Inicia la aventura de 29 días en Costa Rica. Nuestro grupo llego el 11 de Mayo en 3 grupos distintos al Aeropuerto Juan Santa María, donde poco a poco nos fuimos conociendo. Para nuestro segundo día, fuimos a conocer un poco la capital del país y su historia. Este mismo día después de una caminata por la capital tuvimos la oportunidad de comer nuestra primer comida típica ´´Casados´´. Después un delicioso almuerzo iniciamos nuestro camino hacia las montañas en Monteverde, donde nos estaban esperando nuestras primeras familias ticas. Iniciamos semana con la gran experiencia que fue visitar El Trapiche, donde aprendimos sobre café, caña de azúcar y cacao, seguido de esta increíble experiencia tuvimos nuestras primeras clases de español.
Our adventure keeps going, we visited Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve where we walked for 2 hours in the jungle, seeking for the wildlife. We were lucky to see one of Costa Rica's most famous birds, the Resplendent Quetzal as well as other flora and fauna; right after this we had and incredible lunch at Sabor Tico. Next day we had our fisrt free morning where we visited Santa Elena town and relax before class. In our 5th day in Costa Rica we got the opportunity to visit a zip-line, where we saw the tree canopies and flew within the clouds ending with a vertigo jump.
Our second week has been a very challenging week but at the same time it has been a week of happiness and personal growth. We had Spanish class and time to visit different beaches close to Flamingo area. As well we visited and help to excellent NGO´s CEPIA and Siempre Amigos. In CEPIA we had the chance to get to know the project that helps different communities in Guanacaste province, here we played with kids, colored and did different activities with them. With Siempre Amigos we help building a room for a young man how had an accident helping some else. Here is what some of the members of our group think about this two amazing experiences:
CEPIA:
- ´´I saw a piece of myself in every kid that I played with today. The one that is slow to speak and shy, the outgoing ones, the loner, the one that makes everyone laugh and enjoy each other. It made me want to help even more or come back again and volunteer more. ´´
- ´´Guanacaste in my eyes is rich. Not monetarily, but rich with its people and culture. People like Erenia Blandon, the children and our community guide help me to reflect on the impact I was able to make today, by having an appreciation and respect for their community.´´
Siempre Amigos:
- ´´Although it was hard work and really difficult at times to keep going. It was an amazing feeling to know how much we help! ´´
- ´´Siempre Amigos, ay Dios mio where do I begin!
…Definitely get my respect. I never seen cement mixed on the floor (ground) until today. They put their sweat, maybe blood and possibly tears into their work for sure. There is some decent people left in the world still. And the fact that we were helping another guy around my age who lost his ability to walk from helping someone else… just wow… A community full of love and support it´s so heartwarming to see and loved being a part of it. It just makes me want to help my own community in some way. Even if it´s little, that little thing could possibly mean so much to someone, you honestly never know.´´
Sigue la aventura… Han sido unas últimas semanas bastante movidas. Hemos avanzado muchísimo con nuestras clases de español y hemos tenido increíbles experiencias aquí en Heredia. Visitamos Carpio un de los barrios en los cuales hicimos lo posible para poder ayudar en conjunto con CRHF (Fundación Humanitaria). Aquí trabajamos en distintos proyectos, como ayudar a embellecer el área sembrando distintas plantas. De igual manera trabajamos con niños de la zona y aprendimos un poco del día a día en el que ellos viven. También hemos tenido momentos un poco más relajados visitando el sur de Costa Rica y visitando el área de Rey Curre, una de las pocas áreas indígenas dentro del país y el parque nacional Manuel Antonio.
Nuestros últimos días estuvieron llenos de emociones, después de nuestro ultima visita a la Carpio y la preparación de la presentación final de nuestro programa. Afortunadamente tuvimos la oportunidad de relajarnos un poco y visitar las Cataratas de la Paz, donde logramos conocer y estar junto a muchos animales e insectos. Las presentaciones finales fueron un poco estresantes, pero muy emotivas. Logramos ver el crecimiento personal que tuvimos cada uno de los integrantes del grupo, al igual logramos compartir un poco del viaje y la experiencia obtenida en estos 29 días juntos gracias al Centro Panamericano de idiomas (CPI).
Leslie Corrales