DCPS-- Costa Rica Summer 2018! @dcpscostaricasummer2018-blog - Tumblr Blog

Celebrating our Week

Yesterday was quite the wild ride— literally! We woke up early for breakfast and left the finca (farm) we stayed at all week to go zip-lining. For the majority of us, going zip lining was a first time activity, and was equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. The views were spectacular; however for some, fear overshadowed the majesty of the nature. We were overwhelmingly proud that every single student overcame their fears to conquer, each of the seven zip-line rides and their fear of heights! Seeing their glowing faces at the end of the experience made it all worth while— we could see the confidence swelling within them.

During the journey, our group got to chat periodically with a family traveling from Australia. They asked us about our group and the purpose of the trip. We told them about how hard your students worked to be on the trip, that it was a service trip, and that your kids had to endure a rigorous and competitive application process in order to get accepted.

While we were waiting to board the busses and some students were going to pay for photos of the day, one of the dads of the Aussie group generously offered to pay for EVERY CHILD’S pictures (over $216 in value.) I know I speak for everyone when I say we were blown away by his generosity and the way he showed love to a group of strangers. It was a beautiful moment that really drilled home the message of doing something good for others and the purpose of our service work.

After the zip line, we proceeded to have lunch in La Fortuna and then made our way back to San José after a quick pit-stop for souvenirs. At night, we had a “closing ceremony” facilitated by our fantastic Rustic Pathways guides who really brought out the best in the students. We spent over an hour being vulnerable with one another, sharing out what we appreciated about each and every kid on the trip. Make sure to ask to see the Costa Rican flag bracelet your kid is wearing, symbolically tied around them by the person on their left, signifying our strong connection and ties we now share.

Despite some bumps along the way, it has been amazing watching your students grow as individuals and collectively in a mere weeks time. We applaud those that really took these 7 days to push towards their outer limit of their comfort zones, be it through trying new foods, staying in unusual accommodations, or participating in difficult physical labor.

Surely, this will be a trip we as adults we will never forget, and we hope your children remain forever touched by it as well.

Pura vida,

Kristen, Korina, and Jeremiah

Yesterday was our last day of Community Service and as a gift for all our hard work this week one of the Culinary Teachers showed us how to make tortillas, ask your child how to make them when they get home. Mr. G took a picture with Walter who helped us and showed us around the school, thanks for everything Walter! At night we had a cultural celebration and had dinner with an amazing view and a great performance with some traditional Costa Rican music.

#dcpsgoesglobal #dcps #DCPSRising

Community Service Update

Many hands make light work and today was no exception. Currently, we are on a break for lunch after finishing the first half of community service for the day. This morning your children demonstrated immense effort in giving their all in each task that was thrown their way. We could see students getting closer while working together.

For a bit of context, today has been our third day completing community service at a local school a short drive away from the farm at which we are staying. In case it hasn’t been totally clear from previous blog posts, the school is a public high school with a special trade school program built-in. Students that graduate from here would receive a typical Costa Rican high school diploma as well as a certification for their trade if they complete the additional course work to specialize in a skill/trade. Some students specialize in ecotourism (a huge industry in Costa Rica,) dairy farming, agriculture, etc. Typically, students that partake in the trade school program are of lower income without the means to attend a four year university. Acquiring a trade certificate allows them to obtain a good-paying job without attending an expensive college and still have economic upward mobility.

Your kids have been critical players in helping to literally lay the foundation of two new classroom buildings for students so they can have the proper shelter to be able to receive their education. Prior to getting these two new classrooms, students sometimes took classes in a shanty hut, where intense rain could stop class and productivity. Due to the efforts of your students, in a few short months, the school will have two new classrooms built which will increase productivity, whilst providing students a boost in self-esteem knowing they deserve to learn in a nice building.

Some of the tasks your kids have been doing haven’t been easy, and we want to applaud those that have really taken the hard work in stride. For our “city kids,” much of this work isn’t very glamorous, but we love watching them willing to work for the greater good.

When you get a chance to text/talk to your child, we encourage you to ask some of the following questions and see where the conversation takes you:

What have been some of the most challenging things about working at the school? Why?

How do you think the work you are doing this week will have a lasting impact on the students of the school?

If you were a student at the school and the roles were reversed, how would you feel about a group of students coming to build you a new building and improve your campus (without being paid?)

As teachers, we are excited to see our 18 students “leave their mark” behind on Costa Rica with the construction project at this school. While we are proud of the lasting legacy our kids will have on this community, it is equally our hope that this very act of service is having an impact on our students for years to come.

April showers brings May flowers, but in a Rainforest, it can rain all day long! This morning we woke up to pouring rain, and it only intermittently stopped for short durations throughout the day. Therefore, our service project was modified, as we couldn’t pour concrete in the rain🌧 . Because of this, students participated in various other tasks during the morning. Then, we took part in a rainforest chocolate tour🍫, where we learned all about the ancient art of chocolate making, and how it has since been adapted for modern times. We were walked through the fermentation (who knew?!) and roasting process, while sampling all along the way. We ended the tour with satisfied stomachs, getting to sample endless rounds of 70% cocao chocolate— only the finest for our students! Make sure to ask your kids some facts tonight about what they learned; they should be experts now! Afterward, students explored the town La Fortuna, ate ice cream, saw the grocery stores, and witnessed daily life for local Costa Ricans. ¡Pura Vida! 🇨🇷

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Fruit, food, flora y fauna of Costa Rica! Pictured here you can see a Macaw from the school where we are working, bunches of bananas grown on our farm, the red-eyed frog from the rainforest reserve tonight, a typical breakfast and lunch, a baby iguana, toad, and mamón chino: a tropical fruit with the spikey red outside that tastes similar to a grape. We experience and taste something new and exciting each day!

We want to Shout Out 2 amazing workers today Kelvon Manning & Nathalie Tiadem for their great work and effort today. Check out the picture above. Look at Quincy Jones and Devin Smothers excitement for our day 1 completion of community service and their excitement for their friends efforts. #DCPSGoesGlobal #DCPSStudyAbroad #DCPSRising #PuraVida

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We had such a full day this afternoon! Today we had the amazing opportunity to have an “intercambio,” or language exchange, with the high school class on site of the trade school of where we are doing community service. We were able to practice our Spanish, while learning more about a different culture from other students. Later at night, we had dinner at a rainforest reserve where local guides made us an amazing meal. We saw the ancient art of pour-over coffee being made the way Costa Ricans and several other Latin American countries would do for hundreds of years, held by a device carved from wood. Students even got to see a red-eyed tree frog up close after their meal! We can’t wait for our chocolate tour tomorrow and more opportunities to serve and connect with the community during our next session of service. Pura vida!

Day 3 in Costa Rica! Today was our first day doing our community service and this is some of the things we experienced. For our community service we are setting the foundation for a new school classroom. The students did an amazing job and are excited to see what happens tomorrow. A little rain didn’t stop us from continuing to do our community service. Check out the animals we saw while helping. #PuraVida #DCPSStudyAbroad #DCPSGoesGlobal #GlobalRising

Here are some videos of our Day 2 Adventures whiles in Costa Rica! Including the area where we are staying for the week. Enjoy! #DCPSGoesGlobal #DCPSStudyAbroad #PuraVida #DCPSRising

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Day 2 in Cosa Rica, this morning we left San Jose and headed to our first adventure which was White Water Rafting, this was a first for the majority of us. We all had an amazing time, going though the waves and then jumping off a cliff! After White Water Rafting, we ate a delicious meal which include fresh cut fruit that is grown in Costa Rica. We arrived at Finca Don Jose which is surrounded by all types of plants and animals including a Banana Tree and some chickens. We will make sure to keep you updated on our Costa Rican adventures. ¡Pura Vida! #DCPSStudyAbroad #DCPSGoesGlobal #GlobalRising #PuraVida

Hi everyone!! Day 1 in Costa Rica. Today we landed in beautiful San Jose. From showing our students how to fill out paperwork to enter Costa Rica to enjoying our hotel and having a delicious group dinner. Day 1 was successful. Stay tuned for more pics and videos of our stay in Costa Rica #puravida

Costa Rica-- ¡Pura Vida! (the good, simple life!)

As Mr. G, Ms. Gonzales, and Ms. Witkop sit together right now figuring out some last-minute logistics before the trip, we realize all the effort will be worth it: In a mere month from now, we will all be basking in the Costa Rican sun, sampling local chocolate right off the farm, white water rafting, and most importantly, getting to know and help the community. We can't wait! We know that you've had work and responsibility to take on in preparation for this trip as well, and we want to encourage you in the home-stretch! This will be an unforgettable experience for everyone of us, and we can't wait to share in the discovery with you.

We look forward to growing/bonding as a team, and pushing each and everyone of us outside of our comfort-zones. For some, it may be uncomfortable to try new foods. For others, it may be stressful trying to practice our second language of Spanish. For others, it might be scary spending a whole week away from home, in a totally different culture! We feel you-- it's not always easy, but we can promise you it will be rewarding.

Wherever your anxieties may fall, we encourage you to try to keep an open mind and have a positive attitude towards the trip. We will all grow as people, and we will do it as a team. :)

Well, that's it for now! We can't wait to see you this Thursday at Jefferson Middle School, at 6pm for our next meeting. (801 7th Street SW.) Should anyone be struggling with uploading documents, please BRING THEM WITH YOU to the meeting and we will help you at the meeting.

In a Costa Rican state of mind,

Mr. G, Ms. Gonzales, and Ms. Witkop

#idratherbeincostaricapuravidapuravida

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DCPS-- Costa Rica Summer 2018!