A Note from Connie--July 14

Of the many notions that tie this trip together, one in particular stands out for me. I don't think a single day passed when we weren't floored by spectacular views. Costa Rica is truly a beautiful country. Take a look at our share site on Shutterfly. With over 500 photos there and counting, you'll get a taste of all that we saw.

As we fly back today, here are the lasting images in my mind's eye:

Nick salsa-ing patiently and willingly with 11 year-old Maryel, who was enchanted;

Marissa and Amelia sparring with Kenneth as they hand-tilled soil for the greenhouse;

Laura, N'kenge, and Breanna singing softly and packing mud around stones on the job;

Graham slide-tackling locals and our guide with abandon in a fierce futbol game;

Ian reaching for my arm, pointing to interesting birds and rare, clear views of volcanoes;

Aurora and Maddie chatting animatedly about everything and never lacking for material;

Austen visiting with the village dogs each morning and carrying them in his arms;

Brooks washing dishes and biding time until that next cup of coffee;

Hailey reaching out to engage every adult and kid she could on a single day on the river;

Mandy rocking with excitement on the edge of her seat during a game of Who Am I;

Mercy and Brooke snapping photos of the landscape on a bus full of dozing kids;

Lauren leaping confidently from a towering rock into a deep pool in the Pacuare Canyon;

Jesse smacking his oar with a clap to the river's surface, celebrating each rapid passed;

Gabby reveling in the company of the village's children;

Katie joining Costa Rican dancers to kick off the fiesta on our last night in Sitio Mata;

Michael digging into the river with his oar to splash anyone who dared to pass his raft;

Austin wowing the locals with a juggling exhibition and capping it with a back flip;

Liz playing guitar for an appreciative crowd who never sensed she had no rehearsal;

Bekka slipping, sliding, and squealing with joy in the midst of a torrential rain.

When I travel, I'm always moved by the thought that I've been lucky enough to see so much of this world. I think always of my grandparents. They saw so very little of the world in their lifetimes that they might not have easily conjured in their imaginations some of the places I've seen with my own two eyes, much less conceived of traveling there.

My grandparents would be thrilled at my good fortune. But they'd also be proud of the chance I have to travel as an educator and to see the world through the eyes of students. Traveling with your children is a responsibility that I don't take lightly, but it is also a gift that I treasure. Thank you so much for the trust and support you offer me and our school. I've seen a lot, but I'd not have conjured the array of opportunities you've laid at my feet.

Pura Vida.