Morganton Day School Blog

Costa Rica was magnificent. Everyone was so sweet and the all seemed like they cared about the tourists. CR is the most amazing place I’ve ever been. The wildlife is amazing. You can stop your car in the middle of the road and just look at monkeys or birds. CR is also very educational. I can remember every fact Jheudy told me and also it was a chance for me to work on my spanish with Bernie. My favorite activity was the sailboat. I had never been snorkeling before so that was amazing. I also really enjoyed talking to Hector. (: I would like Jheudy to know that I still talk to him on Facebook and that hector and I are good friends now! The trip has made me relize the importance of recycling and kindness. I wish people could come to America and feel as welcome and loved as the Costa Ricans make me feel. I really want to take part in saving the Costa Rican rainforests! I would like to thank Jheudy for everything that he did for us. I want him to know that I will go back someday. When I come back I will have to have him guide my tour! Bernie, thank you for helping me with my spanish and just being there as a comforting friend! Next years trip needs to make NO changes. If the go back to the sailboat and Hector is there then tell them he is mine! (haha) (: Thank you!

Costa Rica is beautiful because everywhere we went was beautiful in its own way. Costa Rica makes me think of the word new because everywhere we went I got to do something that I have never done before. Also, Costa Rica makes me think of healthy. In America, the food is too unhealthy and I felt that we always ate healthy food in Costa Rica. My favorite activity was swimming near the La Fortuna waterfall. It was extremely fun going up the rapids. One thing I will take from my trip to Costa Rica is to try not to snack as much and eat more fruit. I would like to thank Jheudy for lining up the perfect trip and showing us and telling us about a variety of wildlife. I would also like to thank Berny for putting up with all of us talking in the van and for getting us around safely. My recommendation for next year’s group is that each student bring a parent and then the teachers get to relax and the trip is more fun.

3 words I would use to describe Costa Rica is calm, pure, and never stopping. Calm because everyone there is so laid back and don’t really care when they get to the places they are going. Pure because there is not much trash and when you get out of the big cities there are not many houses just lots of clean rainforest. Never stopping because we never stopped doing activities once we woke up.

My favorite activity was the La Fortuna waterfall. First, when we got their we had to walk down 500 steps, we jumped into the very fridgide water, and worked our way upstream against the current over rocks to the actual waterfall. Then we had to go back down through the rocks with the current and then hike back up the 500 steps.

The trip has made me a lot calmer. Like,  I’m not as rushed to go places and get things done or in a hurry anymore.

I would like to tell Jhuedy that he is a walking encyclopedia and a great person to be around. I am glad that he was our guide.

I would like to tell Bernie, Fue muy agradable hablar con usted durante todo el viaje que usted es una persona muy agradable y un buen conductor. También gracias por la práctica del voleibol en la piscina con nosotros. Usted fue un placer estar de vuelta y con quien hablar.

I would not want to change anything about the trip next year except for the TSA agents we had to deal with.

This morning we went snorkeling and saw a lot of different fish. Also, we got into a cave that filled up with water when a wave hit and then we just swam by the pool the rest of the day. AHHH PURA VIDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All good things must come to an end…or really it just begins a new cycle…

I, Cam, Karen, Robert, Molly, Zach, and Lee departed Costa Rica on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at approximately 1pm with changed hearts, expanded knowledge, fresh perspectives, and few new amigos. Oh yea, and a real love and appreciation for the country of Costa Rica, her biodiversity, and her people. Costa Rica means rich coast. Here in the states, we often define rich by a monetary amount or simply by the acquisition of material products. But there are a variety of ways to be rich or wealthy… Sometimes we forget to slow down and recognize the richness not only  in our lives but life itself. Costa Rica renewed this appreciation for us.
While in Costa Rica we, literally and figuratively, lost ourselves in the splendor of the natural world…as we observed a variety of species of animals, plants, and also physio-geographic features etc…  and we learned of their cyclical nature; A time to be born, a time to grow and blossom, and a time to die out; REPEAT!
What I found interesting, not only literally but also metaphorically, was the many symbiotic relationships that existed among the plants and animals. The word symbiosis literally means “together life”. It refers to organisms that live in close approximation; often one cannot live without the other. In extreme cases, one organism actually lives inside the other organism.
Parasitism: parasite benefits, host is hurt.
Mutualism: both species benefit
Commensalism: one species benefits, the other is neither hurt nor helped.
I was intrigued by the illumination of these various symbiotic relationships in our many adventures; La Fortuna Falls, Arenal volcanoe, Monteverde Cloud Forest, the farm, the 3 hour driveS, snorkeling at Playa de Hermosa, etc…  and at the same time  reflective of the many symbiotic relationships that existed in our own lives and society. This trip allowed me to take stock of those relationships and examine just what was the nature of the symbiosis. Was it between other people, material objects, ideas, etc..
Actions speak louder than words…and the people of Costa Rica that we were fortunate enough to come in contact with carried a kind, generous, and committed spirit. It wasn’t their words in as much as it was their actions… Well, there were those two words, PURA VIDA (pure life) and that is what we observed, felt, and lived for seven, blissful days.

… and so it was that we had to return home…what did we bring back with us?

7 tired but enlightened travelers
17 bags of old stuff and new stuff (you know we US Americans)
10 plus bags of Costa Rican coffee
500 plus pictures
numerous gifts to share with those that we love and missed dearly
2 very important words for everyday lingual exchange – PURA VIDA
Forever morphed perspectives and hearts  – for the better – PRICELESS!

I heart Costa Rica y su gente!

I am so happy to visit this beautiful country! We have learned and done so much in such a short period of time. Today we drove from Monteverde to Playa Hermosa and were pleasantly surprised with a group of monkeys in the trees on the side of the road. We watched and took lots of pictures. Watching the mother with its baby was life changing for me. I have loved everything about Costa Rica but my most favorite memories will be the wild life!! In addition to our top notch tour guide my fellow travelers have been the best! I only hope our children know how fortunate they are to be here!

Cost Rica photos

The group minus Mrs. Gramer at La Fortuna Falls.

Awesome morning in the Jungle……..I bonded with a white faced monkey and was attacked by tiny hummingbirds all while managing to follow Mrs. Gramers orders to “keep up and keep quiet”. Just kidding. Actually, I had the tarzan thing going and even our expert guide deferred to my endless command: RUN!!
Anyway, this is the best school trip I have ever attended (first one)
and Mrs. Gramer is the best. We have made lots of friends and I can’t believe how lucky we are to be here.
More later…..

RCC

Today we woke up and drove to the cloud forest and went to the monte verde cloud forest and went on a small hike looking for wild life. About 30 feet into the walk we encountered a pair of white faced monkeys prancing and dancing amongst the tree tops. After we left the world renowned cloud forest we visited the Monte Verde Friends School where we went on a guided tour and attended a class. Then we went to a local pizzeria where i ate a whole pizza. now we are back at the hotel and played in the pool.

We are currently at 4,500 ft in Monteverde. We spent most of yesterday traveling after the wonderful hike into La Fortuna Falls. This am started with a hike at the cloud forest reserve. 30 feet into the trail we were greeted by whiteface monkeys and even spotted a Quetzal (female). Jheudy has taught more about the flora, fauna, and history of Costa Rica than I could possibly write in here. Just know we are all (students, parents, and teacher) being magnificent inquirers and not to mention risk takers. Also, as part of day we visited Monteverde Friends School. It is a k-12 Quaker school with 106 students. Their capacity is 120 students. After a tour of the facility we were able to join a 7th / 8th grade class on a science class hike through the woods. their teacher (Mike) was teaching them about epiphytes and the different layers of the forest. If you want to check it out go to www.mfschool.org . After this we had a delicious lunch and went into town. Please now we are documenting this trip but having technical difficulty getting it onto the BLOG.
Here is a little funny I forgot to include about our first day. Jheudy picked us up from the airport and said he was taking us for a real costa Rican cultural experience…WALMART. This one was a bit different than ours as it was surrounded by a big iron gate and had several security guards , with guns, in the parking lot.

…on the agenda for tonight….the nighttime file looking nocturnal friends in the jungle…
PURA VIDA!