Nature has other plans
Student Trip Blog
Bienvenidos familias, it’s Gyssel! Today is our third day in Costa Rica, Both me, Cali, and Kim were our LDD leaders today. Our jobs consisted of waking up our peers and guiding each one of our groups through out the day. Our main focus in the community today was learning to make some delicious traditional dishes which were tortillas de queso and empanadas de queso. My group specifically made 3 different dishes with Doña Rosario. Connecting with our fellow locals was a large highlight for many of our peers. She spoke with us about the importance of making food from scratch and gave us insight of her day to day life, including core memories she has of raising her children to be independent. For her food is always delicous if it is made with the most important ingredient, which is love and the amazing energy of those preparing the meals. The kitchen was filled with laughter, music, and dancing. Seeing everyone so involved and trying their best to communicate even if they didn’t speak Spanish was greatly impactful. Doña Rosario ended our expirence with some heart warming hugs, blessings, and some local key chains to remember our life changing trip.
I cannot wait to share how a bunch of young strangers were able to gather and share such an amazing experience.
Hola familias, me llamo Cali! As Gyssel, Kim, and I entered the Leader of the Day role, Gyssel and I kicked off our role by sharing our talent with the group! We lead the glimpsers into a dance lesson in bachata which was a fun activity for all of us to do. Our main focus of today was separating into groups and making traditional dishes with different locals, I had the opportunity of leading a group of glimpsers to join Doña Carmen! As we arrived to her house, she welcomed us with many fruits. While enjoying her welcoming fruits, us as a collective started asking Doña Carmen questions about her to get to know more about her. There was a language barrier for many glimpsers due to Doña Carmen only speaking Spanish and many glimpsers only speaking English. However, I was blessed to be able to translate to the glimpsers and support the glimpsers in trying to practice their Spanish. As we continued to get to know Doña Carmen, we played a game of bingo and she was kind enough to give us all prizes. She also taught us to make empandas and we all had a great time. She gifted all of us bracelets as souvenirs too, then we headed back to the base camp.
Comments (12)
Monica
Thanks for the update. Sounds like an amazing day not only meeting new people but also learning to make local cuisine! Hope there’s a cooking demonstration when you get back… it sounds really good!
Hortencia
I am so proud of all.of you. What an amazing experience. La cosina es el corazon de la casa (the kitchen is the heart of the home). Proud of you Cali. Miss and love you.
Vasudha Patel
Wow!! Learning about different culture and getting to know each other is amazing. Gyssel, Kim and Cali you are an awesome leaders, to keep the group engaged with new experiences and open minds with language barrier that too with such ease is commendable. Love the spark of joy in everyone’s eyes and how the hosts are so loving and welcoming.
Heidi Melander
Looks fun and delicioso!
Jess
Wow! Great update!!! Sounds like a fantastic day!!!! The food sounds amazing. Love meeee some empanadas! Everyone looks so happy!
Jessiah – WE MISS YOU! I love you! Anddd I want some empanadas when you get home! 😉
Faye Dolor
Looks delicious!!!You have to make some when you get back Mady!!! Angel hopes you are having fun!!!
Love you…Tito Marc and Tita Faye
Maureen Weatherby
Looks like everybody is having a great time 🥰
Thanks for keeping us in the loop
Beth
Mia Donato…happy to see you smiling! Hope this is an awesome adventure!!!
Vincenzo Fabiani
I’m hoping you guys ate well and had fun. If you still remember by the time you come back you should teach me how to make this. (Please buy bug spray😅). Thank you so much for calling, wish you lots of fun and happy you get to experience this. -Lidabidabodabut
Erica
Thanks for the update! It’s great you’re learning their culture. We’re proud of you Mady.
Rey Maguad (Summer Search)
Cali! Your trip is looking super fun. Thank you for helping everyone communicate – translating isn’t easy, but I’m sure it made a huge impact. Thank you to all 3 of you for writing this blog.
Angela Chen (Summer Search)
Hi Cali! Thank you for sharing this! It was so special to read about the way you stepped into leadership. I loved how you used your Spanish to help bridge the language barrier so your group could truly connect with Doña Carmen. What a beautiful way to bring people together. It sounds like you helped create memories that your fellow Glimpsers will never forget. So proud of the confidence, kindness, and initiative you showed. Keep embracing opportunities to lead and share your gifts,you have so much to offer!