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