we have made here.

As we head out tomorrow morning, there are sure to be many tearful goodbyes. We are so grateful for all the friendships we have made and the experiences we have had that we will bring back with us!

Day 1

ComWow! ( dijo el perro) the day has finally arrived for Airport pickup day on Day 1 of GLA’s Children’s Initiative for Costa Rica! This is our third and final group and we are excited to get things underway! Let me start by first introducing myself. My name is James Tuttle and I am in the International Director for the program this summer, and I feel honored that I get to spend the summer between year one and year two of medical school having an amazing time in Costa Rica with students from the U.S., Canada, Spain and beyond! I am happy to be returning to Latin America after having spent two amazing years managing college students in the mountains of Guatemala. I am joined this summer by two amazing student mentors: Casey Riesing and Aileen Soto. Casey is an expert Spanish language instructor who is working on her Master’s in Spanish Language, while she manages her university level Spanish classes. Aileen is taking a break this summer from her work leading teens on 20-day wilderness hikes with Outward Bound to share her years of experience with GLA students this summer. Between the three of us we have over 15 years of experience working with youth, and over 10 years traveling, living, and working abroad. Finally, we are hosted and guided by our Local Director Alfredo Corrales. Alfredo is well known member of the town of Santa Teresa de Cutris where he owns an amazing 200 hectacre finca (farm), complete with 3 beautiful lakes, farm hands, and everything una vida en el campo requiere. Alfredo is the father of three sons, a master in the kitchen, and is joining Casey, Aileen, and I with over 30 years experience working in hospitality as a hotel owner, business owner, and partner with GLA since the program’s conception. Today, the first three students arrived early in the morning from Los Angeles and had an opportunity to catch up on some sleep in a nearby hotel with Casey. Once the vast majority of the other students arrived we took a trip to City Mall so students could eat their last bits of American comfort food before heading off to our home base. We were on our way to home base around 5:00pm and students were able to relax and have a dinner at the “Iguana Loca” named for the Iguana’s which sunbathe in front of the restaurant during the day. As you read this all 23 students are getting to know their new roommates in of the six cabins at Alfredo’s finca in Santa Teresa. Students are enjoying a comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a Costa Rican sunset over one of our three private lakes, and an opportunity to catch up on much needed sleep. Not much in terms of “roughing it” is in store for our group. However, cell phone service is limited at home base so please expect some delays in communication while your student is in Santa Teresa, I, however, can be reached via my local number +506 7248-0065. Tomorrow morning we will start the day early with an extensive orientation on our dock, followed by a day of planning for our first day working with the local schools on Friday. So as they say here in Costa Rica, “Hasta muy pronto”, and of course, “Pura Vida”!

Today was wonderful. We started off the day with a delicious breakfast of eggs, fruit, rice and beans, and cheese. After, we went on a bus to one of the schools to play with the kids. They were unbelievably adorable!! We played many games with them in a big field like sharks and minnows, duck duck goose, red light green light, and drawing. It was great to run and play, I felt like a little kid again! Some of the kids loved to play with my hair and take pictures! After, we went back to home base for lunch and had pork tenderloin, coleslaw, plantains, rice, and beans. It was also very good. We followed lunch with a rainforest hike. After that we chilled by drinking Costa Rican coffee which is amazing, and I don’t like coffee!!!! Today was also joseline’s birthday and we had a great celebration with her and it was so fun! Can’t wait for tomorrow!!!!!

Brenna Hymowitz

(Picture of kids touching a girl’s hair)

(Picture of kids at a table)

Today in Costa Rica we got to go to Santa Teresa and meet the local kids who attend there. We played a few games , and they were definitely a challenge . They were so sweet and eager to learn. Later that afternoon we took a hike in the finca and got a little more familiar with our surroundings. On our second hike we went through the rain forest and saw some of the most beautiful sceneries .

Joseline Betanzos

Dear Parents, friends, and family,

In order to better provide a more personal touch to the day-to-day affairs of our students, we ask each student to write one blog post and select one picture of the day that best captures their experiences that day. So without further ado:

First full day in Costa Rica! Today we hung around home base, had a group orientation, and got to know each other more. After learning more about the program and each other we had a lake day. Everyone swam and jumped off the dock. For breakfast we had eggs, pancakes, plantains, and a pineapple banana salad. For lunch we had beans, rice, and chicken. For dinner we had pasta. It was good to rest from traveling and getting to know everyone better!

Isabella Kakish

(Picture of lake)

Hoy ha sido el primer día completo en Costa Rica! Hemos pasado el día en “Home Base” donde hemos hecho orientación en grupo y nos hemos empezado a conocer mejor entre nosotros. Hemos pasado la tarde en el maravilloso lago que tenemos. Todo el mundo salto de la terraza y se dio un bañito. Hemos tomado maravillosa  comida tradicional de Costa Rica. Para desayuno comimos huevos revueltos, pancakes, plátanos fritos y una deliciosa  ensalada de piña y plátano. Para comer en mediodía tomamos arroz y verduritas justamente con un delicious pollo. Para cenar tomamos la famosa pasta de Alfredo. Fue un día perfecto y tuvimos la oportunidad de descansar del largo vuelo y conocemos todos mucho mejor!

Georgina Rigat

Vanessa Vides Leon

July 23, 2017

July 30th 2017

This was a great day leading up to the end of the program. As the day began, the idea of our trip ending hung over us but that did not affect the day at all. Throughout the day we continued to show the great bond that this group shares and has expressed throughout the trip. We had a good time swimming, relaxing, and enjoying the activities presented to us by our mentors. Everyone was enjoying every last minute of one of the most amazing trips ever. Jaden Toulson Sunday morning, like any morning in Costa Rica, was beautiful. At this point the near 2 weeks of strenuous emotional, physical and mental work has sank upon la finch and its subsequent residents. We have a late breakfast at 9:00am. Soon after the group split and Aileen’s service group followed up with the invitation to Daira’s house. Meanwhile, the other service groups performed an activity in the yellow house. Afterwards, we had some fun in the lake. Lunch rolled around as Aileen’s group came back from Daira’s house with what I could only assume to be tears in their eyes. Despite such, we ate lunch and proceeded to our next activity, the activity that was by far the highlight of the day. The volcano of Costa Rica! We have barely been able to see it all trip due to the rainy season, however Sunday is the day we do. We set off at 1:30 and arrived at La Fortuna at 2:30 for more gift shopping and such. I personally bought some tres leeches cakes (delicious) however, when all was said and done we had to leave at 4:00 for the sight seeing of Costa Rica’s volcano. We go up a mountain, with slight problems, until we reach a giant lake that has a view of the volcano. Above us, however, the sky did not seem to agree with our plans and brought upon a lightning storm. To say the least it wasn’t long until everyone was in the bus and we were going back down. The lightning was beautiful (the thunder not so much) however it was terrifying when one lightning bolt decided to pick its target next to bus. After a somewhat long day we pick up the family (Daira’s family) and mired their hospitality by inviting them to dinner and everyone had a good time playing with the kids. After dinner the universal topic and question in la finch was, “2 week! Already?” To conclude an earlier statement, or at least to clarify, the collective toll that sank upon la finch on this Sunday morning was not unwelcome nor was it a surprise, but a reminder of our transient, yet beautiful experience in Costa Rica. From Costa Rica, Alejandro Gonzalez July 31st Blog! This is about to come to an end, and although our mosquito bites don’t say so, we want to stay here for longer. At school we did the last class, we started off with a quiz and a water balloon fight and finished with a soccer match. But the hardest part of the day was saying goodbye to the kids after everything we went through. We finished the day with the final dinner, where we all dressed up and looked nice after all these days having worn wet clothes. From this experience kids have not only learned English from us, they have taught us how to be kids again through their enthusiasm and their never ending questions. Although for some of us communication may be hard due to the language barrier, we have been able to find our way through it and establish some unbreakable bonds and everlasting memories. We have learned to see this country in many ways, we have seen it through wildlife, cultural activities such as salsa, empanada making or cow milking, but the one that I personally like the most is through the people. The Ticos have taught us the meaning of Pura Vida and this is something that we are taking back home, together with this people that were once strangers but are now great friends. And although we have not been here for a long time we will have these memories forever!

Laia Rigat

 

Day 1: July 7, 2017

The Initiative for Children students arrived to Costa Rica safe and sound and we are so excited for our amazing 3 weeks of service, fun, learning, and adventure! Our students were immediately taken from the airport to have a typical casado lunch, consisting of rice, beans, plantains, salad, and a choice of either chicken, or veggies. Today, our students also signed up for two adventures of their choice: surfing on one of Costa Rica’s best beaches, stand up paddle boarding through the mangroves, zip lining through the jungle, or horseback riding on the beach-all of which should be very exciting in the days to come!

Once we arrived to our Home Base, we unloaded suitcases and got everyone moved into their rooms. We had a delicious dinner and then headed to bed early as everyone had a long day of travel and there is an early morning ahead of us.

Day 2: July 8, 2017

Today our group started off with a simple but beautifully plated meal made by one of our chefs, Kim. We had a wide variety of fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, and toast. From there we jumped right into orientation day, which included introductions to one another as well as the staff, a cultural norms discussion, and an intensive game of rock, paper, scissors that included bears, ninjas, and hunters instead!

We then jumped into an intensive safety session that touched on everything from being a conscious and aware traveler in a foreign country, to beach safety (that included a scenic walk to the beach-not to mention the gorgeous beach itself!), an earthquake drill, and lightening safety drills. The teens all ended up “safe” in the parking light, standing in their designated rows.

After lunch, we broke up into groups and performed skits of what not to do to make sure we all understood our Full Value Contracts. Then we made an incredibly thoughtful, fun, and colorful team flag with leaves expressing our values on our “Team Tree.” We ended the night meeting in our small mentor groups to debrief about the last two days, for some reflection time and journaling. We’re tired, but content.

Day 3: July 9, 2017

Hey everyone, it’s Tessa and Jolie! We are writing this blog post as the first leaders of the day! Today was our first day of service after a delicious breakfast at 6:30 am.

Upon arriving at the local school, we met Alvaro, our local director for all of our service projects. The day started with taking inventory of all the tools (somehow, we managed to lose a shovel in one day? Oops!). We were split into three groups: one hacking away at concrete and sanding metal posts, another moving tires and creatively making tables for a playground with them, and finally the last group digging huge holes that will eventually become sinks for the children! It was hot and dirty work, but it was more than worth it.

We left the school around noon and went back to the house for yet another amazing meal. We then headed out to spend an afternoon swimming and relaxing on the gorgeous beach. On the way there we were greeted by a bunch of cute howler monkeys, which aren’t so cute when screaming outside our windows at 5:00 a.m. After showers and quick break, we headed to the pavilion for a lesson on currency exchange. We are excited to show off our new money skills buying snacks tomorrow at the local supermarket!

P.S: Did we mention how great the food is??

Day 4: July 10, 2017

Hey everyone-it’s Erin and Carolina, the leaders of the day! Today we had our second day of service followed by our walk around the community.

We started off the day with our delicious 6:30am breakfast, and we were on our way to service by 7. It was another day of amazing productive work. We split up into teams and continued to work on the school. Our first group was sanding and painting the structure bars. Our second group continued digging holes and started filling them up with rocks for the sinks we are constructing. Our third group continued engineering a very creative playground out of old tires. Everything is turning out amazing and we’ve accomplished a lot in two days.

Later in the afternoon we immersed into culture on our community walk. We started off by visiting an old GLA project which involved a mural at a music school. We then continued to walk through the streets and seeing sites such as police station, airport, medical clinic and other places throughout Nosara. We also visited the grocery store where many of us purchased snacks and such. Some students used their credit or debit cards, make sure your banks are notified that the cards are being used out of country.

After dinner, we have a special music guest who came to give us a private concert! This is a rare opportunity that a GLA group gets a private show with typical Costa Rican rhythms and sounds. If you want a glimpse of Alex Piedra’s amazing music and what we got a chance to experience, here’s his link: http://alexpiedra.com/

I hope everything is great back home everyone is having so much fun, until tomorrow.

Day 5: July 11, 2017

Hello parents and people of the world visiting the blog, it’s Kassidy and Kiera, today’s L.O.D (Leader of the Day).

We started off the day with our delicious 6:30am breakfast. Today was our 3rd day of service at the school and it has been pretty amazing. In service, we had nine different groups divided up all doing very hard work. At 11:30am, we began to clean up and gather all of our tools and supplies and were out of the school’s service site by noon. Our mentors then took us to the pipa stand, where many of us tried our first coconuts!

After lunch, we as the “leaders” washed dishes proudly and after that we had a little down time until we got WIFI! YAAAAAAYYYY!!!!!! While enjoying our wifi hour, most of us indulged in delicious pastries, amazing smoothies, and coffee.

After our WIFI time was up we went straight to a local family’s house, Lisbia, who hosted a cooking class that the entire group participated. We made el roscommporo (Editor’s Note: arroz con pollo-we thought this was too cute to take out). It was absolutely delicious!

To make an attempt at our dinner tonight, follow the recipe below:

Recipe for Arroz con Pollo
Ingredients:
cilantro (optional)
carrot
green beans
red/white onion
peppers
celery
garlic
old (cannot be fresh) rice
precooked chicken
pasta de achiote (paprika paste)
salsa lizano
ketchup
chicken bollian
can of corn
chicken broth
pepper

Steps:
1. Dice all the vegetables.
2. Acquire a pan and add two serving spoons of olive oil. Heat the pan.
3. Add four tablespoons of pasta de achiote.
4. Add the garlic, onions, and peppers. Cook for a few minutes.
5. Two minutes later, add the rest of the vegetables.
6. Add two spoons of ketchup, two spoons of lizano, one spoon of mustard, teaspoon of pepper, and one chicken bollian.
7. In two minutes, add the can of corn and two cups of chicken broth.
8. Let it simmer for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
9. Once it simmers, put in the chicken and add some broth.
10. Finally, add the old rice. Mix it, lower the heat, and simmer for about ten minutes.

We hope that tomorrow we have an even more amazing day.
-Love Kassidy and Kiera. (A.K.A. the double K)
(P.S. “Sarah S. is awesome” – direct quote from Sarah S.)

Day 6: July 12, 2017

Hi parents and everyone, it’s Sarah S. and Katie, and we are the L.O.Ds today!

Today was a really amazing day, with starting off breakfast again at 6:30 and heading to our 4th day of service. At service today we split into many different groups, for example people worked on sinks, the playground, painting, and putting cement on the concrete to smooth it all out. After service we went to a different coconut stand than yesterdays and it was delicious.

After lunch, we had a group check in and played a few ice-breaker games. Then after that we headed to the bus to go learn how to make bread and empanadas. At the bread making place we enjoyed music played by the people of the small community and played with all the little kids. After enjoying the bread we had made and some coffee we all danced with some members of the community.

Following our adventure at the bread making place, we ate dinner and played card games.

Below is the recipe for bread and empanadas:
· Flour
· Sugar
· Butter
· Eggs
· Cheese
· Mantilla (condensed milk)
· Milk
o Then mix all the ingredients together
o Form little balls
o Put in oven
Thank you for reading our blog post, and we can’t wait for another amazing day tomorrow!!!

-Sarah S. and Katie

Day 7: July 13, 2017

What up everyone, it’s your gals Lindsay and Shayna, and we are the L.O.Ds today!

Today was an awesome day. We started off our day like any other, breakfast at 6:30 and our 5th day of service. We continued to worked on the sinks, the playground, painting the walls and beams. Everything looks beautiful! J But we can’t wait for our day off tomorrow!

After a delicious lunch of chicken and beans, we had a deep mentor group session where we learned the different types of leadership and how we can grow as a leader on this trip. Then after, Alvero gave an inspiring talk about his personal growth and being positive no matter how dire the circumstances. He then leads us to a recycling plant that he used to manage were we learned the importance of recycling in Costa Rica. We even got to participate in the process of recycling glass, where Lindsay broke one of the bottles…After that, we headed home for some much-needed nap time.

Later that evening, we were blessed with the presence of snakes! Ryan, the snake guy, showed us different varieties and sizes of snakes and we even got to touch them. The coolest and scariest snake he brought today was a live rattler!

Thanks for reading our blog post, see ya again tomorrow!!!
Love your favorite L.O.D’s,
Shayna and Lindsay

Day 8: July 15, 2017

Day 8 was our first day off of service and it was also our first adventure day!  The group was able to sleep in before having a leisurely Costa Rican breakfast.

To kick things off, I led the group on a walk down to “la boca”, where the mouth of the Rio Nosara meets the Pacific Ocean.  There we relaxed in the shade and watched the waves roll in, before hiking back up to the B&B Retreat to prepare for our adventures.

We divided into teams of surfers and zip liners, stopping for a classic local lunch at Soda Vanessa.  My crew hit Playa Guiones first to surf some of the best waves in Central America!!  Our awesome instructors prepared us on shore before taking the salty plunge.  On heavier, stable long boards we were able to learn how to stand up and did our best to stay up, riding under a beautiful afternoon sun.

Meanwhile, the other group went up the mountains to zip line over the rainforest canopy.  From peak to peak they zipped about a dozen times, passing over waterfalls, spinning upside down, and flying across one section that is a half of a mile long!  The funny local guides also showed them a secret jungle waterfall, where they were able to take a quick dip.  As the late afternoon rain rolled in, they cruised back to base, soaking wet and feeling alive!

The day wound down with a big dinner of tacos and salad, followed by a group discussion of our “pulse checks”.  Week two is off to a great start and we have many more exciting activities and adventures ahead.  I am looking forward to seeing our group continue to engage with the Costa Rican culture, tear it up at service, and grow as both leaders and explorers on this incredible adventure! Pura vida!!

Day 9: July 15, 2017

Hey, hey, hey! Reporting back are today’s L.O.D.s, Dana and Julia!

This morning we followed our service day routines and headed to the school around 7:30 for another great day of work. The playground crew made lots of progress on the tables and sandboxes, while the sink crew finished cementing and refilled the surrounding area with gravel. The beams of the overhead structure now display a sleek gray color thanks to our painting crew. The recreational center shack workers have almost finished giving the building a face lift of bright colors, while other students painted and dug holes for the new metal benches for all the soccer fans.

Following a delicious lunch and some much-needed free time, everyone headed over to the local music and dance school for a private preview of the local children’s dance company’s traditional baile folklorico. Not only did us students receive authentic snacks for the show, but also the chance to work off the snack by putting on the skirts and joining the dancers on stage.

After showing off some moves, everyone returned to home base for a mentor group session in the yoga pavilion. The students simulated a culture mixing activity that acknowledged that cultures have different ideals and norms and that what might be appropriate in one culture may be impolite in another. The students then watched a Tedtalk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie called the Danger of A Single Story and took time to discuss it with their groups.

Thanks for checking in and you’ll hear from the L.O.D.s tomorrow! J

Hugs and kisses,

Dana and Julia <3

​Day 10: July 16, 2017

Hey, hey, hey, hey! Reporting back are today’s L.O.D.s, Sarah and Zoie!

This morning we followed our service day routine with breakfast at 6:30, with the usual meal rice, beans, and fresh fruit!!:) We then headed to the school around 7:30 for another great day of work. The playground crew made lots of progress on the tables and sandboxes, while the sink crew finished cementing. Others helped in the process of digging 36 holes for our new benches to watch the soccer games in. The remaining peers created a welcome sign and finished off some painting projects. Around 11 everyone helped in cleaning the school for the kids first day back tomorrow! We can’t wait to see what they think of our progress so far!

Following another great Costa Rican meal for lunch we then left for our one hour Wi-Fi session!! Many enjoyed delicious waffles, refreshing ice cream, and much needed coffee while catching up on our lives at home.

After Wi-Fi we headed for the next activity of the day, the Ox Cart Ride. Here we traveled across a shaky bridge surrounded by a beautiful view. When we arrived at the other side we met Quinko the owner of the oxen. We not only got a special ride but learned the culture behind the oxen. Quinko is one of few who uses oxen for not only his transportation but a business in town. Many look up to Quinko as someone who is keeping the Costa Rican history alive for many more generations to come.

Next, we arrived back at the Nosara Resort for some free time and showers. After dinner and dishes were done we headed off to the yoga pavilion for a very crazy enjoyable open mic night, which many of us have been preparing for. After all the laughs and memories, we headed off to bed, preparing to start our next adventure.

Thanks for checking in and you’ll hear from the L.O.D.s tomorrow! J

Lots of kisses and even more hugs,

Sarah and Zoie <3

Day 11: July 17, 2017

Hey people! It’s your girls Holly and Rae-Rae (the L.O.D.s)

We kicked off the day sleeping in (hallelujah) until 8:00 a.m. when we had the usual fruit and some delicious sandwiches for breakfast. From there we went to the gorgeous Sibu Sanctuary where we met Vicki (basically the Jane Goodall of Costa Rica) along with her monkeys, cats, pigs, and other animals in rehabilitation. We got to sip on strawberry banana juice while we learned about how to protect the different types of primates and environment here in Costa Rica.

Afterward we went to Rancho Tico, where we had-you’ll never guess- beans and rice!! Even though meals can feel repetitive, they’re always quite good and each one has a unique flavor. However, I think what most of us look forward to most is being able to talk and laugh with each other after our meals. It’s crazy how much we all have bonded over just a short week.

Following our Sibu visit, we got to pick from three different activities for a day of adventure. These activities included: zip lining, horseback riding, and surfing. Holly and I weren’t able to experience every activity today but everyone who went on each adventure was more than satisfied.

The people who went surfing went to Playa Guiones. Although the afternoon started out raining, we were able to get there right as it was clearing up. We each got sectioned off into three groups where we got an in-depth lesson on surfing and how to remain safe in the unpredictable waters of Nosara. Each of us were shocked by the fact that surfing was a lot more difficult than we had previously expected. Despite the shock, we all caught on to it quickly and had a lot of fun attempts, falls, success, and laughs.

Those who went zip lining also got lucky with the weather. Although they started off their journey with heavy rain, it ended right as they begun zip lining. The view was foggy but breathtaking as they sped across the Nosara forest. Despite a few minor crashes (Annie), everyone had a tremendous time while being able to ogle at the zip lining instructors .

Unlike the other two groups, horseback riding did not have good luck with the weather. What started out as a sunny stroll through the jungle quickly turned wet and cold. It didn’t matter, though, because the jungle and ocean views were stunning enough to make it all worthwhile.

Lastly, the groups met back up at home base to enjoy another tasty meal that consisted of rice, chick peas, and salad. We ended the night with a leadership activity that helped us get to know one another and break through some of life’s prejudices and boundaries we place on ourselves and one another.

Thanks for joining us… signing off! –Holly and Rae Rae

Day 12: July 18, 2017

Hey everyone! It’s Jeremy and Brandon reporting about day 12 as your leaders of the day!

We started out the same as usual with a 6:30 a.m. breakfast. After that, we went to the school for another service day. It was the students second day back from vacation and it was our first day meeting them! In addition, we found out that our beloved Alvaro was too injured from his motorcycle crash to attend our community service, but Jen filled in for him. Once we got the tools, we split up into different projects: digging holes, installing benches, building the playground, and constructing the sinks. Everybody got to attend one of the schools three recesses to play with the children. The ending of the service day was a little stressful because we were running behind on a few projects that we had to finish, and as a result, we left the school very late.

Once we got back to home base, we all ate lunch. A half hour after lunch, the group left for a scenic walk on the beach to get some gelato. Everybody got two scoops, but most people couldn’t resist their craving for more gelato (us included), so they got some more. We then got picked up from the gelato spot and went to cafecito, which is coffee and conversation with some local families, at 4:00p.m. For cafecito, we split up into two groups: Sergio’s mentor group (aka the best mentor group) and Kelly’s mentor group (actually the best mentor group).

In Sergio’s group, we went to Jen’s suegros and made tortillas and drank coffee. We started out with talking about some deep stuff like climate change, the impact of technology, and the cute story of how the owners met. Starbucks cannot compare.  This is what happens when people get off their phones for a minute.

Kelley’s group went to Marleni’s house. While there, we made tortillas, drank coffee that was probably delicious, but I (Jeremy) did not have some because coffee is not my thing. While at the house, we played with her grandchildren and talked with her about her fascinating past, which included having to ride four hours on a horse just to reach a doctor while in labor! After that, we played some fútbol with her son and some other local kids. The GLA teens represented and won 4-3. When Sergio’s group arrived to pick us up, we finished the game with them and the kids against the rest of the group.

After that, we went back to home base to enjoy a delicious pasta dinner. Following dinner, we had a meeting about our upcoming trip to Rio Celeste, which is on Thursday. Only two days away!

Shout out to Kiera and Kassidy for being my favorite two people.

Shout out to Carolina for her soccer skills.

They made us.

Day 13: July 19, 2017

Hey what’s up! it’s Chloe and Annie

Today was a pretty mellow day because tomorrow we are heading to Rio Celeste! (This means NO BLOGS for the next 3 days, so no worries parents.)  The day started as usual with us going to the work site and doing service.  We are still finishing up building the sinks and digging holes for benches.  The playground is coming together and we are painting and decorating the outside of the salon by the field.

Also, the kids are back from vacation so we can play with them during their recess (there weren’t as many kids today because some teachers had a day off).  We put a lot of effort into our service work today, so we could leave on time and we got a lot done.

After lunch, we headed to the yoga room and did a group activity to determine our leadership personality types.  It allowed people to get a better understanding of themselves and determine if that personality category fit them.

Finally, the moment everyone was waiting for, we got to go grocery shopping.  People were loading up carts of chips, drinks, and junk food everyone had been craving.  Once everyone got back and stocked up their fridge with food, we met in the yoga room and had a leader of the day led group activity.  We did a human knot activity where two groups were formed and everyone would reach across the circle and grab hands with another person in their group.  The goal was the communicate with one another and get out of the knot without unlocking hands.  It was successful and everyone worked together really well!

As we are writing this, we are sitting and waiting for dinner.  Then we will head back to our rooms and start packing for Rio Celeste which we are all super excited about!

Can’t wait to see what the last week brings us!

Day 17: July 23, 2017

¡Hola! It’s Alexi and Debora,

So, we are finally back from our trip at Rio Celeste. Let’s re-cap…

we had a long four-hour ride to Rio Celeste but of course we took a small lunch break and when we finished we hiked to the hanging bridges. We wobbled around as we crossed the bridges and the stairs. Us being short people (haha) it took more effort to get up and over those stairs.

We were also lucky enough to see a sloth who was chillin in the tree enjoying a midafternoon snack… some of us were in tears at the sight of it. When we finally arrived at Rio Celeste, we unpacked and went into the bluest river we’ve ever seen where we, according to Cereal aka Uncle Serg, “swam in cleansing water.”

The next day we learned to milk cows as is traditionally done here in Costa Rica, and then headed to Tenorio National Park and went on a 4 hour hike where we saw a beautiful waterfall! During our hike, we come across a sulfur Jacuzzi (death cave really, due to carbon monoxide and a phenomenon of aluminum silicates) which accounts for the rivers magnificent blue color. This occurs when Rio Buenavista and Quebrada Agria meet and create the aluminum silicate particles.

After the hike, we went to see Trapiche (sugar cane plantation) and learned about its different uses and how the extraction of its honey has changed over time. We were fed a sweet dessert accompanied by a sweet tea.

On our last day we went whitewater rafting, where ‘everybody swam’ when the 12-foot drop came. We were able to swim, splash and push each other into the water and well as guide our groups raft. After, we took an hour-long ride to lunch where we had ice cream for dessert. Then we headed back to home base in Nosara.

Today is back to normal. We had pancakes for breakfast and went to service with Alvaro, our service director. We finally completed digging our 40 holes after 4 days (where we are putting the benches into) and were treated with pizza for lunch. At 4, our dance instructor, Willy, taught us how to dance to salsa, bachata, merengue, and cumbia. We had a ton of fun shaking our booties and learning all the patterns!

¡Adios!

Day 18: July 24, 2017

Hey everyone! It’s Kassie and Tessa, second time around being Leader of the Day! Today was a nice and relaxing day, which is not heard of often around here. The day started with another 5 hours of hard service work at the school. It is starting to all come together here as we near our last day.

After service, we headed back for lunch and then out again for some Wi-Fi and souvenir shopping. Last night was the first night for our capstone presentations and we are excited to hear more of our friends share their stories tonight. Tomorrow we also look forward to Dia de Guanacaste, a local celebration at the school! We are all getting excited to see our friends and families in 3 days!!!

P.S. Hi mom, it’s Tessa here telling you something that probably won’t surprise you… My phone broke while getting dumped on while horseback riding in the rain, so that’s why you haven’t heard from me. Just wanted you to know I’m not dead and I’ll talk to you when you pick me up at the airport. Love ya!

 

Day 20: July 26, 2017

Today was our last full day here in Nosara! We will leave bright and early tomorrow morning to head to the airport. These past 3 weeks have flown by! We have worked hard, adventured, and bonded. We have accomplished a lot! It was so satisfying to see our service project wrap up today. We created a playground, painted the entire “salon” across the street from the school, dug holes, built water fountains, sanded and painted. We mixed concrete and installed benches. The school and salon look great and the community was very grateful for all our hard work!

We wrapped up the morning by playing a game of soccer with the locals that helped direct our service project. We arrived back for lunch sweaty from soccer and with a feeling of accomplishment for the work we finished.

After lunch, we met one last time with our mentor groups after participating in a farewell activity where we shared one-on-one with our peers the things we appreciate about each other. We did one last check in and talked about how we are feeling about heading home. The mood was bittersweet as we are looking forward to seeing our friends and families, but will really miss Costa Rica and the new friends we have made here.

After having some time to pack up, we enjoyed one last traditional Costa Rican dinner together, then headed down to the pavilion for a surprise— a Marimba band, followed by a piñata and a dance party! It was a fun way to end our last day together!

As we head out tomorrow morning, there are sure to be many tearful goodbyes. We are so grateful for all the friendships we have made and the experiences we have had that we will bring back with us!

Wow! ( dijo el perro) the day has finally arrived for Airport pickup day on Day 1 of GLA’s Children’s Initiative for Costa Rica! Let me start by first introducing myself! My name is James Tuttle and I am the International Director for the program this summer! I am from Denver, Colorado, and I feel honored that I get to spend the summer between year one and year two of medical school having an amazing time in Costa Rica with students from all across the U.S.! I am happy to be returning to Latin America after having spent two amazing years managing college students in the mountains of Guatemala.

I am joined this summer by two amazing student mentors Casey and Aileen. Casey is an expert Spanish language instructor who is working on her Master’s in Spanish Language, while she manages her university level Spanish classes. Aileen is taking a break from her work leading teenagers on 20-day wilderness hikes with Outward Bound to share her years of experience with GLA students this summer. Between the three of us we have over 15 years of experience working with youth, and over 10 years travelling, living, and working abroad.

Finally, we are hosted and guided by our Local Director Alfredo Corrales. Alfredo is well known member of the town of Santa Teresa de Cutris where he owns an amazing 200 hectacre finca (farm), complete with 3 beautiful lakes, farm hands, and everything una vida en el campo requiere. Alfredo is the father of three sons, a master in the kitchen, and is joining Casey, Aileen, and I with over 30 years experience working in hospitality as a hotel owner, business owner, and partner with GLA since the program’s conception.

Our first group of students arrived early in the morning, and as we awaited the arrival of the others we had time to play a few hands of Uno, visit City Mall, and discuss what the students should expect from the next two weeks. With the students who arrived before 4pm, they are headed directamente for la Pizzeria, “Iguana Loca” (named for the Iguana’s which sunbathe in front of the restaurant during the day).

As you read this we have already headed on to our home base at Alfredo’s finca in Santa Teresa, where we will be joined later in the night by Sara King-Hook, Helen Hudson, Krystal Joy Llose, Alfredo, and myself (James). Helen, Sara, Krystal, and I will eat dinner in San José!

Students look forward to comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a Costa Rican sunset over one of our three private lakes, and an opportunity to catch up on much needed sleep. Not much in terms of “roughing it” is in store for our group. However, cell phone service is limited at home base so please expect some delays in communication while your student is in Costa Rica, I however, can be reached via my local number +506 7248-0065.

Tomorrow morning we look forward to an orientation on our dock, followed by a day of planning for our English summer camp that will be facilitated by our staff and your students to benefit local elementary aged children from around the surrounding communities. So as they say here in Costa Rica,  “Hasta muy pronto”, and of course, “Pura Vida”!

Dear Parents, family, and friends. As often as possible I will be posting updates written by the program’s “Leaders of the Day”, two students who are chosen to help lead many of the activities throughout the day, and facilitate group discussions. The Leaders of the day are also asked to write a paragraph about their experiences, reflections, and takeaways from the day’s activities. This approach helps to provide the student’s perspective on their experiences while simultaneously keeping families updated on the day’s happenings. So without further ado : My GLA group and I spent our first full day in Costa Rica. When we woke up we had breakfast. After breakfast, we went to the dock and did activities to bond. We got into our service groups and played human knot, my team won. We had a delicious lunch which was chicken, rice, beans, smashed potatoes, and salad. We had free time for a while and then we went to the lake that is right next to us to swim. The water felt really nice and warm. Some other people and I went to the top of the dock to jump off into the water. It was scary but also fun. After we planned our service work for tomorrow played a game called song wars. Overall today was an amazing day, I enjoyed it very much.

– Daniela Sanchez

Today was the first day at home base! The farm we are staying at is so beautiful. There are cows, dogs, and a lake! We began the day with a delicious Costa Rican breakfast. Then we had time to go over all the rules, do fun team building activities, and get settled into our service groups. I feel like I am getting to know everyone and their names after all the fun games we played introducing ourselves. Afterwards we had lunch of chicken, rice, beans, and salad which was so good! Unfortunately it was starting to drizzle out so we had to hurry up to swim in the lake. We all jumped off the dock and had a great time swimming. Then we met in our service groups and discussed our plans for the activities we would do for the children we are going to see tomorrow! I am so excited to play with the children.

-Tatiana Alvarez

July 5, 2017

Today was the first day of summer camp for the kids. I was doing the science station and we made play-dough. They were so excited to do all the activities and we practiced numbers and colors in English. We also got to make play-dough with flour and water with food coloring it was so much fun! Everyone loved it and made lots of cool things. We also went to the hot springs and had fun in the water. My Spanish improved so much today and I learned a lot of new words. -Lauren Fletcher

We had sausage, eggs, rice and beans, and fresh fruit for breakfast this morning. We spent yesterday planning our activities for the kids and today they arrived at the home base for their first day of activities and we were all wicked excited to meet them! The 3 stations included arts and crafts, field games, and science all with an aspect of english education. In the arts and crafts group we worked on numbers, colors, and animals. We played number games, color games, and taught them to make paper fortune tellers. The kids were all so great and had lunch with us here! After that we all went to swim in the hot springs and got ice cream on the way back to the home base. -Jessie Paquette

July 6, 2017

Today was amazing we woke up to see an interesting schedule that continued to change but always for the better. The food has not been even the slightest bit disappointing because each meal is something unique with its own style to make it amazing. Usually back at home in N.Y. the best part about the trip is the ride to the destination rather than the destination itself, but this has not been the case in Costa Rica one bit. Its not just because we’re in Costa Rica that makes it so fun, it’s the people, the mentors, the other students, the locals, everyone is what truly makes this the best part of my life yet. It’s almost impossible to find something to complain about with this program because it is so awesome. – Justin Cartagena.

July 6, 2017 (continued)

Today, we worked on cleaning out a building and painting beams for the school down the road. We started right after breakfast and worked until lunch and we made a lot of progress. We had planned to go on a tour around the farm and to see the cattle and taste test some of Alfredo’s coffee, but since the weather was good we decided to go to the animal refuge instead. There we saw a ton of new animals that we had never seen in the United States. Then we returned from the zoo and swam in the lake under a beautiful sunset.

— Lukas Affeltranger

July 7, 2017

As every morning, we ate our breakfast in front of a beautiful lake. Shortly after, young children from the Santa Teresa school arrived. Three stations were set up: a science station, an art station and a activity station. The children rotated stations every 30-45 minutes. After, we all hopped onto the bus to find our way to a lovely home. This lovely home stands out to be very special because the owner dedicates immense amounts of time to the local costa rican dogs. Costa Rica possess many stray dogs so this generous family looks after the dogs that don’t have a home. We washed the dogs aside a gorgeous river surrounded by a thick tropical forest. Once back at home base we had time to play team building games. Last but not least, we enjoyed a delicious pizza.

— Máxime Paul

Today was one to remember. We started our day, as always, with an incredibly good breakfast courtesy of the GLA staff. After that, we began setting up our activities for the children, which for my group, consisted of making slime. Though our hopes of having the kids make slime was not completely successful, seeing the smile on their faces while messing around with the ingredients was completely worth the major clean up endured after. Though our day was far from over, the best part of it, in my opinion, was when this kid, Delvin, taught my group and I how to make a paper boat, which i gave to my friend, Madeline. The fact that something as simple as teaching us how to make a paper boat made both him and us volunteers extremely happy was honestly so unforgettable. And as if our day couldn’t get any better, today was the day that we got to spend time with and wash a few of the dozens of stray dogs taken in by a political couple here in Santa Teresa. Overall, I can honestly say that this has been one of the best days thus far for me, and likely some others, while volunteering here in Costa Rica.

— Krystal Llose

Several more photos are uploaded in the group Dropbox folder here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/eq1slkb2nuyypa1/AACvrozpzWrR23asUbZVlJy4a?dl=0

Costa Rica has been such an life changing experience. The friends I have made so far are amazing. Everyday had been a new and fun experience! This morning we woke up and had a great breakfast and then moved into planning for our last few days of summer camp with the kids in Costa Rica. After that we had fun jumping off the dock and having lake time. Later, we had lunch and then headed out for some rafting tours in the RIVER. On the way home we stopped at the grocery store and the ice cream shop! I can’t wait to see what else Costa Rica has in store for us!

Emma

Costa Rica has been a blast so far! We have all met great friends and have experienced new things! Today started out with a delicious breakfast. We then all planned out our service groups for the kids camp next week. The three groups are dancing, martial arts and team building! After that, we took a good long break at the lake and had fun jumping off the dock. Later in the day, we went rafting along the river and got very wet as we enjoyed a water fight. The group then drove back to home base and had fun with activities and wrapped up the day with a delicious dinner and bonfire!

Ellie

July 9, 2017

Today we woke up early to go horse back riding. We split up into two groups and one group went on the horses and the other went into town to shop. We met back up for lunch. For lunch we had tacos with beans, pico de gallo and beef. After that the other group went on the horses and the other went shopping. We rode the horses through the jungle, rivers and through fields to get a view of a volcano. Some people got a change to get their horse to gallop. It was a great day with many beautiful views from the top.
⁃ Sarah Webster-Heenan

Sunday July 9th part 2

Today was an especially exciting day. We got up an hour earlier, enjoyed Alfredo’s always amazing breakfasts, and found our seats on the bus for a ride to a horse stable. Although it was raining, I will never forget the beautiful views and memories made by so many of my friends facing their fear of horses. After this, I found very adorable sloth-themed souvenirs and enjoyed some ice cream. Alfredo ended our day with another amazing meal, followed my some serious bonding time during mentor group. Today was definitely a day I will always remember.

Sara King-Hook

Monday July 10th

This morning we went on a hike around the home base and saw some lakes. We also saw an iguana belly flop into a lake from a tree. In the afternoon, Alfredo taught us about coffee, and we tasted different kinds of coffee including Alfredo’s. We also learned about cows and got to pet one. Then we had lake/nap time, and tonight we had a surprise birthday party for our director James.

-Helen Hudson

Tuesday July, 11th

Today started with eggs, rice and beans, sausage, and fruit for breakfast. Soon after, we split into our independent service planning groups. My group worked on our dance to “How Far I’ll Go” from the Disney movie Moana. We discussed different ways in which we could teach the Costa Rican kids the choreography and how we could introduce new English words throughout the song. From 10am to noon we did our service at the Santa Teresa school, which included power washing the walls with bleach and painting. At 12:30 we all came together to enjoy lunch: mashed potatoes, salad, pork, rice, and vegetables. In the afternoon, we were treated with a Coffee tour from Alfredo. We tasted different coffees and compared them to the “best” coffees in the world (we all decided that Alfredo’s coffee was way better). We then took a trip to the barn to learn about the cows here on the farm, as well as how different types of meat are produced. Overall, day eight has been really fun and interesting!!

-Holland Traver

July 11, 2017

Today was one of my favorite days of this entire trip. This morning we did service at the school and a hike for the people that did service yesterday. My service group painted at the school, and other than getting paint on my shirt, it was so much fun. After lunch, we went zip lining. The picture is of the entire group waiting for the first zip line. My favorite thing about the zip line was the amazing view from the cable. You could see mountains, wildlife, farm land and more! Overall, today was such a great day, and it made me never want to leave!

– Ashley Aaron

Today was an action-filled day. We started off the day by enjoying a scenic hike throughout Alfredo’s neighboring properties. The short hike proves to be worth the sweat; we saw monkeys hopping in between trees! In the afternoon our excursion consisted of a bus ride to La Fortuna to go zip-lining. The course consisted of thirteen zip-lines ranging from 25-500 meters long! I had such an amazing time! We wrapped up the time with time to shop in La Fortuna. The local ice cream shop was delicious! I can’t wait to see what adventures tomorrow holds!

-Marisa Knaus

July 12, 2017

We woke up to a sunny day and some of Alfredo’s fantastic banana pancakes this morning. Today was our first day of independent service groups with the kids, and my group, led by Justin, played games with them involving leadership and teamwork, such as their favorite- birdie on a perch. In the afternoon, we went to the lake and then rotated between three activities. We had the chance to milk a cow and learn about the cheese-making process from the family that makes the cheese we eat at home base, we had a Spanish class with a local teacher whose school we are working on, and we made our own empanadas, which turned out delicious. After a dinner of pizza and wifi, we had a party at the dock to celebrate Jessie’s birthday.

Christina Aaron

Today started with another amazing breakfast from Alfredo followed by the arrival of the kids for our second to last day of camp. I helped out with the martial arts portion where we taught them punching, kicking, and forms. When all the kids had left we enjoyed lunch and lake time before our afternoon activities. For our activities we had three class rotations that included cooking empanadas, learning Spanish, and milking cows. We then finished the night with pizza wifi and cake for Jessie’s birthday! I can’t believe it’s all coming to an end!

-Makena Zorza

July 13, 2017

Today was another great day in Costa Rica. We woke up to a good breakfast of pancakes, eggs, rice, and my favorite the fruit. After eating we had planned our individual service. There are three groups, dance, soccer, and mural painting. After individual service planning everyone split into two groups, one group did a tree hike and the other group did service at the school. I did the service at the school and we painted the inside of the classroom and so much was done, everyone really did a good job today. After we had salsa dance lessons which was super fun then had more individual service planning. I look forward to the more adventures out in Costa Rica, pura vida !

Daisy Diaz

After a late night, everyone woke up a little groggy, however Alfredo’s cooking left us feeling energized. The day began with service planning, where we talked about how we can make our last day of camp with the kids the best it can be. After, we split into two groups. One went to do service at the school, and the other took a hike to the largest (by diameter) tree in Costa Rica. I went on the hike, and we saw lots of exotic animals like a poison dart frog, colorful butterflies, and bats. We had some extra time afterwards and so we decided to go down to the San Carlos river. We spent some time at the river skipping and throwing rocks, and only left when it started to rain. After a delicious lunch, we prepared ourselves for a salsa dancing class. Everyone had a great time with the complicated spins and steps, and some of the pairs even performed for everyone at the end. Salsa left everyone exhausted, so we took some time to shower and relax until we met again for more service planning and a discussion on cultural norms. Following dinner, we all met up for one of our final mentor nights.

Cassady Adams

July 16, 2017

All good things come to an end, and this trip isn’t an exception. We started this trip as a hodgepodge of people, hailing from exotic places like Boston and Chicago, all on a mission to help Costa Rican youth, but now we are something much more: a family. This fact had never been more apparent than today, our last 24 hours in Costa Rica. However while you would expect this day to be filled with loads of special activities and partying, it was quite the contrary. Today half of the group went on a hike through the Costa Rican rainforest- observing the largest tree in Costa Rica- while the other half finished up work on the school we had been refurbishing throughout throughout the week. While I cant speak for the group that went on the hike as I worked on the school, but we all had a blast. Working on this school all week and finally finishing was truly one of the most satisfying feelings that I have ever had and hope the children will enjoy to for years to come. After our individual excursions, we all met back up for lunch and prepared to say our first goodbyes. Simply put, as the emotions at the time can never truly be captured in words: tears were shed, and friendships were forever forged.

-Ryan Ellegood

(Picture of kids sitting at table)

Today was so fun, but sad because we know that we have to say our final goodbyes soon. We started the day out by going on a hike while the other service group worked at the school. On the hike we saw four dart frogs and one of the largest trees in Costa Rica.  Then we drove to a big river where skipped rocks and covered ourselves in mud.  After lunch we had to say goodbye to Sara, Cassady and my roommate Helen. Finally we packed up all of our stuff and had our last lake time of the trip.  This trip has been amazing and I have learned so many new things.

-Madison Ostrowski

(Picture of kids covered in mud)

June 18, 2017

Wow! ( dijo el perro) the day has finally arrived for Airport pickup day on Day 1 of GLA’s Children’s Initiative for Costa Rica! Let me start by first introducing myself! My name is James Tuttle and I am in the International Director for the program this summer! I am from Denver, Colorado, and I feel honored that I get to spend the summer between year one and year two of medical school having an amazing time in Costa Rica with students from the U.S., Canada, and the Philippines! I am happy to be returning to Latin America after having spent two amazing years managing college students in the mountains of Guatemala.

I am joined this summer by two amazing student mentors Casey and Aileen. Casey is an expert Spanish language instructor who is working on her Master’s in Spanish Language, while she manages her university level Spanish classes. Aileen is taking a break from her work leading teenagers on 20-day wilderness hikes with Outward Bound to share her years of experience with GLA students this summer. Between the three of us we have over 15 years of experience working with youth, and over 10 years travelling, living, and working abroad.

Finally, we are hosted and guided by our Local Director Alfredo Corrales. Alfredo is well known member of the town of Santa Teresa de Cutris where he owns an amazing 200 hectacre finca (farm), complete with 3 beautiful lakes, farm hands, and everything una vida en el campo requiere. Alfredo is the father of three sons, a master in the kitchen, and is joining Casey, Aileen, and I with over 30 years experience working in hospitality as a hotel owner, business owner, and partner with GLA since the program’s conception.

Our first group of students arrived early in the morning, and as we awaited the arrival of the others we had time to get to know each other, play a few games sourced from Aileen’s extensive Game-repertoire, and discuss what the students should expect from the next two weeks. With the students who arrived before 4pm, we all headed directamente for la Pizzeria, “Iguana Loca” (named for the Iguana’s which sunbathe in front of the restaurant during the day).

As you read this we have already headed on to our home base at Alfredo’s finca in Santa Teresa, where we will be joined later in the night by Isabelle Paisan, Madison Callahan, and Salena Schottenheimer, Alfredo, and Casey. Students look forward to comfortable air-conditioned rooms, a Costa Rican sunset over our private lake, and an opportunity to catch up on much needed sleep. Cell phone service is limited with foreign SIM cards, so please expect some delays in communication while your student is at home base. I, however, can be reached via my local numbers +506 7248-0065 (or my other number: +506 8374-2560 in case of connectivity issues). Wednesday night will serve as one of our dedicated “Wi-Fi nights” so your child can catch up on communication with friends and family back home.

Tomorrow morning we look forward to an orientation on our dock, followed by an amazing first day excursion. So as they say here in Costa Rica, “Hasta muy pronto”, and of course, “Pura Vida”!

-James Tuttle, International Director

—

Dear Parents,

Already we are on the 5th full day of our program here in Santa Teresa de Cutris! I have asked students to provide a paragraph providing their own perspective of the activities from each day of the program. Due to limited connectivity, I am uploading a few days of the students’ experiences all at once.

June 18, 2017

Hola! My name is Chloe and I am from Dayton, Ohio. Saturday started very early for me! 3am. When we arrived, it was super humid and all I wanted was water. Once we left the airport, we had a long ride home through the winding mountain roads with the most gorgeous views and I ate the best I have ever had and afterwards we left for our new home. It is beautiful here and the food is amazing, I will never be able to eat fruit again. Today, Sunday, we went on a boat tour and saw Howler monkeys and exotic birds. When we came back, we went swimming in the lake. Lastly, our night ended with spaghetti and mentor groups. This is only our first whole day here and I am excited for the rest of our journey.

June 19, 2017

Buenas Noches! My name is Emely and I’m from Miami, Florida. I along with all the other GLA students, got to experience all that Alfredo’s “finca” had to offer. We got to have a unique coffee tasting tour of the best coffee in both Costa Rica and Brazil. After tasting six of teh some of the best Coffee in the world, we go to visit some cows in a farm. Some us were able to pet hte animals, and one of the cows even began to munch of the student’s jackets. Due to the heat we all got to take a dip in the lake (on Alfredo’s Finca). To finish off the day we got to go to a nearby restaurant and enjoy some delicious Costa Rican food. Overall, I really enjoyed learning about the coffee industry and meeting some unique animals.

— Emely Acobo

Hi, my name is Jonathan Palash-Misner. I’m from San Francisco, California. Breakfast is amazing every day, but today was especially good. We had Gallo pinto, eggs, hash browns and fresh pineapple. All from the farm we are living on. Today was our first service day. I went to work on a school called Cajeta We taught the kids English phrases and got them rest for their spelling bee. I even got to play soccer with them! Bonding with the kids at my school has been the highlight of my entire trip. The connections we are able to establish even despite the language barrier are priceless. After our service we had a chance to eat a delicious lunch of roast chicken rice and beans before jumping into swimsuits and hitting the lake! As always the lake was amazing. After the lake we separated into three groups and rotated between having Spanish lessons with Casey, hearing the story of one of the most interesting people I have ever met, GLA’s manager of central and South American programs, Mathew Dawson, and finally seeing a “lecheria” where we got to milk cows, learn about sustainable farming methods and eat amazing cheese, coffee and ice cream. Once we finished up our last bites of ice cream we came back to the farm for an amazing Costa Rican soup, consisting of beef, potatoes, and corn (still on the cob). We ended our day with a mentoring group focused on sharing and listening to each other’ stories. We learned that everyone has a story if your willing to listen to it.

June 20, 2017

June 21, 2017

Hola! Today was an action filled day. It started off with a spelling bee at the school. My service group arrived and immediately got to work practicing (English) with the kids. They were all really good! We taught the kindergarteners the Spanish equivalent of Duck, Duck, Goose. We played, “Gato, Gato, Raton,” but they didn’t quite understand. These kids are the cutest thing ever.  TheThe day wasn’t all service filled, though. After serivce, we came back to “La Finca” for lunch and then went to the ziplines in La Fortuna. To be honest, I was scared of falling, but the ziplines had teh most beautiful view of Costa Rican villages. I was so at peace when flying down those cables. It was such a rewarding day. The spelling bee, “Gat, Gato, Raton,” and feeling at one with myself and the land, all while conquering one of my biggest fears.

— Katie Kocsis

Hola! I’m Jared and today we did a bunch of fun things. First, we played with the kids and that was a lot of fun because we got to help them study for their spelling bee and it was really fun and cool to see how even though they don’t have much they live life to the fullest. Also, today we went zip lining which was very fun and the view of Costa Rica from above was beautiful because even though it doesn’t have a lot, it’s still a very beautiful country and one of the best ones I have even to and I would stay here forever if I could. Adios!

— Jared Dooley

June 22, 2017

“Zombie, zombie, zombie!” Victoria giggled, as she spun around to face her peers. They froze, motionless, suppressing their laughter and trying not to move. We were playing Zombie Zombie, a game in which a group will try to steal a water bottle from the “zombie” while their back is turned. Once they get the bottle from the “zombie”, they have to bring it back to the starting point without the “zombie” figuring out who has the bottle. While it may seem like just a game, it teaches the kids very important lessons while allowing them to enjoy themselves through competition and antics. It teaches kids to work together by encouraging them to create strategies and subtly reinforces the importance of sharing as each must hide the bottle once before returning to the starting point. The kids at Santa Teresa School are obsessed with the game not only because they get to play it with cool American teenagers, but it allows them to have fun, run around, compete and work together simultaneously. Not only is it a learning experience for them, but it’s a learning experience for us as it teaches us to connect with others despite language barriers and cultural differences. These language barriers we face are no obstacle for us during Zombie because laughter is the universal language, and there’s ample supply of it here.

— Sophia Rubbo

I can tell you that today was the third day of service, and my 6th day being in Costa Rica. The school where we volunteer at contains the happiest and energetic kids I have ever seen. It’s the energy that leaves us once we reach a certain point in our lives. The energy that drives them to play outside in the scorching sun. It provides them the want to ask questions and to be curious about anyone and everything. These kids share their thoughts that I wish came naturally to me. The kids I’m meeting at the school have taught me all these wonderful things that I hope to keep with me forever. Sometimes I think, “Why don’t we all just stay kids?”

— Sam Flores

June 23, 2017

¡Hola Amigos! Today marked the end of Service Week 1. All week my service group and I have just been teaching and planning with the students. The school wasn’t in session today because 1 teacher had a doctor’s appointment – so different from the U.S., but we were still able to get some of our service for them done, which felt pretty amazing that we were finally able to do something for the school as a whole. After service, we came back to La Finca (the farm) for lunch, where we saw Caballos (horses) blocking our way to our house. The experience of walking around 3 horses was definitely something else. We didn’t see any of our school kids, so we made up for it with wildlife. It was a good day in all, but a little hard for me. It was my mom’s birthday and I miss her and my family so much. I had everyone say Happy Birthday to her over speak and it made me realize how close I’ve gotten to these people and how much I’ll miss them when I leave. I can’t wait to see what adventures await for us in the upcoming week. ¡Hasta Luego! Tambien: ¡Feliz Cumpleanos Madre!

— Katie

Escuela Santa Jorge, that is the name of the school I am doing service at! Today the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders had their Spelling Bee. The winner was Christopher, you don’t know him but him, along with others are the kids I have grown to love in this past week. This past week has been an emotional roller coaster for all of us. My experience with culture shock was rough but with the help of everyone here I’m over that and I know I will miss this place.

— Salena S.
June 24, 2017

The Journey to purchase souvenirs in La Fortuna was fun for some and stressful for others. We traveled block by block to find the perfect gifts for loved ones and memorabilia for ourselves. The race for bracelets was real. Nearly every person bought beautifully stranded bracelets to add to their collection. There was talk about expensive prices and bargaining with the sellers, but they weren’t going lower the price at all. Some of us got lucky and were able to find items on sale, others felt it was worth it and spent what they believed was too much. Whatever the price or the item, those objects bought in Costa Rica will always serve as a reminder of all of our unforgettable excursions and the heartwarming bonds we’ve created with the local students.

— Layeelah

The horseback riding was an exhilarating memorable experience. It was a new experience for many, while others showed their skills of riding a horse.The excursion went near the Arenal volcano going uphill and downhill and in flat land. We had the chance on the way to feed the horses with guava and ride them near the waterfall. When it began to pour, some horses galloped way up high and some went the other way, but for the most part, the ride was smooth with a challenge. It definitely brought tears, laughter, scared, and a new perception of Costa Rica…and soreness.

— Shenna Padilla

June 25, 2017

Today, Sunday the 25th, began with a delicious breakfast and then rafting down the river. Everyone got to relax and enjoy the beautiful view. We passed by crocodiles, monkeys, bats, and iguanas. In the afternoon we were able to chill and swim. Alfredo’s brother brought a jet ski and let us take turns tubing in the lake. It was lots of fun! Since today was also Mongo’s last day, we threw him a surprise party with ice cream and balloons. He very much appreciated it, and we are extremely sad that he is leaving us. Overall it was a very fun day!

— Hailey O.

Today, the 25th was Mongo, our beloved bus driver’s, last day driving us around. Everyone on the trip felt his joy and enthusiasm. He knew the places we would like going to and had a connection with each of us. Our group wanted to pay back the favor by throwing a goodbye party. A lovely poster was made with all of our signatures as a gift to Mongo. We celebrated with ice cream and chocolate and danced to lots of music. Tears fell as we said goodbye to Mongo!

— Murfee J.

Every day after service group we do an end of the day activity, today we visited the hot springs. Before we got started, we had to say bye to our first bus driver, Mongo. Mongo was like a father to many of us, even a close friend. Even though we won’t see Mongo for the rest of this trip, we remained optimistic for our new bus driver that we would meet after enjoying the hot springs. My first stop was the hottest hot spring. It was muy caliente. We all relaxed and spent time bonding with each other.

— Andrea Garibaldi

June 26, 2017

Today, I went to my service group in Santa Teresa, in which we taught them body parts. I laughed liked I had never laughed before. Thinking about the few days left with the children, brought me deep Sadness. I loved singing with them, “Ray and el Sol”, and showing off my awful soccer skills, in a soccer match. For our afternoon activity which was a surprise, we went to an animal shelter. We saw dogs of all types, shapes, and colors. We were able to bond with them and we got the opportunity to bathe the dogs! Spending time with the kids and catering to refugee dogs brought me joy and brightened my day in Costa Rica.

— Juliet A

I was one of the first leaders of the day along with another girl Emely towards the beginning of the trip which made it interesting to see how everyone reacted towards the concept.

I enjoyed seeing how the group split off and started to form friendships.

On the first day, we started with a lake tour. We were able to see monkeys, iguanas, and my personal favourite caiman. Toward the end, it started to rain everyone was in a hurry to put on their rain jackets except for Johnny and myself who put our rain jackets over our bags and stuck our heads over the sides. One of my favourite things about Costa Rica is the rain, it’s warm but refreshing. I was so tempted to jump in the water with the Caiman and all and just enjoy it. At the end of the day we went out to a restaurant which made me nervous because one of the instructors said that we would attract a lot of attention, and why wouldn’t we 23 Americans/Canadian. But it ended up being a really good night and I am thankful for that because I do not like to attract attention to myself.

— Cage
June 27, 2017

Today, our service group walked to Santa Teresa School and all the student ran up to the person they adored, which warmed all of our hearts. Although we taught them numerous body parts in English today, we also worked on certain projects for the students so they could learn about us and we can learn about them. Today we could see how much their English had improved from the day before from them approaching us and telling us their favorite colors without hesitating. Unlike any of the other days, we all gave them piggy-back rides and ran around, which made the kids super happy. This entire trip has given me a new perspective on so many things and I am going to miss all of these intelligent, precious kids.

–Isa P.

Egg, egg, rock! Today while we were at our service site we had a missionary group come; they brought games, toys, and last but not least soccer balls! We played egg drop, which is a game where people have a spoon and an egg, the goal of the game is to be the first to cross the finish line without dropping the egg. We did not have enough eggs for each student so we had to make do with a rock substitution. While playing this game, it was obvious the students were always jumping at the opportunities to learn new games and play with whomever and whatever. After myself and my peers stated our names, favorite foods, and colors, the students ultimately wanted to show off their new English skills and introduce themselves. Santa Teresa Norte, the school at which I’m working at, only had 11 kids so we were surprised to see how shy they were towards to missionary group. It took a while for me to realize that they were this way when we first came in, but the second day we all acted like we’ve known each other for years. It has only been a week in a half, and I’m already being surprised with serenades from some of the students. They’ve shown that they are willing to make strong connections with complete strangers with little to no hesitation. Also, they’ve shown an immense amount of compassion towards us and learning English. I came to Costa Rica thinking that I would make a huge impact on these kids lives, however, I was surprised to find out the impact they made on me was just as big.

— Maggie

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Lost connectivity prevented some student blogs from being posted while students were abroad. These entries were added on July 9, 2017 after the program’s conclusion.

Today, our service group walked to Santa Teresa School and all the student ran up to the person they adored, which warmed all of our hearts. Although we taught them numerous body parts in english today, we also worked on certain projects for the students so they could learn about us and we can learn about them. Today we could see how much their english had improved from the day before from them approaching us and telling us their favorite colors without hesitating. Unlike any of the other days, we all gave them piggy-back rides and ran around, which made the kids super happy. This entire trip has given me a new perspective on so many things and I am going to miss all of these intelligent, precious kids.

— Isabelle Paisan

Welcome back to another exciting entry from one of your fellow GLA students. Today our story starts with marriage. Not officially, of course. It all started with a miscommunication. When an English student tries to understand a hyperactive Spanish speaking child, all they usually do is smile and nod. So of course the subject of who has a boyfriend/girlfriend came up, which then lead to marriage. So two of our own will now live happily ever after, joined together by the love of these children. After that, the day was pretty relaxed as we learned how to survive if we were stranded in a rainforest here in Costa Rica. We ended the day with a slightly terrifying lightening/thunderstorm.

— Oonagh Spunner-White

Buenas noches! My name is Natalie Collins and i’m from Fort Worth, Texas. Tonight is, sadly, our last night in Costa Rica. We have all shed many tears today from saying goodbye to the kids and leaving this beautiful country. The kids at our schools have taught us so many valuable lessons to take home and share with our culture. On this trip, I have learned how to be a great leader, but also learned from that you must embrace the differences between people. Saying goodbye is hard, but we will carry the memories we’ve made and the lessons we’ve learned with us for the rest of our lives.

— Natalie Collins