This past June, 39 Tri-Valley Students, chaperones, and TV Spanish teacher Mrs. Moore traveled to Costa Rica for an educational, exciting and memorable experience like no other.
For many students, this was their first time ever going abroad. Traveling on a plane or venturing out without a parent/guardian on a vacation was a new experience for quite a few of them.
For eight days the students took in the Costa Rican culture and Spanish language. Students thought the local cuisine was interesting. They tried sugar cane juice which they freshly-pressed with an old fashion hand machine at an organic farm. Eating rice and beans for breakfast (gallo pinto) was a different way to kick off the day.
This outdoor adventure tour exposed the students to a wealth of diverse activities from ziplining through the rain forest, horseback riding through the mountains of central Costa Rica, and embarking on an alligator boat tour on the Tárcoles River which Mrs. Moore described as “mind-blowing”. Students took part in a guided night tour to observe local animals in their natural habitat. They also got to see sloths, red-eyed tree frogs, monkeys, coatis, and other wildlife during a hike through the rain forest.
“The scenery overall was probably the most spectacular,” said Mrs. Moore. Breathtaking sites like the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Arenal Volcano, coastal beaches, mountains, a rainforest, lakes and Manuel Antonio National Park were enjoyed by everyone. Other places of interest included hot springs, an organic farm, and a tour of a coffee plantation which included samples of coffee.
A trip to a local elementary school, San Rafael de Chachagua allowed students to reflect on the differences between their school and the Costa Rican classrooms they visited. The school only had three or four rooms in the entire building and it was very rustic compared to what the Tri-Valley students are used to. There were no smart boards and no air conditioning. The students learned that the school year begins in early February and ends in early December in Costa Rica. Uniforms are worn by students regardless of whether they are enrolled in a private or public school. Costa Ricans attend primary school for six years and secondary school for only three. They are taught the English language beginning in their first six years of school. They are 15 when they enter college and only have six universities to choose from. Visiting with the elementary school kids was a highlight of the trip. Costa Rican students danced for their guests. Mrs. Moore’s nine-year-old daughter, Priya, who attends Frazeysburg Elementary, loved her time visiting San Rafael de Chachagua.
The trip wound down with beach activities near the capital city of San José. One of the stand-out activities was surf lessons where students were able to ride the waves in. A folklore evening of dinner, dancing and a show overlooking the city concluded the trip.
The Dominican Republic is the next destination for students this coming June. Students will have the opportunity to volunteer in an orphanage among an agenda of other fun and educational experiences planned for the “Make a Difference Tour”. There are still a few spots open for that trip which like the Costa Rica one, is open to all Tri-Valley High Schol students.
