Pura Vida in Costa Rica

 

            Throughout one’s AC years, the 9th-year Costa Rica trip is something that many students wait for in anticipation. From past groups, we heard tales of the beauty of the mountains, the taste of the coffee, the challenge of getting used to the Costa Rican plumbing system, and more. This year’s trip lived up to the legends of past trips on all accounts.

            For this trip, we partnered with Life Monteverde and volunteered on their coffee farm which focuses on sustainability, fair trade, and high-quality coffee. There we learned how they get coffee from seed to cup. We spent time learning each step of their process, maintaining paths, weeding, and planting beans. This experience allowed us to immerse ourselves more deeply in Costa Rica’s nature while also helping out and giving back to the farm that took us in. Of course, they let us try the coffee they produced, and it was the best coffee we’ve had in our relatively short lives.

            Throughout our time in Costa Rica, we stayed with local families in their homes, immersed in the Spanish language. We built our confidence to the point where the words naturally rolled off our tongues. The people in Costa Rica were really patient and kind, and helped us out when we got a little lost in translation. We were able to make special connections with our host families and our neighbors, which allowed us to take a deeper dive into Costa Rican culture.

            In addition to our time at the farm, we also experienced the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, met with local high school students for an art project, and snorkeled at Isla Tortuga. It was a very special trip, and we all left with a better sense of adult responsibility and independence. We saw firsthand the pride the Costa Rican farmers took in their work and in taking care of the natural world around them, and that people can be happy with less. We hope to be stewards of this attitude and of the earth.

            We had an unforgettable experience in Costa Rica. We are excited to see what new adventures await us in High School and in the rest of our lives.                       

Pura Vida,

The 9th-years