Late Night with Guidry and Flanagan: Costa Rica Day One

Howdy all,

Guidry and Flanagan here, writing to tell you about day 1 of Costa Rica Spring Break 2K14 (WOOOOOOO!!!!!) aka travel day.

It all began a day before the day we are actually talking about.  We all drove to Houston, hereby referred to as H-TOWN, Friday and stayed the night at people’s houses (shout out to Mrs. Guidry for making the best garlic bread I’ve ever tasted and to Mr. Guidry for knowing EVERYONE ON THE WHOLE ENTIRE PLANET).  We woke up Saturday morning at the reasonably early time of 4:30, ate a small breakfast, and drove to the H-TOWN airport.  Terminal E was our meeting place and sort of everyone kind of arrived on time.  We checked some bags, got through security (surprisingly), and walked to Gate 10.  Ten minutes later we heard our very own Alex Guidry’s name on the intercom (yeah famous) because the doofus left his bag at the security check.  After the bag was recovered, we got some breakfast and finally boarded our flight.  Being a fairly large group, we took up basically the whole back end of the plane (cool kids sit in the back).  The passengers onboard fully experienced the highs and lows of being on a plane with a group of college students.  There was sleeping, singing (FROZEN WAS THE IN-FLIGHT MOVIE), and some freaking out, but after a pretty terrifying landing we were on the ground and still breathing in COSTA RICA.  We get off the plane and get through both customs and immigration (again surprisingly).  After stepping outside, we quickly realized the temperature difference between H-TOWN and Costa Rica was upwards of twenty five degrees and the humidity was easily >9000.  We left the airport in two groups and piled into van/buses.  After driving for about 45 minutes we stopped at the side of the road to eat lunch.  We finally got our food after terrible attempts to speak Spanish and lots and lots of pointing.  I can honestly say that that was some of the best “pollo y blanco rice” I have ever had.  With our bellies full and our wallets a little lighter we hit the road for the second time.  The rest of the drive was HOLY FRIED CHICKEN WE ARE GONNA DIE to say the least.  Picture bumper cars, except on the side of a mountain and in real cars.  A log jutting out of the bed of an oncoming truck literally came within a few inches of the car window.  On a completely different note, the houses in Costa Rica are very colorful (no home owners associations here!).  Ok back to the road.  There were a lot of trees and animals and cows.  After a while, the road turned to dirt and the ride got very bumpy.  It didn’t matter though because we saw the light at the end of the tunnel (well not really cause it was kinda getting dark at this point).  WE HAD ARRIVED AT THE SOLTIS CENTER(exclamation point).  They gave us tons of food and ice cream.  After dinner, we learned about the Soltis Center and all the venomous snakes that WILL kill all but one of us (currently taking bets on who that one will be; please wire to account number 8675309 it’s under the name Jenny).  We then had some discussion and journal time where Flanagan and Guidry bravely volunteered to write today’s blogspot.  And then we began writing “It all began a day before the day we are actually talking about.  We all drove to Houston, hereby referred to as H-TOWN, Friday and stayed the night at people’s houses (shout out to Mrs. Guidry for making the best garlic bread I’ve ever tasted,” wait a minute...

 Todd, Alex, Liddy, Caroline, Ryan, Chase, Mehvish, and Jeff

Francesca, Logan, Anna, Leah, Kevin, Kelsey, Morgan, Ashley, Laurence, Will, Sydney, Katie, and Neena 

Leah, Hope, Neena, Laurence, Ashley, Kevin, Tess, Morgan, Katie, Olivia, Sydney, Carrigan, and Taylor

Day 4- Daniela Escobar and Tate Watson

Things done today: final visit to school, cultural dance at center, tourism and shopping at la fortuna

Today we had the opportunity to all come together and pay a final visit to the school. Working with elementary, middle, and high school students, we were all given the opportunity to each give a small leggo gift to each of the students.
I personally played soccer with barefoot students in a muddy field down the road. Not only were they incredible, but we each unfortunately fell, covered in mud, attempting to keep up.
The kids were absolutely adorable and full of life. While some of the older kids played soccer I was able to hang out with some of the younger kids. It's incredible to see how they can begin the day so timid and by the end of the day they won't let go of your leg. One boy throughout the day would run up behind me and tap my shoulder and run off, but by the end of the day he would tackle me with hugs and tickle me. I absolutely adore the joy in these children.
Tourism in la foturna was filled with tourists from all parts. I personally ran into a fellow Aggie who was also a freshman visiting Costa Rica on another service trip. The shops were filled with all sorts of gifts and amazing treats that we are looking forward to bringing back to our families in the states. When we rode back to the tamu center we were greeted by several elementary school students who presented us with a cultural Costa Rican dance. While we sat back and watched their intriguing dance, we also did our part in teaching them the classic Texas country two step and the copper head road line dance. Needless to say they showed immediate interest and made wonderful progress within a few attempts. Afterwards we enjoyed getting to know them as we shared dinner and several conversations. We cannot wait to see more of Costa Rica and partake in our final adventures in the rainforest tomorrow!

Day 4- By Will Hughes

Today was definitely one of the best days of the trip. This morning all of us went down to the school to be with the kids. As we walked down the road and approached the school, all of the kids were lined up against the fence waiting for us to get there. That was really awesome and made us all feel great that they were excited to be with us.
While we were at the school, I was with a group that went to play soccer with some of the older boys. They were extremely good at soccer, and since we split into teams of the Costa Rican students versus the Aggies, the game was pretty one sided. Even though I have no soccer skills, this was one of my favorite times of the trip so far. It was really cool to see the kids having so much fun with us, and even though we were speaking different languages, we could still communicate with each other. I took a lot from that soccer game besides just having a fun time. It is an amazing experience to be in a situation where there is a language barrier, but despite that fact you are able to clearly understand and connect with another person. This showed me how even though we may come from different countries and cultures, we are all similar in a lot of ways.
The more time I spend here and the more I interact with the Costa Rican people, my understanding of "pura vida" seems to become clearer. The people here live such passionate lives. They are connected to the natural world around them, and have deep respect for the rainforest and its wildlife. Everyone that I have talked to has seemed genuinely engaged in our conversation, and not once have I felt like they had better things to do or that what I was saying was not important. I feel that it is a lifestyle as much as it is a phrase, and it is a mindset I hope to adopt and take back home with me.

Day 4- By Emily Seymour

After four days in Costa Rica, it’s hard to believe that today was our last full day at the Center. Even though it has only been a few short days, I feel like I have been here for such a long time. Everything we have done so far has been so incredible, so I am not looking forward to having to leave.

Today we started off the day by going to visit the school as a large group. We were all looking forward to this because we had such a great time with the kids when we went as groups. As we walked up to the school, all of the kids waved to us. It was such a special moment because they all seemed to be genuinely excited to see us return. Once we all were gathered around, half of us went and helped in the greenhouse area while the rest hung out with the kids. Because my Spanish skills are terrible, I decided that my service was best to be used for helping with the greenhouse. Once we got to that area, we were asked to make a second set of stairs leading down a hill. Our group of four grabbed the shovels and hoes and began working on this. Unlike the other set of stairs we had made at the school, this hill was a shorter and wider area. Once we dug out all the steps and packed all the clay down, we all felt that we could do more, so we gathered rocks and a piece of bamboo and lined the stairs. At the end, we were all extremely proud of the work we had done. Then, we decided that the stairs made on the Monday also needed to be lined with rocks to help prevent erosion. We set off to gather rocks from the ditches surrounding the road in front of the school and lined the whole path. After a few more small projects, all of us rejoined the others and took a group picture with the kids. It was amazing to see how much energy was with the group. In the short amount of time, so many were able to form connections with different kids.

Once we left the school, we hiked back up to the Center, ate lunch, and drove to La Fortuna to shop. Shopping, for me, was not that exciting because it was just for souvenirs and I was tired. We have been so active the past few days that I just wanted to take a nap. Once we were done shopping, we arrived back at to the Center only to be greeted by students from the Arenal school (this is a different school than the one we have been working with). These ten students, ranging in age from second to sixth grade, performed dances for us. It was precious. When they finished, we had the opportunity to teach them the Aggie War Hymn. Who doesn’t want to saw varsity’s horns off? After the War Hymn, we taught all the kids how to dance to Copperhead Road and then how to two step. It was such a blast to be able to dance with the kids. Even though some of us couldn’t communicate, we were still able to laugh and dance together. We then got the chance to eat dinner with the kids and play ping pong and foosball with them. This was one of my favorite parts because even the nonverbal communication was perfect.

Looking back, this trip has been such a positive impact. I have seen myself and others grow even in the short few days. I cannot imagine a more perfect way to spend my freshman year spring break. Even though I am sleep deprived and constantly covered in dirt, I have been genuinely happy about everything we have done. I have learned to love the little things and live in the moment. We don’t know what is to come in our life, but we might as well make the best of what is happening now. We were asked why we were on this trip, and I can’t wait to look back and list all of my reasons.

Day 3- By Corey Smith

Pura Vida. Costa Rica's national saying. You hear it everywhere, in every situation. Coming in from the airport? Pura Vida. Lunch? Pura Vida! Hiking? Pura Vida. Ziplining?! Pura Vida, friend. Translated literally, it means "pure life". Some take it as a tropical "hakuna matata" - promoting a stress-free live for today attitude, or simply a wish for good health.

Today and all this week, my eyes have been opened to the beauty of Costa Rica. This place is truly gorgeous. Amazing rainforests, massive volcanoes, jaw-dropping vistas. The sheer life here is astounding. Standing in this amazing land, spanning vast stretches of raw forest, in this incredible entire ecosystem of living glory, a new awareness unfolds. Whether I'm standing in the heart of a sea of trees, or balancing on river rocks while a spring flows by, or climbing rocky lava flows, or trekking up a shallow waterfall, there is such beauty. There is something special here. Something pure.

And it's not just the natural world. I had the golden opportunity today to travel to a local school to help serve the kids there, to help give back. We worked hard to help set up a greenhouse for the school's future use. It didn't come easy, especially in two different languages, but we we sat back and looked and what we and others had accomplished, it felt good. We laid down a part of our lives for the good of someone else, and that's something human. Something pure.
Despite coming from vastly different cultures, backgrounds, viewpoints and even languages, we were able to form real connections with these wonderful boys and girls. Sure, it wasn't easy, trying to understand each other, but we managed based on shared values. And that's something human. Something pure.

So, in the end, maybe there's something more to this place, more than just pretty trees. Living life to the fullest is great, but maybe we should remember that true beauty comes from inside. These people have such humility and live with their environment so well. Maybe we can learn from them, and share it when we leave. And maybe that, that is Pura Vida.
Thanks and Gig'em.

Day 3- By Emily Seymour

It's hard to believe that we have been in Costa Rica for only a few days! It's even harder to believe we are in an area this beautiful. Today started off a little different than most. A small group of us decided to wake up to watch the sunrise at 5:46. Unfortunately it was really cloudy, so we decided to just hike down to a river. Once we got to the river, we decided this was the perfect time to hike up the river. The water wasn't incredibly deep, so I thought I'd be fine wearing rainboots. For the ,let part it was, until I walked through part of the water that reached my knees then it didn't really matter at that point. The group continued climbing over rocks and wading through the water until we reached a fallen log and decided that this would not only be the photo op but also the turn around spot. The eight of us made it back up to the Center just in time for breakfast.
After breakfast, all of us split into the same two groups and switched our project. My group was set to work in the rainforest. Before we even knew what our rainforest project was, we came across a sloth chilling in tree. Since our group was a lot smaller than the other group, we all stuck together and began trekking through the rainforest. Albert told us about the different conservation projects going on around the Center. The hike was steep and slippery. We kept having to step over fallen trees and avoid all the ants that began climbing up our boots. Once we got to a certain location, Albert sent us to form a human chain down a slope as he and two students got plants to bring back to the Center. While they were off doing that, the rest of us tried not to fall down the slope. There was hardly anything to grip onto and proper footing was hard to get. We managed to transport all of the plants, with only a few people falling. After that, we trekked back down the same path and went to try sugar cane. It was delicious!
Following that excursion, we ate an early lunch before heading to the zipline. The zipline spans over the rainforest and has eight separate ziplines. We all were suited up with harnesses then rode a cable car up to the top of the zipline. Once at the top, we were able to overlook the lake and rainforest. The view was, once again, stunning. After taking pictures (can't get enough group pictures), we set off down two practice ziplines before going to the real thing. Once on the ziplines, the view was surreal. We were soaring over the trees with the wind in our face. It was so incredible that I didn't know where to look. I don't think I've ever done something that amazing before. On the final zipline before the "photo zipline," we flew down the cable for half a mile. After completing the whole course, I can definitely saw this was such a remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Today was filled with such adventurous excursions. Costa Rica is an incredible country with such beauty. I can definitely say that I'll miss it once we have to leave. The pace of life is a lot slower and more chill than the United States; it is such a nice break. The people also seem genuinely interested in what you have to say. The conversations don't feel forced. I cannot wait for what tomorrow has in store when we go back to the school. It will surely be awesome!

Day 3 by Alexis Musso

Today has definitely been my favorite day in Costa Rica! In the morning, my group went to the school and played with the kids. The little kids were of course adorable! They loved making bracelets, taking pictures with our cameras, building with Legos, and playing soccer. It was fun speaking Spanish to them! I learned so much in such a short time! In addition, I loved when the high school kids came over. Even though I am by no means fluent in Spanish, I was able to ask my new friend Jimmy some questions in Spanish and explain how to play both Go Fish and Tic Tac Toe! I learned Jimmy is 17, wants to be a lawyer, loves science, loves soccer, and loves arroz con pollo! After lunch, we got to go zip lining! The view was breathtaking and the guides were super nice. Flying through the rainforest was such a unique experience, I really wish I could do it again already! I thought I was going to be scared, but when I met this grandma named Betty who was also zip lining and completely terrified, I forgot all about my fear and instead tried to encourage her. She was such an inspiration! To top it all off, dinner in the town was such a treat. Fruit smoothies, a typical Costa Rican platter with rice, beans, chicken, a plantain, salad, and egg, and ice cream topped with peaches was so delicious, my belly is as full as an oompa loompa! Overall, today, I definitely experienced Pura Vida, pure life, through service at the local school, the amazing nature in the rainforest zip line, and the traditional Costa Rican meal in the outdoor restaurant shared with all the amazing people here on this trip. Tomorrow, another adventure awaits! Adios mis amigos