First day in costa rica

Today we visited Turrialba! We walked to the bus stop and it was very fun, it was like a mini hike. When we arrived to the Turrialba, Memo (guide) provided information about Turrialba. It was very interesting and cool to learn about the history of Turrialba. We headed to the market and the people were very nice about everything I see why Costa Rica is in the top 10 of the happiest places in the world.

So far the food has been great. Everything has been delicious. When we went to the market I bought fruits and they were way better then the ones in the U.S. everything was sweeter. The strawberries were my favorite and the watermelon was very good as well. After we made it back to the cabins and we played hide and seek which was very fun! – Ivan

Waking up early for Turrialba is something I would have never imagine I would be saying. While being the leader of the day can sometimes be nerve racking, I believe that helping lead the group was fun and an important sense of responsibility. I learnt about the similarities in all Latin America countries, but also what stands out about Costa Rica. The people are welcoming and inclusive, even if you are not from the country.

I enjoyed seeing the groups stand out and interact with locals in the area! The language barrier for some did not affect or influence how the group would respond. The Spanish speakers took initiative to help those who were finding difficulty in communicating with locals. It was a very wholesome moment to witness and I am proud to see that my peers and I are doing our best to take the most out of this trip.

Overall, this trip will have a positive impact on all of us, whether that is making big or small decisions, taking the role as a leader, or spreading kindness and even knowledge across all different types of communities! – Andrea