Since our last update, our travelers in Costa Rica have spent time hard at work on their community service project, continued to integrate into their host families, and even went on a weekend getaway to a beautiful set of waterfalls! Take a look at some highlights from the trip – and some awesome shots by our student Jason – below!
Alan and Arvin, two of our amazing Summer Search students from California, working hard side by side at the work site.
Mica has been quite the hard worker lately! We’re are super impressed with her ability to keep a smile on her face although it’s covered in dirt.
Eve, taking a walk through the coffee fields in our host community. We have a new coffee lover on our hands!
Qin using her artist skills to draw a beautiful tribute to our lovely homestay community. Thanks Qin!
We’re off to the waterfall! But first, a pit stop in San Isidro! We went shopping to get more supplies for primary and secondary projects. The students got the chance to exchange money, search the town for what they needed, and of course- eat some much needed pizza and ice cream.
Hiking through the jungle to El Diamante River. This was a steep hike and the leaders are really impressed with the students’ leg strength.
On our way to the river, we stopped by the garden. We saw many different types of herbs and tried Jabanero seeds. Students learned that they can grow juuuuust about anything in Costa Rica. Later, we had lunch with the natural veggies and fruits grown in this very garden.
Finally, we arrived! This is one of the many waterfalls in the area and is surprisingly not the tallest.
Hike further and behold! A swimming hole. The students had a blast here and got in better touch with there mermaid/merman sides.
One of or fearless leaders, Samuel!
The other day, we had the opportunity to visit a farm where they process sugar. Cows walk in a circle as someone feeds the machine with sugar cane. (These next four shots are by Jason, a talented photographer in the group!)
Once the sugar cane is pressed, the cows haul the excess cane away.
They cook the sugar cane for hours. Throughout the day, people stop by to eat the bubbles that form once the sugar cane is boiling.
Someone is always with the sugar cane, stirring and making sure the process is going smoothly.
