Day 4: Community Day (No. 5)

Hello families and loved ones back home!

Today was day 4, community day. We had an opportunity and were able to engage with the Costa Rican culture and communities. We started the day off with breakfast, which included: pancakes, eggs, fruits, yogurt with granola, and some natural fruit juices.

We then had our daily morning warm-up for the day which consisted of reminding everyone of our agenda and things that may be needed for the day. After we departed from our base house, we made our way to the nearby city of Santa Rosa, where we met with families that were part of the community. From there, we got divided into groups where we as LDD’s took on different responsibilities such as translating to non-Spanish speakers, facilitating activities, and encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone.

Instead of having lunch back at the Home Base, every group was served different traditional Costa Rican plates. Group 1 ate arroz con siempre, ensalada de col (coleslaw), and then they had the chance to learn how to make empanadas from scratch. Group 2 had the pleasure of eating rice (mixed with tuna), a salad with tomatoes, lettuce, and carrots (all prepared by the students). In addition, we had frijoles, jugo de manzana (apple juice); along with making tortillas. Lastly, Group 3 were offered arroz con siempre, fideos, picadillo, and ensalada. Furthermore, students also made their own empanadas and tortillas (with cheese).

With the local families we got an opportunity to do many activities like, cooking, drawing, weeding out a garden, raking a patio, singing, hopscotch dancing, potato sack racing, and steal the bacon.

Afterward, most people enjoyed some time cooling off in the pool, followed by dinner, and our nightly meeting, where we ended the night with our new leaders of the day: Jeremy and Amina. To conclude day 4, students took the initiative to host their own sundae bar for our very first movie night!

And to my family and friends, I love and miss you so much, even if I am miles away, I always think and appreciate the fact that I know I will see your faces– waiting for me– as soon as I am home! Costa Rica and its people are amazing and I wish you could be alongside me to see this wonderful perspective I have. See you soon Spice Girls y Mami y Papi – David