PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
TIME CAPSULE LETTER
Oh my gah (*said in Luis’s voice*), I can’t believe it has been so long since I have seen you guys! We miss you all so much! Collectively, you all are such a special group of young people. Luis, Isabel, and I feel so lucky that we had the chance to work with you as our first group and to set the standard of what we could expect from all of the other students this summer. You are a remarkable group of strong minds, hard workers, and world changers.
I am so proud to have had the opportunity to witness you make an impact on the local community in Paraiso. Your work at the vision tests gave over 30 kids FREE glasses that they may have never been able to get on their own. Not only did you help to improve their vision, but you very likely enhanced their education since they can see their work now. And we can’t forget the toothbrushes you gave to the kids and the skits you acted out for them had an impact on their future dental health.
I was also so pleased to see how quickly you all adapted from working with kids to working with senior citizens. You all expertly moved from one age group to another and made such a lasting impact. The elderly people you worked with at Hogar Manos de Jesus were so happy to have had time interacting with new people that genuinely cared about them. You guys put huge smiles on their faces and gave them an opportunity to share parts of themselves that they haven’t been able to express in a long time. Not to mention, you gave them the opportunity to watch an exciting soccer match that included the exhilaration of near misses with the residents faces!
I hope now that you have had some time back in the States in the comfort of your own homes, you can look back on your time in Costa Rica with a renewed sense of gratitude. I hope that the adventures, friendships, challenges, and leadership that you experienced on this GLA trip have made a positive impact on your life! I also hope that you are working towards accomplishing that OMG (One Meaningful Goal) we talked about trying to achieve as a group. In case you forgot, you all collectively decided that you would: Make positive connections with people in your community to create positive change through service in your local area. You said you would achieve this by not making assumptions/judgements about others, continue to make and take opportunities, and reach out to local partners to have the greatest impact possible. So…have you done it yet? Have you made your plan for change in your community? Have you initiated that plan? Remember, you have lots of resources available to you and most of the time you just have to ask for help if you want it.
I just want to reiterate how special I (and your mentors) think you all are. You blew us away with how intensely you showed compassion for others and how thoughtfully you participated in GLA activities. Even if you didn’t completely know how to speak Spanish, you still managed to communicate effectively with the people we were helping. Each of you are true leaders and have so much potential to change the world. I cannot wait to watch you improve the lives of others and continue to grow as loving, compassionate, and intentional individuals.
Keep up the great work!
Love,
Michaela Stockhill, International Director
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
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BLOG POST FOR JUNE 10
Written by Michaela, International Director for the Costa Rica: Medicine and Healthcare Discovery Program
All the students made it to Costa Rica!
We picked up the students in 3 groups and have shown everyone to their rooms/home for the next two weeks.
We can’t wait to start our adventures together tomorrow morning!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 11
Written by: Hunter Oskouei & Kaitlyn DeSiena
Starting off our first day, we met at the breakfast table and went over some house rules. Following breakfast, we made our way to the heart of Cartago. Starting at the Church of La Negrita, our group explored the beautiful architecture of the church and experienced the fountains of Holy Water. We learned of the importance of the church and that over two million people participate in a pilgrimage there on August 2nd every year.
While walking to our next destination, a jail converted to an art museum, we did an activity to strengthen bonds with our new peers. Once we arrived, we observed the mural depicting Costa Rica’s history. Our next destination was the mercado central de Cartago. Here we immersed ourselves into true Costa Rica with the help of a scavenger hunt. We even got to taste a local fruit, Manzana de Agua.
Our last stop brought us to the Ruinas de Cartago, a garden where locals celebrate. The buses brought us to a local ice cream shop that has been in business since 1948. At Helados Granados you do not find your regular ice cream in a cone, but rather ice cream on a stick. Our group returned to homebase for lasagna and garlic bread. After a short break, we ventured to a local dance studio where we learned six different latin dance styles. Then we returned to home base and had dinner. Following dinner, we had a leadership activity called the social sync, and played two truths and a lie in our groups to get to know each other.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 12
Written By: Emmy Wilson and Sophie Rothwein
Our day started with breakfast at seven in the morning followed by a trip to Ujarras Elementary School where we set up to do a vision test on the children. During the testing, the group was separated into groups where we all played a different part. Some of us would go to different classrooms to gather two children at a time while other people would input the children’s information into a computer that we used to log the data that we gathered from their vision test. Depending on if the children passed or failed their vision test, we would decide if it was appropriate or not for them to visit an ophthalmologist that had the tools to decide what type of glasses they needed. We were able to practice our Spanish with the local children and learn a lot about Costa Rican socials and cultural norms in schools. The group felt like they were able to make a positive impact on the community.
After lunch, we visited Las Brujas soccer fields and played soccer. We first separated into different groups based on experience and played a 6v6 game. After a moment to catch our breaths and some hydration, people who still had some energy, played a final game while the people on the sidelines, cheered on their friends. After the games, we drove home and immediately hit the showers to wash away the sweat from the hard day. We then took a much-needed break where we relaxed and reflected with other teammates. We were later called for dinner where we had fish, rice, and delicious tropical fruits. After another break, we watched scenes from Avatar and used critical thinking to observe the differences between their culture and ours, and reflect on how our own cultures would be perceived by others. After journalling, our director checked in with us and we reflected on the day and the trip so far.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 13
Written By: Juliet Wise and Nora Montgomery
This morning we woke up and had eggs, toast, guacamole, and fruit. We then got ready to go to the local elementary school to continue our vision campaign. We pulled kids out of class to test their eyesight with the platform SchoolScreener. We asked the kids multiple questions about the history of their eyes and we entered this into the platform to create a smooth process. Of course, this didn’t come without challenges, but the different languages provided the opportunity to practice our Spanish.
Over 400 students were in need of vision exams which allowed us to make connections with local students in first through sixth grade during two shifts, before and after lunch, and fostered patience and grace for others. For lunch we had chicken parmesan with salad, fruit, and roasted potatoes. Dinner was ‘make it yourself’ beef stew with sides, following the GLA activities where we pretended to have different customs, and compared and observed different cultures to enhance our leadership skills.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 14
Written by: Paige Collister and Mary Krasnewich
Early this morning we headed out for the Turrialba volcano, one of the most significant volcanoes in Costa Rica. Along the way, we drove around countless turns as we gained altitude, and admired the beautiful views below us. Once we had arrived, and were well above the clouds, we met our tour guide and his majestic doggie friend, Russ. We began our ascent towards the summit of Turrialba. At the top, we were met with a foggy, yet stunning view. Although most of us left with muddy shoes, we left with full hearts as well.
From there, we returned to home base for a delicious home-cooked meal of chicken and potatoes, crafted by the fantastic team accompanying us. We ventured out once again to a place that took many of us out of our comfort zones. The abandoned Duran Sanitorium, which is said to be haunted, once treated patients with tuberculosis. Today, we had the opportunity to explore the amazing compound in its entirety and experience its hauntingly beautiful buildings. A few of our mentors had the pleasure of hiding in crevices to ensure each kid caught a fright.
Last, but certainly not least, we made a stop that each of us had been looking forward to: Walmart. Each of us had realized that we had forgotten something at home once we cracked open our suitcases, and this afternoon presented the opportunity to pick up any goods we may have needed. With full arms and even fuller stomachs, we returned once more to our comfortable inn for a night of games, bracelet making, weird questions, and laundry. What a fabulous day in paradise!
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 15
Written by Narain and Ishana
We started this majestic day with Nora’s birthday in our hearts. After our extremely tasty sandwiches, we hit the road in our tourism buses and began our trek to one of Costa Rica’s most fabulous rainforests, Tapanti. Filled with the most beautiful flora and fauna, the forest produces a large amount of electricity and water for the people of the capital city of San Jose. Led by our very knowledgeable guide, we hiked up a scenic pathway towards the trail head that appeared almost like a portal into another world of natural beauty. Along the way we kept our eyes peeled for potential sightings of the wildlife. We made our way down a rocky path towards the rushing river where we took photos of the wonderous views that we encountered. As the skies greyed and the rain began to pour down on us, we made our way back towards the buses and began our journey back to homebase.
Our peaceful bus ride was pleasantly halted when we arrived at the Ujarras lookout point. As we approached the edge of the hill side we found a surreal picturesque view of the Ujarras Valley and the river that we had previously been at. After taking in the view a number of us decided to hang out on the nearby play structures while we enjoyed the scenery. After our visit we left.
A little after lunch, we drove down to the center of Cartago city, where we visited a private clinic for physical therapy. During our visit we learned about how psychology plays a role in physical therapy. We were then able to test some of the exercises and tools that would be used during therapy, such as a massage bed. We then returned to the homebase awaiting our next amazing activity, a cooking lesson where we learned to make tortillas from scratch.
After dinner we all congregated in the dining room to celebrate Nora’s birthday with many fun games. We ended the day singing happy birthday to Nora and devouring scrumptious brownies.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 16
Written by Sophie Kaplan and Sophie DiCola
The adventurers graciously awoke to a beautiful sunny morning. For breakfast, we devoured some fresh homemade bread rolls with deliciously juicy fruit. At approximately 8 a.m., we blasted off with Rafa and Roger on the buses to zipline through the tropics of the Costa Rican rainforest. We hiked up the mountain, breaking a sweat and we got a good workout in. We were rewarded with a fun filled morning of cruising through the canopies. We soared through over 15 exhilarating ziplines, and even made a lazy silly sloth friend. After 4 awe-inspiring hours, the explorers ventured back to home base for a delicious, authentically made Costa Rican meal called BOCA.
After some much-needed sleepy time, the travelers met with a one-of-a-kind lawyer. This wonderous man specializes in elderly care, working hard for over 25 years. He shared some intellectual insight on how to help, care for, and make a change for future and current generations regarding healthcare. We then galloped on over to the soccer fields and enjoyed some playing time with the locals. After a fulfilling game, the GLA leaders prevailed victoriously. We were rewarded with delicious, delectable, creamy McDonald’s desserts. After inhaling our scrumptious sweet treats, we were met with a nostalgic taste from home, consisting of meatballs, mashed potatoes, fruit, and sweet tea. To finish off the night, our hardworking, devoted, passionate leaders met with their mentors to discuss ways to improve our experience.
Signing off,
Sophie2
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 17
Written By: Ruhi Vidhun and Talia Wisely
We started off this morning by having warm egg and cheese empanadas and freshly sliced juicy fruit. We then went to Hogar Manos de Jesus, a local nursing home for people who were abandoned by their families and underwent difficult circumstances. There we gave the elderly company by playing games and fun activities with them. This was an eye-opening experience that exposed us to the unfortunate reality for some elderly people in Costa Rica.
In the afternoon, we traveled to San Jose, the capital, where we saw central buildings that depicted the history of Costa Rica’s military and government. Then, we went to a touristy market with plenty of fun souvenirs like bracelets and hats. This was a perfect chance for us to get gifts for our family and friends at home.
Following dinner, we had an engaging debate discussing private versus public healthcare in Costa Rica. From this, we learned about how they come together to create a strong healthcare system for the citizens of Costa Rica.
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 18
Written by Chris and Syrus
We woke up bright and early at 7:00 to discover that we were having nice, warm French toast for breakfast. After finishing our breakfast, we headed out for a second day of service at Hogar Manos de Jesus. While we were there, we split into groups, some of us participated in physical therapy with the residents, some played games such as Jenga and cards, and others assisted with feeding and transporting the residents. At the physical therapy station, we helped the elderly with their daily exercises by guiding them through various movements using their arms and legs. Moving on to the games station, we had a lot of fun playing cards, especially blackjack, which was very intense and entertaining for both us and the elderly.
In the afternoon, we returned from a productive service at Hogar Manos de Jesus to enjoy a group favorite meal of Berria Tacos. These tacos were the best I’ve ever had, and I am very confident that the rest of the group agrees that this was the best meal we’ve indulged in so far. After a refreshing and relaxing hour of free time, we departed again to visit a local public health clinic where we learned firsthand how the healthcare system in Costa Rica operates. Following our visit, we went to a local smoothie shop and purchased a variety of freshly made smoothies.
In the evening, we prepared our dental health campaign skits that we will be presenting tomorrow at the elementary schools. This included constructing props that will help to depict and illustrate the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene. After completing these projects, we had a Costa Rican cooking class that involved making bean and cheese empanadas from scratch. These were a little difficult to make, but once we figured it out, they were so delicious. Following this appetizer, we enjoyed an exquisite dinner of grilled chicken and salted potatoes. When everyone had finished eating and cleaning up their space, we proceeded to have a dress rehearsal for our skits. Lastly, we had mentor groups which consisted of a self-assessment regarding different styles of leadership. To finish off the night, we unwound with a movie and then went to bed.
Goodnight,
Syrus and Chris
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 19
Written By: Paloma Carrubba, Raya Surani, Finnius Herbert
We woke up to a delicious breakfast of cheesy eggs and beans. At 7:30 we began the service aspect of our day. We acted out a skit we had designed the night prior about the importance of brushing one’s teeth and dental health in general. The children were ecstatic upon receiving their new toothbrushes. After leaving the school we went straight to the elderly care center where we brought them out to enjoy a riveting game of us playing soccer. One of the residents even joined us and showed off his impeccable goalie skills.
Despues de completing the service aspect of our day we returned to homebase and enjoyed a deliciously prepared lunch of pork and mashed yuca. One of our fabulous local directors, Juan Pablo, gave us a riveting self defense lesson. We learned about pressure points and how we can use them to our advantage in emergency self-defense scenarios. Our day wound down with a journey to the movie theater where we immersed ourselves in Spanish by watching the new hit sequel to Inside Out otherwise known as Intensa Mente 2. Our day came to a close when we recapped our goals from the beginning of the trip to see how far we have come. We all recognized our growth as leaders throughout this program.
Having Funsies,
Paloma, Raya, and Finnius
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 20
Written by Sadie and Ryan
Today we woke up promptly at 6:30 to then have a delicious breakfast of eggs and oatmeal. Breakfast was then followed by a long four hour car ride down to the beach, Uvita. Once we arrived to the beach we ate rice and chicken along with some vegetables for lunch. We then unpacked at our new hotel and got straight to our swim test. We all hopped in the pool and tested our swimming skills. Then we headed to the waterfall hike where we took a dip in the natural pool. It started to rain VERY hard and the water turned brown and the levels started rising, so we left quickly. We then went to the beach, while it was raining. We played soccer and swam in the majestic waves. Then, we headed back to the hotel and got ready for dinner. Dinner was pleasing to the taste buds. We had a delectable plate of pasta with a variety of sauces as well as salad and lemonade on the side. Overall, it was a very long but very fun day.
Thanks for listening,
✌️ Soccer Girls
BLOG POST FOR JUNE 21
Written by Flora and Melanie
We began by waking up early at 6:45 at the first full day at our new hotel, the Blue Bay Hotel. To start the day, we ate a scrumptious meal of beans, eggs, and rice. Then, we all excitedly hopped into the van to drive to the beach for our surf lessons. Once we arrived, we spent the first hour observing and learning the rules of surfing, including the main four rules: wind, tides, waves, threats. Then, we splashed into the water and went out to conquer the beautiful waves of Costa Rica.
After surfing, we drove to the national park where you can see the famous Whale’s tail sandbar. The heat was pressing against our skin as we wobbled through the forest where we were met with plenty of mosquitoes and bugs. Once we finally arrived on the sand, we rushed into the clear cool water to enjoy the warm sun on our backs. We even managed to see a few stingrays in the water. After a couple of hours swimming, tanning, and chilling, we left to eat an exquisite lunch consisting of making your own burritos.
After filling our hungry stomachs, we happily took turns washing ourselves off in the refreshing cold shower. We then got ready for the afternoon by dressing up in our sundresses and cute outfits. Our first stop was a local tourist shop consisting of unique bracelets, clothes, and sculptures. Our second stop was a smoothie restaurant with a beautiful view of the Costa Rican beach as a lookout. As the rain started to pour down and lightning struck the sky, we went to our final destination, pizza for dinner. This warm appetizing meal gave everyone a huge sense of euphoria, as it seemed to have been the best meal on the trip. As the night fell, just like Sophie’s ice cream off her cone, we settled down in our beds for the last night at the hotel and prepared for our last day together.
