Ivy Academy Chattanooga

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Day 1 & 2.

After arriving in San Jose, the group departed to Manuel Antonio where they spent the weekend. During their time in this beautiful town the group visited the beach, hiked and enjoyed the pools at the hotel.

Day 3.

We started our day by going to the pools. Right after lunch the group departed to Monteverde. Here at Monteverde the students will attend to classes for four hours every day. Once the group arrived to Monteverde, each student took a Spanish test. The purpose of the test is to see the Spanish level of the students in order to place them in the right class. Finally, every student met their new host family and spend the rest of the night with them.

 Day 4.

First day of classes! We started our day by visiting Santa Elena. This beautiful town has a lot to offer and the students had the opportunity to explore it for a little while. After that we had a Latin cooking class at Centro Panamericano de Idiomas (CPI). The group prepared rice and chicken, which is a typical dish of Costa Rica.  Right after, the students received a tour of the school and then met their teachers. The students spend 4 hours with their teachers, however, they get a 20 minutes break in between. Finally, the students went home to have dinner with their families and spend the rest of the day with them.

 Day 5.

On Tuesday we visited the Sta. Elena Reserve. In this incredible reserve we can find some of the most exotics animals and plants. The group really enjoyed this time! After that we had lunch at Sabor Tico. This delicious restaurant is well known for serving great typical Costa Rican food. As usual, the students spent the afternoon in classes.

 Day 6 & 7.

Hump day! Volunteership day at Life Monteverde! On Wednesday and Thursday, the group did Volunteer work at Life of Monteverde. Life Monteverde is an association of twelve families from Monteverde, Costa Rica, with a strong background in agriculture and nature conservation. This is a wonderful place for those who are interested on learning strategies to reduce environmental impact.  The group now is more aware about sustainability and the environment. On Wednesday night the group had an amazing Latin dance class, where they learned how to dance Salsa, Bachata and Merengue.

 Day 8.

The students had the opportunity to do Canopy Ziplining. Along the way the group admired fantastic views of the surrounding forest. We started riding tram up the mountain and from there we rode seven cables that go up to 328 ft in height and 2460 ft in length. This was a unique experience for the students. Today was our last day of classes in Monteverde. The students said good-bye to their teacher and have one last dinner with their host family.

 Day 9 & 10.

Weekend at el Rincon de la Vieja! On Saturday morning the students had to say bye to their host families. Right after that we departed to el Rincon de la Vieja for a weekend full of fun activities. Some of these activities include: Horseback ride, tubing, pools, hot springs, beaches and waterfalls. The group had a great time enjoying nature and doing some fun activities. On Sunday night the students finally met with their new families in Flamingo.

 Day 11.

First day of classes in Flamingo! After we arrived at CPI each student met their new teacher. Right after class, the group spent the rest of the day at the beach.

 Day 12.

Today was a very fun day for all the students. They started the day with Spanish classes and then we had lunch at Hotel Casas del Toro. As usual, the group spent the afternoon on the beach. In addition, they had the opportunity to take surf lessons and buy souvenirs for their loved ones.

 Day 13.

As usual, the group spent their morning in classes and spent the rest of their day at the beach.