Sunday, April 5, 2015
Último día en Costa Rica!
The final day in Costa Rica has finally come! It's Easter morning, and although we are all excited to come home and see our families and friends, there is still a sadness that we have to leave this beautiful place. This trip has truly been an amazing experience. We got to see so many different cultures, interesting plants and animals, and the scenery is more beautiful than any pictures could ever convey. We are spending the last few hours enjoying the weather before heading back to good ol' South Carolina. See everyone later today!
Pura Vida!
Boyce
Happy Easter! We are finally coming home and this trip has been better than anything I could've imagined. Besides pictures, we've got some great stories to tell. But really, I'm just gonna have to come back! Pura Vida Amigos!
McKay
Hola! Happy Easter! I have had so much fun in Costa Rica. Group 2 has been the best (Tortugas Candados). We are enjoying our last couple of hours by the pool before we head to the airport. I am sad to leave, but can't wait to see my family. Pura Vida!
Amelia
Hoppy Easter from Group II!! We have finished off this sunny Easter Sunday with a devotion by the pool. It has been such an amazing week and I feel like we just got here. Nonetheless, I can't wait to be home and back at school (not)!!!! See all you loved ones tonight:) Pura Vida from the Fam and I
Chapman
Happy Easter!! Unfortunately it is our last day here in beautiful Costa Rica. It has been such a fun week, and I am so greatful to have had this experience alongside my friends (both old and new). However, I can't wait to see my family and sleep in my own bed! Happy Easter and Pura Vida!!
Sarah Addy
Happy Easter from Costa Rica!! We enjoyed a small bible reading this morning sitting around the pool. We have bonded more than I ever imagined as a group. Sad to be leaving, but I'm excited to see everyone:)
Pura Vida,
Maggie
Happy Easter ! Costa Rica is so beautiful and I loved the view from the top of the zip line and the rafting in the canyon in the river !
Pura Vida
Ellerslie
Happy Easter! We just had our own little service by the pool and enjoying the sun before we go to the airport in a couple hours. I wish we had a little more time here but I am so grateful for the fun time we have had with my old and new amigos. I can't wait to see everyone at home in a couple hours.
Pura Vida!
Sarah Manning
Happy Easter everyone! We are just chilling at the super nice hotel right now before the flight. It has been an incredible trip, and I would have to say ziplining was my favorite part. I can't wait to get back and see my family, although I will probably be wanting to go to sleep. Overall, this has been a mind-opening, once in a lifetime experience. Pura Vida!
Zac Lipsitz
Well, it's our last day in Costa Rica and I'm pretty sad to leave this group. From falling into the rapids and taking Noah with me to everyone singing together on the bus, we all had a blast! Happy Easter everyone and we will see y'all tonight!
John Taylor
The highlight of my trip is what I originally thought would be my least favorite part, the homestays. I thought that it would be awkward because my family wouldn't be able to speak English. Even though they didn't speak English they did their best to communicate with us. It also helped that my boy Malik is almost fluent in Spanish. The most fun part about the homestays were the two kids, Eileen and Darien. They played cards and video games with us and Malik and I even taught them how to play football. The kids were really great and I already miss them. The rest of the trip was just as good and I'm sad we have to go back to the States so soon.
Jacob Luksik
So yeah. Blogging. Guess that's a thing. Anyway highlights of the trip for me would have to be just being with my group in everything we did. Wether it was snorkeling and playing football in puerto viejo, rafting the Pacuare river, spending time with my boy Jacob (eyyyyhhhh😝😝😝😝) and my host family with Eileen, Teaching Darien how to throw a football , then doing some stealth insertion via rappelling, caves, and ziplining. This is something I'm gonna remember. And all the winning. Pura Vida mane
Well it's the last day of our adventure in Costa Rica. As much as I want to see my family again, it's pretty sad for me because I know there won't be anymore intense UNO games where Noah would say "The color of the day is" and then name a color. There also won't be anymore of me threatening to throw Noah off the bus for yelling "Operation Chocolate Thunder" over and over again. I've gotten to know a lot of people that I've never said a word to before which is awesome. So yeah. That's all. Tortugas Candados for life.
Nick Beraho
This trip has been one of the best experiences of my life. It was my first time out of the U.S. and it's one I'll never forget. I've gotten to know all the people in my group and we've bonded and become a famiy this week. They taught me how to swim and face my fears with an open mind and positive attitude. I couldn't have asked for a better group and wouldn't trade them for the world. We shared a lot of laughs and I cherished every moment of this trip. Pura Vida por siempre.
- Chris Gakwaya
Noah Ware
Though the activities are fun I enjoyed the off time the most. Playing uno and spades with my group mates was awesome.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Adios Tres Equis-Group 1
The past two days, staying with my "new" family was the most surprising yet most unforgettable part of the trip. It surprised me how much our families welcomed us to become a part of their everyday life. I'll definitely miss my family
-Seventh
Today was the best day of the trip ANNE JENKINS' birthday wohooooooo, so I started a song with all our families to sing to Anne. However, it was quite sad to say goodbye to our families who had taught us so much about the importance of family, all the delicious food, and of course all the soccer. I am so thankful for the experience. Then, we started a trip down the Rapids. It was very enjoyable except one of the guides forgot some of the food so we couldn't eat until after but I mean it was fantastic once we had our burritos. Now we are starting our way towards San Jose (hey family and I'll see you soon puppies) oh yeah and for Easter Riley might need some more costa's because he lost them in the rapids......
-Anne Fawcett
Working Hard or Hardly Working?
¡Hola! (From Group One)
Today we woke up and ate breakfast with our host families; however, we departed for the day shortly after. We traveled to a school right outside of Tres Equis to complete the service project that the other two groups started earlier this week. It was amazing to see the final product after a day full of hard work (for the most part). During the day we also had time to talk to some of the locals and their children. Once we were finished with the project, we played soccer. Everyone in Costa Rica seems to be VERY good at and love soccer, especially the little children. It's been interesting trying to use my spanish speaking skills in this atmosphere, it's a little scary, but for the most part it is going well. As for the home stays, the food is amazing, and all of our families are very welcoming. We believe that we are the best group overall and we cannot wait for rafting tomorrow!
- Anne Jenkins
Zip line Rap
Today we went zip lining
Franny was always whining
I think I saw Gage crying
And everyone had a good time flying
The lines were very fast
We all were having a blast
But unfortunately it hurt my gluteus maximus.
It was amazing what you could see
All the little monkeys up in the tree
It filled my body with glee
And made me feel so free
The Slothy Seconds- Gage Will Davis and Edward
Repelling with Los Tortugas Candados
Pura Vida!
It has been a great day so far for Group II on the rain forest repelling. We all woke up around 5:30 to finish packing, load the bus, and eat a delicious breakfast consisting of eggs, ham, toast, coffee, and juice before departing for the repel site. Most of us were a bit intimidated on the steep ride up but just as excited for the adventure ahead. After strapping on our gear and collecting gloves and a helmet, we walked down the path to our first drop. This was about 100 ft high and quite the plummet. I will never forget the scared feeling in my stomach upon looking over the edge. Nonetheless, one by one we all went down (some more gracefully than others) next to two magestic waterfalls that the guides were so happy to let us experience. By this , I mean, we were all soaking wet by the end of it. All the repels were lots of fun, pushing us out of comfort zone a bit. After putting on some dry clothes, we ate lunch and jumped back on the bus. I am pretty sure I'm the only one awake right now, so I should probably take a nap. Pura Vida and see you tomorrow!!
Chapman
Tortugas Candados en las cuevas
This morning, we woke up around 7:00 and ate our last meal with our host families in Tres Equis. We said our goodbyes at the bus and took a few pictures, but then we were off. For some reason, our supposedly two and a half hour bus ride turned into a four and a half hour bus ride. Finally, we arrived at the caving destination where we had lunch then got our helmets. We had a steep walk down to the cave and once we entered, the light turned to dark. All of us had our headlamps on to illuminate the cave and soon enough we had a tunnel called the "birth canal" because it was so small. Round two... success. It was kinda small but everybody was able to make it through. We kept moving up and down and through tight crevices and were able to see bats and even more bat guano. Woohoo. Another great part of caving was a tiny little tunnel that was a foot deep in water. It felt great because the cave was very humid. I got all the caving in my gopro and the videos look great! Everyone enjoyed the cave and when we finished, we headed to La Fortuna and we are going zip lining tomorrow. We're staying next to Arenal tonight, the very famous active volcano in Costa Rica. So far the trip has been amazing!
Group 2 Home Stay (tortugas Candados)
Group 2 just left the home stays. Before we arrived we went rafting all day! Other than Brittney hurting her ankle in an intense soccer game, everyone had an amazing time. Even though she got hurt no one heard any complaints from her and so she was awarded the bandana from John. When we weren't with our families we were helping at the school. We mad two bookshelves two recycling bins, a railing and a handicap bathroom. Even though the people at that school didn't have much they were always so happy and full of energy which I think motivated everyone to work their hardest. Everyone had such a great time at the school and it made everyone really appreciate the opportunities and things we have. When we arrived back at our home stays we showered ate and played with our families. After that we all met up for dance lessons. Everyone loved their home stay families. I even saw Chris shed a tear when we left. It was quite an emotional time. Overall we had a great time. Pura vida por siempre!
-Sarah Manning
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