Cultural exchange and cheese farm

Pura Vida! It’s Mia. Today the group went to a nearby school (escuela) to do a cultural exchange with kids ages 4 to 10. During the activity, we were able to exchange language and vocabulary, do a fun craft, and play soccer on the new field. For the language activity, we broke up into small groups and taught the kids the parts of the body in english, and they taught us en español. We then got in one big group and played “Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.” For the craft, we split into two groups: one made fortune tellers with paper, one made bracelets out of yarn. These crafts gave us a chance to bond with the kids and have shared meaningful experiences. I was able to teach a young girl how to braid her bracelet which was a very special moment for me. To wrap up our exchange, all kids and glimpsers (and GGLS) played a big game of soccer which brought the energy and definitely gave the kids (and us) lasting memories. Overall, this activity heavily impacted all who were invloved and I’m so grateful to have been a leader during the culural exchange.

Hi everyone! It’s Shivani. After lunch today, we visited a local cheese farm here in Turrialba run by a dedicated woman, Carla. As we walked through her lush farm, we learned about the process of sustainably making cheese. Carla emphasizes resourceful production, highlighting proper care of cows, and energy conservation. Being able to visually experience the process really taught me about the importance and power of being a consumer in today’s world. In Turrialba, locals are extremely resourceful and aware of what they consume. Being concious of where your products originate from can significantly reduce your impact on the environment and people. After all, we only have one Earth and we all need to take part in caring for it. Along with all the learning we did, we also took part in an ongoing contest. The group was split into two, one being the “Vacas Locas’ and the other being the “Vacas No Locas”. We competed by answering questions, playing games, and making cheese. In the end, the “Vacas No Locas” won. Woooo go team! Overall, visiting the farm was an amazing experience. It is so clear how much love and care is poured into the nature here. It was an absolute privilege being an LDD throughout this tour and I couldn’t ask for a better day.

We ended the day with a special dinner to commemorate our last night in Turrialba. We dressed up and went to a local pizza resturant. Obviously, we took our speaker and blasted music on the bus ride there and back. As we sat at the dinner table we took in all the memories we have had at our base house. After dinner we took many pictures and stopped by a market to get snacks for the next day. Finally, we got on the bus and made it our very own party bus, playing music, singing along, and dancing. We all wanted to make our last night in Turriabla the best one yet, and it without a doubt was. Thanks to everyone for letting us be your LDDs. Ciao!

Big love,

Mia & Shivani <3