Life in Palmichal continues

Day 4

On Saturday we had the opportunity to visit to a local farm involved in the environmental movement here. We met up bright and early to drive down the mountain. We were welcomed by our hosts, a family of five, and told our first activity would be to find more verduras (vegetables) for our lunch. We were taught to identify yuca, platanos (plantains) y bananos (bananas). Many of our students took the opportunity to find yuca plants and pull them up themselves - they got so into it the family will have yuca to eat for days. We returned to the large, beautiful outdoor kitchen where six of our kids helped to prepare lunch including a salad of plantains, hardboiled eggs, cilantro, onions, lime and peppers served in lettuce leaves, all picked from the farm. Other groups worked on various projects around the farm including spreading organic compost around pineapple plants. One group learned how to operate a sugarcane press driven by a bull. (The bull was not present.) We tried to harness the energy of Hannah and India to less success. This group, also including Nick and Royale also got to hike up to a high point and see the ocean!

After everyone had worked for two hours, our hosts invited us to relax and play some field games, including an enthusiastic game of tug of war, competitive spoon balancing and jump-roping. Even the farmer’s children Melanie and Jose joined in. After a leisurely lunch, our students taught Melanie and Jose to play a favorite card game (in Spanish, of course) to everyone’s delight. After the long day on the farm, even the often cold showers felt great and kids were asking to go to bed by 7:30.

Day 5

Another early morning – this time a hike before breakfast. We walked up (FAR up) the hill (mountain) to a local lecheria (dairy farm). We learned got to see first-hand the ways they reuse the energy and waste products on the farm. For example, after commenting that the morning’s breakfast was especially delicious, they learned that it had been cooked with the methane biofuel produced on the farm. They then got to milk cows! Most kids chose to do so at least once if not twice. Sophie held Beatriz’s hand in support while she tentatively milked the cow. We also saw how the milk is made into the cheese we had at breakfast. We spent an hour giving back to this family by helping with chores, enjoying the fact that we were able to do in one hour what would take one person 21 hours to do. We hiked happily downhill back to Palmichal in time for lunch. In the afternoon, local youth came to our posada (inn) with games and songs to teach us. Make sure to ask your kids about these games and songs when they come home. As we write, they are still playing and laughing, three hours later.

Day 6

Today we got to sleep in until 7, how luxurious. We spent the day at Palmichal, continuing the work we began on Friday. Sandy and Ethan have become smurfs after painting recycling bins blue. Naomi, Emma and Julia shredded and grated coconut for desert. Other students planted lettuce, sanded and varnished benches, and cleared boulders and rocks from the river to create a swimming hole. Because Monday was a national holiday, a youth group of 19 local teenagers was able to come spend the day with us, working alongside us in the morning and playing in the afternoon. After lunch, a Texan from the Peace Corps stationed in Palmichal gave a quick charla (presentation) about the Peace Corps. Our kids rose to the occasion with deep and thoughtful questions about the mission of the Peace Corps. Our kids are more comfortable now, truly conversing in a mixture of Spanish, charades and Spanglish with the Ticos (Costa Ricans). The afternoon was spent interviewing each other and presenting information about their new friends to the group. We then walked down the hill to the local field for fútbol (soccer,) Frisbee, jump rope, cards and a water balloon toss. Moose used his hockey skills on the field, intimidating and entertaining all. Torrey showed the Ticos that our girls can hold their own on the field. Edward said that this majenga (pick up soccer game) was his favorite part of a very memorable trip, because the Ticos were so friendly and such good sportsmen.

After farewells, we learned to make tortillas for our dinner. Zeke was right at home in the kitchen making beautiful and actually round tortillas. The other big hit for dinner was the yucca fritters – who would have thought? Nick bought Costa Rican hot sauce in town and has been very generous about sharing it with all. After dinner we reflected on our week at Palmichal and each student made a thank you card for one of the people who had made this trip possible. With great pride, Kevin shared with our group how much he has noticed his improvement and comfort speaking Spanish. We packed everything into our suitcases before bed so that we could get a bright and early start to go to the Poás Volcano National Park!

Day 7

With our early start this morning (6 am) our travelers were allowed to try the famous Costa Rican coffee this morning before we got on the bus to the volcano. The guide at the volcano told us that only 20% of visitors are able to see inside the crater because, being in a cloud forest, it’s usually quite cloudy. At the information center, Jamie explained many maps to us; he has been our GPS throughout the trip. We lucked out this morning and could see the sulphur lake in the crater and steam rising from it. We stopped at a souvenir factory and got a quick tour of how the wooden souvenirs are made, assembly line style. This week we have seen all three of Costa Rica’s leading industries. We drove by the Intel microchip factory this morning and have experienced eco-tourism and coffee plantations first hand.

As we are writing, students are coming out of an amazing Salsa dance lesson, laughing and getting ready for our special final dinner. Sam has just caught two fireflies. It feels very magical here. See you soon! (12:20 AM)

Pura Vida en Costa Rica

Day 2, 7 de Abril, 2011 .We began the day at our inn at San Rafa, outside of the city of San Jose. After breakfast, some fribsee and an orientation meeting with Molly, our guide from Globalworks (who we love working with) we packed up for our to drive to Palmichal. We drove through the suburbs back to the city, and had a delicious lunch served on banana leaves. A popular choice was “casado” a typical Costa Rican meal.

Being well fed, we drove from the city up into the mountains into the cloud forest. We saw small towns, coffee plantations, free-range chickens everywhere, and someone milking a cow by the side of the road. We stopped in the town of Palmichal to explore and buy snacks at the local pulperia (store) and panederia (bakery). We arrived just in time for a real tropical downpour, and to cross paths with local middle school students who were also taking shelter from the rain in the pulperia. Awkward smiles and hellos were exchanged. Each of our students were given 2,000 colones (about $5) to buy snacks.

Back on the bus, we climbed even higher into the mountains to our posada (inn) for the week. Naciente de Palmichal, is a community center for local projects and education about sustainability in Costa Rica. After the excitement of unpacking and settling into our rooms, the travelers got time to throw Frisbees and explore the grounds, including a beautiful river.

We then attended a charla (presentation) on the history of the environmental movement in this area and the community’s vision for the future. The talk was in Spanish and it was the perfect blend of Social Studies, Science and Spanish. After two days of traveling, our students sat and listened attentively for over an hour, engaged, polite and even asking questions – in Spanish – on their own. We were very proud. Isaac and Royal were especially helpful in translating some very complex ideas. Hank, Hannah and Julia continued the Park Day tradition of giving appreciations to guest speakers, again, in Spanish. Towards the end of the presentation, Cy spotted fireflys outside the window – a first for many of our students. We turned out the lights and took it all in – here we were, our first night in the bosque (forest) in Costa Rica.

After dinner, we finished our evening with a fogata (campfire) with some local members of the community. Kian roasted marshmallows and handed them out to the community members. Sophie and Kevin talked to a local child and threw out the idea of playing soccer together later in the week. A “bit tired” from the days of traveling, our kids were in bed and asleep by 9:30 pm!

Day 3

Up at 7 am, beds made, rooms cleaned and everything put away by 7:30 – check that out parents! After breakfast, members of the community introduced the four projects we will be working on over the course of the week. (Students will rotate through the projects.) Today, Nick, Zeke, Emma, Royale, Julia and India cleared land and literally raised a roof to build a compost center for Palmichal. They were so proud when they finished, they ran over to get us to come see their hard work. The second group, Sophie, Edward, Ethan, Sandy and Hank worked in a greenhouse, weeding, separating and making new beds for apio (celery) zanahorias (carrots) and cilantro (you know that one). The third group prepared reused coffee bean bins to be used as recycling bins here. They hauled, scrubbed and hosed the bins to prep them for painting. A quote from this group: “we thought we were finished, but the bins just kept coming!” The last group, Torrey, Cy, Sam, Jaime and Isaac hauled branches, logs and roots, clearing the river and building a supply of firewood at the same time. They worked surrounded by cobalt blue butterflies. This river, which serves 50,000 people as it makes its way down the mountain, now has a stronger flow because of them. We’re hearing comments from the kids about how great if felt to accomplish so much, to build something that will make a difference for this community, as well as how much fun it was to practice Spanish with the people leading the projects. Our kids have impressed everyone here with their commitment to trying new things, including new foods, using new tools and speaking lots of Spanish.

In the afternoon we took a hike up into the primary forest and learned about some of the plants - and how steep the hills are in Costa Rica. We walked single file and were quiet as we listened to the sounds of the forest. Tomorrow morning we are getting up bright and early (6:30) to spend the day working at a local farm. The kids are very much hoping they will get to milk cows. We can’t wait. Pura Vida! Karen, Rachel y Beatriz

Pura Vida- Costa Rica

Last we saw you we were at BART at 5:00 AM April 6th. Since that time we have flown over 10 states, played endless trivia games on the plane, and finally arrived in Costa Rica 7:45 PM local time. We were then taken out to dinner in San Jose before settling into our digs for the night. Everyone was tired but excited to be here. There were a few moments of uncertainty about the size of the insects but this morning the world looks more manageable.

This morning one over zealous room was up at 5:00 AM. " Oh...we didn't know what time it was...it can't be that early- its light out!"- welcome to life nearer to the equator. After the early burst of energy and showers it was back to bed for a few more hours rest. Breakfast was eggs, black beans and rice accompanied by large amounts of fantastic sandia y pina (watermelon and pineapple). We have met our guides (Molly y Crisley) and are all trying to speak Spanish as we make our way through the day. When in doubt, pantomime goes a long way! After our orientation meeting this morning we will pack up and hit the trail for Palmichal- our home for the next five nights.

Palmichal is a town of around 4,ooo people and is in a coffee growing and farming area. We will be visiting the farms and coffee plantations during the week . We will also be working to help build a recycling and composting center, help in a local school, play futbol, teach local kids ultimate frisbee, learn to make tortillas and kick up our heels with a salsa lesson. We will be very busy and will have may stories to share when we return. The internet access is very limited so we will not be able to post each day- maybe only twice- but will try to catch you all up when we can.

Anticipation

This blog post is a homework assignment for adults in preparation for our trip to Costa Rica! We ask that you read the post and practice posting a comment so we know you can read this.

The hope is that while we are in Costa Rica we will be able to post entries at least twice. We do not have internet access where we are staying (Nacientes Palmichal) so it will involve a hike into town, time to do so and luck. We will also be dealing with very slow internet and are not sure we will be able to post photos- we will try.

Nacientes Palmichal is located about an hour and a half from San Jose in the area of Palmichal de Acosta, but its not developed enough to be on the map yet. Created in 2002 with the intention of conserving the rivers that supplies five communities with their fresh water, the facility itself consists of a dining room (commedor), a lodge (posada) and a classroom (aula) all surrounded by dense vegetation and a variety of little gardens that range anywhere between flowers to medicinal plants.

Please feel free to post comments as you read the blog and we will pass them on to the kids during the trip.