We arrived in San Jose last night, after a morning spent in the one room schoolhouse near the Ario rio with five seven-to-ten year old estudiantes and one maestro. We had another amazing cultural immersion at the tiny school, complete with futbol games after our environmental tree study was completed.
The children were so shy at first, but their maestro was by far one of the most tuned in to his students teachers we met. Not that our other maestros weren't great, but this man was so welcoming and encouraging. I have had many moments of hearing pure poetry from some of our Costa Rican guides, or cultural ambassadors if you will.
Alonso the Reserve ranger spoke so eloquently about the natural world and ecosystems around the Caletas/Ario river; the prinicipal of the Bejo Horizonte school spoke to us about how the school has nothing, not even water, and how he and the students look forward to Tucker and Caroline's Friday classes each week.
The people in Costa Rica are so friendly--most of us in our group have been just blown away with how the local community has welcomed us.
The people in Costa Rica are so friendly--most of us in our group have been just blown away with how the local community has welcomed us.
I want to give a brief run down of our days...so our other Marlboro and adult travelers, with the very special 'neuve anos' Delaney sharing her impressions, in later posts still to come. Our internet access was pretty much nil, which was a great part of why we were able to leave the distractions behind and focus more on the community we were trying to be immersed in. 
I feel that our group made a small impact on helping a local community and the Cirenas foundation to move, albeit a bit slowly, toward a goal of sustainability.
I feel that our group made a small impact on helping a local community and the Cirenas foundation to move, albeit a bit slowly, toward a goal of sustainability.
Day 1:
Walk in the Ario/Silvio Reservo with Carolina. Visit with fishermen. I am sure this will be an interesting post from our group as the socio-economic-enviornmental concerns are all evident in an interesting case. Dede, Tucker, and Caitlin explore the back of the Ranch, as already written. Group swims were frequent and fanastic with body surfing lessons and Bongo monkey troup observation, etc.Seed gathering and germiation after dinner with members of the Grew family--Danny (and his great friends from Cornell) and Nathaniel, with a hearfelt speech from Nat Grew about his and his family's dream for the future custodians of this land.
Day 2 Thursday March 20
Walk in the Ario/Silvio Reservo with Carolina. Visit with fishermen. I am sure this will be an interesting post from our group as the socio-economic-enviornmental concerns are all evident in an interesting case. Dede, Tucker, and Caitlin explore the back of the Ranch, as already written. Group swims were frequent and fanastic with body surfing lessons and Bongo monkey troup observation, etc.Seed gathering and germiation after dinner with members of the Grew family--Danny (and his great friends from Cornell) and Nathaniel, with a hearfelt speech from Nat Grew about his and his family's dream for the future custodians of this land.
Day 2 Thursday March 20
Spanish lesson with Cait; seed germination prep for CONGA program
Tamale-making with Nellie
Horse tour through the ranch land with Nathanial Grew, including galloping on the beach!
Tamale-making with Nellie
Horse tour through the ranch land with Nathanial Grew, including galloping on the beach!
Day 3 Friday March 21
Escuela visit at Bejo Horizonte: Seedling planting, Dance contact improv/participation showing the symbiotic relationship of acacia tree and ants, art project . . .
Snorkeling & dinner with Alonso Veindes, Ario Reserve park ranger
Day 4 Saturday March 22
River Walk with Alonso: we got up at 4:30 and Tucker drove us all in the back of the pickup up the river and we walked and swam all the way to the ocean with an individual time for reflection.
Seed Germination and Planting at the main house (including kitchen garden and composting).
Community Garden -- preparation and post-digging with families in the area who work on the ranch who have asked for help in creating a sustainable garden of basics like, corn and squash.
Village Fiesta at Bejo Horizonte with a good futbal match and the entire community gathered.
Escuela visit at Bejo Horizonte: Seedling planting, Dance contact improv/participation showing the symbiotic relationship of acacia tree and ants, art project . . .
Day 4 Saturday March 22
River Walk with Alonso: we got up at 4:30 and Tucker drove us all in the back of the pickup up the river and we walked and swam all the way to the ocean with an individual time for reflection.
Seed Germination and Planting at the main house (including kitchen garden and composting).
Community Garden -- preparation and post-digging with families in the area who work on the ranch who have asked for help in creating a sustainable garden of basics like, corn and squash.
Village Fiesta at Bejo Horizonte with a good futbal match and the entire community gathered.
Day 5 Sunday : Trip to Cabo Blanco to hike through the 45 year-old national park to view the natural forest regeneration. Saw a snake (i.d. to come, but for now it is called the "Snake-Eating-Toad" snake)
Lunch at local cantina; followed by tour of animal hospital called RiverSong, additional tour of their farm and visit with local WWOOF volunteers, Layla and James from Britain.
Day 6 Monday: Visit the Ario river school nearest the ranch; lunch with group debrief, then swim....then van ride to ferry to Puntarenas and San Jose for our last day (though, we are already planning next year and hope to incorporate a river kayaking trip with Carl). . . Looking forward to reading some student posts, and other Cirenas folks (maybe from Tucker y Carolina perhaps, Pam, Delaney, Randy, etc.)
Pura Vida!
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