Author: Zoe
Location: Flippin sweet bus, hot springs
There were many highs and lows on the 29th of July. Beginning with a low of saying goodbye to our home stay families and then a four-hour bus ride, which included an intense game of Jotta. But when we arrived at he supermarket and then a dip in a hot, delightful and of course delicious thermal pools at our new wonderful hotel that looks over a sizzling and active volcano. We were filled with joy. This morning I was woken by the piercing of the rooster and the delectable smell of empanadas, eggs, and big surprise Gallo Pinto! As amazing as breakfast was, leaving our families caused many tears to fall. We all received our family pictures form Friday's fiesta! Which will be treasured forever with our family portraits in hand my comrades and I boarded our bus were we soon arrived at the best milkshake place know to man. Although the mint chocolate chip milkshakes may make Evan a wee bit gassy, that was by far the best flavor to order. After stopping for milkshakes, my comrades and I stopped at a local day care to pain a wall of theirs. Finally arriving at Kyoto, everyone was eager to take a dip into the many thermal pools that awaited us lifeworkers. After dinner some of us still wanted to go swimming once again and were lucky enough to be able to lay in the hot tubs while stargazing. A good end to our day, everyone then went to sleep anxiously awaiting for tomorrows horseback riding mud bathing.
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Sunday, July 29, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
The First Farewell
Author: Erin L
Location: La Carpio, La Cine
We all got to sleep in this morning (9 o'clock) and were well prepared for our final day in La Carpio. Activities at the street fair included hopscotch, jewellery, coloring, jump-rope, balloon animals, and airplane flying. I was at the jewellery making table with Paris, as soon as we sat down the kids swarmed us. We can't help that the kids love us. From our area if you take a casual glance around you would see smiling kids faces running around going crazy (and also you would see Mike and his new balloon making skills being put to the test by sugar high kids). As a farewell to the kids in La Carpio we presented them with a delicious cake and said goodbye. Later we all went to el cine, due to some hook-ups by Gail we got to see the much anticipated Harry Potter movie. Even though it was in English it was fun to read the Spanish subtitles. This has been a very Harry Potter enriched trip with two of our members in the group reading the 7th book, you can always hear the angry; Stop talking about Harry Potter I don't want to hear anything!! After the movie we were all picked up by our homestay families and taken home, out on the town, or to a fiesta depending on the family. They wanted to spend the last night with us. It was sad knowing that this was our last night with our families, we are all gong to miss them very much.
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Location: La Carpio, La Cine
We all got to sleep in this morning (9 o'clock) and were well prepared for our final day in La Carpio. Activities at the street fair included hopscotch, jewellery, coloring, jump-rope, balloon animals, and airplane flying. I was at the jewellery making table with Paris, as soon as we sat down the kids swarmed us. We can't help that the kids love us. From our area if you take a casual glance around you would see smiling kids faces running around going crazy (and also you would see Mike and his new balloon making skills being put to the test by sugar high kids). As a farewell to the kids in La Carpio we presented them with a delicious cake and said goodbye. Later we all went to el cine, due to some hook-ups by Gail we got to see the much anticipated Harry Potter movie. Even though it was in English it was fun to read the Spanish subtitles. This has been a very Harry Potter enriched trip with two of our members in the group reading the 7th book, you can always hear the angry; Stop talking about Harry Potter I don't want to hear anything!! After the movie we were all picked up by our homestay families and taken home, out on the town, or to a fiesta depending on the family. They wanted to spend the last night with us. It was sad knowing that this was our last night with our families, we are all gong to miss them very much.
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Friday, July 27, 2007
The Grand Entrega
Author: Louise L
Location: La Carpio
After weeks of hard work on the playground, today was the day that we got to reveal our creation to the kindergarteners of La Carpio. With faces full of excitement and anticipation, the little boys and girls filed into the back lot where the playground awaited them. Us life-workers got assigned the task of acting out what not to do on the playground. The five rules were no garbage, no pushing, no defacing the walls or equipment, no eating, and a single file line when entering the playground. After the revealing ceremony, the kids were given watermelon, as well as Popsicle stick "keys" sating "su playground de esparanza" meaning "your playground of hope" to commemorate the event.
That afternoon, we went back to Anna's ranch and were given the option to stay and enjoy some free time at the ranch, or to go back to our homestays. Everyone besides Hilary, Deborah, Richard and some of the boys went back to their homestays to relax. We found out later that we missed out on an intense game of sardines that they all played in the pouring rain!
After a few hours of some much needed relaxation, everyone and their homestay families gathered at Anna's ranch for a potluck fiesta. The night was filled with tons of good food, music, and dancing. From the games of musical chairs, to being graced by the voices of other life-workers singing karaoke, the night was a hit; all the while, Cascade was blinged out in a gangster shirt and cornrows. The love and compassion expressed and symbolized by the life-workes and the families that night are what lifeworks and the humanitarian foundation are all about.
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Location: La Carpio
After weeks of hard work on the playground, today was the day that we got to reveal our creation to the kindergarteners of La Carpio. With faces full of excitement and anticipation, the little boys and girls filed into the back lot where the playground awaited them. Us life-workers got assigned the task of acting out what not to do on the playground. The five rules were no garbage, no pushing, no defacing the walls or equipment, no eating, and a single file line when entering the playground. After the revealing ceremony, the kids were given watermelon, as well as Popsicle stick "keys" sating "su playground de esparanza" meaning "your playground of hope" to commemorate the event.
That afternoon, we went back to Anna's ranch and were given the option to stay and enjoy some free time at the ranch, or to go back to our homestays. Everyone besides Hilary, Deborah, Richard and some of the boys went back to their homestays to relax. We found out later that we missed out on an intense game of sardines that they all played in the pouring rain!
After a few hours of some much needed relaxation, everyone and their homestay families gathered at Anna's ranch for a potluck fiesta. The night was filled with tons of good food, music, and dancing. From the games of musical chairs, to being graced by the voices of other life-workers singing karaoke, the night was a hit; all the while, Cascade was blinged out in a gangster shirt and cornrows. The love and compassion expressed and symbolized by the life-workes and the families that night are what lifeworks and the humanitarian foundation are all about.
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Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Grass is always greener
Author: Jusitn L
Location: La Carpio, San Jose
I was greeted this morning by a pancake breakfast, having slept through the previous P.B. (pancake breakfast). I was super pumped. Right then I knew today would be a good day. Team lifeworks 07'assembled at Anna's house around 8 and withdrew money for the day's shopping spree in San Jose. Before we could shop however, we returned to la Carpio to finish up our murals and lay sod. After housing our grassy carpets as to maximize the soddage and minimize the dusty rocky-dirt-age. Team impressionist art finished up completing mural scenes of butterfly wings and anatomically inaccurate mountain climbers. We wrapped things up around noon and headed over to San Jose to commence "shopping extraoanza 07". The group split up and meandered through endless alleys lined with merchants and their crazy selection of Costa Rican treats. In the end, the group amassed over a mile combined length of machete blade and countless canastas, along with shoes and mamas chines, which are small strawberry-like fruit covered in wiry barbs that, Once cracked open house white orbs that although have the consistency of a goat's eyeballs, are dee-lishus (in elan's accent). After returning to tour home stay house, team LW assembled once more at Anna's to construct small giveaways for the kids at tomorrows grand opening of the playground. We wrote, "su play de la esperanza -FHCR/LW" on heart Popsicle sticks. Tomorrow promise to be an exciting and rewarding day as we hand the playground over to "los nios de la epsperanza" of La Carpio. This is J-bone signing out. Representing the Garden State- See ya.
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Location: La Carpio, San Jose
I was greeted this morning by a pancake breakfast, having slept through the previous P.B. (pancake breakfast). I was super pumped. Right then I knew today would be a good day. Team lifeworks 07'assembled at Anna's house around 8 and withdrew money for the day's shopping spree in San Jose. Before we could shop however, we returned to la Carpio to finish up our murals and lay sod. After housing our grassy carpets as to maximize the soddage and minimize the dusty rocky-dirt-age. Team impressionist art finished up completing mural scenes of butterfly wings and anatomically inaccurate mountain climbers. We wrapped things up around noon and headed over to San Jose to commence "shopping extraoanza 07". The group split up and meandered through endless alleys lined with merchants and their crazy selection of Costa Rican treats. In the end, the group amassed over a mile combined length of machete blade and countless canastas, along with shoes and mamas chines, which are small strawberry-like fruit covered in wiry barbs that, Once cracked open house white orbs that although have the consistency of a goat's eyeballs, are dee-lishus (in elan's accent). After returning to tour home stay house, team LW assembled once more at Anna's to construct small giveaways for the kids at tomorrows grand opening of the playground. We wrote, "su play de la esperanza -FHCR/LW" on heart Popsicle sticks. Tomorrow promise to be an exciting and rewarding day as we hand the playground over to "los nios de la epsperanza" of La Carpio. This is J-bone signing out. Representing the Garden State- See ya.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Some Natural Healing
Author: Gwen
Location: La Carpio, Quitirrisi Indigenous Healing Temple
Today on a particularly damp day, it was quite humid (duh) and hot. We started off our day on a bit of disappointment when we found out that we wouldn't be spending our precious Frankin's (dollars) on goods. Instead we would be going to meet the medicine healer of an indigenous group that originated in Costa Rica. Anyway we went to La Carpio and half of us got to teach the cuties in kindergarten and the other half started our murals. Of course mine is the best with a rainbow and a sun wearing shades but other than that we all did an awesome job. Since we had moved in with our homestay families the night before, we couldn't wait for our 5 lbs. Lunch pails made with love . We actually got in trouble because we started going to town on our pear juiceboxes and gallo pinto, before cleaning up, but it was definitely worth the wait. When we had packed up and headed towards the mountain. We spent the next hour painting the boys' hands while they were sleeping and we documented the whole scene. Upon arrival we had to gallop through thundershowers and soggy clay down to a hut. We were greeted by the son of the healer and were introduced to physical and spiritual sickness that the world faces today. We then ventured into the world of plants that did miracles. During which Mother Nature decided to take a shower and make us run to the hut and hover over a fire in order to warm our buns. Little did I know that sparks would get on my legs, but I survived. After we crushed sugar cane and made juice, it was definitely the best sugar high I have ever experienced. We returned to the rancho where we learned the art of salsa and became the next dancing with the stars. Peace in the middle east, I'm Gwen and Out.
Location: La Carpio, Quitirrisi Indigenous Healing Temple
Today on a particularly damp day, it was quite humid (duh) and hot. We started off our day on a bit of disappointment when we found out that we wouldn't be spending our precious Frankin's (dollars) on goods. Instead we would be going to meet the medicine healer of an indigenous group that originated in Costa Rica. Anyway we went to La Carpio and half of us got to teach the cuties in kindergarten and the other half started our murals. Of course mine is the best with a rainbow and a sun wearing shades but other than that we all did an awesome job. Since we had moved in with our homestay families the night before, we couldn't wait for our 5 lbs. Lunch pails made with love . We actually got in trouble because we started going to town on our pear juiceboxes and gallo pinto, before cleaning up, but it was definitely worth the wait. When we had packed up and headed towards the mountain. We spent the next hour painting the boys' hands while they were sleeping and we documented the whole scene. Upon arrival we had to gallop through thundershowers and soggy clay down to a hut. We were greeted by the son of the healer and were introduced to physical and spiritual sickness that the world faces today. We then ventured into the world of plants that did miracles. During which Mother Nature decided to take a shower and make us run to the hut and hover over a fire in order to warm our buns. Little did I know that sparks would get on my legs, but I survived. After we crushed sugar cane and made juice, it was definitely the best sugar high I have ever experienced. We returned to the rancho where we learned the art of salsa and became the next dancing with the stars. Peace in the middle east, I'm Gwen and Out.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Big bugs to rafting to adoption day
Author: Zara
Location: La Selva y Aguas Bravas (Sarapiqui)
This morning it felt as though we woke up at the break of dawn. We were getting ready to leave the biological station, la selva, but only after our breakfast at the cafeteria and our tour through the jungle while getting eaten alive by mosquitos and melting from the humidity. The highlight of the day was by far the river rafting on the sarapiqui river. The two hour ride was filled with embarrassing moments such as crashing helmets with Deborah and missing the raft when trying to swim against the current with Justin. About half way through, our guide relinquished control to Deborah who took his position and proved her ability to captain the raft and steered the raft to safety. At the end of the trip, everyone had a chance to prove their bravery by jumping off a ten meter bridge. Everyone had been looking forward to this moment, and once we jumped, everyone was angry that we could only jump once! We then had an amazing lunch at Aguas Bravas. Many were sad to leave the place and of course the very good looking staff. We then loaded the bus, ready to greet our homestay families upon our return to Santa Ana in three hours. I was paired with Kelsea to stay with an amazing and excited family. They have three kids: a gargantuan 15 yr old boy who is apparently the best goalie, a 12 yr old girl who is a very intelligent and diligent student, and a 9 yr old boy who likes to terrorize their seventy-something yr old dog. Dinner was immediately served once we arrived and thankfully our clothes were given to get washed. Kelso and I tried to carry on conversation with Lorena (in spanish of course). We got ready for bed around 8 o clock since we were so tired, but not before we had some rich and sweet hot chocolate out on the porch.
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Location: La Selva y Aguas Bravas (Sarapiqui)
This morning it felt as though we woke up at the break of dawn. We were getting ready to leave the biological station, la selva, but only after our breakfast at the cafeteria and our tour through the jungle while getting eaten alive by mosquitos and melting from the humidity. The highlight of the day was by far the river rafting on the sarapiqui river. The two hour ride was filled with embarrassing moments such as crashing helmets with Deborah and missing the raft when trying to swim against the current with Justin. About half way through, our guide relinquished control to Deborah who took his position and proved her ability to captain the raft and steered the raft to safety. At the end of the trip, everyone had a chance to prove their bravery by jumping off a ten meter bridge. Everyone had been looking forward to this moment, and once we jumped, everyone was angry that we could only jump once! We then had an amazing lunch at Aguas Bravas. Many were sad to leave the place and of course the very good looking staff. We then loaded the bus, ready to greet our homestay families upon our return to Santa Ana in three hours. I was paired with Kelsea to stay with an amazing and excited family. They have three kids: a gargantuan 15 yr old boy who is apparently the best goalie, a 12 yr old girl who is a very intelligent and diligent student, and a 9 yr old boy who likes to terrorize their seventy-something yr old dog. Dinner was immediately served once we arrived and thankfully our clothes were given to get washed. Kelso and I tried to carry on conversation with Lorena (in spanish of course). We got ready for bed around 8 o clock since we were so tired, but not before we had some rich and sweet hot chocolate out on the porch.
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Monday, July 23, 2007
Travel, boating, eating and strolling around in the jungle.
Author: Kelsea
Location: La Selva
We woke up this morning at the nice late hour of 8:00. The day definitely began as a scorcher. The breakfast table was covered in the usual array of bread, fruit, eggs and gallo-pinto. We made the long three hour trek in the boat where a dance contest that occurred between Hillary, Richard, Gwen, and Even. Gwen and Evan promptly schooled Hilary and Richard on what was expected. We arrived at the Turtle Relax, where we were served a delicious lunch consisting of salad, rice, plantains, and chicken in a savory sauce. After tummies were filled, everyone piled onto the very welcoming air-conditioned bus for the two and a half journey to la selva resarch station. There was a lot of commotion in the back of the bus and the bus driver had to politely ask Evan to stop crawling over the seats. We arrived at La Selva where we decided to go on a jugle walk. Sadly, we didnt see much but a blue jean frog and leaf cutter ants, but I remain hopeful for our guided walk tomorrow. Sweaty and tired, we were delayed in taking our showers because the staff decided that the hot and sweaty life workers needed to play the human knot game. We divided into 2 groups: the Californians versus everyone else. The everyone-else easily tooled the Californians, but Ricardo rigged the second round making it impossible for us to win again. We retired to the showers and ate a buffet style dinner. I was pretty excited to have chocolate milk. Following dinner, a forum was held about making choices. Well, early to bed because we have an early morning.
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Location: La Selva
We woke up this morning at the nice late hour of 8:00. The day definitely began as a scorcher. The breakfast table was covered in the usual array of bread, fruit, eggs and gallo-pinto. We made the long three hour trek in the boat where a dance contest that occurred between Hillary, Richard, Gwen, and Even. Gwen and Evan promptly schooled Hilary and Richard on what was expected. We arrived at the Turtle Relax, where we were served a delicious lunch consisting of salad, rice, plantains, and chicken in a savory sauce. After tummies were filled, everyone piled onto the very welcoming air-conditioned bus for the two and a half journey to la selva resarch station. There was a lot of commotion in the back of the bus and the bus driver had to politely ask Evan to stop crawling over the seats. We arrived at La Selva where we decided to go on a jugle walk. Sadly, we didnt see much but a blue jean frog and leaf cutter ants, but I remain hopeful for our guided walk tomorrow. Sweaty and tired, we were delayed in taking our showers because the staff decided that the hot and sweaty life workers needed to play the human knot game. We divided into 2 groups: the Californians versus everyone else. The everyone-else easily tooled the Californians, but Ricardo rigged the second round making it impossible for us to win again. We retired to the showers and ate a buffet style dinner. I was pretty excited to have chocolate milk. Following dinner, a forum was held about making choices. Well, early to bed because we have an early morning.
Flickr Photos from Today
Flickr Photos from this Voyage
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