Day 20

Today we went to Boca Chica and got settled in our homestays. Boca Chica is a small fishing community on the Pacific coast, sheltered from storms by an array of islands off the coast. The village is very cute, with a nice park in the center, and one convenience store.

 In the afternoon, after we were settled, we got on boats and went to a beautiful beach on a small island. We swam and relaxed on the beach and explored the island. There were coconuts and pipas, which are young coconuts whose shells haven't hardened yet. What a beautiful island! It was great to relax after a few intense days in the Naso Community and in Changinola. 

Day 27

Our morning began with picking up the Youth Ambassadors.  The Panamanian Youth Ambassadors are similar to us in that they are a U.S. government-funded program that has allowed them to travel to the U.S., specifically Washington DC, New York, and then half went to Michigan while the other half went to Idaho, in which they learned about recycling, environmentalism, and leadership.  Our groups traveled together to a beach along the Atlantic coast to clean up.  When we arrived we got to hear the U.S. Ambassador to Panama speak. Then we worked side by side with the Youth Ambassadors to pick up trash along the beach shore.  After working in the sun we got to hear from Marianne, a tropical plant specialist from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.  She walked up down one of the piers and pointed out the importance of mangroves for the beach environment.  The mangroves make the ocean a safer place for all kinds of wildlife to exist as well as protecting much of the land from surges.  We also observed from afar the coral reef which created a wall that protects the shores.  During lunch we had the chance to interact with the Youth Ambassadors and hear about their experience in the US.  It was rewarding as well as relaxing to clean and then enjoy the beach on such a bright, hot day.  Once we got back to the City of Knowledge, where we are staying, we got the chance to visit a nearby cafe in which we drank smoothies and coffee and ate churros, empanadas, and carrot cake.  Happy International Youth Day to all those out there reading.

-Fuego Watch Group

Day 26

   Today we woke up around six o´clock.  We had a breakfast of empanadas, fried croquettes, flatbread, an omelet, and pear nectar.  We then proceeded to load the buses in our Aguacate and Bananu groups. 

  We drove about thirty minutes to the Soberania Port to load a boat that would take us to the Smithsonian Tropical Reasearch Institute of Barro Colorado, which is an island about forty minutes away from the mainland.  Once arriving to our destination we saw a presentation about the secondary tropical forest that surrounded us.  From there we split into our watch groups and ventured off into the wild.  We observed many different species of plants and animals including howler monkeys, agouti, woodpeckers, army and leafcutter ants, poison dart frogs, spiders…the list could go on and on.  We were given pamphlets to help us identify the wildlife as we journeyed through the jungle.  We also had the opportunity to talk to some research students about their projects, which were very impressive. 

    We returned to the main building after two hours of exploration and hiking and enjoyed a leisurely lunch.  Following that we watched documentaries made by research students and then loaded the boat to head back to the port.  We arrived back to the City of Knowledge around four o´clock and now students are either preparing their LLPs to present to the Embassy on Monday or have the luxury of some relaxation time.  Later tonight we will have dinner in our respective villas and some group activities.  Its been a fabulous day and promises to be a wonderful night.

Day 25

    This morning we went to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. We learned about marine life and how some species are becoming extinct, like the black sponge. We also saw slugs, sting rays, sharks, sea turtles and sea cucumbers.
   Later we went to the Panama Canal's visitor center and museum. While there, we learned how the canal was built and how it functions on a daily basis. We were able to see a boat go through the one of the locks. There are three sets of locks in the canal, two on the Pacific side and one on the Caribbean. Water in the lock is lowered at a rate of 3 feet per minute. We had a fantastic afternoon learning about the history and future of the canal.
  For dinner we went to a restaurant where we ate traditional Panamanian food and saw dances from across the country. It was a wonderful way to end to our day.

Day 24

   Today we left the National Institute of Agriculture and made our way to Panama City. Even though the bus ride was four hours long, it was worth the wait. We arrived at the City of Knowledge during lunch time where everyone got assigned a Villa (small apartments). City of Knowledge used to be an american military base, but it is now being used for International Educational Programs.
    After the room assignments we got on the bus and took a tour of Panama City. We got to see many stylish modern skyscrapers. Along the way we made stops for shopping. We took the Causeway to the east side of one of the three connected islands, Punta Culebra. The Causeway was built back when the Panama Canal was being developed with the extra rocks extracted from the Panama Canal. There we got to shop for some souvenirs and ice cream.
   During the walking tour we got to see some beautiful historic buildings, some dating back to the 1500's and 1600's. We also got to see some of the Panama Canal, and are looking forward to seeing the rest of it tomorrow. It was a great informative tour of this beautiful city. Today was a great day.

Day 23

    Today we had breakfast at around 8:00 am. Sadly, one of our coordinators had to leave a little early for family business and as we said our goodbyes we cherished the memories and leadership skills he shared with us.  Although he left, we still had a wonderful day were we got to visit different farms here at INA, led by high school students like us.
     We learned different processes from the raising chickens and ducks to drying fruits. Plus, some of us got to see how some of the students here spend their spare time by going to a cultural celebration that the students participated in. At the end if the day they brought home 3rd place but won number one in our hearts. As we welcomed them with warm arms, they played us numerous songs and we even got to dance in celebration bringing both of ours cultures together. To show our thanks we sang our national anthem along with the american and spanish versions of  "We are the world". We enjoyed our time here and have many memories to cherish. Tomorrow Panama City!!!!!!!

Day 22

Today we went on a four-hour drive from Boca Chica to INA (Instituto Nacional de Agricoltura). When we arrived we were given a presentation about CATHLAC who control water management in Central America and give satellite information to the governments of Central America on different environmental issues. After the presentation, three students in INA explained their senior projects about corn, rice, and poultry. The students are required to apply what they’ve learned to a farming project. They sell what they produce at the local market as well as to their own cafeteria. They are then graded on their projects. Afterwards we received a brief presentation about the background of INA. In the presentation we learned that it was only recently that girls were admitted to INA and that there are still a lot more boys than girls.  About 85% of the student body are boys and the remaining are girls.
     After the INA presentation, we finished presenting our LLP’s, which allowed us to gain feedback on improving our individual projects.  Following dinner, we were allowed to converse with the students of INA and watched a musical performance by the students. Many students played soccer with the AYLP members, which allowed them to learn more about the school atmosphere.  There were games of foursquare, knockout, and ping-pong to round out the night.  Overall everyone is very happy to have arrived safely in Divisa and excited for what is to come.

Day 21

Today we woke up around 6:30 am. We had breakfast at Cecilia’s house, which consisted of fish and cornmeal tortillas with cheese.  Following that we gathered in the center of town and played human battleship.  Then we went down to the port and listened to Bob Marley as we loaded the boats.  We cruised the Pacific Ocean for about an hour and half observing the three national parks that surrounded us.  We docked on an island to have lunch on the beach and listen to a presentation about marine conservation.  With a storm coming our way, we decided to quickly boat back to Boca Chica.  We gathered at the center of town once again to compare and contrast our three home-stays: La Argentina, Naso, and Boca Chica.  We then had time to work on our LLP’s and have dinner at Cecilia’s.  A fabulous day!

Day 19

Today we left the Naso Community and returned to Changuinola. It was hard to say goodbye to our host families; we left with a lot of great memories and bug bites. Unfortunately it rained all morning and although we were soaked to the bone, we made it back safely.

After a reunion with our fellow AYLP members and a quick shower, we left to go to David. The four-hour bus ride through the mountains was beautiful and also scary because of the winding roads.

For dinner we split into smaller groups and got to explore the city.  We are excited for a good night’s rest in order to be ready for our homestays tomorrow in Boca Chica.

Day 18

Day 2 in the Naso Community:

This was our first full day in the Naso community. Some of us volunteered to help the Engineers Without Borders, who were building an aqueduct to transport clean mountain spring water into the community. We helped them by collecting rocks to mix with cement, to form a foundation for the aqueducts. Another change coming to the Naso community is the building of a hydroelectric dam. Many of the Naso are against it because they feel that change from outsiders is causing them to lose their culture and language. After helping the Engineers Without Borders, our whole group hiked to the Naso botanical gardens, where we saw a presentation about medicinal plants and traditional medicine. The presentation started with the Naso lighting incense and inviting us to wash our hands with a plant they used as soap. They then passed around samples of plants used to cure different things, from headaches to labor pains. We also learned about Ter, the grandmother goddess of the Naso, who is a spirit one can reach by traveling to a special place on the Teribe River. There is a complicated processes the Naso go through in order to converse with Ter; they have to prepare their bodies and spirits through dieting and abstaining from pleasures. Not all of the Naso go through this process however, today many of them believe in a Christian god, mainly due to the influence of missionaries that have come to their community over the years.

After the botanical gardens, we hiked back down to the community, where we had lunch with our separate families, then met up for a presentation on the politics of the Naso land. As it stands the Naso have a monarchy. The current king is in the process of being removed, because he allowed for the hydro plant to start construction. He no longer lives on sight. As well as a king, the Naso have twelve representatives of the various communities. An interesting note about the Naso, even though they have a monarchy to represent themselves, they also have a mayor to represent them to the Panamanian government.

            Following this, the Naso community presented a small sample of the traditional dances of the Naso people, including a dance done after killing a tiger and a dance done after a victory in battle. Much of the dances were alike, with all the dancers moving around in circles. To finish off the evening a shop was opened of all the artisan crafts of the people, and a soccer game was played between the locals and ourselves.

            Going back to the homes we really got a chance to learn about the Naso community.  The homes we are staying in are very different from our own back at home.  There are no walls in all of the rooms, except the bedrooms and even then the home felt much more open.  The roofs are either made of leaves or tin and most of the houses are raised above the ground on wooden stilts to protect the families´ from animals, mudslides, and flooding.  The open atmosphere goes past the structure of the buildings and continues on in the family structures.  People travel in and out of the house as comfortably as we may travel through a public building.  Because the community is small and families live near each other, most people are comfortable letting themselves into anyone else house to enjoy their company or relax in a different hammock.  Do not be fooled though, this is not a community of total relaxation.  Even those of us who are athletic struggled through the vertical hills covered in slippery mud and hidden rocks.  The athleticism the Naso possess stood out to all of us.  Even more impressive was their eyesight.  Because there is no electricity in the Naso territory, when it got dark outside that was it for light.  We ate dinner in the dark, played instruments in the dark, and conversed with our families in the dark.  While eating in the dark was a bit disconcerting, the food was good.  We primarily ate green bananas, rice, beans, and other fruits and vegetables, all of which they grew there.  They import some of their rice but almost all of the food they eat; they grow or find in the forest. 

            All of us were pushed outside our comfort zones by this experience, but that has allowed for a great deal of learning and a newfound perspective on our own homes. 

Fuego Watchgroup

Day 17

We woke up today at 6:30am with our homestay bags packed and ready to go.  We rode to Roberto Lee’s house, where we have our meals here in Changuinola.  After a breakfast of flatbread and steak, Group Aguacate, consisting of watch groups Tierra and Fuego, drove to the port of the Teribe River.  We were greeted by about twelve men from the Naso community who were ready to outfit us with lifejackets and then we proceeded to board six canoes that were hollowed from tree trunks.  We motored upstream through beautiful scenery for two hours and finally reached our destination.  We unloaded the canoes and had a thirty minute hike uphill to the center of the Naso community.  There we heard a bit about their history and way of life and then were assigned to our homestay families.  We dispersed from there and each journeyed to our separate homes; some were located right across from the meeting center whereas others had to endure an additional forty minute trek, all on foot, which included crossing rivers, climbing mountains, and adventures through bamboo forests.  That night we all experienced dinner in the dark, many insects and a humid atmosphere.  It made us realize how fortunate we truly are and we are all very appreciative of what we have waiting for us at home.  Day one in the Naso territory was a wonderful experience for all.

Day 16

Today has been another outstanding day.  First, we went to the Association of Friends and Neighbors of the Coast and Nature to be introduced to their organization's goals and methods.  They explained that their goal was to help the local ecosystem.  They talked to us about the local wildlife (Sea-turtles and Manatees), and global climate change.

A PhD-student from the university of Nottingham explained the importance of wetlands in relation to global climate change.  George (the grad-student) talked to us about aerobic and anaerobic respiration (which involves peat).   Peat forms when leaves and all organic matter fall to the ground and are covered by water.  Peat is a layer matter that is not fully-brokend down and contains lots of carbon.  When the wetlands are destroyed the carbon is released, contributing to global warming in certain areas.

Afterwards, our group attempted to find Manatees.  We did not succeed in finding Manatees.  So, as a consolation prize we went and viewed baby turtles.  The Association of Friends and Neighbors of the Coast and Nature was incubating baby turtles and then releasing them, to help with the turtles' population growth.

Even though we did not see the Manatees we became of their as a species in the world today.

Day 15

        Today we went on a tour of the Chiquita Banana Plantation.  It was very interesting to notice the differences between the operations of the Earth Banana Plantation and the Chiquita Banana Plantation. One of the differences was that  the workers get paid for the quantity they produce. We also learned that the use of pesticides is a lot more common in the Chiquita factory compared to Earth´s plantation. Rather than making the excess bananas into baby food or using the stems into papers, the Chiquita factory sells the ¨unfit¨ bananas to local vendors.

Our group in a Chiquita Banana container, ready to be shipped! 

            After a long three hour bus ride delayed by workers  protesting (after being laid off without pay from a Chiquita plantation) and road construction, our ride came to an end at the cocoa plantation. There we learned about the process of growing and producing cocoa. For example, plantains were also grown within the farmland beside the cocoa plants. This was so that the soil of the area becomes richer and fertile for higher quality cocoa. As we walked through the farmland, we saw many different colors of cocoa fruit, which indicated different cacao species and hybrids species. 

After a tour around the farm, we were able to taste the sweetness of the natural cocoa flavor in a form of hot chocolate. This elicited cravings amongst our fellow youth leaders. As we enjoyed a touch of the natural hot cocoa, the owner of the farm gave a presentation of the production of the cocoa into various chocolate products. First, the cacao seeds are dried and peeled. After this, the seeds are grinded into chocolate powder or crushed into solid natural chocolate. During this process, you can add sugar or milk into chocolate.

                Although, we had some inconvient traffic, everyone enjoyed the chocolate filled end. 

Day 14

Today we leave for Panama.  We were all ready to go, when we learned that there would be a delay.  There were two reasons for this.  It's the last time we will be able to do laundry, so we overloaded the housekeeping crew.  The second reason is that a town en route to Panama is having a strike.  The local government has increased water prices, causing the townspeople to protest.  They are striking in the street, blocking traffic and there is no other way to get around.  We will be updated at eleven o'clock as to the conditions of the revolt. 

Our oppurtunities to access internet will be very limited; therefore, student's responses will be lessened.  Rest assured that we are all smiling and eager to take the second step in our adventure!

Day 13

Today was a day of reflection. We got together as a group and discussed stories from our homestays and our white water rafting trip yesterday. It was great to hear the experiences that everyone else had while at their homestays and how they compared to how we live in the United States. 

We also had “solos” where we sat on our own for a few hours and reflected upon anything in our lives that may be emotionally holding us back from taking full advantage of this opportunity. After how busy the last few weeks have been it was nice to have some time to ourselves and reflect on all that we’ve done.

Later we gathered as a large group and had the opportunity to release any baggage that could possibly hold us back from enjoying Panama and the rest of our time together. We sat in a circle and lit a candle representing our concerns and were able to leave them in the middle and walk away.

All of the reflection we did today prepared us for Panama and we are ready to continue the rest of our journey together!

Day 12

Today we got picked up from our homestays in La Argentina. It was wonderful ¨experiencing how to live,¨ which was one of the slogans of one of the farms named Raices. After saying goodbye to our gracious hosts we headed off to white water rafting! We adventured through numerous exciting rapids and throughly enjoyed the experience. We then had a delicious typical costa rican lunch provided by the rafting crew. We really worked up an appetite. Following lunch we returned to Earth University and reclaimed our old rooms and roomates. Then we were off to the cultural celebration! The Earth Univeristy international students showed us dances from their homelands, which included Mexico, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Colombia, and even bellydancing from the Middle East. In addition to those impressive performances we enjoyed feast upon linens. The day was full of terrific new experiences and it ended with everyone dancing the night away! A fabulous Day 12!

Day 10

        At La Finca Maria Jose, before a long day of work we treated our host family to breakfast, Huevos Rancheros. It was awesome that some of us were able to get together and bond while making a tilapia pond. The locals challenged us to a soccer game and despite the home field advantage we took them down #TeamUSA. Mixing fun with learning was a plus because we learned so much about the medicinal  gardens and a lot of the crops that they grow on the farm from star fruit to sugarcane, we even made our own soaps.

       At La Finca Raices, we got to move lobsters from a pool to an actual pond, I never thought I would actually get to see a live lobster. Not to mention the priceless memory of playing with the adorable little baby chickens that were only two days old. This farm is like the ultimate tree house, I LOVE IT HERE!!!!!

      At Finca La Virgen, we got to make chocolate from cacao fruit, fresh off of the tree. We helped Dona Chipita make jewelry and she was generous enough to give us legit turquoise earrings. It was lovely the night before to get a chance to bond with Chipita and her family while dancing the night away.

Day 9

Hola amigos!

Today we got dropped off at our first homestays in the community La Argentina.  We are staying on “fincas” (farms) for three nights and four days.  Each finca has a different focus such as dairy, tilapia, poultry or bamboo.  Every home contains at least three students.  While there we will parttake in the typical farm routine.  This may include milking cows, collecting eggs or planting trees.  This will be a wonderful time to improve our Spanish skills and to learn about the lifestyles of a Costa Rican famer.  The houses are all along the same main road but some require quite the hike.  One house has one hundred stairs to climb down through the rainforest, past waterfalls; another has about a mile and a half trek.  Though these may not seem very tasking, it gets tiring with all of our equipment…but is so very worth it!  For these next few days, we all look forward to being further enriched with the delightful culture of Costa Rica.

Written by: Tierra

Day 8

Today marks our eighth day in Costa Rica.  We took a trip to the dairy farm on the Earth campus where we observed the inner workings of their sustainability processes.  After splitting up in groups, we got to see three sections of the farm.  At one of the sections we got a chance to see pigs.  We got to see how they raised the pigs from infants to adults in different pens.  The pigs diet consisted of bananas and sugar cane, along with other leftovers from the cafeteria on the campus.  They are participants in a sustainable process; their waste doesn't go to waste!  The pig manure is used in two separate but vital processes of the farm, the first of which is energy converted by the use of a biodigestive system.  The second process was to use the solid waste as fertilizer for the farm.  The compost is synthesized by California Red Worms, and then used in the fields for multiple crops.  The third process we observed was the milking of cows, in which a calf and the machine would receive milk simultaneously.  The cows are only milked once a day, which is better for the cows, and more cost efficient for the farmers.  The cows' waste was also used in the biodigestive system.
After the dairy farm we got a chance to learn about the banana farms on the Earth University campus.  We learned that you can only grow one bunch of bananas, which is about 70 lbs., per plant.  The plants were so large they appeared to be trees.  The trees hold a lot of water inside and grow very quickly.  From day one to harvesting, it takes about nine months to grow the bananas.  The bananas are surrounded by recyclable bags which protect them from unwanted fungus and insects.  Technically, the bananas are not considered organic, but only one pesticide is used to prevent one disease that would devastate the entire population.  The university is currently in the process of developing an organic pesticide for the bananas.  There is a single banana that grows slightly bellow the rest of the bananas on the bunch.  This banana is used a precautionary measure for diseases.  If there was to be some sort of infestation that banana would show signs first and the farmers could react accordingly without sacrificing the bunch.  Once the bananas are ready to be exported they remove the bunches, cut down the tree so a new tree can grow in it's place, and attach the bananas to a motorized track that carry the bananas to the processing plant.  The track carries 90 to 100 bunches of bananas at a time.  At the plant the bananas are sprayed with chlorine and water to clean the plant and remove bugs.  Next they are carried down the track to workers who cut them into more manageable sizes, thrown into water with a current so that they can be sorted for certain markets.  Bananas of a certain size and color are sent to America, about 95% of the bananas at the university.  Four percent of the bananas are sent to Europe and the remaining 1% are kept for regional markets.  The bananas that are unsuitable for the consumers are either used to feed the livestock or sent to Gerber to be processed for baby food.
After lunch we visited the Urban Farm Karibu, which is a student led enterprise.  A group of six students from various countries all over the world run the farms.  The purpose of these farms is dual, it is both to create a product as well as inform visitors of sustainable methods of farming that they can bring back to their communities.  We saw an experiment with three substitute soils; charcoal, rice husks, and coconut fibers.  Karibu farmers grew a variety of plants in these soils and the point was that they all could produce the same product but at different levels management.  We saw medicinal gardens and sausages which are gardens confined to a hanging plastic bags.  All plants need nutrition, sun, water, temperature control, and aeration.  We also got a chance to interact in a hands on environment, where we learned about plants that worked as sunscreen, bug repellent, pigment, made sour foods taste sweet, and soothed inflamed skin.  We helped with weeding, raking, weaving palms, and planted chilies.
To end the day we got the chance to talk to Professor Mario Piedra, who spoke about capital and the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social.  This helped in the context of our upcoming home stays.  He advised us to be aware of everything we were experiencing including roads, water availability, dreams of the families', and types of crops.  This will be our last blog post for the next three days while we are staying with the families.
-Fuego Watch Group

Our first stop was at the U.S. Embassy, Costa Rica where we received welcome and presentations from the cultural, agricultural, and environmental agents. The cultural agent explained how the U.S. embassy's main priority was to help citizens abroad. The environmental agent talked about statistics and how they're reaching into communities to address environmental issues. An example is how in the city of San Jose, the concern for recycling is not a priority as it is to the rest of the country. However, Costa Rica expects to be carbon neutral by 2021. We next heard from the agriculture agent who discussed imports and exports of agriculture goods over the last three years and the overall economic goals of the U.S. in Costa Rica. For instance, he discussed the U.S. trying to reduce the Costa Rican rice subsidies.

On our way out of San Jose, we stopped at a store, Kiosco, that promotes current local art. Most of the art is recycled and the procedes from some of the sales go to organizations such as UNICEF that helps single mothers find jobs.

We left San Jose on Route 32, headed to Earth University in Limon, Guacimo. During our bus ride we went through the midget cloud forest and saw a beautiful scenery. The trip lasted two and a half hours. Once we arrived, we were greeted and received a presentation.

They gave us an introduction to Earth University and the different studies and countries that are involved here. While going through the applications, their main focus is on leadership skills and individuals that can be agents of change. Earth University has a wide diversity of students from all over the world. The interview process is lenghty because over 900 individual interviews are held, but only 100 are accepted. Some of the new incoming students are challenged because classes are in Spanish and they must learn the language in six weeks. As juniors, students are given a loan from $1 up to $3,000 develop a successful marketing plan. This is done so they are prepared to be leaders in their community upon graduation. One team presented their project to the GYLI participants.

Then we were given a tour of the campus and ate a fantastic meal.

Day 6

We began our day with a scavenger hunt that our Spanish teachers organized around the city. We were asked to visit the municipality building, the pharmacy, the local church, the public library and a souvenir shop, and ask local for addresses to these places. During this process, we learned that Costa Ricans do not use exact addresses, instead they describe where a place is in relation to popular points of reference and by relative distance:  “100 meters from the bakery in the corner.”

We also had the opportunity to visit Santa Ana’s Farmers Market and try many of the local flavors. We tried mamones chinos, moras, cas, zapotes and guavas. We tasted delicious Salvadorean pupusas, incredible fruit juices and tasty baked goods. We enjoyed interacting with the Santa Anianos and experiencing a typical Sunday in Costa Rica!

In the afternoon we visited the downtown area of San Jose. Despite it being the weekend and traffic not being as overwhelming as we were told it usually is, we did experience the hustle and bussle of the city around the most touristy areas: the National Theatre, Paseo Colon and Calle Central. At the Mercado del Pastor we were able to admire the colorful handicrafts and buy souvenirs for our families.

We closed the evening with an unforgettable farewell dinner prepared by the United World College cooking staff. After trying the amazing flan they prepared for us, we headed to the amphitheater to enjoy each other’s company and artistic skills at our first talent show. We were all very impressed with our peers’ willingness to share their poetry, voices and great sense of humor. What a wonderful day!  

Day 5

Today we left Earth University La Flor in Guancaste and traveled to the capital city, San Jose.  It was a four hour bus ride that included sights of exciting new terrain including red clay, the Pacific Ocean, mountains, and rivers.  Along the way we stopped at a common rest place for Ticos (natives) to use the restrooms and visit el supermercado.  Most of the students purchased foreign chips and treats to enjoy along the rest of the way.

We arrived at United World College Costa Rica just in time for lunch, which was wonderful.  After that, we got to know each other better in a group activity.  We also got new roommates.  We had Spanish lessons with our same professors who actually teach here at UWC.  San Jose is much cooler than Guancaste and it’s much less humid which is terrific.  Overall, Day 5 was very successful and exciting.

Day 4

                The day started on the heels of a thunderstorm. After a handful of days of go-go-go! we were finally given a day for some lighter activities. Starting with a great breakfast of (what else would you have in Costa Rica?) rice, beans and eggs, we played a few games as a group to get to know each other a little better. However, the main event was the arrival of the Costa Rican Access students. For those unaware, the Access students are part of a program designed to allow Costa Rican schoolchildren to have access to English.

                The AYLP participants and Access students introduced themselves to one another, and as a group everyone went around and shared something that they brought to represent the comunity. The Americans had a variety of items including books, keychains, pictures, and more. On the Costa Rican side, items included pictures of home, a miniature clay oven, and pictures of a small Ox Cart. After this meet-and-greet, the students broke of into groups to do a little research on the culture of Costa Rica and America. The Access students and AYLP participants worked together to create interactive presentations about cultural elements like Costa Rican music, food, pop culture, and sports which were presented to the whole group. The Access students varied in their ability to speak English (as the AYLP participants did with Spanish), but both sides made an effort to communicate and break the language barrier. It also was a good practice for the AYLP participants, who will be completely immersed in Spanish during their homestays later in the month.

                By the end of the day, ever yone had learned some new things, and more importantly, made some friends. One of these new-found friendships stands out however: Cheyenne (AYLP) and Brenda (Access). During their time together Cheyenne discovered that her and Brenda shared much in common, and in fact they even had the same dream to one day be very successful. However, one thing differed between the two. Brenda´s plan started with going to the United States. Cheyenne was so moved that she wrote a small poem for Brenda, encouraging her to chase her dreams. The two bonded through this experience, and they exchanged numbers so that they can keep in contact, and Cheyenne promised, even if it takes twenty years, that she will help Brenda complete the first part of her plan.

This marks the last day of Universidad Earth La Flor for the AYLP participants. Tomorrow, we head off to United World College Costa Rica located outside the capital, San Jose.

Day Three

We started our morning with a tour to the general manager of Earth´s plantations.  The presentations that we saw included the methane tank, biowaste digester, the mango fields and rice fields.  Here we learned about the techniques they use while farming.

The bio-digester is built on a premise of a single family unit that is able to collect the biowaste of a unit family and convert that into a methane gas.  With this concept in place,they would be able to heat the house, run a generator ,and provide lumination. 

The researchers at Earth University have been coming up with new ways to more efficiently produce mangos.  Traditional plantations had fewer, larger trees but Earth has being trying different methods that allow for more efficient production.  For example,  they trim the roots  to keep the trees small and plant more.  These methods have increased mango yield.

 While visiting the rice fields, we learned from a professional at Earth that they have also been changing their production methods.  This is because rice production to them is in its infancy (They have only been harvesting rice for five years).  What they have found to be useful was to avoid the use of pesticides by incorporating fungi to avoid pest infestation to the crop.

Later in the morning, we had another presentation dealing with water preservation.  To retain the water in the rainy season,  a retention pond was made.  This collected rain water which would later be used during the dry season.  These techniques are new to the local farmers and education began as a slow process but once the farmers were able to go on site to see the practical use they were more willing to discuss the use of these methods. 

Our afternoon consisted of spanish classes that met the level of participants whether they were beginning, intermediate or advanced.  That concluded our busy day! 

Watch Group Aire.