My, how time flies! Your experience in Costa Rica may seem like it just ended yesterday, or you may think of the memories as far-off experiences in your mind. No matter how it feels, those memories will stay with you all. Even as you begin to adjust to life in the US, to school and friends and work, your summer in Guanacaste, Costa Rica will stay with you. The little EcoLodge where you made a whole new group of friends, mostly human but also 3 Golden Retrievers and a lot of friendly parrots, will hold a special place in your heart.
You all began the trip with high expectations of service and fun, and in the end, those expectations were changed into reality. You visited schools in Guapote, 27 de Abril, Playa Junquillal, and more. You visited the tourist-friendly town of Tamarindo, the beautiful white sand beach of Playa Blanca, and the bustling little city of Santa Cruz. In the nature reserve at Monte Alto, you learned from the founder himself how the reserve works and has grown over the years. You tried foods cooked with the sun’s power at Casa del Sol, and talked to the strong women who run it. In mentor groups, you had important and sometimes difficult discussions about the world.
Most important of all, you made life-long connections with young people all across the province. With the children you participated in activities that promote caring for the environment and our limited supply of water. One of the most rewarding parts of the trip was seeing the children’s smiling faces; everywhere we went, children were always the most accepting and most willing of hosts.
With your new connections, understandings, and experiences, you will all better understand the world we live in, and be able to make a change in it. The love and unity you felt as a group will never be lost. The impressions you made on the Costa Rican people you met will never be forgotten. As you learned, the way to change the world starts with small steps: it starts with you.
Thank you all!
Peace and Love,
Your friends at GLA
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