COSTA RICA – Beachside Service Adventure – August 4 – August 13, 2017

By: Elena Dimitrov

We walked along the shoreline collecting pieces of garbage that wash up from the ocean and litter the beach; anything from plastic and styrofoam to old shoes. To decompress in the evening, students participated in a fun dance class during which we were taught the traditional Latin American dance styles of salsa, bachata, merengue and zumba!

Discussions between students and mentors consist of defining leadership, setting hopes and expectations for the trip, confronting fears and discussing the positive and negative impacts that our service work might have. We are becoming more and more exposed to the local way of life, “tico” culture and the values that it holds. Everyone is eager to continue learning about Costa Rican culture and to move forward in interacting with locals more. Tomorrow, each group will begin their service projects – we are beyond excited to put ourselves out there and work hard with the community!

By: Gracie Neirynck

Date: August 9, 2017

Hey! Our day today was split up into Adventure in the morning and then Service in the afternoon. Today I went tubing. We drove into the jungle to the river where we were going to tube. While we were waiting we sat by a beautiful waterfall and were  able to go down a rock that was similar to a slide. I tubed along a group of four other people and had a blast as we coasted down somewhat rocky and rapid currents and enjoyed the stunning view of the jungle. On one particularly fierce rapid me and my friend, fell out flipping our tubes which, despite getting wet, was perhaps the best part of tubing. We tubed for about an hour before we stopped and ate cookies and easily the best pineapple I’ve ever had and then drove back to the resort.

After lunch the next part of our day was spent doing service. The service that I am doing is for an incredible group of women with beautiful dreams and ambition. Today we went to the house of Lulu, one of the women, and assisted her by painting and helping to cut and carve signs and gifts. I enjoyed Tamales and the company of the women while we painted and attempted to talk to them and their children with my broken Spanish. When we got back we had a little time before a delicious dinner and a short video.

The video we watched was a thought provoking Ted Talk called the power of a single story (I would recommend to all of you who have not seen it). It talked about the unfinished stereotypes that infect our lives and culture and revealed to us the danger of looking at a group of people through a single lens. Although I’d actually seen this particular Ted Talk before I found in interesting to look at in relation to service. After watching the Ted Talk we talked about it with our mentor groups, discussing our impressions of the video and the different ways that stereotypes narrow our minds, especially in relation to service. Overall it was a beautiful day here in Costa Rica, full of new experiences and the incredible people who make them hard to forget.

As I get on the bus at the end of my last service day, drenched from another Costa Rican “shower,” I realize what an amazing opportunity I’ve been given.

Every day I’ve been here I’ve done something new whether it be white water tubing after a tropical storm, forcing myself to use a language I’m not fluent in, or even merely starting a conversation with someone I’ve never seen before. GLA and this program has given me the opportunities and the tools to go outside of my comfort zone. My service project required me to paint a mural. I haven’t painted since I was in sixth grade, yet our group of novice artists pulled together and made what I would like to think is a pretty well-done mural. Today I rode a horse at more than just a walking pace, to a beautiful waterfall. I would have never seen it if I had been too scared to get on the horse, which at the time seemed like a viable option.

This country and this trip have taught me so much about the world around me and myself. It showed me that I could paint a mural while it rains for an hour straight, and then saw wood in a dark classroom. It showed me that I could fall off my tube while white water tubing and laugh about it when I managed to get back on my tube. It has shown me that I could communicate with the locals in a language that I love but also am only barely proficient in. Most importantly, this experience has taught me to go outside my comfort zone. To paint a mural because if it turns out badly, I can always paint another one. To communicate in the native language because at least I’m trying. To get back up on my tube and laugh after I wipe out on a rock. To take a chance even if I don’t know the outcome.

Co-authored by:
Jake Angelo and Mackenzie Brennan
Date: August 12, 2017

Our day started with a wonderful last breakfast of cereal, muffins, fruit, and ham omelettes. Everyone ate and chatted until it was time to go to their adventures. Today was everyones last adventure and the mood was still full of energy. During the bus ride to Tubing Callie played loud popular Spanish music to keep everyone going. In the beginning of the week the bus would have been semi-silent with the occasional Spanish word that everyone could pick out of the music. Today everyone was chattering with new friends that they had made throughout the trip, and almost everyone was singing along. The words to the song more familiar now after three other fantastic adventures, and many days of fulfilling service.

The journey was long but pleasant. Once the adventure group got to tubing everyone was all smiles. We slipped our way down to the waterfall and splashed around while waiting for a river guide to speak to us on safety. The instructor was loud and energetic- she made everyone laugh while simultaneously showing everyone what to do if they flipped. She pulled Mackenzie and Edie out to the tube and proceeded to show what it looked like to flip over off the tube. Once they were fully wet and everyone’s stomachs hurt from laughing; they walked to the river to begin their final adventure.

The instructor helped us all get in our tubes and sent us away.  Anxiously, everyone waited to see who the first would be to flip…it was Mackenzie and Chloe.  Our tubing trip was full of adventure and surprises.  It was interrupted by a snack break which included fresh pineapple and cookies.  Our adventure also included endeavors such as getting separated and washing down the rapids, though, everyone was safe and shared a laugh at the end.

Lunch consisted of rice, chicken, and fresh salad which tasted delicious (like all the other meals).  After, everyone had packing time and time to rest.  Later, we will have our story slam which will consist of everyone’s best crafted stories from the trip and past experiences.  Also, at 9pm, we will have our salsa party and a time to say goodbye/reflect on all the great times we’ve had.  It will be hard to say goodbye to this beautiful country and the friends/memories we have made but we are excited to share our experiences with everyone else! Pura Vida y Adios!