Saturday, July 19, 2014
Our last dinner together
It has been a great trip, with amazing kids. Tomorrow driving to the airport.
Friday, July 18, 2014
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Farewell Sitio!!!!
We are on our way to Pacuare River and the Ecolodge. We will be out of reach for the next 2 days.
See you soon!!!
Monday, July 14, 2014
What a great day
We finished working at the Recycling Center, then visited the School and shared gifts with the kids and ended up the community work by painting the Medical Clinic. All in all a great day. Now our farewell party is coming.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Working hard at the Recycling Center
We've been doing a lot of work fixing the driveway of the recycling center.
Costa Rica... So Far
Pura Vida! Life is good here in Costa Rica. We have been living in a Costa Rican village for three nights already. The conditions that we are living in are very different then what I am used to. Fressy, my mom in the villiage, has opened her home to me and has treated me like her own son. I was shocked to see how kind Fressy and every other Costa Rican is. Back in America, it is basically every man for themselves, but here in Costa Rica, every person works together to create a community that is unimaginable by our individualistic society. We have also been working hard to help make the villiage look more visually appealing by painting chairs or by making transportation easier by starting to layer dirt for steps to a recycling center. Costa Rica is very different then America, but sometimes, different is good.
Zach M
Zach M
costa rica day 3 recap
Like the past two days day three began with heavy rain. We first went to the pre-school to paint the chairs that we diddn't finish from friday. After that we went to the Community Center to paint to soccer goal posts and a fence, as the rain began to let up. After painting the community center we broke for lunch and watched the Brazil/Netherlands soccer game. We then went to the soccer field where we played a USA vs. Costa Rica soccer game (which the U.S won). After the game we all went back to our respective houses, showered, then met up once again at the community center, this time though we came for thwe haunted house that a local group was putting on to raise money. After the haunted house we went to dinner in then retired back to our houses to get some rest for the day ahead.
John McKibbin
John McKibbin
A wonderful day
Yesterday was a great day. The kids did a great job and we even had a Bday Cake for Paul!!!!
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Friday, July 11, 2014
Shopping, Bus ride and Soccer Game
The afternoon went great with a visit we paid to Turrialba town, we put together a Scavenger Hunt for all the thing we needed from the Farmer's market.
Also we went there by public bus and ended the day with a soccer game!!!!
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Community School of Davidson 2014
Hello we are glad to have the group from Davidson again. It's been a nice day with lots of smiles and great food!!!!!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Day 4 from Mrs. Sharon :)
Day 4
After breakfast this morning some of the group chose to attend church in Turriabla - the city nearest to Sitio de Mata with an Evagelical Christian Church. We took a bus down there and we were graciously welcomed into the church. The service was spoken entirely in Espanol - and had beautiful music and singers during the altar call, which was very morning. After church the group took a quick trip to the grocery store and then onto the bus back home. After lunch we went to the project site - one group had worked in the morning to get a great deal done - Work done today
After breakfast this morning some of the group chose to attend church in Turriabla - the city nearest to Sitio de Mata with an Evagelical Christian Church. We took a bus down there and we were graciously welcomed into the church. The service was spoken entirely in Espanol - and had beautiful music and singers during the altar call, which was very morning. After church the group took a quick trip to the grocery store and then onto the bus back home. After lunch we went to the project site - one group had worked in the morning to get a great deal done - Work done today
A Note from Sra Soares--July 14
What a life changing experience it has been the last 10 days. From being back to my birth roots after 12 years and experiencing the culture first hand, to seeing my students have true life changing experiences. The place where we stayed "Sitio de Mata" will forever have families that I now consider my second family.
Our last day in our homestay began with our last breakfast, everyone ate with little interaction, it was not our typical laughing, practicing our Spanish or shouting the phrase "Pura Vida." While we were eating we exchanged words, the families expressed that from all the groups that have ever visited this group was special. They were easy to love, affectionate, willing to take risks, humble hearts and embraced the families and children so quickly. One thing that the families repeatedly said, these kids are special, its obvious the great education they are receiving and how well their parents are raising them. After I thanked them I would often tell them that we have a unique school with loving parents and teachers that believe that it takes a whole community to raise a child!
As for me, I am so proud to be a "Tica" proud of the beautiful country where I was born but most of all to have witnessed first hand that the people in CR are truly a treasure! I can't wait for other students to experience what this group was able to experience, and what future opportunities will occur because of our connection with the beautiful people in "Sitio de Mata!"
A Note from Connie--July 9
Scenes from the war on Spanish:
The Battle of WalMart--Austen, Brooks, and Nick ask me whether they can shop the little market in the shed up the road. I turn to the mamis for their stamp of approval. "Esta bueno mi chicos vamose a ....." I can't lay my hands on the word for grocery, despite having passed a hundred storefront signs on the way here. Groceria? No. Marketa? Laughably no. (The mamis don't even bother to feign interest on this one.) We are stuck. The boys give me the "Thanks for nothing, Ms. Connie" look. Now the mamis are laughing. The panic sets in, and my dignity breaks ranks. I throw my arms wide, saying "WalMart? Mucho grande, no? Uno poquito Walmart (here, pinching my fingers together for dramatic effect). Que es?" Pulperia, comes the response. The battle lines, though damaged, have held.
The Charge of Costa Rican Educational TV: I am sitting with Alexa, my 7-year old housemate, watching the equivalent of Zooboomafoo. Alexa, as always, is talking a blue streak. I have no idea what she's saying. She is undeterred and fires questions at me about the animals the show is featuring. She is convinced I'm a teacher, though her disbelief grows as the minutes tick by. And then, somehow the words "oso polares" separate themselves from the jumble of words tumbling from the TV set, and I blurt out, "Polar bear!" Alexa stops in mid-sentence and then bursts out laughing. "Yessss," she says kindly ( and not just a little sympathetically) "Polar bear." She has held the high ground. Every time I pass her now, she smiles slyly and calls, "Connie, yeeesss, polar bear."
I Shall Return (or maybe that was yesterday): We ask the women of our village for help in celebrating Liz's 16th birthday. They throw an amazing party, complete with two cakes. Next evening, I am determined to reimburse the women for the cakes. And to show my appreciation I decide to ask the price in Spanish. "Cumpleanos caki por Liz mañana quanto es? I say, more than a little proud of my complex sentence. Blank stares. "Mañana, cumpleanos caki, quanto es?" I repeat. Here, two of the women go pale and reply, "Uno mas? We make another party?" I shake my head. We go another round. No progress. I simplify. "Mañana (pointing my thumb over my shoulder for emphasis), caki, quanto?" A smile crosses Roxana's face and she insists it is their gift. I thank them profusely and turn to go, satisfied. The accent may need a little work, but I still got it. Roxana follows me up the path. She is still smiling. She reaches down and grabs my hand, points my thumb over my shoulder and says, "No mañana." She turns my thumb forward, "Es mañana. Comprende?" No, but I nod and thank her again. It isn't until I'm in bed that I realize that "mañana" --the one word of which I was so dead certain that I said it again and again-- means "tomorrow."
The Battle of WalMart--Austen, Brooks, and Nick ask me whether they can shop the little market in the shed up the road. I turn to the mamis for their stamp of approval. "Esta bueno mi chicos vamose a ....." I can't lay my hands on the word for grocery, despite having passed a hundred storefront signs on the way here. Groceria? No. Marketa? Laughably no. (The mamis don't even bother to feign interest on this one.) We are stuck. The boys give me the "Thanks for nothing, Ms. Connie" look. Now the mamis are laughing. The panic sets in, and my dignity breaks ranks. I throw my arms wide, saying "WalMart? Mucho grande, no? Uno poquito Walmart (here, pinching my fingers together for dramatic effect). Que es?" Pulperia, comes the response. The battle lines, though damaged, have held.
The Charge of Costa Rican Educational TV: I am sitting with Alexa, my 7-year old housemate, watching the equivalent of Zooboomafoo. Alexa, as always, is talking a blue streak. I have no idea what she's saying. She is undeterred and fires questions at me about the animals the show is featuring. She is convinced I'm a teacher, though her disbelief grows as the minutes tick by. And then, somehow the words "oso polares" separate themselves from the jumble of words tumbling from the TV set, and I blurt out, "Polar bear!" Alexa stops in mid-sentence and then bursts out laughing. "Yessss," she says kindly ( and not just a little sympathetically) "Polar bear." She has held the high ground. Every time I pass her now, she smiles slyly and calls, "Connie, yeeesss, polar bear."
I Shall Return (or maybe that was yesterday): We ask the women of our village for help in celebrating Liz's 16th birthday. They throw an amazing party, complete with two cakes. Next evening, I am determined to reimburse the women for the cakes. And to show my appreciation I decide to ask the price in Spanish. "Cumpleanos caki por Liz mañana quanto es? I say, more than a little proud of my complex sentence. Blank stares. "Mañana, cumpleanos caki, quanto es?" I repeat. Here, two of the women go pale and reply, "Uno mas? We make another party?" I shake my head. We go another round. No progress. I simplify. "Mañana (pointing my thumb over my shoulder for emphasis), caki, quanto?" A smile crosses Roxana's face and she insists it is their gift. I thank them profusely and turn to go, satisfied. The accent may need a little work, but I still got it. Roxana follows me up the path. She is still smiling. She reaches down and grabs my hand, points my thumb over my shoulder and says, "No mañana." She turns my thumb forward, "Es mañana. Comprende?" No, but I nod and thank her again. It isn't until I'm in bed that I realize that "mañana" --the one word of which I was so dead certain that I said it again and again-- means "tomorrow."
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.
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.
Monday, July 9, 2012
Day 4 from Graham
Day 4 - Sunday
Today is Sunday so we got the choice to go to a Catholic church here in Sitio de Matta, an Evangelistic Church in Turrialba, or stay here and work. I went to the church in Turrialba this morning called Communidad Cristiana para la Familia (Community Christian for the Family). The church wasn't that different from churches at home. The main differences between their church and mine were that it was in Spanish, and many people raised their hands above their heads when they prayed rather than folding them. We couldn't understand everything they were saying but it was fun, and Mr. Roland explained what they said, when we were driving home on the bus.
The group that stayed and worked this morning said they were about finished with the green house, and finished digging the holes for the recycle center. After lunch we went to work and we put up the posts for the walls and roof, put a cross beam across the top for the roof, and built a retaining wall to keep the dirt from washing out. When we finished working, we went over to the soccer field, and played a big soccer game in the wet and muddy field, and after we got cleaned up we practiced some Latin dancing :)
Today was really fun!
~Graham
Today is Sunday so we got the choice to go to a Catholic church here in Sitio de Matta, an Evangelistic Church in Turrialba, or stay here and work. I went to the church in Turrialba this morning called Communidad Cristiana para la Familia (Community Christian for the Family). The church wasn't that different from churches at home. The main differences between their church and mine were that it was in Spanish, and many people raised their hands above their heads when they prayed rather than folding them. We couldn't understand everything they were saying but it was fun, and Mr. Roland explained what they said, when we were driving home on the bus.
The group that stayed and worked this morning said they were about finished with the green house, and finished digging the holes for the recycle center. After lunch we went to work and we put up the posts for the walls and roof, put a cross beam across the top for the roof, and built a retaining wall to keep the dirt from washing out. When we finished working, we went over to the soccer field, and played a big soccer game in the wet and muddy field, and after we got cleaned up we practiced some Latin dancing :)
Today was really fun!
~Graham
Day 2 from Austen
Day 2! :)
The past 2 days in Costa Rica have been tiring...but REALLY fun! :) We have done so much touring. Before dinner we got to know Sebastian, a little boy from the house that we are staying in. We have fun trying to converse with him. It was cool finding out more about him. We found out that his interests were not much different than ours, like the music he liked. We sat for about an hour listening to music, and trying to communicate.
~Austen
The past 2 days in Costa Rica have been tiring...but REALLY fun! :) We have done so much touring. Before dinner we got to know Sebastian, a little boy from the house that we are staying in. We have fun trying to converse with him. It was cool finding out more about him. We found out that his interests were not much different than ours, like the music he liked. We sat for about an hour listening to music, and trying to communicate.
~Austen
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