Service Scholars Costa Rica
Final Wrap Up
July 15, 2015 by Evan G.
During this trip to Costa Rica each and every one of us were able to experience many things. Many of the things we saw, felt, heard, and tasted would never be accessible to sense anywhere within the states. Such things like fruit coming straight from the tree, a constant and heavy rain, or the wide variety of animals. But, fortunately for all of us, we were able to create something here within Costa Rica that can be recreated anywhere. We built not just a home for a lovely family, but created our own community of gringos. Very few people knew each other at the beginning of the trip and even less got a good nights sleep before flying out. Thus creating a new honest way to meet people. Everyone started their day out extremely tired and a bit loopy, and it only got worse as the day went on. I think in this process we were all able to see each others true personalities. It was quickly summarized that the personality and chemistry fit almost immediately. All it took was a very long day, several hours of sitting, and a shared belief that we were about to do something amazing. With this we were able to create a sense of family and caring for one another that I found to be incredible. I believe it is rare to find a group of people who can come together so fast, when we all started so far apart.
Building the house has been an unforgettable process as well. Many of us struggled with the language barrier that took place day after day on the worksite. And as one of the fellow scholars pointed out, the only people who knew how to build this house spoke Spanish, but it is still being built. Our group of fourteen people, give or take, not including the Tico's, were able to build this simple home in less than a week. I find this to be absolutely amazing, and would strongly recommend that anybody with a similar opportunity take it. I can guarantee it is an experience that will stay with you forever. I know it has a very special place in my heart. The connection made between my peers was fantastic and much better than I could have ever hoped for. But the connection with the local family, even with a lack of a similar language, was even more incredible. Looking into their eyes I was able to see their thankfulness, experience their happiness, and know that language is only a small barrier between to different people.
The learning experience that took place throughout the trip was unbelievable. Far from schoolwork; knowledge was gained to a great extent. Many of the people who came from the states lacked visual representation and a satisfactory definition of the word poverty. They were shown that to live in poverty doesn't mean sadness. The people in Costa Rica are some of the happiest people on the face of this Earth. They learned that some of the large pleasantries in life are often taken for granted. The students on this trip learned life lessons and will take them back to the states and apply it to their own lives. Teamwork, team building, trust, communication, as well as several other lessons that help people evolve in an effort to create better and growing communities throughout their lives. Several learned things about themselves and others that will help each grow as a person. The trip provided much more than a warm feeling in our hearts. It provided us with knowledge of another world away from home and outside our comfort zones.
At the beginning of the trip all of the students were asked to give their own definition of the word "service" and label it as a noun or a verb. A general consensus was reached. It was decided we would label service as a noun and define it as a project or effort, done that would benefit both parties. As this week has progressed that word has been in the back of my mind. I still find it difficult to give a definition, let alone its part of speech. But if I were to give a meaning to a word that has so many possible interpretations it would go something like this. Service: an act that is done out of kindness, not pity, to help your common man in an effort to create something, whether physical, emotional or spiritual, that can be cherished by both parties involved. It is my belief that here, during this week in Costa Rica, this group has done a service to both themselves and the family. Both groups will never forget these days that seemed to last an eternity, but in actuality went by in a flash. It is my belief that during this trip, we have created something special that satisfies a physical, emotional, and spiritual existence for everyone.
During this trip to Costa Rica each and every one of us were able to experience many things. Many of the things we saw, felt, heard, and tasted would never be accessible to sense anywhere within the states. Such things like fruit coming straight from the tree, a constant and heavy rain, or the wide variety of animals. But, fortunately for all of us, we were able to create something here within Costa Rica that can be recreated anywhere. We built not just a home for a lovely family, but created our own community of gringos. Very few people knew each other at the beginning of the trip and even less got a good nights sleep before flying out. Thus creating a new honest way to meet people. Everyone started their day out extremely tired and a bit loopy, and it only got worse as the day went on. I think in this process we were all able to see each others true personalities. It was quickly summarized that the personality and chemistry fit almost immediately. All it took was a very long day, several hours of sitting, and a shared belief that we were about to do something amazing. With this we were able to create a sense of family and caring for one another that I found to be incredible. I believe it is rare to find a group of people who can come together so fast, when we all started so far apart.
Building the house has been an unforgettable process as well. Many of us struggled with the language barrier that took place day after day on the worksite. And as one of the fellow scholars pointed out, the only people who knew how to build this house spoke Spanish, but it is still being built. Our group of fourteen people, give or take, not including the Tico's, were able to build this simple home in less than a week. I find this to be absolutely amazing, and would strongly recommend that anybody with a similar opportunity take it. I can guarantee it is an experience that will stay with you forever. I know it has a very special place in my heart. The connection made between my peers was fantastic and much better than I could have ever hoped for. But the connection with the local family, even with a lack of a similar language, was even more incredible. Looking into their eyes I was able to see their thankfulness, experience their happiness, and know that language is only a small barrier between to different people.
The learning experience that took place throughout the trip was unbelievable. Far from schoolwork; knowledge was gained to a great extent. Many of the people who came from the states lacked visual representation and a satisfactory definition of the word poverty. They were shown that to live in poverty doesn't mean sadness. The people in Costa Rica are some of the happiest people on the face of this Earth. They learned that some of the large pleasantries in life are often taken for granted. The students on this trip learned life lessons and will take them back to the states and apply it to their own lives. Teamwork, team building, trust, communication, as well as several other lessons that help people evolve in an effort to create better and growing communities throughout their lives. Several learned things about themselves and others that will help each grow as a person. The trip provided much more than a warm feeling in our hearts. It provided us with knowledge of another world away from home and outside our comfort zones.
At the beginning of the trip all of the students were asked to give their own definition of the word "service" and label it as a noun or a verb. A general consensus was reached. It was decided we would label service as a noun and define it as a project or effort, done that would benefit both parties. As this week has progressed that word has been in the back of my mind. I still find it difficult to give a definition, let alone its part of speech. But if I were to give a meaning to a word that has so many possible interpretations it would go something like this. Service: an act that is done out of kindness, not pity, to help your common man in an effort to create something, whether physical, emotional or spiritual, that can be cherished by both parties involved. It is my belief that here, during this week in Costa Rica, this group has done a service to both themselves and the family. Both groups will never forget these days that seemed to last an eternity, but in actuality went by in a flash. It is my belief that during this trip, we have created something special that satisfies a physical, emotional, and spiritual existence for everyone.
Real Life Stories
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July 13, 2015 by Sean S.
I find that one of the most fascinating things is economics, and more specifically such things as poverty and income disparity. The activities and classes that I am involved in have presented me with many statistics on poverty, such as how many people are poor and what the definition of "poor" is in the context of an economy. This type of knowledge has given me a fairly decent overarching picture of what poverty looks like on a larger scale. Coming to Costa Rica however has shown me that I was missing a large and critical part of what it means to be poor. Before this trip I had never truly been immersed in a people and culture that had faced poverty as a fact of life for generations, but rather had only caught glimpses of what it might mean in the United States. Before this trip my idea of poverty was a simply a big picture, compiled of studies and theories that treated everyone as a variable but only looked at the problem through a large scope. After my experiences here, I now realize there is much more to consider when dealing with the issue of poverty than just numbers and charts because poverty effects real people who are not just a group of variables in an equation. I now am able to see that there are faces, stories, and people connected to this issue. Being around Ticos who have next to nothing and who deal with poverty and the hardship it brings each and every day has impressed upon me a new picture of what being poor truly means. I feel that I no longer only have a bunch of charts and large findings in my arsenal of information on poverty, but rather something that is very important and incredibly underrepresented in that field of study, real life stories. This view into the people behind the numbers has given me a lot to think about on this very daunting issue, and I believe that it has better prepared me to further engage in something I find very fascinating. I hope to pursue economics and issues regarding how to best keep everyone out of poverty for the rest of my life, and I am thankful that this trip has given me the opportunity to truly advance my knowledge in this area. 
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Feliz Navidad!
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July 13, 2015 by Chris L.
At the beginning of this trip I never thought that I would have had the experiences or mentalities that I came away with. Of course I have taken home with me the Cliche "I now realize what I have, and how I should appreciate it," type of things, but I feel a bit more touched than that. Because I have had several years of high school Spanish, I have been able to somewhat communicate with the "Ticos" or Local Costa Ricans. It has been both one of the most fun experiences of my life and also one of the most frustrating as well. The locals here do not speak English fluently a Spanish is their native tongue and they can only piece together some basic sentences such as: "Come with me" or "Take this there." Two of the local kids part of The Leaf Cutter Project have come and helped us on the work site every day and it is so intriguing to compare our lives with those of the Costa Rican kids. On the day that we were zip lining, the two kids, Kevin and Yamie (Jamie) came with us. We were all waiting for our group's turn to go through the course. One of the only songs we could all sing was "Feliz Navidad" since it is in both English and Spanish. I am almost positive that every other group there thought we were the weirdest people on the face of earth but we were all loving it. At the end of our singing Yamie had told us, "Por Navidad mis padres me dio solo un beso," Which translates to: For Christmas my parents only gave me a kiss. Hearing that made my stomach drop and when she had said it, she said it with a smile and kind of with a face as is if she was joking around, but she wasn't. That night I was kind of just thinking before I fell asleep like I always do, and I couldn't stop replaying that moment in my head. It is the part of the trip I will always take with me as kind of my own souvenir that I can't touch or feel. What it does is it reminds me to stay humble and not get caught up with the American stereotype of always wanting Bigger or Better. On a more positive note, It is surprising how similar the kids lives actually are in comparison with mine. They have phones and a boyfriend or girlfriend who they are constantly texting. Being able to talk with these kids through both words and some embarrassing sounds or movements to get our point across, that I am pretty sure we all had to do, made it extremely easy to break the awkward first impression social barrier we all go through when introduced into a new group. The fact that there was only one person here, Daniel, who could fluently speak both languages made it extremely hard on everyone to understand what to do and where to go. Yet we all overcame that and built a house for a very loving family. I made a lot of friends along the way and the mother of the children for the house we built, Katya, said that we could always comeback and stay with her because of the world famous line: Mi casa es su casa. |
Day 4
July 13, 2015 by Cortnee B.
Today the finishing touches came together. As I look at the house I also look at this group, within 5 total days we have come together just like this house. Some times things are a little rough but that doesn't mean we stop. That means we work through it! I look at our first group picture and we are all afraid of each other and now we all love each other. A lot of us conquered fears this trip and lots of us did things for the first time! Zip lining, soccer, hammering, using a drill, speaking Spanish and so much more. It is truly amazing what a group can do together!
Today the finishing touches came together. As I look at the house I also look at this group, within 5 total days we have come together just like this house. Some times things are a little rough but that doesn't mean we stop. That means we work through it! I look at our first group picture and we are all afraid of each other and now we all love each other. A lot of us conquered fears this trip and lots of us did things for the first time! Zip lining, soccer, hammering, using a drill, speaking Spanish and so much more. It is truly amazing what a group can do together!
The Bathroom
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July 12, 2015 by Christina H., Marin C., and Finn B.
The days just keep passing. And as they do we gain more and more appreciation for where we are and what we are doing here. In the beginning all of us were pretty awkward, but we quickly grew comfortable to the point where it seems we've known each other for years. All of us bring different assets to the table. An example of this came on day three of home building. It had kind of been a frustrating day for everyone with the heat, spilled paint, exhaustion, and medicinal side effects gone wrong. The three of us, Marin, Chrissy, and Finn all ended up in the bathroom painting. This was actually one of the worst places to be. It was hotter than any other room, the shower walls were extremely hard to paint, and half of the time a head was crammed within inches of the used toilet bowl. Despite all the odds against it, this location was unexpectedly the best part of the day. As each of us grumbled we began to laugh about various observations; we smelled, there was pee in the toilet, the paint wouldn't go on the shower walls, and spiders made great wall texture. As we giggled we soon realized our mood had lifted and good vibes radiated from the room. Cortnee joined us, offering to be our paint mule refilling the tray, making things even better. Towards the end of the day we realized we were running out of time to paint a second coat on the shower. So we hurriedly lathered, splashed, and flung paint on the walls. With mere seconds remaining before our departure from the job site, we completed el bano. Yay! Through teamwork we conquered the bathroom and our bad moods, bonding along the way. |
July 12, 2015 by Shelby T.
When this Global Travel trip was advertised one of the main things that stuck out to me was the zip line tour though the rain forest. Even though we did that today, and honestly it was a lot of fun, but it wasn't the best part of my day. The best part was when we finished the trim on the home and I saw the smiles on the faces of the family. It's been incredible working alongside the family to build this home. Whether it be something little like hold a ladder, help paint, or crawl across on a dangerous roof they are always willing to give a helping hand. But not just the family the whole Costa Rican culture is super nice, even our bus driver helped build the house. I feel overwhelmed with kindness. It's almost like I'm not a tourist at all.
When this Global Travel trip was advertised one of the main things that stuck out to me was the zip line tour though the rain forest. Even though we did that today, and honestly it was a lot of fun, but it wasn't the best part of my day. The best part was when we finished the trim on the home and I saw the smiles on the faces of the family. It's been incredible working alongside the family to build this home. Whether it be something little like hold a ladder, help paint, or crawl across on a dangerous roof they are always willing to give a helping hand. But not just the family the whole Costa Rican culture is super nice, even our bus driver helped build the house. I feel overwhelmed with kindness. It's almost like I'm not a tourist at all.
It's almost like I'm not a tourist at all.
Today, I swept.
July 11, 2015 by Rachel K.
Today, I swept. It sounds so simple. I've vacuumed my room plenty of times. What's the difference right? But today's sweeping was different. I swept the floors of the house that I had a part of building. I swept the floors of a house that we are gifting to a deserving family. This trip has helped me look at everything so much differently. I feel like we live a life where we always want the big picture, the end result. But here it's the perfectly circular rock, it's the spider on the wall, it's the sweeping. Simplicity. Everything is so laid back, and so simple, but we built a house a mere few days. Nine kids, most who have never picked up a hammer, built a house in a few days. I will forever hold this trip in my heart. The smiles from Axel, Katya saying she loves her house, Valentina running around and putting a smile on everyone's face. I remember once Daniel saying something about the people living here are so rich, even though they don't have money. I get it. I am rich. My heart is overflowing with happiness. Before this trip I felt a little empty, like I needed something more in my life, and then I came here and I feel complete. Pura Vida is so true. The life here is so pure. My life feels so pure. |
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Life Changing Adventure
July 10, 2015 by Finn B.
This adventure feels like it just keeps growing and growing into something life changing. I can feel my perspective shifting into something more developed. Before the trip I was a little nervous about all the work. I was worried about not being strong enough or getting tired, but now I realize that anything I do, no matter how small, is very beneficial. And even when I do get tired it's worth it. After hauling ten wheelbarrow loads of rocks to the construction site and watching a concrete slab become a frame, and a frame being covered with walls, I am filled with satisfaction. Satisfaction with the fact that I am actually helping people. I am changing lives. My heart is so full.
This adventure feels like it just keeps growing and growing into something life changing. I can feel my perspective shifting into something more developed. Before the trip I was a little nervous about all the work. I was worried about not being strong enough or getting tired, but now I realize that anything I do, no matter how small, is very beneficial. And even when I do get tired it's worth it. After hauling ten wheelbarrow loads of rocks to the construction site and watching a concrete slab become a frame, and a frame being covered with walls, I am filled with satisfaction. Satisfaction with the fact that I am actually helping people. I am changing lives. My heart is so full.
Elves
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July 10, 2015 by Peter Jacoby
I have built a lot of houses in my life but never one like this. We talk to the kids about taking an inner and an outer adventure when doing something like this. Here is my inner adventure. The process for building drives me crazy. It is sloppy and inexact. It seems inefficient when we carry a board to where it goes, mark it and then carry it to the saw to cut. Layout seems to be ignored and then the problems are fixed in a patchwork fashion. But this is the essence of colonialist attitude. What I am witnessing is a house up in two days with a family in tears of gratitude. I never saw that building in Bozeman. No one ever brought tears to my eyes as Katya did when we had this conversation: Where are you from? Me: Montana What is the climate? Me: cold and snowy. Ahh, I had a dream that Santa would bring me a house so you must be his elves. Dang. 
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This is real now.
Allison Cassie talking to Finn and Cortnee as we begin our journey.
July 8, 2015 by Cortnee B.
As I sit on our first plane of this amazing trip I think about all I had to go to get here. I worked three jobs for a long time. I bake hundreds of cookies even though it feels like I baked a million. I convinced my parents that this was something I could do and would do. I did this all by myself and I could not feel prouder. This is real now. This is not just a payment or something I have been talking about. The time is here and I refuse to let anything get me down. The most memorable thing up to this point is when I found out about the family we would be helping. I learned that one of the little girls we would be helping has Down syndrome and I cried. I knew at that moment that I could help this family. I may not be a pro at building a house or traveling but I do know how to help people and especially people with disabilities. With me pursuing a degree in special education I knew at that point every cookie, every hour, and every ounce of hard work was all worth it. Today I walked into an airport with knowing only two people on this trip. I am traveling to a country I've never been to... I'm walking in a lot of unknown but the thing I know for sure is that I am exactly where I am supposed to be!
As I sit on our first plane of this amazing trip I think about all I had to go to get here. I worked three jobs for a long time. I bake hundreds of cookies even though it feels like I baked a million. I convinced my parents that this was something I could do and would do. I did this all by myself and I could not feel prouder. This is real now. This is not just a payment or something I have been talking about. The time is here and I refuse to let anything get me down. The most memorable thing up to this point is when I found out about the family we would be helping. I learned that one of the little girls we would be helping has Down syndrome and I cried. I knew at that moment that I could help this family. I may not be a pro at building a house or traveling but I do know how to help people and especially people with disabilities. With me pursuing a degree in special education I knew at that point every cookie, every hour, and every ounce of hard work was all worth it. Today I walked into an airport with knowing only two people on this trip. I am traveling to a country I've never been to... I'm walking in a lot of unknown but the thing I know for sure is that I am exactly where I am supposed to be!
Service Scholars...Round Two!July 8, 2015 by Alex Chase
Today is finally the big day for the second round of Service Scholars to embark on their Costa Rican adventure! It's been a long day of flights so far, and still a few more hours to go before we finally reach our destination, but the excitement this group brings is tangible! You can feel the enthusiasm buzzing off from these kids as we make each connecting flight! It's already obvious this group is ready to take this life changing journey head on, and I can't wait to see how they embrace this opportunity to make a difference! |
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Croikie...That's Humbling!
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July 6, 2015 by Brayden H.
[Australian adventurer voice] G’Day mates! Today, boy do I have a real special treat in stores for you all. We are going to be taking an expedition into the vast Costa Rican wilderness in search of hungry crocs and majestic birds. Now if you look off to the right…Croikie! A real life crocodile! Don’t get too close, it could take ya arm off! Pool tournaments, bus ride jam sessions, and aforementioned riverboat tours were just a few of the highlights for today. Even though most people were still waking up during the tour, it was still an incredible activity to help us further understand the environment and culture of Costa Rica. This trip is certainly one I will take with me for the rest of my life and I hope to apply what I have learned here toward the Bozeman Community. I hope Bozeman in the future rises to a level of generosity and dedication to others that the people of Costa Rica have. The feeling you get from doing something that really has an impact on a truly deserving family is indescribable. If I had one word to end my trip and experience here, it would be humbling because without the opportunity to be a part of this experience, I would not have been able to learn and appreciate how lucky I am to live where I live and have numerous chances to pursue my dreams and overcome obstacles. |
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Resort
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July 4, 2015 by Max W.
I still don’t know any Spanish. Yesterday we arrived at the resort and things came into perspective for me. My real life is “luxurious” compared to the lives of Costa Ricans in Rio Frio. What I think will change for me when I arrive back in Bozeman, at least for awhile is my appreciate for what I have. Complaining will feel selfish and helping people will feel normal. Yet, I don’t feel bad that I have everything that I do because we live in a completely different culture than Costa Ricans. I will just remind myself of how grateful I am. |
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Charlie and the Cacao Factory
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July 3, 2015 by Lexi L.
Imagine walking through the Charlie and a Chocolate Factory wonderland where everything from the bright green grass to the milky chocolate river were edible, sugary delights that could turn any candy hater into the worlds biggest fan. Unfortunately, our Global Travel Alliance trip never actually got to discover the wonders of this ideal odyssey, but our trip to the Aura Family Farm came pretty darn close. It was here where exotic fruits and succulent plants replaced licorice vines and candy cane trees and where we discovered that the cacao bean actually tastes nothing like a chocolate river. It was a place where our mouths were enveloped by sugar cane and where our bug bites were healed by plants. This place was magical, and although it didn’t turn candy haters into lovers, it did get our two pickiest eaters to eat termites. While I probably will never experience a real chocolate factory, I can honestly say my time spent at the Aura Farm was one that I will never forget. |
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Two Perspectives: Rainy Hide & Seek
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July 3, 2015 by Sydney R. & Ryen M.
Sydney- Daniel told us today that the children at the farm never play in the rain. When they played hide and seek with us, that was the first time they had ever stayed outside and simply played in the rain. Thinking on that, I realized I never really play in the rain either. Rainy weather and thunderstorms mark the time when I curl up inside with a cup of coffee, and watch TV all afternoon. But here, we spent over an hour in a downpour, running around a farm. Ryen- It was a cool experience to wake up from a nap on a bench to the sound of screaming, when I lifted my head to see what was going on I saw the sight of all the boys, children, and girls playing hide and seek among the jungle cover. Instantly a downpour began, where I thought the kids were going to come inside but they persistently stayed out for another hour. It made me smile when the littlest girl (4) chased Balue (18) all around trying to catch him. The size difference between the two was huge, but I could tell they were enjoying the experience just the same. Such a memorable moment |
Sydney & Ryen (lower left) make a good team
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Home
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July 2, 2015 by Haley B.
Today was a day I will remember for the rest of my life. It wasn’t because of news that I got or a thing that I was given, but rather the simplicity of smiles all around me as I was given an opportunity to build a house for another family whom I’d never even met. My heart warmed as I saw a family come together in a time of need and provided for each other. It was truly inspiring to meet two sisters who were raising their children as one unit. I thought about my sister a lot today and what I would or would not be able to give up for her. I hope to someday have a relationship with Kameryn as those two sisters have today. I felt a disconnect from the rest of my life and I was able to enjoy the amazing group I am a part of, form bonds with people I never thought I would, and see that I truly am blessed because of the people in my life. |
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You Get What You Give
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By Jacey D., July 2, 2015
Coming from a person that has been on multiple vacations, participated in many fulfilling activities and experienced amazing experiences, this has been easily one of the best. It’s the end of Day 3 in Costa Rica and the amount of satisfaction I have felt being here is more than I ever thought was possible. Constant smiles from the people around me as they “work.” Things that you would consider dirty work have becomes some of the happiest moments for this group. Today we handed over the keys, presents, and a new house to a family that had nearly nothing 3 days ago. We walked away with a few tears, several adios’ and hearts so full of joy. Today I truly experienced the meaning of “you get what you give.” |
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Pura Vida.
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By James W., July 2, 2015
Pura Vida- by our Costa Rica manuals it means a way of living. Good living, happy living, pure living. Having a sense of not caring but at the same time knowing the gravity of a situation. Pura Vida- my definition? Building a house in hot humid weather with rain coming down every 10 minutes. Miserable? Not at all. Real joy is something I would use to describe the feeling I had. Working together towards one goal but at the same time building bonds with the family and workers as strong as the ones I form with people who I go to school with. The satisfaction of completing the house goes farther than self-fulfillment. It reached in to the hearts of the family we helped. Standing in a circle at the end of the day really brought it to reality for me. And I believe that I have discovered the real feeling of Pura Vida. |
James talking about his work and the bond he formed with a local builder, Mosco
Bucket list: Ziplining through the jungles of Costa Rica – check.
By Chellee Rice, July 1, 2015
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A great day – yet somehow, when I look back on this day, I know it won’t be the most memorable part. So much of my “bucket list” is about recreation. Not uncommon or wrong, but it makes me wonder tonight why I feel those experiences will help me feel fulfilled.
Sitting around tonight with our band of twelve adolescents we ask: “What were the highlights of your day?” (itinerary note: we had not only ziplined across a river and through a jungle, but seen a Howler monkey in the wild, shopped in town, sung and danced in the van, and eaten local foods). The kids went around the room and spoke only of the morning activity – building a house. They felt like a team. They experienced the satisfaction of a creating something important. They admired the beauty of their creation. They appreciated the connection with the family receiving the home. They understood that communication was more than language. They found passion in their purpose. They anticipated tomorrow when the home will be complete and will be presented to the family. My ah-ha for today – life isn’t about “bucket lists”. If we live for those, we will always miss the unforeseen experiences that give our lives meaning. Today I discovered meaning and it didn’t happen 100 feet above the forest floor. It was a good day. |
Chellee (right) enjoying a well deserved tamale break with Sydney after a busy morning of hammering and painting trim
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Mudfest or Yo No Comprendo
By Peyton O., June 30, 2015
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Landscaping duty today in a torrential downpour, mud seeping into every crevice. The mud was so deep and wet the wheel barrow would just sink and wouldn’t move so we had to carry it everywhere.
I was covered from head to toe with brown, wet, sticky mud and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else, doing anything else, with anyone else. |
Peyton (in yellow) and his work crew |
Professora Stevens’s Unconventional Blog Post
By Becca Stevens, June 30, 2015
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Costa Rica
Simply astounding Technicolor green. Warm rain, lluvia Exotic night sounds. Chirps, cricks and creeks Lichen covered sloths Topaz swimming pools Thundering waterfalls Poor Man’s Umbrellas Toucans in trees Blood red strawberries hot from the sun Zig Zag roads and long bus rides. Misty breezes flowing through open windows Selfies out the side of the bus Squirrel monkeys. Curiosity tumbling across an ocean. Breaking down barriers between language, culture and diversity Night hikes and late night trips to the market Willy-Wonka flowers. Coconuts cut fresh and drunk in the back yard. Perros – mucho mucho perrrrrros Mud fights and trash bag fashion shows Tree branch snakes Watching boys become men and girls become women. Being a part of something bigger than anything I’ve been a part of before. A metamorphosis of spirit and soul |
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We Made It!
By Ryan Sparzak, June 29, 2015
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We arrived safely in San Jose, Costa Rica! After a brief bus ride and a little bite to eat at our hotel, the team headed straight to bed.
We will be up early and headed to the Sarapaqui Region tomorrow morning to jump right into our service project. Our tour guide, Daniel Granados informed us that the family that will be receiving the home we help build is in desperate need of better shelter. The heavy rains this year have created damp and unhealthy conditions. In fact, one of the children for whom we will be building the home is currently sick in part because of leakage, poor drainage and damp environment in their home. It was a long travel day, so more to come tomorrow! Check back for updates and photos. |
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Only the Beginning
By Ryan Sparzak, June 22, 2015
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Our first group of service scholars is headed to Costa Rica in less than a week. Although Global Travel Alliance has been traveling to Costa Rica for many years, and supporting communities there; these young trailblazers will be our first official service scholars cohort. Many of them travelled to Washington, D.C. with us in 8th grade and now are looking to experience travel on another level, while providing help to a family in desperate need of a home.
Although the service scholars will be homebuilding and experiencing the wonders of Costa Rica, they also will be working through issues of poverty, sustainability, and inequality as it relates to rural Costa Rica. The goal being that they bring what they learn and experience back to their own community, and make a difference there. Please check back to this site starting June 29, 2015 for updates on their experience, along with videos and images. Pura Vida! |
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