Archive for June, 2009
Activity with Host Family – June 21st
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The students spent Father’s Day with their host families. They described the day as fun, a wonderful way to form emotional connections with their family, met new people, experience the culture, practice Spanish and go new places. Their experiences ranged from big family dinners, going roller-skating, going to the supermarket, walking around town and watching movies. Many students enjoyed the Día de San Juan activities with their families while included music and dancing in the plaza near the center of town.
Isla Tortuga Beach Cruise – June 20th
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This was a very relaxing day. We drove to a cruise ship in Puntarenus on a chartered bus and then took the ship out to Isla Tortuga. On the ship, the students took full advantage of the nets for sunbathing, the small pools to cool off, and the fruit and juice bar to quench hunger and thirst. On the island, a group of us went snorkeling and saw all kinds of interesting fish while everyone else played volleyball, enjoyed the sun, and went swimming. We also had a fabulous four-course lunch and all felt very relaxed and happy throughout the day.
Shopping – June 19th
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The students loved going to an artisan market in San José and then lunch and shopping at the mall in San Pedro. They all begged for more time at the market because they loved the unique jewelry, all the color and the cheaper prices. The mall was a fun way to end the morning because although it is similar to malls in the United States, it has different stores and there are more people to interact with.
Country Club – June 18th
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We went to the beautiful country club Ojo de Agua. There were 3 big pools for the students to swim in, a lake where they could rent kayaks, beautiful trails to walk on, soccer fields and basketball courts. The students had the most fun on the waterfall that they could sit on and jumping off the high dives. They encouraged each other to jump off the highest diving board and took lots of pictures as proof.
Bowling – June 17th
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We went bowling in San Pedro. It was really fun because everyone supported each other no matter the skill level. In addition, the students loved the extra bonding time and seeing ticos out enjoying themselves as well.
Service Learning – June 17th
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Today we went to a local school in a poorer area. The majority of the students taught English to increasing age levels. They taught numbers, colors, the alphabet and songs in English. We also played with the children on the playground during their break. Another group of students helped weed the area around the tree garden. They said it was hard work, but very satisfying because they knew they were making a difference in beatifying the school.
Sports – June 16th
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First, we went to a local school where the students participated in a P.E class with 6 year olds. We played, hot potato, statue and basketball where we had to lift the small children to reach the basket. Then, when the school was on break we played soccer, tug-of-war and jump robe with any local child who wanted to play with us. The students had a blast practicing their Spanish and exercising in a fun way.
Social – June 15th
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We went to a restaurant that had all kinds of games including foosball, billiards, and darks. In addition, there were lots of cards and dominos available to play with and food to snack on. The students loved getting to know each other better in this laid back environment. In addition, members of host families were invited and this encouraged the students to practice their Spanish.
Art Class – June 15th
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Our excellent Art teacher Doña Karen taught us how to make beautiful Father’s Day cards for our Dads back home and our papás Tico. The students enjoyed doing an art activity that had a purpose and many gave the card to their papá Tico.
Overnight Trip to Arenal – June 13th-14th, 2009
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The students loved their trip to the Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs. The hot springs were particularly popular as well as the swimming pools with slides. They said it was very relaxing and a good time to bond as a group. They also said the hotel accommodations were very nice.
