Day 1
Bienvenidos a Monteverde. CPI is very happy to welcome TAMU students in its beautiful cloud forest campus with its beautiful weather, flora and fauna. The students were given a tour of the facilities and then they were introduced to their families. Everyone was so exited and nervous to meet their Costa Rican families but with a smile on their faces they greet them with a hug and headed to their new home. Tomorrow new adventures await!
Day 2
First day of classes. ¡Muy emocionante! The students met their professors who will be their language guides for their time in Monteverde, teaching them all kinds of important things about Costa Rica and the spanish language. After class they explored the town looking for key points such as the Gulf of Nicoya and the local town seal.
Day 3
After a morning of classes the students headed to the Monteverde Clinic where a local doctor greeted them with a smile on her face, the group received a tour of the facilities and a lecture about the Costa Rican medical system. They ended their day with a lecture dedicated to sustainable coffee production, agriculture and education on sustainability.
Day 4
A morning with lots of fun learning activities passed and the group transformed from students to chefs. Guided by a local chef, the group learned to make one of the traditional Costa Rican dishes ¡Deliciosas chalupas! The teamwork in the kitchen was notable, the group had lots of fun learning how to do this dish and ate with big appetite the master piece they cooked.
Day 5
The perfect day to visit a Costa Rican Veterinary Clinic. The students were able to explore the facilities and analyze the similarities and differences of the veterinaries in their home country. After the visit to the veterinary clinic, the group went to the Hummingbird Gallery to seek for different kinds of humming birds in the area.
Day 6
A blustery, rainy morning greeted us outside, but the students' excitement was undeterred. They couldn't wait to get started on their faroles! With a colorful array of materials laid out on the tables, they eagerly began crafting their unique masterpieces. These faroles would soon illuminate their parade through the streets that night, adding a touch of magic to the festivities.
Day 7
The group had a blast learning about Life Monteverde and getting their hands dirty with some planting! They were fascinated to discover how the organization is making a positive impact on the environment and local community. In the afternoon they paraded with their faroles next to the local community. It was a truly enriching and memorable experience for all.
Day 8
The group's final day in Monteverde was filled with a sense of accomplishment and nostalgia. After a week of learning, exploring, and making new friends, they reflected on their experiences and the lasting impact they had made. It was a bittersweet farewell, but the group left Monteverde with hearts full of joy and an experience they will never forget. ¡Pura Vida, chicos! ¡Nos vemos pronto!
Day 9
¡Bienvenidos a Heredia! The group arrived to a warm welcome by their new families at the Central Valley Campus in the city of flowers, Heredia. With excitement and big smiles, the group was ready to start a new week of classes.
Day 10
An early morning, TAMU woke up ready to meet their new spanish professors and a full tour of the local town San Joaquín. The main highlight of the say was the short visit of the institution CEN-CINAI, the group learned valuable information about how they benefit and help the comunity.
Day 11
After a morning of classes, the group had a full tour of the city of flowers, Heredia. The central market was the star of the day; new vegetables and fruits were seen and tasted. Definitely a delicious experience! The students did a treasure hunt to collect new information and learn more about Costa Rican culture.
Day 12
A rainy but thrilling night! The group went to the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium to watch a match between two local teams La Liga and Club Sport Herediano.
Day 12
After morning classes, the group ate lunch to fill themselves with energy. Later that day, Rancho Ventura welcomed the group with its beautiful horses and other animals. Dr. Andrés and his parter gave the group a talk with lots of information about the place and what they did there.
Day 13
First week of classes in Heredia done! Today a visit to the San Rafael de Alajuela Hospital was effective. The group got to visit a public hospital and learn more about the public health care system in Costa Rica. The group was very curious and asked a lot of questions; they learned a lot.
Day 14
The students woke up early to visit the capital of Costa Rica, San José. A beautiful tour filled with lots of history, they visited the National Museum, monuments, and the National Theatre.
Day 14
Today the group rested to regain their energy for one more week in Heredia.
Day 15
Week two, let´s go! After restarting Spanish classes, the TAMU BIOMEDICAL group had their interview process for CPI staff. This process is part of their project for this semester's projects. Additionally, they had a cooking class where they prepared a delicious arroz con pollo. Definitely a very entertaining day!
Day 16
We started the day with Spanish classes. In the afternoon, we visited the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), where the Texas A&M University group attended a lecture and toured the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the National University
Day 17
The group visited the Clínica Bíblica. Undoubtedly, it is a scenario where they could focus their future efforts, both in terms of facilities and service.
Day 18
The past week has been marked by rainy mornings. Today, after class, we visited the former ZooAve, now known as Animal Rescue, for an afternoon of learning and wonderful experiences. Tomorrow is the last day of class!
Day 19
Today is the last day of our Spanish classes. It's a bittersweet day, filled with a mix of sadness to see the program end and happiness for completing it. Today includes a graduation ceremony and final university presentations. Tomorrow, we'll be going on a whitewater rafting tour!
Day 20
Today was tour day, and what better way to end the week than with whitewater rafting? We started the adventure early, departing from the meeting point to the company's base in Siquirres, located next to the Pacuare River. After breakfast, we began our boat trip. Following 3 hours of adrenaline and stunning landscapes, we returned to the base for lunch and then traveled back to San Joaquín. An excellent day!
Day 21
Goodbye to the TAMU Biomedical group! Thanks for an amazing time. We wish you all the best and hope to see you again soon! Pura Vida!